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Lone Stars
Lone Stars follows the arc of four generations of a Texan family in a changing America. Julian Warner, a father at last, wrestles with a question his husband posed: what will you tell our son about the people you came from, now that they're gone? Finding the answers takes Julian back in time to Eisenhower's immigration border raids, an epistolary love affair during the Vietnam War, crumbling marriages, queer migrations to Cambridge and New York, up to the disorienting polarization of Obama's second term. And in these answers lies a hope: that by uncloseting ourselves--as immigrants, smart women, gay people--we find power in empathy.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published February 2, 2021
88 people are currently reading
4473 people want to read
About the author
Justin Deabler
1 book79 followersHello!
I'm Justin, and I can't remember a time when I wasn't reading. When I was really little, I read with my mom every day. In grade school, it was a point of pride (and great pleasure) on long summer days to go to the library and grab another armful of novels to take home and get lost in. Years later, when I wrote my first fiction manuscript, I would describe the experience of writing much like that of reading: a kind of psychic dollhouse, an imaginary place where you can go, and play, and work out the challenges and feelings coming up in your everyday life.
I grew up in Houston. I dropped out of high school when I was fifteen. I was bored, but I was also bullied to a point of no return, and I feared for my safety and mental health all the time. An intellectual, closeted, gender-nonconforming boy in Texas in the Nineties--it wasn't a good fit. I got lucky and won a full ride to a crazy lefty early college in the Berkshires that took kids when they were young teens. (Simon's Rock!) I don't know what would've happened to me if that door hadn't opened, but I got out.
Later on, I went to law school and became a civil rights lawyer, working to stop bullying in schools, protect immigrants and LGBT folks, and make sure everyone has access to a public education no matter what we look like, where we're from, or what language we speak. After years of fighting the fight, I recently moved over to become the head lawyer for the Queens Public Library. It kind of felt like coming home, to return to a library as an adult, and work to help young people, older people, families, all sorts of people who rely upon this incredible institution for so many forms of enrichment and support in their lives.
I wrote a book, called Lone Stars, inspired by my parents and their lives, and my own life growing up in Texas. It's sort of about people uncloseting themselves--as gay people, immigrants, smart women--and the empathic power we can summon when we are able to declare ourselves and live authentically in the world.
The book is coming out in February 2021. It's been a wonderful experience working on it, becoming the person, husband, and dad who could eventually write it over the course of years. And if you happen to take a look at it, I hope it brings you joy.
I'm Justin, and I can't remember a time when I wasn't reading. When I was really little, I read with my mom every day. In grade school, it was a point of pride (and great pleasure) on long summer days to go to the library and grab another armful of novels to take home and get lost in. Years later, when I wrote my first fiction manuscript, I would describe the experience of writing much like that of reading: a kind of psychic dollhouse, an imaginary place where you can go, and play, and work out the challenges and feelings coming up in your everyday life.
I grew up in Houston. I dropped out of high school when I was fifteen. I was bored, but I was also bullied to a point of no return, and I feared for my safety and mental health all the time. An intellectual, closeted, gender-nonconforming boy in Texas in the Nineties--it wasn't a good fit. I got lucky and won a full ride to a crazy lefty early college in the Berkshires that took kids when they were young teens. (Simon's Rock!) I don't know what would've happened to me if that door hadn't opened, but I got out.
Later on, I went to law school and became a civil rights lawyer, working to stop bullying in schools, protect immigrants and LGBT folks, and make sure everyone has access to a public education no matter what we look like, where we're from, or what language we speak. After years of fighting the fight, I recently moved over to become the head lawyer for the Queens Public Library. It kind of felt like coming home, to return to a library as an adult, and work to help young people, older people, families, all sorts of people who rely upon this incredible institution for so many forms of enrichment and support in their lives.
I wrote a book, called Lone Stars, inspired by my parents and their lives, and my own life growing up in Texas. It's sort of about people uncloseting themselves--as gay people, immigrants, smart women--and the empathic power we can summon when we are able to declare ourselves and live authentically in the world.
