BookAwards.com
Award-Winning Books from Today's Best Authors
A Free Resource for Book Lovers, Authors, Agents, Publishers and Journalists
Recommend this book:
Making the Rounds
Defying Norms in Love and Medicine
Patricia Grayhall
2023 Gold Medal
344 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite
What makes a successful memoir, one that others outside your immediate family might want to read? In my experience as a memoir writing coach, it takes the courage to bare your soul, tell the truth, and, above all, have a story to share to which strangers can relate because their untold secrets may be similar to yours, or at least as difficult to tell. That is exactly what Patricia Grayhall has done with Making The Rounds.
Writing under a pen name, Patricia gave me an insider’s look at a lifestyle I have always been curious about - lesbianism. With all the political and religious arguments and media sensationalism surrounding gay pride, those of us who aren’t part of that lifestyle get such a distorted view of the realities. We have no idea of the painful struggles those belonging to the LGBTQ community have faced, both historically and currently. Thanks to Patricia’s raw honesty about how early in her life she recognized her attraction to females, her mother’s expectations of her as a pretty female, and her desperate attempts with men to be “straight” that resulted in an abortion, I am vastly enlightened. Even more mind-blowing for me was what Patricia experienced in her career…medicine. Her grueling schedule was one thing, but what she encountered thanks to homophobic attitudes truly angered me.
What was most touching about Patricia’s story was her unrelenting, heartbreaking search for a life partner. It took years of painful relationships and breakups to realize she didn’t know what she was looking for. In her unpretentious, conversational style, she placed her often jumbled emotions on the table for us all to read. But as we memoir readers always hope, Patricia gave us her happy ending. Bravo! Congratulations, Patricia Grayhall, on writing a most successful memoir.
What makes a successful memoir, one that others outside your immediate family might want to read? In my experience as a memoir writing coach, it takes the courage to bare your soul, tell the truth, and, above all, have a story to share to which strangers can relate because their untold secrets may be similar to yours, or at least as difficult to tell. That is exactly what Patricia Grayhall has done with Making The Rounds.
Writing under a pen name, Patricia gave me an insider’s look at a lifestyle I have always been curious about - lesbianism. With all the political and religious arguments and media sensationalism surrounding gay pride, those of us who aren’t part of that lifestyle get such a distorted view of the realities. We have no idea of the painful struggles those belonging to the LGBTQ community have faced, both historically and currently. Thanks to Patricia’s raw honesty about how early in her life she recognized her attraction to females, her mother’s expectations of her as a pretty female, and her desperate attempts with men to be “straight” that resulted in an abortion, I am vastly enlightened. Even more mind-blowing for me was what Patricia experienced in her career…medicine. Her grueling schedule was one thing, but what she encountered thanks to homophobic attitudes truly angered me.
What was most touching about Patricia’s story was her unrelenting, heartbreaking search for a life partner. It took years of painful relationships and breakups to realize she didn’t know what she was looking for. In her unpretentious, conversational style, she placed her often jumbled emotions on the table for us all to read. But as we memoir readers always hope, Patricia gave us her happy ending. Bravo! Congratulations, Patricia Grayhall, on writing a most successful memoir.
Recommend this book:
Boy Wander
A Coming of Age Memoir
Jobert E Abueva
2023 Silver Medal
216 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Boy Wander: A Coming of Age Memoir is a work in the autobiography, LGBTQ+, and coming of age subgenres. It is best suited to mature readers owing to the mention of explicit sexual situations and the use of explicit language throughout. Penned by Jobert E Abueva, this incredible journey of growth and personal development explores the duality of Jobert as a young Filipino man in an all-boys Catholic school in Tokyo. An all-star athlete, and a popular and successful academic, Jobert made his fortune in the clandestine world of sex work by night at Tokyo's world-renowned Imperial Hotel. This duality and secret-keeping in his youth put him on a path moving forward that would make the two halves of himself harder to bring together but all the more essential to do so.
Jobert E Abueva pulls no punches in this emotionally raw and interesting work. There are so many different layers and levels to it that I adored, from the exploration of life as a teen exploring sexuality despite the strict shadows of religion and culture looming over his world to Jobert’s views on the sex industry and the cultural differences between East and West. Jobert’s narrative style really lends itself to this kind of intricate exploration, as it feels like a wise and experienced friend is exploring the well-considered points rather than a cold, clinical academic. His journey to acceptance in the outside world and within himself is emotionally stirring to read. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Boy Wander to memoir fans everywhere.
