Mama's Boy
The Art of Building Bridges
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Mama's Boy
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Narrated by:
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Dustin Lance Black
About this listen
'To outsiders, my mom and I should have been enemies. Our house should have been divided -North vs South, red vs blue, conservative vs progressive, or however you want to put it. Instead, my mom and I fuelled each other. Her oil lit my lamp, and eventually mine lit hers. The tools I'd learned to wield growing up in her conservative, Christian, southern, military home were the same I'd used to wage battles that had taken me from a broken-down welfare apartment where gunfire sang me to sleep, to the biggest stages in the world, and to the front row of the United States Supreme Court to fight for LGBTQ equality.'
Dustin Lance Black wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for Milk and helped overturn California's anti-gay marriage Proposition 8, but he grew up in a conservative Mormon household outside San Antonio, Texas. His mother, Anne, was raised in rural Louisiana and contracted polio when she was two years old. She endured brutal surgeries as well as braces and crutches for life and was told that she would never have children or a family. Willfully defying expectations, she found salvation in an unlikely faith, raised three sons, and escaped the abuse and violence of two questionably devised Mormon marriages before finding love and an improbable career in the US civil service.
When Lance came out to his mother at 21, he was already studying the arts instead of going on his Mormon mission. She derided his sexuality as a sinful choice and was terrified for his future. Mama's Boy explores what it took to remain a family despite such division - a journey that stretched from the steps of the US Supreme Court to the woodsheds of East Texas. In the end, the rifts that have split a nation couldn't end this relationship that defined and inspired their remarkable lives.
Mama's Boy is their story. It's a story of the noble quest for a plane higher than politics - one of family, foundations, turmoil, tragedy, elation, and love. It is a story needed now more than ever.
©2019 Dustin Lance Black (P)2019 Penguin Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"A magnificent achievement...I cannot remember a book where I cried so often. Brave, insightful, unflinching, funny, sad, triumphant...everything. And both a warning and a hope for the times to come." (Stephen Fry)
"A beautifully written, utterly compelling account of growing up poor and gay with a thrice married, physically disabled, deeply religious Mormon mother, and the imprint this irrepressible woman made on the character of Dustin Lance Black. Their extraordinary bond left me exhilarated - it actually gave me hope for the future." (Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air)
What listeners say about Mama's Boy
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Willowdusk
- 04-02-20
Excellent
Loved it. Amazing and very moving. Highly recommend for everyone.
"A promise is a sacred thing."
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mrs JK
- 25-01-22
I loved it
Such an amazing story about two inspirational people, and read with such powerful emotion by the author.
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- Jo Bird
- 05-09-21
Inspiring, uplifting.
Possibly the best book I’ve read this year. I cried, I giggled, I cried again, but ultimately I was uplifted and inspired by the telling of this very personal story. I’m certain I’ll be reading this regularly since I couldn’t put it down the first time.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- J.P. Bebbington
- 04-05-19
Sentimental, sweet and inspirational.
A wonderfully written book that details a life and a family filled with battles fought, hardships faced, and love given.
There were many moments that had me in tears, and many that had me in fits of laughter.
I don't yet have the words to fully describe how this book makes me feel, but know that it is incredible.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- cat
- 22-07-19
Amazing !
Absolutely loved it , such an emotional rollercoaster
just listening to the book has made me want to be better and fight for what I believe in . DLB's mother was one of a kind !
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Louise Merrifield
- 27-03-20
Very moving, beautifully read.
Dustin really opens up about everything his family went through. You can hear the love he has for his family. I shed many tears whilst listening to his story.
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- Emma Ranshaw
- 17-11-21
Incredible!!
This book is a must read for everyone. it had me laughing, crying my eyes out and was filled with so much pride.
Masterfully written and flawlessly performed.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Gavin Bennett
- 28-10-21
Narration by Dustin Lance Black
This book could not be narrated by anyone other than Dustin Lance Black. His humanity and deep feeling felt honest and real and were deeply moving. Five stars for performance is not enough. Even though I only know his films I am sure I learned more about him than I could reading the printed book itself. I am so glad I chose the audiobook.
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- Darcie
- 11-05-19
An incredible listen
I have greatly admired Lance's work so decided to listen to this book, which was an amazing listen. It made me laugh and cry, and have such great admiration for Rosanna. This book was so great that I have finished listening to it in two days... during exam season (so maybe not the best choice after all!). The story was incredibly captivating, made better by the narration, in which the emotion of poignant moments made it feel like you were being told this story by an old friend.
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- Camilla Boesen
- 14-08-21
amazing book
The best book I've read. Lance' voice thoughout the book was amazing. I cried SO many times because you can hear how hard it was for Lance reading it out loud. definitely worth it. I'm about to read it for the second time in 3 days
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