The book is coming out in February 2021. It's been a wonderful experience working on it, becoming the person, husband, and dad who could eventually write it over the course of years. And if you happen to take a look at it, I hope it brings you joy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
November 18, 2020
Hello! I wrote this book and wanted to share a little about my inspiration. Really I started writing it to try and answer questions that there was no one around left to ask. Much of my extended family is gone. I lost my mom rather suddenly twelve years ago, and my dad can be hard to locate. I wanted to understand better where I came from, so I followed the scraps of stories my parents told me about themselves and each other, and their own parents, and I rooted through papers and old boxes of things they left behind, and I tried to stay open to the places where they led me. In the process, I found that I was writing a story about Texas, where I grew up, and about migration. Immigrants who cross national borders to find a better life. Queer people and misfits, who can’t live where they are born and so they leave for safer lands. This book is inspired by my own family’s story, and at forty-three years old I’m only now beginning to appreciate how much we live in the echoes of all that came before us.
February 5, 2021
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 5 Stars
Story - 5 Stars
February 2, 2021
This is a well-written familiy saga which explores discrimination, racism, adoption, same sex relationships, and other topics. The characters are well developed.
February 10, 2023
Look, I get what this book was trying to do.
Here we have a multi-generational story of "where do we come from/how did we get from A to B?" with a lot of family drama with pop cultural references and historical events sprinkled in the background to anchor us in whatever year a given chapter was taking place in. You got the rising high school football star who gets drafted into the Vietnam War and tries so hard not to become his father that he becomes something worse. We have the brilliant young girl (and honestly my favorite character) who society wasn't ready for so her potential gets strangled by a patriarchy she can't overcome. And you have their obviously-gay little boy who they pin all their hopes and dreams on, like their parents did to them, only to create a perfectionist who's never pleased with his own accomplishments.
It's a fine cast, with a well-told story. I just couldn't get invested.
It feels too strong to say I didn't care. Lacey was a wonderful woman that had an unfortunate life through no fault of her own, but parts of this book just didn't sit well with me. The first thing I took issue with was how in-your-face some of the time clues were. Like yes, obviously you'd expect people during the Vietnam War to talk about it, even if they were civilians. But as the story progressed we're told how characters were eating these new things called "Chicken McNuggets" in the early 80's, or messing around with portable CD players in the 90's, references to 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, pushback to Obama's reelection, to say nothing of constant then-contemporary music cameos. That's all fine on it's own and in moderation, but sometimes these mentions were back-to-back at the expense of the flow of a given scene that I felt like they were shouting at me, "Do you get it? Do you get what year this is?!"
Secondly, towards the end of the book you have this married gay couple with well-paying jobs they love, a curated home just to their liking, and the ability to take vacations whenever they want, but they feel like it's all for nothing because... they don't have kids of their own? That's a herteronormative can of worms I don't feel like opening right now, but short of a brief chapter in the 90's and a passing Matthew Shepard reference, no other gay people are mentioned in this story. There was no sense of community and it all felt very sterile from that standpoint, like this book was written by an overly supportive PFLAG mom with a laser focus on her own son. But now that I write that, I feel like that's the actual target demographic for this book.
Overall I'm left walking away from this one feeling kind of bummed out and like the message I should take away is, "family sucks, and there's nothing you can do about it."
Here we have a multi-generational story of "where do we come from/how did we get from A to B?" with a lot of family drama with pop cultural references and historical events sprinkled in the background to anchor us in whatever year a given chapter was taking place in. You got the rising high school football star who gets drafted into the Vietnam War and tries so hard not to become his father that he becomes something worse. We have the brilliant young girl (and honestly my favorite character) who society wasn't ready for so her potential gets strangled by a patriarchy she can't overcome. And you have their obviously-gay little boy who they pin all their hopes and dreams on, like their parents did to them, only to create a perfectionist who's never pleased with his own accomplishments.
It's a fine cast, with a well-told story. I just couldn't get invested.
It feels too strong to say I didn't care. Lacey was a wonderful woman that had an unfortunate life through no fault of her own, but parts of this book just didn't sit well with me. The first thing I took issue with was how in-your-face some of the time clues were. Like yes, obviously you'd expect people during the Vietnam War to talk about it, even if they were civilians. But as the story progressed we're told how characters were eating these new things called "Chicken McNuggets" in the early 80's, or messing around with portable CD players in the 90's, references to 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, pushback to Obama's reelection, to say nothing of constant then-contemporary music cameos. That's all fine on it's own and in moderation, but sometimes these mentions were back-to-back at the expense of the flow of a given scene that I felt like they were shouting at me, "Do you get it? Do you get what year this is?!"