Boy Wander: A Coming of Age Memoir is a work in the autobiography, LGBTQ+, and coming of age subgenres. It is best suited to mature readers owing to the mention of explicit sexual situations and the use of explicit language throughout. Penned by Jobert E Abueva, this incredible journey of growth and personal development explores the duality of Jobert as a young Filipino man in an all-boys Catholic school in Tokyo. An all-star athlete, and a popular and successful academic, Jobert made his fortune in the clandestine world of sex work by night at Tokyo's world-renowned Imperial Hotel. This duality and secret-keeping in his youth put him on a path moving forward that would make the two halves of himself harder to bring together but all the more essential to do so.
Jobert E Abueva pulls no punches in this emotionally raw and interesting work. There are so many different layers and levels to it that I adored, from the exploration of life as a teen exploring sexuality despite the strict shadows of religion and culture looming over his world to Jobert’s views on the sex industry and the cultural differences between East and West. Jobert’s narrative style really lends itself to this kind of intricate exploration, as it feels like a wise and experienced friend is exploring the well-considered points rather than a cold, clinical academic. His journey to acceptance in the outside world and within himself is emotionally stirring to read. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Boy Wander to memoir fans everywhere.
Recommend this book:
To Find a Killer
The Homophobic Murders of Norma and Maria Hurtado and the LGBT Rights Movement
Doug Greco
2023 Honorable Mention
136 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Frank Mutuma for Readers' Favorite
After numerous threats, Jose kills Norma Hurtado and her mother. Norma had spoken openly about her sexuality and was supported by her family. Was this a hate crime? The rights of the LGBTQ community have come a long way, from being openly persecuted to the legalization of same-sex marriage. But much more work needs to be done since more people are still vulnerable to persecution and targets for hate crimes, as seen by the murder of Norma and Maria despite being in an area that we can consider tolerant. Is there a connection between race, class, and family structure in the fight for LGBTQ rights? To find out more about the journey of LGBTQ rights, their connection to human rights, and the role of institutions in advancing these rights, get a copy of To Find a Killer by Doug Greco.
To Find a Killer by Doug Greco is a thought-provoking book that offers a unique perspective regarding LGBTQ rights. The book got me thinking about the role of economic inequalities and how other vulnerabilities predispose minorities to harm. The book also covered an interesting aspect of religion and how various rights groups and institutions can work together. The steady narration and the warm tone adopted by Greco as he makes the case for equality are very welcoming. Greco has also gone out of his way to provide other resources for further reading, making the book a wealth of information and a possible guide for more exploration of the LGBTQ rights issue. I cannot wait to read something else by this author.
After numerous threats, Jose kills Norma Hurtado and her mother. Norma had spoken openly about her sexuality and was supported by her family. Was this a hate crime? The rights of the LGBTQ community have come a long way, from being openly persecuted to the legalization of same-sex marriage. But much more work needs to be done since more people are still vulnerable to persecution and targets for hate crimes, as seen by the murder of Norma and Maria despite being in an area that we can consider tolerant. Is there a connection between race, class, and family structure in the fight for LGBTQ rights? To find out more about the journey of LGBTQ rights, their connection to human rights, and the role of institutions in advancing these rights, get a copy of To Find a Killer by Doug Greco.
To Find a Killer by Doug Greco is a thought-provoking book that offers a unique perspective regarding LGBTQ rights. The book got me thinking about the role of economic inequalities and how other vulnerabilities predispose minorities to harm. The book also covered an interesting aspect of religion and how various rights groups and institutions can work together. The steady narration and the warm tone adopted by Greco as he makes the case for equality are very welcoming. Greco has also gone out of his way to provide other resources for further reading, making the book a wealth of information and a possible guide for more exploration of the LGBTQ rights issue. I cannot wait to read something else by this author.
