One Big Happy Family

Well, I have to admit to being slightly skeptical when I first picked up One Big Happy Family: 18 Writers Talk About Polyamory, Open Adoption, Mixed Marriage, House Husbandry, Single Motherhood, and Other Realities of Truly Modern Love (Edited by Rebecca Walker). That opinion (along with many others) was very quickly smashed as I read through this poignant, warm, open and - yes, I'll say it - strange collection of essays about what the publisher calls "the modern American family".

This anthology covers everything from open marriage to gay marriage to marrying a convict who's serving a life sentence in prison. It covers single motherhood, househusbandry and gay parenthood. If you can think of a way for a bunch of people to live together (or apart) this book covers it. And the inspiring message that comes through, over and over, is that, realy and truly, love actually does conquer all.

I heartily recommend One Big Happy Family to anyone looking for heart-warming (and heart-breaking) true stories of love in all its glory. You will find yourself amazed at the sheer variety of ways it's possible for people to come together and make a life for themselves. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and hopefully - if you're even just a little bit open-minded - you'll emerge at the end with some of your hidden (or maybe not so hidden) prejudices stripped away.

And a hearty congratulations to sherriemae, winner of last week's The Help Giveaway!