Compelling, Sad Read

Affliction is an honest look at growing up with a closeted gay father, during a time when “coming out” could have—and probably would have—destroyed the man and his family.

I’m never comfortable reviewing memoirs, which feels too much like standing in judgement of someone’s life. So please know this is just my experience with reading the content presented, and in no way a judgement of the author or her story.

The writing is engaging and easy to read. Laura Hall, whose father came out to her when she was a young adult, and who remained married to her mother, tells us her story through the eyes of an adult trying to make sense of her family life that turned out to be, in many ways, a façade.

I was uncomfortable with some throwaway comments and observations made in retrospect concerning her father’s personality, specifically her claims that his creativity, love of design, crafting, and such all makes sense now that she knows he was gay. This sort of blanket gender classification is damaging, as well as completely unrelated to sexual orientation.

Aside from that, I found this to be a compelling and sad read.