sarahfonseca's reviews
343 reviews

Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer by Chely Wright

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4.0

I was a bit worried that this book would be 200-someodd pages of Chely Wright asserting her heteronormativity. Thankfully, I was proven wrong within the first few chapters. It quickly becomes evident that, by publishing her memoirs, she placed a lot on the line--and not just by simply disclosing her sexuality.

In Like Me, Chely also slaps various institutions and public figures on their bigoted wrists (John Rich of Big & Rich fame, Dick Cheney, The Boy Scouts of America, and so on...), all while maintaining that grounded sense of humility indicative of a true Southern girl. Her anecdotal stories about her modest childhood in Kansas make this an even more enjoyable read.

I really don't think I could ask for a better ally in the ongoing struggle for LGBT rights. Chely has a universal appeal which has the power to make a difference. She's already set the precedent by bridging the gap between the conservative South and the hearts of queer people everywhere.

I'd recommend this book to virtually anyone: The celebrity gossip fiend. A friend struggling with heartbreak. A country music aficionado. Someone gradually making his/her way out of the closet.

This also is the first book with lesbian content that I’d be eager and willing to let my own mother read--if that doesn't say something, I don't know what will. : )