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Tuesday, May 6, 2008

"Open" Review in Library Journal

I received two very nice reviews from two separate reviewers at Library Journal. (They have a new "Tag Team Review" component and "Open" is number 4 in the series.) Here are a few highlights:

"Is Open an engaging read, likely to promote discussion and perhaps heated debate? Certainly."

"Block skillfully blends her story with research on sexuality, monogamy, adultery, and divorce (sources wisely appended). She makes compelling arguments against the biology of monogamy, argues that our modern configurations are a recent invention (post 1940), and cites adultery and divorce rates of 40 to 50 percent...This honest and compelling memoir should spark a respectful dialogue about the underground status of open marriages. Some readers will feel relief, many will be aroused or curious, and others will definitely be insulted."

"This is brave, brave stuff, colleagues. Buy it. Read it. Love it, if you can." 


You can find the complete reviews on the Library Journal website.

5 comments:

  1. This is fabulous! Thank you so, so much for sharing it. You made my day! If you have the chance, I would love to hear your thoughts on the first chapter of the book which you can find at my website. www.jennyonthepage.com. And when you read the book, I would love to hear your thoughts then too!

    Wishing you all the best,
    Jenny

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  2. "our modern configurations are a recent invention (post 1940)"...

    Are you claiming that open (or more open) marriage was the norm before 1940? That boggles my mind.

    I know, I should wait for the book to come out, but...

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  3. I was actually suggesting that it is only in recent history that marriage has become more than a business proposition. Romance in marriage is a relatively new concept. The comment from the reviewer, I believe, stems from this section from Chapter 2 of "Open":

    "As it turns out, E.J. Graff reports, “the nuclear family has so recently become the standard household unit that U.S. demographers can’t accurately track it before 1940.”[11] Amazing how a convention so young can rule an entire society with such unrelenting force."

    (The source for that quote is page 98 of a book written by E.J. Graff titled "What is Marriage For?")

    Hope this clears things up!

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  4. I look forward to reading your book! Your article posted on Tango perfectly describes how a lot of people feel, myself included. Thank you. It's nice to not feel so alone.

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  5. Thank you so, so much! I appreciate it. And I'm glad the piece spoke to you so clearly.

    Best,
    Jenny

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