Recommend this book:
Thirty-Seven-Year Abduction
Memoir of a Gay Mississippi Author Finding Himself Again
Milan Sergent
2023 Finalist
286 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite
As a victim of childhood sexual abuse and someone who has mentored other abuse victims as they struggled to write their painful memoirs, I thought I'd heard it all. I believed that nothing else could shock me. Then I read Thirty-Seven-Year Abduction by Milan Sergent. If Sergent had written a horror novel, he couldn't have horrified and saddened me more than this, his memoir of child and adult abuse. I’m not talking about what we usually think of as rape or sexual molestation. Milan’s rape was the long-term violation of a human being, his essence, and his right to be who he was born to be; a gay man. His 37 years of rape began as a result of what, for me, are the archaic religious beliefs of his parents. They continued when a desperate Milan tried to redeem himself in his and everyone else’s eyes through a regular male-to-female marriage and by joining a Pentecostal church.
Thirty-Seven-Year Abduction rivals the best impossible-to-put-down books I have ever read. Milan Sergent has a superb command of language and beautiful control of his pacing and characterization. How he absorbs us into his emotions and makes us feel his deep, ongoing pain is powerful. What Sergent endured for 37 years makes me glad I wasn’t born into an evangelical religion in the deep south. Sergent tried suicide twice. I might have succeeded if his experience had been mine. Sergent spends time at the end of his memoir presenting enlightening information about what I see as a warped practice that began in the early 1900s and continued for decades; that of making boys on swim teams swim in the nude. Did you know that? I was shocked: “Any boy who tried to cover himself was made to feel unmanly or like a nerd.” As Milan shares his closing thoughts on the current narrow attitudes toward LGBTQ, I find myself agreeing whole-heartedly with his statement that “…child abuse is telling children they were born inadequate and sinful and God is watching their every intimate moment and will torture them for eternity in the flames of Hell if they don’t let Him possess them.” My final thoughts on this poignant, gut-wrenching memoir are that I will never forget it. Read it!
As a victim of childhood sexual abuse and someone who has mentored other abuse victims as they struggled to write their painful memoirs, I thought I'd heard it all. I believed that nothing else could shock me. Then I read Thirty-Seven-Year Abduction by Milan Sergent. If Sergent had written a horror novel, he couldn't have horrified and saddened me more than this, his memoir of child and adult abuse. I’m not talking about what we usually think of as rape or sexual molestation. Milan’s rape was the long-term violation of a human being, his essence, and his right to be who he was born to be; a gay man. His 37 years of rape began as a result of what, for me, are the archaic religious beliefs of his parents. They continued when a desperate Milan tried to redeem himself in his and everyone else’s eyes through a regular male-to-female marriage and by joining a Pentecostal church.
Thirty-Seven-Year Abduction rivals the best impossible-to-put-down books I have ever read. Milan Sergent has a superb command of language and beautiful control of his pacing and characterization. How he absorbs us into his emotions and makes us feel his deep, ongoing pain is powerful. What Sergent endured for 37 years makes me glad I wasn’t born into an evangelical religion in the deep south. Sergent tried suicide twice. I might have succeeded if his experience had been mine. Sergent spends time at the end of his memoir presenting enlightening information about what I see as a warped practice that began in the early 1900s and continued for decades; that of making boys on swim teams swim in the nude. Did you know that? I was shocked: “Any boy who tried to cover himself was made to feel unmanly or like a nerd.” As Milan shares his closing thoughts on the current narrow attitudes toward LGBTQ, I find myself agreeing whole-heartedly with his statement that “…child abuse is telling children they were born inadequate and sinful and God is watching their every intimate moment and will torture them for eternity in the flames of Hell if they don’t let Him possess them.” My final thoughts on this poignant, gut-wrenching memoir are that I will never forget it. Read it!
Recommend this book:
Beyond Diversity
12 Non-Obvious Ways To Build A More Inclusive World
Rohit Bhargava, Jennifer Brown
2022 Gold Medal
288 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite
Beyond Diversity by Rohit Bhargava and Jennifer Brown is a collaborative effort directed at steering the world toward acceptance for all regardless of differences. It all started in early 2021, when more than 200 reputable specialists met online to discuss diversity and look for ways to curb injustice and discrimination. This book includes 12 topics that are carefully selected and compiled from this virtual event. Beyond Diversity is not only made up of opinions of different prominent figures but also compiled and reviewed by dozens of people who are passionate about equality. How can we look beyond diversity in storytelling, the workplace, government, and the future? Find out in Beyond Diversity as it reveals conversations, conversation starters, and stories about different people who are already making commendable moves in the world of diversity.