Secondly, towards the end of the book you have this married gay couple with well-paying jobs they love, a curated home just to their liking, and the ability to take vacations whenever they want, but they feel like it's all for nothing because... they don't have kids of their own? That's a herteronormative can of worms I don't feel like opening right now, but short of a brief chapter in the 90's and a passing Matthew Shepard reference, no other gay people are mentioned in this story. There was no sense of community and it all felt very sterile from that standpoint, like this book was written by an overly supportive PFLAG mom with a laser focus on her own son. But now that I write that, I feel like that's the actual target demographic for this book.
Overall I'm left walking away from this one feeling kind of bummed out and like the message I should take away is, "family sucks, and there's nothing you can do about it."
June 25, 2021
4.5, because of a slow start for me, but unreservedly giving this book 5 stars. I had been looking forward to this book since long before it came out, and once I finally had a chance to start reading it, I was mildly disappointed, as the language felt "off," a bit underdeveloped, perhaps? I was feeling a bit underwhelmed, and I wasn't sure if I would continue, but I did, and very soon, whatever the voice and tone that I was somehow being put off by disappeared, and I started to really enjoy this book. By the middle of the book, I was very much "in," and by the last quarter of the book, I felt that my enthusiastic wait for this book had been justified.
February 2, 2021
Lone Stars
is a multigenerational story of love, pain, equality, and struggle. The story takes off with Julian Warner discussing what he and his husband will do when their son asks about Julian's family. With a series of flashbacks from the moment his mother hit adolescence, to marriage, and child bearing years, we see the story of love and pain. A world torn apart through war and the struggle for acceptance. This story is a heavily drawn character study on the Warner family and their story in American history. We touch upon tough subject matter including; the Vietnam War, immigration, same-sex marriage, and religion. A beautifully told portrait of an American family.
January 27, 2021
I loved this book! It’s very well-balanced. A lot happens to the characters, but it never feels excessive or overloaded. You never feel like the author is piling things on just to pile things on. I also love that even though this spans 60 years of American history, everything in it still feels completely relevant to today. It reminded me a lot of The Heart’s Invisible Furies & I think anyone who enjoyed that would enjoy this book too.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley.
December 26, 2023
I received a free electronic ARC of this excellent novel from Netgalley, Justin Deabler, and St. Martin's Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Justin Deabler writes a tight family saga with protagonists you feel you know. Some of them, I'm afraid to say, I'm probably kin to. This is a debut novel, but you won't know it by the stories here. Justin Deabler writes with heart.
We follow four generations of the Warner family through the ins and outs of central Texas from the late 1960s through the 2000s. We see the Vietnam War through the eyes of Texas boys. We live it, through the rise and fall of the first air-conditioned events stadium, the Houston Astrodome, the growth of and the sudden death of Enron, the loss of the space shuttle Challenger, the rapid growth of Houston. Especially, we see the problems with the border of Mexico, the efforts we must make to help immigrants settle into life as we know it here in the U.S., and the inroads made through these years into finding equality for our minorities, the LGBT community, immigrants, and women in our world today. This is a book to savor, with protagonists who matter to you immediately, going through life challenges that we have each faced ourselves, in one degree or another. It is a joy to watch as the world begins to adapt to a more liberated community of folk. There are days you might need a microscope to see progress, but we ARE finding our way to a more equal standard.
pub date changed to Feb 2, 2021
Reviewed on January 27, 2021, at Goodreads and Netgalley. Reviewed on February 2, 2021, on AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
We follow four generations of the Warner family through the ins and outs of central Texas from the late 1960s through the 2000s. We see the Vietnam War through the eyes of Texas boys. We live it, through the rise and fall of the first air-conditioned events stadium, the Houston Astrodome, the growth of and the sudden death of Enron, the loss of the space shuttle Challenger, the rapid growth of Houston. Especially, we see the problems with the border of Mexico, the efforts we must make to help immigrants settle into life as we know it here in the U.S., and the inroads made through these years into finding equality for our minorities, the LGBT community, immigrants, and women in our world today. This is a book to savor, with protagonists who matter to you immediately, going through life challenges that we have each faced ourselves, in one degree or another. It is a joy to watch as the world begins to adapt to a more liberated community of folk. There are days you might need a microscope to see progress, but we ARE finding our way to a more equal standard.
pub date changed to Feb 2, 2021
Reviewed on January 27, 2021, at Goodreads and Netgalley. Reviewed on February 2, 2021, on AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
Want to read
May 20, 2020May 20, 2020: This is going to be so emotional with these important themes, uff.
