This is the time of year when we traditionally give thanks for the wonderful things that surround us, for our family and friends who love and support us, and for the hope of things to come. This year, I am thankful for Dear John, I Love Jane now available from Seal Press. This amazing read, full of poignant letters and stories detailing that moment when girl meets girl and everything else fades away, had me laughing, crying, and recalling my own moment of realization when everything that I had been feeling finally clicked and I knew I was meant to love women.
Each story of self-realization is emotional and heartfelt, but most importantly, real. Each story, ranging from a humorous interlude with a woman in a café to the somber tales of women in loveless marriages, highlights aspects of humanity, of society, and, ultimately, of love. From the first fling with a woman to that deep-meaning love many of us strive towards, the stories delve into the less-explored regions of lesbian culture to answer the age-old question: “How can you go from a man to suddenly loving women?”
With a gripping and informative forward by Dr. Lisa Diamond and a humorous introduction by editors Candace Walsh and Laura Andre, Dear John, I Love Jane is set apart from the number of first-person narratives describing for forays into queer female culture. While many other narratives describe a first female crush or a first love, they tend to look at it from the perspective of a woman who solely loves women. Dear John, I Love Jane focuses on those aspects through the eyes of women who had previously been in relationships, or marriages, with men. This perspective was a wonderful change of pace for me, seeing as how I fall into the latter category.
Each one of the narratives held it’s own unique allure for me and I found myself reading the entire book in one sitting. The topics Dear John, I Love Jane addressed were so profound and, at times, downright heart-wrenching. From accepting oneself and coming out to divorce and telling the children, this book held nothing back. The honesty of the women who shared their stories was so refreshing, so candid, that I felt myself reaching for the Kleenex box numerous times. Walsh and Andre did a wonderful job combining stories of the fear and trepidation associated with that level of self-honesty with stories of utter joy and happiness that serve as a beacon of hope to those of us still looking for our Princess Charming.