"This is a book about being more than a bystander." Beyond Diversity sows the seeds of change and acceptance through its thoughtful conversation starters and inspiring examples from different amazing people. It includes several quotable, punchy lines that make it easier to remember its messages. The book's design makes it a joy to read and navigate through with its eye-catching titles, subtitles, and highlighted points. I was quite impressed by the level of effort put into Beyond Diversity as it contains several elements that improve assimilation and increase engagement: quotes, reports, action steps, and more. As a Nigerian who has been discouraged from experiencing new cultures in different continents as a result of countless news of racist actions against Blacks, I'm quite excited about Beyond Diversity and recommend it to all readers. The world needs more changemakers like Rohit Bhargava, Jennifer Brown, and everyone that contributed to creating this phenomenal book!
Beyond Diversity by Rohit Bhargava and Jennifer Brown is a collaborative effort directed at steering the world toward acceptance for all regardless of differences. It all started in early 2021, when more than 200 reputable specialists met online to discuss diversity and look for ways to curb injustice and discrimination. This book includes 12 topics that are carefully selected and compiled from this virtual event. Beyond Diversity is not only made up of opinions of different prominent figures but also compiled and reviewed by dozens of people who are passionate about equality. How can we look beyond diversity in storytelling, the workplace, government, and the future? Find out in Beyond Diversity as it reveals conversations, conversation starters, and stories about different people who are already making commendable moves in the world of diversity.
"This is a book about being more than a bystander." Beyond Diversity sows the seeds of change and acceptance through its thoughtful conversation starters and inspiring examples from different amazing people. It includes several quotable, punchy lines that make it easier to remember its messages. The book's design makes it a joy to read and navigate through with its eye-catching titles, subtitles, and highlighted points. I was quite impressed by the level of effort put into Beyond Diversity as it contains several elements that improve assimilation and increase engagement: quotes, reports, action steps, and more. As a Nigerian who has been discouraged from experiencing new cultures in different continents as a result of countless news of racist actions against Blacks, I'm quite excited about Beyond Diversity and recommend it to all readers. The world needs more changemakers like Rohit Bhargava, Jennifer Brown, and everyone that contributed to creating this phenomenal book!
Recommend this book:
Not ‘Him’ or ‘Her’
Accepting and Loving My Non-Binary Child
Michelle Mann
2022 Silver Medal
83 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Anelynde Smit for Readers' Favorite
Not ‘Him’ or ‘Her’ by Michelle Mann is an insightful book describing the lives and experiences of people who are non-binary. In each chapter, the book tells a story about the different views on being a non-binary person, ranging from the parent’s version to the kid’s version of how to deal with it. This book tells us to accept it with an open mind. We read about agender people, genderqueer people, and bigender people. We should not fear the pronouns and we should not be dismayed by which clothes they chose to wear. Parents should understand that their child is scared to tell them and guides readers on how to deal with that apprehension. This book is a great resource to advise you on what to do and say. This book prepares you for certain situations and talks you should have with your child. Of course, they are going to deal with bullying, confusion about bathroom use, and what pronouns they can use, and this book covers all those problems and more.
Not ‘Him’ or ‘Her’ by Michelle Mann is a bright spark in the darkness about non-binary people. The stories show incredible bravery on behalf of all those involved and give a true insight into the minds and lives of those who are non-binary. There are general do’s and do not’s that are helpful, while there are things that you should not say in the case of a non-binary conversation. This guide helps you to talk to other people and your child and encourages an open discussion about it. Some subjects are sensitive like which bathrooms to use and the fact that self-harm is one of the most often used forms of coping for a non-binary child. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with a non-binary child or adult. This book is not just for kids but also a lesson for adults going through the process. I found this book to be most helpful and wish other people luck in their journey to this strange new world - one of hope and understanding.