September 24, 2021
3.5 / 5
This book has been sitting on my NetGalley shelf since this time last year, not sure why I waited so long to read it. I was drawn to it as it was described as a generational saga taking place in Texas. -that right there checks off boxes for me.
It sweeps through this family from the time Eisenhower was president with anti-immigration raids, traversing the Vietnam War, and into the 2000s with the gay rights struggle.
The main character is Julian, although the opening chapters are solely about his mother and grandmother. The story shifts to become Julian’s coming out story and how his mother, Lacey, becomes his strongest advocate.
I thought the pace lagged some as we got caught up in the minutiae of everyday life, but I loved all the historical markers in this story. And of course, being familiar with the Texas towns and places, made it feel inviting. Deabler touches on many important and relevant topics: immigration, racism, homophobia, and the political divide, making it a thought-provoking read.
Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this gifted copy.
This book has been sitting on my NetGalley shelf since this time last year, not sure why I waited so long to read it. I was drawn to it as it was described as a generational saga taking place in Texas. -that right there checks off boxes for me.
It sweeps through this family from the time Eisenhower was president with anti-immigration raids, traversing the Vietnam War, and into the 2000s with the gay rights struggle.
The main character is Julian, although the opening chapters are solely about his mother and grandmother. The story shifts to become Julian’s coming out story and how his mother, Lacey, becomes his strongest advocate.
I thought the pace lagged some as we got caught up in the minutiae of everyday life, but I loved all the historical markers in this story. And of course, being familiar with the Texas towns and places, made it feel inviting. Deabler touches on many important and relevant topics: immigration, racism, homophobia, and the political divide, making it a thought-provoking read.
Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this gifted copy.
March 8, 2021
Attention catching multi-generational family saga.
Many things influence and shape our lives and this tells how it came about in Julian Weaver's life. He is a gay man, a new dad fourth generation Texan researching his roots after his husband asks him, " what will you tell our son about the people you come, from now that they're gone?"
Told in a manner of self discovery of past generations. Each generation goes through their own struggles,hopes,dreams,failures and imparts wisdom upon the next generation who grow and prosper from past experiences.
Published February 2nd 2021 by St. Martin's Press
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Many things influence and shape our lives and this tells how it came about in Julian Weaver's life. He is a gay man, a new dad fourth generation Texan researching his roots after his husband asks him, " what will you tell our son about the people you come, from now that they're gone?"
Told in a manner of self discovery of past generations. Each generation goes through their own struggles,hopes,dreams,failures and imparts wisdom upon the next generation who grow and prosper from past experiences.
Published February 2nd 2021 by St. Martin's Press
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
January 30, 2021
At first, the pace of this epic, multi-generational story as it moved through the early generations caused me to lose interest a little, but they were important to understand the lives that eventually led to Julian. By the midpoint, I was so enmeshed in the family that I cheered for every choice that led to success and lamented every decision that led to failure. I cried when lives and marriages fell apart, but the ultimate note of hopefulness that the book ends on made the entire rollercoaster worthwhile. A really stunning story.
February 16, 2021
What a riveting debut novel! How I enjoy those multi-generational family sagas, and this one did not disappoint. The main protagonist is Julian Warner, a young genius who discovers his gayness in a very realistic manner and who is so lucky to have such a loving and dedicated mother like Lacy. Never have I read a LGBTQ book whose main focus is not on gayness, it was so great and refreshing. I enjoyed seeing him grow up and go through all those life stages we all go through, no matter our sexual orientation.
