By Jason A. Heidemann
There’s something comforting about staying in and reading a good book, or maybe two. A pair of recently released anthologies present a plethora of bedtime stories for GLBT readers.
On the other end of the spectrum is Paws and Reflect: Exploring the Bond Between Gay Men and Their Dogs (Alyson Books, $24.95) released over the holidays. There’s something irresistibly gooey about pet-themed books. No matter how many times the subject matter is retread, readers can’t seem to get enough heartfelt stories about how man’s best friend entered his life and changed it for the better. Publishers know this and are more than eager to cater to every niche market out there that might have a pet at home, in this case gay men.
That’s not to say this isn’t a topic worth exploring. Gay people and their pets occupy a unique phenomenon: They’ve been barred from marriage equality and the subsequent ties that bind two people together for eternity (or until divorce), so gays and lesbians have been forced to seek out alternative forms of companionship. In this respect, Paws and Reflect is interesting in that it offers insight into how gay men choose to live their lives, rather than preach about the joys of having a pet.
But it doesn’t always work. Each essay is coupled with an introduction that at best seems superfluous and at worst, annoying. For example, when Tarnation director Jonathan Caouette discusses how his dog helped him through a life punctuated by mental illness, series editors Neil Plakcy and Sharon Sakson use this as an opportunity to extol the wonders of service dogs (admittedly, Caouette’s story isn’t that compelling).
But there are bright moments. What a coup, for example, that three-time Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Albee is on hand to discuss his obsession with Irish wolfhounds. Likewise, when drag performer and playwright Charles Busch (best known for imitating starlets from the Golden Age of Hollywood) recalls how he used to dress up and perform in front of his dog Wolfie, it’s a touching insight into his early history. It’s these moments when the book is at its finest.
Paws and Reflect is available at bookstores everywhere.
(This review has been edited to remove sections about another anthology.)