Not ‘Him’ or ‘Her’ by Michelle Mann is an insightful book describing the lives and experiences of people who are non-binary. In each chapter, the book tells a story about the different views on being a non-binary person, ranging from the parent’s version to the kid’s version of how to deal with it. This book tells us to accept it with an open mind. We read about agender people, genderqueer people, and bigender people. We should not fear the pronouns and we should not be dismayed by which clothes they chose to wear. Parents should understand that their child is scared to tell them and guides readers on how to deal with that apprehension. This book is a great resource to advise you on what to do and say. This book prepares you for certain situations and talks you should have with your child. Of course, they are going to deal with bullying, confusion about bathroom use, and what pronouns they can use, and this book covers all those problems and more.
Not ‘Him’ or ‘Her’ by Michelle Mann is a bright spark in the darkness about non-binary people. The stories show incredible bravery on behalf of all those involved and give a true insight into the minds and lives of those who are non-binary. There are general do’s and do not’s that are helpful, while there are things that you should not say in the case of a non-binary conversation. This guide helps you to talk to other people and your child and encourages an open discussion about it. Some subjects are sensitive like which bathrooms to use and the fact that self-harm is one of the most often used forms of coping for a non-binary child. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with a non-binary child or adult. This book is not just for kids but also a lesson for adults going through the process. I found this book to be most helpful and wish other people luck in their journey to this strange new world - one of hope and understanding.
Recommend this book:
Straight Enough
A Memoir
Lorinda Boyer
2022 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
Check current price
Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Emma Megan for Readers' Favorite
Married right after her high school graduation, Lorinda Boyer feels that her body doesn't belong to her. She tries very hard to follow the rules imposed by the Bible on Christian women, rules which seem to favor only men. Sadly, Lorinda is too frightened to say no to her husband. She believes that being a good Christian means always sacrificing yourself, your happiness, your time, and your needs for others. However, when Lorinda meets Robin, she judges her for being gay and voices her beliefs that homosexuality is a sin. But Robin reminds her that she has no right to judge her when her own marriage seems controlling and abusive. From now on, Lorinda will struggle for many years to get her life right, stop feeling guilt and shame for her attempts to embrace her true nature, and stop denying the right to be happy.
From the very first pages, Lorinda Boyer's pile of confessions moved me. Lorinda is a master with a pen. She incomparably describes what it feels like to be a Christian woman who must comply with fulfilling the role of being a perfect, dutiful wife and mother at any cost. No saints exist in the pages of this exceptionally written memoir, yet what stands out is the way Lorinda writes about how much her beliefs, confusion, and other people's actions or lack of them affected her behavior. Overall, Straight Enough by Lorinda Boyer is a triumph of embracing one's identity, redefining love, expressing one true self, and freeing oneself from feeling unworthy of love. It portrays a flawed, loving woman who repetitively struggles with excruciating guilt and thoughts that say she deserves to be punished by God.
Married right after her high school graduation, Lorinda Boyer feels that her body doesn't belong to her. She tries very hard to follow the rules imposed by the Bible on Christian women, rules which seem to favor only men. Sadly, Lorinda is too frightened to say no to her husband. She believes that being a good Christian means always sacrificing yourself, your happiness, your time, and your needs for others. However, when Lorinda meets Robin, she judges her for being gay and voices her beliefs that homosexuality is a sin. But Robin reminds her that she has no right to judge her when her own marriage seems controlling and abusive. From now on, Lorinda will struggle for many years to get her life right, stop feeling guilt and shame for her attempts to embrace her true nature, and stop denying the right to be happy.
From the very first pages, Lorinda Boyer's pile of confessions moved me. Lorinda is a master with a pen. She incomparably describes what it feels like to be a Christian woman who must comply with fulfilling the role of being a perfect, dutiful wife and mother at any cost. No saints exist in the pages of this exceptionally written memoir, yet what stands out is the way Lorinda writes about how much her beliefs, confusion, and other people's actions or lack of them affected her behavior. Overall, Straight Enough by Lorinda Boyer is a triumph of embracing one's identity, redefining love, expressing one true self, and freeing oneself from feeling unworthy of love. It portrays a flawed, loving woman who repetitively struggles with excruciating guilt and thoughts that say she deserves to be punished by God.
