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Part Augusten Burroughs, part Robert Leleux, Conversations and Cosmopolitans is a hilarious and touching memoir written by a mother, Jane, and her son, Robert, as they navigate their new relationship together after Robert announces in a hand-written letter that he is gay.
- Sales Rank: #2741739 in Books
- Published on: 2011-11-08
- Released on: 2011-11-08
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.50" h x .68" w x 5.50" l, .55 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 304 pages
Review
“Robert is snarky without being bitchy, Jane dry but not drab, and this creates a balanced and infectious humor in the book that plays nicely with the moments of poignancy that pop up time and again. Read this book, grab a drink, start a conversation about it. You might cry some, you'll probably laugh more, and you'll realize that it's really not that complicated.” ―Elle
“The voices of mother and son alternate in the brief segments of this book, advancing a story arc and commenting on one another's reflections and memories in a dialogue 'written to both entertain and enlighten in the hope that other families will begin discussion in their own homes' and discover how 'enormously empowering living in the truth can be.' Robert's coming-out letter to his parents sets the scene as he and his mother strive to interact authentically, learning about each other and learning of previously undiscovered aspects of themselves. Both are scarred from having been ostracized, he for his homosexuality, she for becoming scandalous as an unwed, pregnant high-school student. Zippy one-liners, ironic observations, and laugh-out-loud situations abound; for instance, Robert teaches his mother a gay vocabulary wholly new to her (no, Mom, B&D does not mean big and dumb). Mother-son bonding à la a progressive new Hallmark holiday movie.” ―Booklist
“Conversations and Cosmopolitans tells the story of a gay novelist's unique, seemingly-nothing-is-off-limits relationship with his mother. From Robert's manscaping adventures to Jane's experiences as a small-town pregnant teenager, Conversations tells the funny, heartfelt inside story of a relationship that became stronger after a gay son and his mother let down their guards and opened up to each other.” ―The Advocate
“As a mother of boys I hope one of them is gay so I can have this much fun with him.” ―Heather McDonald, writer and story producer for Chelsea Lately and the New York Times bestselling author of You'll Never Blue Ball in This Town Again
“A heartfelt look at a mother and son's relationship from both points of view. [L]augh-out-loud funny, touching and poignant...” ―Lance Bass, Grammy-nominated singer, former member of *NSYNC, and author of Out of Sync
“CONVERSATIONS AND COSMOPOLITANS is the most endearing, inventive memoir I've read in ages. Robert Rave and his mother Jane have managed to capture their beautiful relationship on the page, in a heartfelt, hilarious manner that never shies away from revealing awkward moments. Aside from being a charming work of literature, CONVERSATIONS AND COSMOPOLITANS is a necessary book, a book we've all been waiting for, as it deals honestly, affectionately, and originally with an experience that's central to our contemporary lives--the struggle to know and love your parents and children exactly as they are.” ―Robert Leleux, author of The Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy
“Totally delightful. A reminder of what it's like to be the new kid. If being the new kid was being gay and the new school was a hierarchy of too-fab cliques and temperamental queen bees -- pun intended. The main character is really Manhattan. And as Robert struggles to get a life in Gay New York, Jane coaches him through the rough patches with her no-nonsense maternal charm.” ―Mishna Wolff, author of I'm Down
“I loved this book, funny, honest, and moving! Who could ask for more?” ―Bryan Batt, actor on AMC's Emmy Award-winning drama "Mad Men" and author of the memoir She Ain't Heavy, She's My Mother
About the Author
JANE RAVE grew up in a small Midwest town, doing all the things you do in a small town: cheerleading, band, and church activities. She is the mother of three, grandmother of six and has been married for forty-four years. Jane lives in Illinois.
ROBERT RAVE is the author of two novels, Spin and Waxed, and currently lives in Los Angeles.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
CHAPTER ONE
The End
Graduation day for a gay-in-training who’s decided to come out to his conservative Midwestern parents
Within one month of moving to New York, I sat down at my computer and began drafting what I affectionately refer to as “the message of honesty and love.” I poured my heart and soul into this letter, offering answers to every question my parents might have regarding my sexuality. At twenty-one, I viewed it as a great literary work and fantasized that one day, years after my death, it would be framed, like the letters of Virginia Wolfe.
However, my mother diminishes this great literary feat, referring to it simply as “the gay letter.” That’s my mother: sweet but definitely to the point. I’ve reprinted the letter here with its original typos and grammatical errors, all of which she’s pointed out to me.
Hey guys this is the hardest thing I have had to do in my life. This letter is not something I ever wanted to write or never wanted to have to deal with myself. For the past 21 years I kept thinking that it would pass or that things would change I think I have been fooling myself and I can no longer lie to you because I love you both so much and feel that we are extremely close to each other that it pains me more not to tell you than to keep it to myself. I might as well just lay it on the line: I am gay.
