Reviews
Praise for You Can’t Buy Love Like That
“The author writes compellingly about the burden of the closet—not only the threat of physical violence and social censure, but the constant emotional labor required to hide her full identity, first just from herself, then from loved ones and the outside world. This work movingly renders the complex emotional landscape of living in and out of the closet.”
“Carol Anderson is an exquisite writer and, obviously, a rather incredible woman. I was engaged with this remarkable memoir from the first page and felt a deep sense of awe and satisfaction when I reached the last page…This memoir is beautifully written, and struck that elusive balance between the personal and the universal with exquisite skill.”
“This book is a rich tapestry of connections that shows us humanity and love in all of its splendor. Carol’s story is everyone’s story, and she brings her parents to life in a powerful way by incorporating the tides and messages of that time. Many touching moments helped me know how connected and deeply human we all are. I could not put this book down, it is an amazing piece of art.”
“Carol Anderson’s memoir of secretly coming to know and explore her sexuality while growing up in an evangelical family that barely allowed for the idea of gayness is a powerful account of middle American life during the sexual revolution. But it is also something more – a reflection on the meaning of living in secrecy among those we love. An important contribution.
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“In her sensitive and poignant memoir, You Can’t Buy Love Like That: Growing Up Gay in the Sixties, Carol E. Anderson bares her heart and soul to readers so beautifully and intelligently that even if you aren’t gay and weren’t born into a Fundamentalist Christian family in the sixties, you will be deeply moved.”
“A book for our time. About forgiveness, acceptance, and resilience. A book that pays homage to the power of love in all its forms that taps our hearts, ever so softly yet forcefully. Carol E. Anderson, a fellow traveler on the road to self-awareness and self-acceptance, brings the honesty of finding her sexual truth to us all through her latest book, You Can’t Buy Love Like That: Growing Up Gay in the Sixties. With her gentle ‘telling’ of her story, showing compassion to herself and all others touched along her journey so far, Anderson gives us all the power to find our own honesty about our lives and the lives of others. A must read.”
“Smart and sensual, You Can’t Buy Love Like That: Growing Up Gay in the Sixties is an immediately engaging memoir. With vivid scenes and precise emotional detail, Anderson explores how societal pressures and her strict Baptist upbringing held her back from coming out…You Can’t Buy Love Like That illustrates the pain of keeping feelings private, but also captures how, amid social change, Anderson found the courage to live her own big-hearted life.”
“In her sensitive and poignant memoir, You Can’t Buy Love Like That: Growing Up Gay in the Sixties, Carol E. Anderson bares her heart and soul to readers so beautifully and intelligently that even if you aren’t gay and weren’t born into a Fundamentalist Christian family in the sixties, you will be deeply moved.”
“Finding the love you yearn for requires a courageous step—telling the truth about who you are. And that’s especially delicate when all you hear is that you’re dangerously different. Carol Anderson’s eloquent voice and compelling story pinpoint a time in recent history when secrets held gay and lesbian people hostage, and unspoken truth poisoned their lives. Fortunately, though, her fearless, impassioned words are a particularly vivid reminder that, with a commitment to honesty, curiosity, and love, we can use our own stories—and our own differences—as a resource and an invitation to listen more deeply for the messages of emerging possibility all around us.”
“You can’t buy love like that” provides a glimpse of the challenges Carol faced and fears she overcame, regardless of what biases others had. Her relentless pursuit of understanding and being who she genuinely is, is a true inspiration and makes her the wonderful, caring, and capable person she is today. A must-read for anyone.”
“You Can’t Buy Love Like That: Growing Up Gay in the Sixties is a phenomenal read. Carol’s openness and willingness to be vulnerable in sharing her story was gentle, yet powerful. Her story will touch hearts, especially for those of us who have felt that same struggle. It takes courage and strength to stand up for what is inside of you and Carol certainly did that exquisitely. I couldn’t put the book down.”
“We are, according to Joan Didion, ‘well advised to keep on nodding terms with the person we used to be,’ a declaration that Carol Anderson has clearly taken to heart as she explores her younger self and what it was like, as a gay woman, to have to hide her true identity and her deepest feelings. Written with candor, compassion, and humor, You Can’t Buy Love Like That is, like all great memoirs, both specific and universal in its appeal.”
“A book for our time. About forgiveness, acceptance, and resilience. A book that pays homage to the power of love in all its forms that taps our hearts, ever so softly yet forcefully. Carol E. Anderson, a fellow traveler on the road to self-awareness and self-acceptance, brings the honesty of finding her sexual truth to us all through her latest book, You Can’t Buy Love Like That: Growing Up Gay in the Sixties. With her gentle ‘telling’ of her story, showing compassion to herself and all others touched along her journey so far, Anderson gives us all the power to find our own honesty about our lives and the lives of others. A must read.”
“As a scholar who studies gender, I appreciate the rich socio-historical lens Carol Anderson uses to share the experience of a woman coming out in the sixties. As an avid reader and an admirer of authentic prose, I felt privileged to see her soul, all the tender spots and the strong, resilient parts too. I gained so much from this memoir. Truthful and beautifully written, Anderson’s insightful journey is a reminder of the privilege of choice, the importance of voice and the power of love.
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Write about the emotions you fear the most...” Laurie Halse Anderson