Recommend this book:
My Gay Church Days
Memoir of a closeted evangelical pastor who eventually had enough
George Azar
2022 Honorable Mention
370 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
My Gay Church Days is a work of non-fiction in the LGBTQ+ and memoir genres. It is aimed at mature readers owing to the use of explicit language throughout and was penned by author George Azar. The book follows the author’s life as he gets involved in Evangelical Christianity as an escape from the bullying he suffered at school. But his faith and the community he had joined forced him to repress an important aspect of his personality for fear of being banished from the one place he felt accepted. As George finds the strength to break away from his oppressors, a new and confusing frontier awaits.
This book is an important read not just for LGBTQ+ individuals growing up within the church community, but as a source of introspection for members of that community at large. It’s an act of bravery to share such a painful story, in particular when author George Azar shows such willingness to share deep and damaging parts of their story. It is my sincere hope that as progress continues to be made in acceptance and equality for the LGBTQ+ community that this book helps those in extreme Christian groups to understand the damage they do and to help LGBTQ+ people recognize that their worth and their identity are not to be defined by the people who don’t have their best interests at heart. A powerful read with lessons for us all, My Gay Church Days has the potential to grow an understanding of the appalling way evangelical Christians have treated their LGBTQ+ members. I recommend it to any readers, and I hope that when you read it that it helps you grow and understand your world a little better.
My Gay Church Days is a work of non-fiction in the LGBTQ+ and memoir genres. It is aimed at mature readers owing to the use of explicit language throughout and was penned by author George Azar. The book follows the author’s life as he gets involved in Evangelical Christianity as an escape from the bullying he suffered at school. But his faith and the community he had joined forced him to repress an important aspect of his personality for fear of being banished from the one place he felt accepted. As George finds the strength to break away from his oppressors, a new and confusing frontier awaits.
This book is an important read not just for LGBTQ+ individuals growing up within the church community, but as a source of introspection for members of that community at large. It’s an act of bravery to share such a painful story, in particular when author George Azar shows such willingness to share deep and damaging parts of their story. It is my sincere hope that as progress continues to be made in acceptance and equality for the LGBTQ+ community that this book helps those in extreme Christian groups to understand the damage they do and to help LGBTQ+ people recognize that their worth and their identity are not to be defined by the people who don’t have their best interests at heart. A powerful read with lessons for us all, My Gay Church Days has the potential to grow an understanding of the appalling way evangelical Christians have treated their LGBTQ+ members. I recommend it to any readers, and I hope that when you read it that it helps you grow and understand your world a little better.
Recommend this book:
Testimony
Exchanging Our Former Sexual Identity for Our New Identity in Christ
James Rondinone
2022 Finalist
148 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Philip Van Heusen for Readers' Favorite
There are as many opinions concerning sexual orientation as there are people. Unfortunately, most base their opinion on emotions. James Rondinone, in Testimony, approaches the topic of sexual sins from a different view. He is not the least bit judgmental in this book. Instead, James writes with compassion and love for all without wavering from the unchanging truth of the Word of God. James shares his personal story of life before Christ, how he came to a saving knowledge of Christ, and how his life changed as he grew in Christ. Interwoven with his personal testimony, James uses news stories and the personal stories of many to emphasize his points. Gender identity is tricky and touchy, but James navigates the topic professionally. The ultimate guide for a Christian’s life is the Word of God. James includes the Scriptures and leads the reader to a biblical answer.
Is there any such thing as a homosexual Christian or a greedy Christianity? Too many people today identify their Christian life with their former sinful adjectives. James Rondinone challenges this erroneous belief in Testimony. The Scriptures tell us that they are a new creation when one is in Christ. James contends that, as a new creation, we are in error when we refer to ourselves by our old sinful nature. His belief is that if one becomes familiar with who Christ says they are, they will change their lifestyle to match God’s standards. James presents this without judgment. Instead, he gently leads the reader to come to their own conclusion by paying attention to the Word of God. The only proper rule for life and belief for a Christian is the Bible.