It is interesting to note the recurring theme of rejection and shame, starting with Julian’s maternal grandmother and the denial of her Mexican roots, which can be understandable when put in context, followed by Julian’s father and his difficulties accepting his son for who he was, and finishing with Julian being ashamed of his mother when comparing her to his wealthy in-laws. The beauty of it all is that, no matter our flaws, no one us is perfect. Despite that, the people in our lives love us by accepting who we are. This is what is so beautiful in this story, and much needed to hear in a time where we all pretend to be someone we’re not on social media.
I also have to point out the love story between Lacy Adams and Aaron Warner that was so romantic! I was swooning over those two: the way they fell in love before they even met while corresponding during WWII was so Hollywood-esque!
This is my favorite LGBTQ novel ever, I don’t recall ever reading one that did not revolve around the protagonist’s sexuality. This one is meaty; it has a lot of content and would be a smart book club selection.
Thank you very much Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for this e-ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.
It is interesting to note the recurring theme of rejection and shame, starting with Julian’s maternal grandmother and the denial of her Mexican roots, which can be understandable when put in context, followed by Julian’s father and his difficulties accepting his son for who he was, and finishing with Julian being ashamed of his mother when comparing her to his wealthy in-laws. The beauty of it all is that, no matter our flaws, no one us is perfect. Despite that, the people in our lives love us by accepting who we are. This is what is so beautiful in this story, and much needed to hear in a time where we all pretend to be someone we’re not on social media.
I also have to point out the love story between Lacy Adams and Aaron Warner that was so romantic! I was swooning over those two: the way they fell in love before they even met while corresponding during WWII was so Hollywood-esque!
This is my favorite LGBTQ novel ever, I don’t recall ever reading one that did not revolve around the protagonist’s sexuality. This one is meaty; it has a lot of content and would be a smart book club selection.
Thank you very much Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for this e-ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.
February 3, 2021
While I loved the premise, the writing is unfortunately too pedestrian for me. It’s charming in concept, family stories to pass on... and regrettably that’s how it reads, like stories told affectionately at family reunions and dinners. ...the kind of stories that make anyone outside the family listen politely, but ultimately forget.
March 22, 2021
I’m not sure how I felt about this book. There were parts of the story where I wanted to live longer for a while and other parts that seemed like filler. Maybe I just sensed holes? Or inconsistencies in character development?
September 16, 2021
Full disclosure: I was given a copy of this book by my husband, who wrote it.
Also of note: I waited to read Lone Stars until now because I knew Justin's inspiration for it was incredibly personal and I wanted to both give him space to create the story he wanted to tell, and to give myself the opportunity to receive it on its own terms and with fresh eyes. And I'm glad I did. Because I find myself getting lost in an incredibly eloquent and evocative novel about various distinct, highly specific American lives, each of which is utterly relatable.
These characters are all inspired by real people--most of whom I know or knew well--but they live and breathe entirely on their own in the world of this riveting, entertaining, crisply written book. Justin has achieved what I love most about storytelling: the creation of events that excite the imagination, while at the same time allow truth to live, breathe, and be expressed in all of its complexity. (Factually I can say that much of this book is fiction, and yet all of it feels entirely true to me).
Best of all, the story is told with such exquisite precision and purpose that I believe it transcends the specific realities on which it was inspired, and speaks into and about so many lives. I found myself continuously surprised and deeply moved by the empathic detail and clarity of how each vastly distinct character dared to answer the questions: What does it mean to live the American Dream? Where do I need to move in order to be free? What changes must I demand in order to truly live and love? And am I willing to make those sacrifices?
I not only encourage you to read Lone Stars but to commit to telling your own stories in creative ways as well.
Too many creative liberties have been taken with facts in the arena of public discourse these days, as opposed to the mediums of art where they belong, and where the act of creativity can actually be of great benefit. I have always loved what Thomas Hardy wrote along these lines:
"Art is a disproportioning—(i.e., distorting, throwing out of proportion)— of realities, to show more clearly the features that matter in those realities, which, if merely copied or reported inventorially, might possibly be observed, but would more probably be overlooked."
Lone Stars is a terrific example of such a "disproportioning" of reality in order "to show more clearly" what matters in an American, or perhaps any life.
Similarly, I hope each of you find ways to share your realities through creative works of art in your own unique ways. That's what I believe makes, or at least can make, America great: our highly specific stories, and our capacities to tell them in order to forge connections--even with people who seem very different from us on the surface.
