Everyday Acts and Small Subversions: Women Reinventing Family, Community and Home

by Anndee Hochman

"Anndee Hochman helps us to imagine the new possibilities for relationships, rituals and language ... and to understand that when we throw away that rule book we are not alone."-- Ms. ¶"A wonderful trove of experimentation and possibility."-- The Women's Review of Books ¶"This book is a homecoming!"-- Philadelphia Daily News

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Essays, Relationships

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1993

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess this book is a little dated now--it was even when I read it in 2001--but I think about it often. I love how it shows that there are so many different ways people choose to live their lives, and it reminds me of my camp counselors when I was a kid, many of whom were Portland lesbians like this author.

[Marita]

Um, this is an AWESOME book! It makes you think about how we live our lives everyday and how we want to live our lives!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyday Acts and Small Subversions was such a joy to read. At the twenty-five year mark, this collection feels both like an oral history of creative living and a call to action to make a life that inspires you. It was both a hopeful reminder of how far American laws and willingness to embrace diverse lifeways have come, and also a push to continue to work to dismantle barriers and structures that prevent people from living their truth. Hochman's ability to find the thread of these stories and weave her personal experiences throughout is remarkable. It would be delightful to read Hochman's follow-up volume to this work.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating look at community and family and what those words mean to different people at different life stages. My only quibble is that the polyamorous crowd was largely ignored, though a lot of other family styles were covered nicely. Some of it is pretty dated, but all of it is interesting. Well-worth reading

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somebody gave me this book at a time when it was probably Not My Thing, but it turned out to be a fascinating look at the changing definition of family. I've recommended it to several people whose definitions could use a little redefining.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in my Dad's collection after he passed away. I can't imagine why he owned it, it does not seem like something he would read. But there it was and being the Sociology Major that I was I read it. What a treat full of great ideas for creating community.

[Tamara Suttle · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS is a terrific read for those interested in exploring and expanding their understanding of family, families of choice, and home. Thank you, Anndee Hochman, for a book that helped me understand my own history of family so much better!

[Emilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book to read on the cusp of getting married. It's offered so many great prompts to think about the things and people that matter to me, about how I could arrange my life to give greater priority to those important connections with my extended, chosen family.