David Schwinghammer’s Reviews > Oh, Beautiful: An American Family in the 20th Century > Status Update

Mom and Dad disagree on how to handle Geri, their schizophrenic daughter. Dad thinks she can handle it on her own; Mom wants her to have help. Meanwhile Mom is getting more independent, on longer catering to Dad on every issue.

Father Ferraro, the family priest, leaves the priesthood. He gets married, but still considers himself a priest.

Most of the second half of the book is about Joe Godges, the marine who fought in WWII. When he and his wife divorce, Joe won't agree to have the marriage annulled. He would have had to demean her character.

John is a journalist, writing articles for the religious press. He's also gay and is having internal battles with himself.

Turns out John Paul Godges is gay, although it seems he hasn't had relations with a man as of yet. A.I.D.S. has come to America and there are long discussions of what that means.

Mary Jo may be gay. She's a disk jockey on the college radio station and has discovered "the blues".

Godges focuses on Genie, one of Joe's other daughters, who was interested in English literature, especially poetry.

Geri turned 40 in 1995. She's bouncing in and out of treatment.

Nothing is helping Geri until her sister hits upon Geri's love for music.