There are as many opinions concerning sexual orientation as there are people. Unfortunately, most base their opinion on emotions. James Rondinone, in Testimony, approaches the topic of sexual sins from a different view. He is not the least bit judgmental in this book. Instead, James writes with compassion and love for all without wavering from the unchanging truth of the Word of God. James shares his personal story of life before Christ, how he came to a saving knowledge of Christ, and how his life changed as he grew in Christ. Interwoven with his personal testimony, James uses news stories and the personal stories of many to emphasize his points. Gender identity is tricky and touchy, but James navigates the topic professionally. The ultimate guide for a Christian’s life is the Word of God. James includes the Scriptures and leads the reader to a biblical answer.
Is there any such thing as a homosexual Christian or a greedy Christianity? Too many people today identify their Christian life with their former sinful adjectives. James Rondinone challenges this erroneous belief in Testimony. The Scriptures tell us that they are a new creation when one is in Christ. James contends that, as a new creation, we are in error when we refer to ourselves by our old sinful nature. His belief is that if one becomes familiar with who Christ says they are, they will change their lifestyle to match God’s standards. James presents this without judgment. Instead, he gently leads the reader to come to their own conclusion by paying attention to the Word of God. The only proper rule for life and belief for a Christian is the Bible.
Recommend this book:
Don't Mind Me, I'm Just Having a Bad Life
A Memoir
Lewis Kempfer
2021 Silver Medal
464 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
In the introduction to Don't Mind Me, I'm Just Having a Bad Life: A Memoir, Lewis Kempfer tells readers what his book is not: “It’s not a typical memoir that focuses on one event, nor is it an autobiography, chiefly because I’m not a celebrity. But I believe my story must be told and that someone out there desperately needs to hear the message of hope that’s woven through it.” It turns out this is an unusual memoir indeed, the story of one man’s journey through the lows of life, from childhood trauma, failed relationships, crystal-meth, sex and drug abuse to an uplifting hope in an encounter with God. From the first chapter, the author offers an introspective look at himself and tells readers that one of the things that caused him to indulge in negative and traumatic experiences was the lack of self-love.
This is a story of hope. It begins at the lowest moment in the author’s life and takes readers through his terrible experiences. Here is how he describes that moment between life and death: “No, I didn’t want to die—at least not this way. Naked, except for the leather restraints on my wrists and ankles, I found myself sliding around in my own bodily fluids on the filthy floor of an infamous gay drug motel in east Hollywood.” The writing is fluid and filled with humor, the descriptions allow for clear and powerful images, and the author does an incredible job of exploring the dark despair that stole into his soul many times. Don't Mind Me, I'm Just Having a Bad Life: A Memoir is a conversion story, the tale of someone who reached rock bottom in his moral life and whom God drew out from the pit. Lewis Kempfer’s writing is filled with wisdom and insight, a story that is shared with unusual honesty and a voice that is irresistible. There is a bit of every one of us in this memoir and that’s what makes it so appealing and enjoyable.
In the introduction to Don't Mind Me, I'm Just Having a Bad Life: A Memoir, Lewis Kempfer tells readers what his book is not: “It’s not a typical memoir that focuses on one event, nor is it an autobiography, chiefly because I’m not a celebrity. But I believe my story must be told and that someone out there desperately needs to hear the message of hope that’s woven through it.” It turns out this is an unusual memoir indeed, the story of one man’s journey through the lows of life, from childhood trauma, failed relationships, crystal-meth, sex and drug abuse to an uplifting hope in an encounter with God. From the first chapter, the author offers an introspective look at himself and tells readers that one of the things that caused him to indulge in negative and traumatic experiences was the lack of self-love.
This is a story of hope. It begins at the lowest moment in the author’s life and takes readers through his terrible experiences. Here is how he describes that moment between life and death: “No, I didn’t want to die—at least not this way. Naked, except for the leather restraints on my wrists and ankles, I found myself sliding around in my own bodily fluids on the filthy floor of an infamous gay drug motel in east Hollywood.” The writing is fluid and filled with humor, the descriptions allow for clear and powerful images, and the author does an incredible job of exploring the dark despair that stole into his soul many times. Don't Mind Me, I'm Just Having a Bad Life: A Memoir is a conversion story, the tale of someone who reached rock bottom in his moral life and whom God drew out from the pit. Lewis Kempfer’s writing is filled with wisdom and insight, a story that is shared with unusual honesty and a voice that is irresistible. There is a bit of every one of us in this memoir and that’s what makes it so appealing and enjoyable.
Contact Author -
