An Unconventional View

Rating:
Summary: My Take
Review: Linsey Savage takes us on a spiritual journey of his life in AN UNCONVENTIONAL VIEW. Beginning with his childhood in Philadelphia and into adulthood, Savage lays out the trials and tribulations that have shaped him to be the man that he is today. Born into a strict Pentecostal family, he was the second youngest child of seven children. His childhood was one of school and church, nothing more. His friends were church associates; the world he knew was his immediate family and church family. Over the course of time different issues and the behavior of the pastor and parishioners slowly became warped and Linsey watched as his brothers and sisters and the younger generation of the church rebelled and subsequently left the church and its teachings. What church teachings could propel a young man to flee his home church and the city of Philadelphia for Chicago?

AN UNCONVENTIONAL VIEW is laid out chronologically beginning with an introduction explaining the author's reasoning, desire and need to write about his life. The introduction alone is profound and heartfelt and begs you to keep reading. The chapters that follow take us through each phase of his life and the offerings are peppered with his spiritual connection with God. Regardless of his circumstance, Savage had faith and that faith sustained him. The author's writing is mature and quickly grabs your attention. One thought continuously came to mind as I read about his childhood - out of the mouths of babes. Some of the chapters that follow are a bit repetitive as he seeks love in all the wrong places only to find infatuation, lust, selfishness and deceit. Despite Savage's trials, to some he may offer a thoughtful and emotional lesson and to others, an incomprehensible and perplexing message. AN UNCONVENTIONAL VIEW is a heart wrenching and sad, but spirit-filled account of one boy's life into manhood and his dealing with the hand he was dealt.

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers


Rating:
Summary: Spiritually Enriched
Review: Linsey Savage's Unconventional View is more than just another same sex relationship book. Linsey shows the reader of the ups and downs of being interested in sex with other males as he struggles with the church and his family.

Brought up in the City of Brotherly Love and attending church his entire life Linsey had to find a spiritual belief on his own. The church that he attended in Philadelphia was more of cult than a church and as many folks church gossip was ever so present. He was taught that he had to confess to the pastor in order to get into the pearly gates at the end of the road. He did as the pastor instructed, he told her all his feelings towards other men and how he wish he didn't feel the things that he was feeling and how he prayed feverishly for God to relieve him of these feeling. Instead of holding this information in silence the pastor being a woman decided it was best that the congregation knew of this information and it spread like wild flower. Ultimately he was not only embarrassed but also fed up with the cult like activities and not only left the church but left the city headed for the mid west.

The west brought about a different set of wins and loses. He found a platonic friendship in another male who also was engaging in same sex activities for him to only leave him. His dear friend suffered from AIDS and sent Linsey into a slight depression. He found solace in his spiritual being and a female friend from church. When she fell in love with him and he explained his same sex issues with her she took a breathing period but yet remained his closet confidant

I must say that I enjoyed this book, it is more a book about spirituality than it is about same sex relationships. I enjoyed reading the different ways different churches practices Christianity. I gave this book a four because It was not only educational for me but I also enjoyed watching him grow from a boy to a man. It was real; by the time the book ended I felt that I knew this gentleman personally. I would recommend Unconventional View to anyone who is dealing with sexual frustration and spirituality.
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