You have to understand that just as I typed that I am actually welling up because I have never officially acknowledged to myself in black and white or let alone to another person. I know this is going to be very, very painful for you to accept your hopes and dreams for me may seem like they have disappeared in many ways. Believe me, they have not. I am the same Robert, Bob, Bobby, Berto that you raised so well. I guess I am writing this letter because I am much better expressing myself through the written word sometimes as opposed to physically saying it. I get all jumbled and nervous. Plus, I wanted to give you time to think about this and react and mourn and go through all the necessary emotions and then come talk to me about it when your ready.
I don’t expect you to understand or necessary accept it right away. It has taken me 21 years to accept. The best thing I could think of to do is to give you some basic question and answers that you are probably already thinking of that you know where I am coming from instead of me just rambling on and on and making much sense.
Are you sure you are gay? Is it just a phase? Is it the way you were raised?
Well I am 100% positive that I am gay. I have tried to date women and be sexual with them but it just never connected or clicked no matter how hard I tried or how many times I tried. I just am not sexually attracted to them. For so many years I just kept lying to myself and telling myself that it would pass and the attraction would come and I just inevitably was forcing something that wasn’t there and after awhile I felt like I was headed for a breakdown because I was feeling so tormented inside by the lies I would have to tell myself and to others. There were so many nights starting about 11 or 12 where I would go to bed praying that when I woke up that I wouldn’t be gay. I did this almost every night until about age 19 when I realized either God has fallen asleep or it wasn’t going to happen. I remember wishing that I would be anything but gay. I remember saying I rather be physically handicapped then gay. As much as I thought that my being gay would pass, the stronger it became the older I got.
Was the way I raised have anything to do with my being gay?
ABSOLUTELY NOT. I have always been my own person and have chose my own interests thanks to the freedom that you both have given to me. But with all the choices and opportunities that you both have given me the choice of my sexuality was not one of them. I wish it was because I never would have chosen this. I would never have chosen to be made fun of, discriminated against, laughed at, and ridiculed. This is something that I have known from a very early age.
Is this why you moved to NYC?
NO. NO. NO. My reasons for moving out to New York are because I want to be in the city that doesn’t sleep and where I can thrive on the energy and life of a city. I want to live in a place where there is something new you can do everyday. I moved to New York to pursue my dreams. It is very frightening and exciting for me to say the least. Not only with me being up in the air about a job but with keeping this secret that I couldn’t do it no longer. I felt that if I didn’t tell you in the next couple of months I would have seriously had a breakdown with all of the stress that has been escalating and that is no exaggeration. To say that I had a lot on my mind would be a grave over-generalization.
Why tell us now?
Good question. I don’t know why this week or this day or this particular year. I just knew that I couldn’t continue to lie to you anymore. I have been extremely open with you about every other aspect of my life. This guilt has torn me apart and I couldn’t stand the sleepless nights anymore.
I didn’t like lying to you about another major aspect of who I am. It hurts me so much to know that this letter is hurting you both. The last thing I want to do is hurt you by all this. I have so much love and respect for both of you that the last thing I want to do is hurt you by this. That is why I couldn’t bear to see the expressions on both of your faces. It would literally crush me. But for the last couple years it no longer was a question of if I told you, it was more of a question of when. For my own mental welfare, it was time to tell you. It is so hard to do but in some ways as I am typing this it feels very cathartic and up lifting that lies about this major aspect of my life can now end.
Does anybody else know?
NO. I knew that you two should be the first since you two are the most important people in my life. As far as me wanting to broadcast it to the world, its not going to happen at least not right now. I have to deal with this too. My immediately family is the only people that I am really concerned about it. I don’t think that aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents really need to know at this point. I mean if they ask I won’t lie nor do I expect you to lie, but somehow I don’t see it coming up. I am not of those gay people you see on TV or in the paper with their pink flags and marching in parades although I do believe gay people deserve the same rights as the rest of the human race.
Anyway, one the reasons I never really considered myself gay was because of the images that I saw on television were not me. I am not one of those images that the media was representing on the news etc. However, as more “normal” gay people came out and lead normal lives it makes me feel a little better that the tide is changing with the perception. But back to the question, none of my friends know with the exception of Laurie whom I had to tell because I really needed someone to talk to desperately. For the rest of my friends, I am sure I will lose 75% of them when they find out. I am in no rush to tell them in fact the friends that I truly care about most of them I will tell them myself, the others if they find out won’t come from me. I just don’t want to be the embarrassment of our family. I don’t want to be the one everyone whispers about and don’t want to bring shame to you both. Although, I know that people will whisper and judge and will discriminate against me. That will be my cross to bear I suppose. We all have them. All I ask is for your continued love and eventually your support and understanding and maybe ultimately your acceptance.
Well, these were just a few questions that I could think of that you might have but I am sure you will have many more and I know that you are probably in complete and utter shock. I am so sorry to put you through this but I just couldn’t lie to you anymore. I want our relationship to be open and honest. Call me after you have had time to take it all in. I am not expecting alot and I am sure it will be rough. Please know that I love you both so very much to my core and no matter what, I am proud to be your son as I hope that no matter what gay or straight your proud to be my parents. I love you and I hope to hear from you soon.
