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Amnesty
When Maura Jaeger's father dies she must return to the small town where she grew up and from which her family exiled her for being a lesbian. Forced to reexamine the childhood she has fought so hard to forget, Maura must grant herself her own amnesty and begin to live life on her own terms.
206 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 15, 2022
I thought the summary on the back cover of the edition I read a bit misleading. Maura doesn't return to the small town where she grew up (during the 1960s) until the end of the book and, even before she was outed, it was clear she would leave as soon as she could.
I thought this a story about a childhood, if not from hell, very close to it. It's about living with a cold, abusive father, going to Catholic school with cold-hearted, abusive nuns which was made worse for her because she wasn't Catholic, and living in a small town with narrow-minded people. Even at church, where you'd think her family might find support and empathy, the very judgmental, narrow-minded congregants wouldn't talk to Maura's mother after one son went to Canada to avoid the Viet Nam war and did not relent when another son joined the marines, going to Viet Nam. Maura's parents, the father in particular, were no less narrow-minded despite, or maybe because of, their own family's (those still in Germany) annihilation during WWII. The coldness and lack of communication worked its way into how Maura and her brothers, Colin and Zach, coped with the world. This book was as much, or more, about the impact of US involvement in Viet Nam and narrow-mindedness as it was about being lesbian.
I am drawn to these books about childhoods from hell. I have read the memoirs Educated, The Glass Castle and others. Now Amnesty, although a novel, it appears to be autobiographical. I do not think this is a reflection on my own childhood, but somehow I relate.
Ultimately Maura does go back to the small town she has been raised in for her father's funeral, sees her family briefly, and has some insight into how she has been living her life and resolves to change it. But this is a small part of the story.
I thought this a story about a childhood, if not from hell, very close to it. It's about living with a cold, abusive father, going to Catholic school with cold-hearted, abusive nuns which was made worse for her because she wasn't Catholic, and living in a small town with narrow-minded people. Even at church, where you'd think her family might find support and empathy, the very judgmental, narrow-minded congregants wouldn't talk to Maura's mother after one son went to Canada to avoid the Viet Nam war and did not relent when another son joined the marines, going to Viet Nam. Maura's parents, the father in particular, were no less narrow-minded despite, or maybe because of, their own family's (those still in Germany) annihilation during WWII. The coldness and lack of communication worked its way into how Maura and her brothers, Colin and Zach, coped with the world. This book was as much, or more, about the impact of US involvement in Viet Nam and narrow-mindedness as it was about being lesbian.
I am drawn to these books about childhoods from hell. I have read the memoirs Educated, The Glass Castle and others. Now Amnesty, although a novel, it appears to be autobiographical. I do not think this is a reflection on my own childhood, but somehow I relate.
Ultimately Maura does go back to the small town she has been raised in for her father's funeral, sees her family briefly, and has some insight into how she has been living her life and resolves to change it. But this is a small part of the story.
September 17, 2025
This book had an interesting writing style, almost like journal entries. About a young girl and her family and the difficulty growing up in her household. Some sexually graphic scenes that some people may not be comfortable with. It was really depressing but I think that was the effect the author wanted you to feel.
July 21, 2007
it's been at least 10 years since i read a poetry book. in fact, this is a novel, but it plays like bad poetry for the first two chapters. being so long since i'd read this type of work, i wanted to give it a chance to work its magic.
it didn't work. however, the poetry relented and in its place was an actual story. not a blindingly original story, but there were some nice visuals (thanks, poet!) and a few good observations. this one near the end struck me:
"Only the approved advertise themselves."
this in reference to the kinds of people we see in daily life, after the protagonist commented that she rarely saw families of mixed race, same gender, etcetera. at first i read that and thought, how true. and then i thought, actually that's not true at all. only the self-approved advertise themselves, because they have the self-confidence to be themselves, wherever they are.
and that's the perfect example of why this book is annoying. it had some good ideas, but the execution was off.
that said, i think it would be an interesting/realistic read for anyone coming from an abusive household, or who grew up in the 60's/early 70's.
it didn't work. however, the poetry relented and in its place was an actual story. not a blindingly original story, but there were some nice visuals (thanks, poet!) and a few good observations. this one near the end struck me:
"Only the approved advertise themselves."
this in reference to the kinds of people we see in daily life, after the protagonist commented that she rarely saw families of mixed race, same gender, etcetera. at first i read that and thought, how true. and then i thought, actually that's not true at all. only the self-approved advertise themselves, because they have the self-confidence to be themselves, wherever they are.
and that's the perfect example of why this book is annoying. it had some good ideas, but the execution was off.
that said, i think it would be an interesting/realistic read for anyone coming from an abusive household, or who grew up in the 60's/early 70's.
August 12, 2012
**Re-rated from a 4 to a 3** The first part was a little slow. And I could really have done without the one giant paragraph as introduction -- we invented paragraph breaks for a reason. But she has a beautiful way with language. Sometimes the switching of characters' voices was disjointed and I wasn't sure who was thinking/speaking. But overall this was a good but depressing work.
Maura comes from an abusive home and a dysfunctional family. Her oldest brother goes to Canada during Vietnam, her other brother joins the marines. She's a lesbian. Things keep not going so well. Eventually, her father dies. In many ways, not much happens in this book. It's a lot about getting in peoples' (and particularly Maura's) heads. Sometimes, her writing spoke to me but the story kind of stagnated at times.
Maura comes from an abusive home and a dysfunctional family. Her oldest brother goes to Canada during Vietnam, her other brother joins the marines. She's a lesbian. Things keep not going so well. Eventually, her father dies. In many ways, not much happens in this book. It's a lot about getting in peoples' (and particularly Maura's) heads. Sometimes, her writing spoke to me but the story kind of stagnated at times.
February 9, 2009
Loved this novel. It kept my interest. Classic story about families that make us and break us. Glad I stumbled across Louise Blum.
October 8, 2011
Great book. Really enjoyed it. Fascinating characters in a very sad family situation.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews