Tender, unsettling, and amusing, these stories present families all unhappy in their own different ways. A mother who presides over her local Paren...
read full description
reviews
Mar 28, 2010
Surreysmum
rated it: 
[These notes were made in 1989:]. This collection of short stories had a pleasant surprise at the end - a story I knew and liked from a collection of Christopher Street stories I once owned. Leavitt is a young gay writer, but his stories are not all "about" being gay. They do not shy away, however, from the family & personal consequences of being gay, and some of the stories - notably the first one, "Territory" - are directly about that. His characters are far from stereot
More...
Dec 20, 2007
Kirk
rated it: 
David's first book is, alas, probably his best known, if only because of the fame of "Territory," the first gay-themed story to appear in the NEW YORKER (way back in 82 when the author was a wee 21). I love "Territory" and make an effort to teach it every time I do a short-story class. There are many other stories here worth rediscovering: I was a fan of "Danny in Transit," "Dedicated," and the title story back in the 80s. Do they stand up? Sure, they do--
More...
Mar 04, 2010
Djrmel
rated it:
These are the stories behind the scenes of a Norman Rockwell painting. These are the stories of families that look so good on the surface, but what's really going on is going to cause massive scars that may never heal. Leavitt worked with the same theme: a family member who either never felt like they belonged or because of a recent event knows they won't be a part of the family much longer. All of the stories are about isolation either by choice or circumstances, and obviously, they're not ha
More...
Mar 19, 2011
Debbie
rated it: 
I generally don't read short stories but a collection by David Leavitt was too hard to resist. Although the stories are for the most part slightly depressing, his skill as a writer won me over. In several of the stories the tension between characters builds to such an extent that I couldn't put the book down. Family Dancing, Out Here and Dedication particularly are gems.
Jun 29, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
I ordinarily shy away from short fiction, because I hate the feeling of just getting to know the characters and then having them yanked away. But I LOVE this collection, which I read sometime in the '80s. He was a hot young writer then, and went on to write a disappointing first novel. But much later he wrote The Indian Clerk, which I loved.
Oct 29, 2010
Byronboy
rated it:
I loved this book of short stories and consider it some of David Leavitt's best writing, even though it heralds from the early part of his career as a writer. These poignant, beautiful little stories offer sharp but well fleshed out snapshots of family lives in ways that play with your emotions and touch you deeply. Fine writing indeed!
Mar 29, 2008
Meri
rated it:
I read all of Leavitt within a six-month period, because I couldn't believe how consistent he was, how his stories and novels engage and teach and empathize and touch. His characters are real people; his dialogue is palpable. Leavitt is full of talent.
Dec 17, 2009
Kevin
rated it:
Like Ford's Rock Springs, this one falls back to a few plot lines too often and too easily. Still, a good collection. Love, love, love "Territory." Leavitt is one of my favorite queer authors, and I think this is his best work.
Nov 25, 2011
robert
rated it:
the stars are for the title story. territory and dedicated were terrible stories and i didn't read the rest of the book.
Oct 10, 2007
Elyssa
rated it:
Complex yet accessible stories about family entanglements. David Leavitt is a great short story writer.
Sep 14, 2007
Another fun read. He is interesting and can use most any subject as one of his topics.
Sep 07, 2007
Roger
rated it: 
This collection of short stories did not survive a re-reading. Just one thing to say--YIKES!
Jan 29, 2012
Jan 21, 2012
Jan 07, 2012
Jan 06, 2012