Love,
Robert
Mama Says
It was a regular Tuesday morning. I got up around five thirty, had my breakfast, and read our local paper. It looked like it was going to be like any other day in Bloomington, Illinois. My husband, Ron, went to work early that morning for a meeting. I ran some errands—the bank, grocery store, and then a quick stop at my mom’s house for coffee—and finally returned home around twelve thirty and sat down at my kitchen table for lunch. Just as I was about to take a bite of my sandwich, our dog, Barney, started barking like he was possessed. It could only mean trouble. But this trouble was in the form of the mailman. I put down my sandwich and grabbed my overweight, temperamental shih tzu before I had a lawsuit on my hands and made my way to the mailbox.
I thumbed through the stack of mail and made a note to myself to dispose of the credit card bill before my husband saw it. (Yes, even I have a vice.) I got to the middle of the stack and saw that there was a letter from Berto. I was excited to see it, because he had been in New York for only a few months and he was already sending me an update. The letter was unusually thick, but I didn’t think much of it. In retrospect, I was a little surprised to get an actual handwritten letter as opposed to an e-mail. He was very big with the e-mails. All I thought at the time was, “Great, he has a lot to tell me about New York City.”
Well, guess what? He did have a lot to tell me, just not about New York.
I went back to the table and excitedly opened the letter, expecting to read some fun stories a...
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
Memoir not easily forgotten!
By Amanda J Lieberum
I was excited for the book to be released after voraciously reading Robert's first two novels. His latest book does not disappoint!
A quick witted memoir that kept me reading, I enjoyed every moment.
What set this memoir apart for me was the continuous back and forth between Robert and his mother, Jane. Hearing their view points on so many moments in Roberts life was often touching and many times comical.
While the immediate subject matter may be about Robert's announcing to his mother that he is gay, this book has something every parent can take from this book. We all aspire to have loving, open relationships with our children. This family has clearly risen to that level of love.
I hope both authors are working on their next books! I will be waiting.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
Loved it! Heartfelt and entertaining.
By Kitchen Fairy
This was a light read with great points of view from both mother and son when the author told his family he is gay. We could all only wish that all families would be as understanding, excepting and loving as this beautiful family. Very uplifting, touching and entertaining. A great read!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Alternating mother-son perspectives on a son's coming out story
By Jill-Elizabeth (Jill Franclemont)
What a fabulous title - after all, who among us doesn't enjoy conversations and cosmopolitans, especially together? The book is subtitled: "Awkward moments, mixed drinks, and how a mother and son finally shared who they really are" - and believe me, it's an apt description.
The book alternates between chapters written by the subtitle-eponymous son, Robert Rave (aka Berto to his mother) and answering (or perhaps explanatory) remarks by his subtitle-eponymous mother, Jane Rave. Berto's chapters have pithy clever titles that sum up the angst of a newly out-and-proud gay man who left the quiet Midwestern life of his childhood to find himself a brand-spanking new adult life in New York City. Jane's responses are all titled "Mama Says" - and are a combination of her take on her son's new life and of bits of homespun wisdom gleaned as she and her husband strove to support their son in said new life(style).
The book is touching at times, funny at times, and a tish banal at times. Life is like that. I get it. It might be authentic, but it doesn't always make for the most interesting reading.
I have empathy for Robert's story. I have heard many a gay friend's coming-out story, and they are always tear-jerkers - whether in good ways or bad (because sometimes people surprise you nicely, although not often enough by half). Unfortunately, we still live in a world where fear and loathing are all too often components of the decision to come out. In my mind, no one should ever have to apologize for who they are; your choices are under your control, and those are what you should be held accountable for. Unfortunately, much of the world does not agree with me.
Jane's stories of her interactions with neighbors and fellow Midwesterners are, all too often, shocking to someone with my sensibilities. Her tales of defending her son and his life made me angry, sad, and regretful in turn. At times, her wit and clever retorts made me laugh out loud or even cheer for her. But at others, her homespunnishness felt like I was reading the text of a public service announcement. Again, I'm not complaining about the messages, but about the delivery. I'm fine with the former - the latter didn't always make for the most compelling story-telling style though.
The book is a soft-sell on accepting a child regardless of whether his life goes in the direction his parent's imagined or would have chosen. That is a positive message and one I would never disrespect. The book displays occasional flashes of brilliance, usually through Robert's stories of life as a regular guy in the oft-glamorous (or at least glam-wannabe) world of the NYC gay community (NB: is there really "a" gay community, in NYC or anywhere? Isn't the assumption that there is "one" gay community in NYC - or anywhere - a stereotype in itself? No one talks about "the" straight community... but I digress), but also occasionally through Jane's startlingly unselfconscious examinations of her own life and her interactions with her son and his friends. These bursts don't happen anywhere near often enough to my taste, but when they do they are great fun.
Overall the book reads more like a self-help guide for the unsuspecting families of gay children than a memoir. That's not my cup of tea (or martini glass of cosmo) but that doesn't mean it's not still a valid beverage choice. Or maybe I should say valid beverage genetic predisposition. ;)
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