Straight from the Heart: A Love Story

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Account of How Love Knows No Boundaries
Review: Being one of the first gay couples in the national spotlight, Bob Paris and Rod Jackson were pioneers who paved the way for other well-known, and prominent celebrities to come out of the closet in order to gain great greater acceptance in today's society. While many gay celebrity couples such as Ellen DeGeneres & Anne Heche and Melissa Etheridge and Julie Cypher have come out together with little or no opposition from both the media and society. The story of how these two men came out is an inspiration to all seeking acceptance, regardless of your sexual orientation.

Bob Paris, who was one of professional bodybuilding's top stars and Rod Jackson, a former Playgirl Man of the Year, met, fell in love, and later went on to stage a ceremonial wedding where they exchange vows. "Straight From the Heart," is mostly an autobiographical account of their lives, from their childhoods to their present-day lives. Although Paris and Jackson broke off their relationship in 1997, their story is still an excellent account of what it is to be gay and famous in today's society.

The book can be a tad bit too lame when it comes to both authors giving each other accolades or affection. However, I was intrigued by both Bob and Rod's touring the country and speaking at universities, colleges, and at events about their struggle for acceptance and their advocacy for gay & lesbian rights. The tour opened up in my alma mater, Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, where the authors faced a crowd that was both rude and anxious to hear them speak. I found that interesting because their appearance came a few years before I enrolled there.

"Straight From the Heart," is an interesting account of how love knows no boundaries. While Jackson hasn't been so visible in the spotlight lately, Bob Paris continues to be a best-selling author or fitness and gay studies books. He is an excellent author, as well as a fascinating individual. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to know what it feels like to risk everything in your life in order to pursue happiness with the one you love.

Rating:
Summary: Oh man...What a story.....
Review: I have always admired Bob Paris for his health and fitness and was equally amazed at his coming out. It was a great testimony of rising above the homophobia of his industry.

This book was his and former partner Rod's on-going chronicle of the development of their relationship. It would have been great...had it been another couple. I mean no disrespect but this was the most co-dependent couple that has ever written a book about relationships. You may have to read it to believe it.

I was not surprised when they later announced their public "divorce." The formula for their relationship was a disaster waiting to happen. Perhaps Mr. Paris should write a follow-up book about what lessons he's learned from that experience. This would help others who have thought that his last relationship was something to be modeled after to learn that there is a much better way for relationships to run.

The book is an easy read. The content however is a little hard to swallow but it's a real memoir. It would be an interesting study on co-dependent relationships. Read this book for what it is--a memoir, not a how-to book.

Rating:
Summary: Oh man...What a story.....
Review: I have always admired Bob Paris for his health and fitness and was equally amazed at his coming out. It was a great testimony of rising above the homophobia of his industry.

This book was his and former partner Rod's on-going chronicle of the development of their relationship. It would have been great...had it been another couple. I mean no disrespect but this was the most co-dependent couple that has ever written a book about relationships. You may have to read it to believe it.

I was not surprised when they later announced their public "divorce." The formula for their relationship was a disaster waiting to happen. Perhaps Mr. Paris should write a follow-up book about what lessons he's learned from that experience. This would help others who have thought that his last relationship was something to be modeled after to learn that there is a much better way for relationships to run.

The book is an easy read. The content however is a little hard to swallow but it's a real memoir. It would be an interesting study on co-dependent relationships. Read this book for what it is--a memoir, not a how-to book.

Rating:
Summary: I only give this book two stars only because....
Review: I only give this book two stars only because Rod and I grew up in the same hometown ( Windsor, Colo.), we are both orginally from Nebraska and went to the same church in Windsor ( with the same minister that was mentioned in this book, only this minister wasn't so accepting of my homosexuality as he was mentioned with Rod's homosexaulity in the book). It brought back the same strugles that I had with aceptance of my homosexuality that I had in Windsor 10 years later ( Rod in the late 70s. Myself in the late 80s).
I respect them both individually but as a gay couple on parade I don't subcribe to this approch ( when it comes to marriage ) that is stated in this book. It has been my experience that if you have to broadcast something this personal and this loud some thing is wrong with the situation.
My advice, If you are looking for a gay couples guide for a better marrige you won't find it here. This book is like a supermarket trade romance book that you see in the checkout line. If you want to work on your marrige work on your self first.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful love story which should be read by all
Review: Yes, it is true that Bob Paris and Rod Jackson are no longer together, but their love story was still beautiful. This book captures the thoughts of two men falling in love, and as such it should help heterosexuals to understand that our love is the same as theirs. Our marriages are the same as theirs. We have about a THOUSAND obstacles to overcome which heterosexuals do NOT have to confront, so it is a miracle that any of our love stories have happy endings. Some do, this one didn't. But it still shows two beautiful and wonderful people who fearlessly plunged into the treacherous waters of love. Love is always difficult, but when you have the entire world against your love, it is at once more magnificent and far more difficult to maintain. This book should be read by EVERYONE.

A young (...)man interviewed recently by the Washington Post said he wished he could be straight so he could marry and have a long-lasting love like straight couples do. This poor kid had never seen a loving (...)couple on television or in a book. What does this say about our representation of (...)men in the media? They are not showing the true, full story. This book shows a bit of the untold story. (...)men DO have love stories just like straight couples. And some have marriages that last more than 50 years, just like straight couples. It is tragic that our (...)youth are never shown this by America's homophobic media, which won't even allow Will Truman of "Will & Grace" to have a date or a kiss on TV. Every public library needs this book to show these kids that love knows no sexual orientation.