For anyone who may find it helpful, I also wanted to share some reviews that I believe do Lone Stars justice:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/02/bo...
https://www.lonestarliterary.com/cont...
https://www.vvaveteran.org/41-1/41-1_...
https://epgn.com/2021/03/09/touching-...
Also of note: I waited to read Lone Stars until now because I knew Justin's inspiration for it was incredibly personal and I wanted to both give him space to create the story he wanted to tell, and to give myself the opportunity to receive it on its own terms and with fresh eyes. And I'm glad I did. Because I find myself getting lost in an incredibly eloquent and evocative novel about various distinct, highly specific American lives, each of which is utterly relatable.
These characters are all inspired by real people--most of whom I know or knew well--but they live and breathe entirely on their own in the world of this riveting, entertaining, crisply written book. Justin has achieved what I love most about storytelling: the creation of events that excite the imagination, while at the same time allow truth to live, breathe, and be expressed in all of its complexity. (Factually I can say that much of this book is fiction, and yet all of it feels entirely true to me).
Best of all, the story is told with such exquisite precision and purpose that I believe it transcends the specific realities on which it was inspired, and speaks into and about so many lives. I found myself continuously surprised and deeply moved by the empathic detail and clarity of how each vastly distinct character dared to answer the questions: What does it mean to live the American Dream? Where do I need to move in order to be free? What changes must I demand in order to truly live and love? And am I willing to make those sacrifices?
I not only encourage you to read Lone Stars but to commit to telling your own stories in creative ways as well.
Too many creative liberties have been taken with facts in the arena of public discourse these days, as opposed to the mediums of art where they belong, and where the act of creativity can actually be of great benefit. I have always loved what Thomas Hardy wrote along these lines:
"Art is a disproportioning—(i.e., distorting, throwing out of proportion)— of realities, to show more clearly the features that matter in those realities, which, if merely copied or reported inventorially, might possibly be observed, but would more probably be overlooked."
Lone Stars is a terrific example of such a "disproportioning" of reality in order "to show more clearly" what matters in an American, or perhaps any life.
Similarly, I hope each of you find ways to share your realities through creative works of art in your own unique ways. That's what I believe makes, or at least can make, America great: our highly specific stories, and our capacities to tell them in order to forge connections--even with people who seem very different from us on the surface.
For anyone who may find it helpful, I also wanted to share some reviews that I believe do Lone Stars justice:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/02/bo...
https://www.lonestarliterary.com/cont...
https://www.vvaveteran.org/41-1/41-1_...
https://epgn.com/2021/03/09/touching-...
December 16, 2021
This 2021 staff favorite is recommended by Andrea and Marianne. Read Andrea's review on the Cook Memorial Public Library blog, Shelf Life: https://shelflife.cooklib.org/2021/06...
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore...
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore...
June 27, 2021
If anything ... this is about how our lives are impacted / shaped in one way or another by our parents, who are themselves shaped / impacted by their parents (the proverbial sins of the fathers (and mothers) are compounded, transmuted and perpetuated down to their children. By sharing stories, to being willing to open one's heart and mind, the giving and receiving of truth and forgiveness, and by gaining understanding and compassion - these facilitate how we can disentangle and break free from emotional bonds and wounds.
This is Julian Warner's story ... and that of his parents; what a complex and amazing character Lacy turned out to be. One of my more favorite reads of 2021 to date - a 5 star engrossing tale spanning two generations; where I was very moved in several places ... it was hard to stop the tears flowing.
This is Julian Warner's story ... and that of his parents; what a complex and amazing character Lacy turned out to be. One of my more favorite reads of 2021 to date - a 5 star engrossing tale spanning two generations; where I was very moved in several places ... it was hard to stop the tears flowing.
October 19, 2022
Julian Warner thinks about the stories he'd like to tell his child about family. Lone Stars is a collection of stories about Julian's extended family, with stories about his grandparents, his parents, and the family of his spouse. The stories---Julian's father's time in Vietnam, Julian's mother's time at UT, the marriage of Julian's parents, Julian's growing up years, Julian's dad's affair---explain a lot about the family and its dynamics. And the stories help Julian come to know what he wants out of the new life he's creating with his husband and child.
Lots and lots of references to Texas places.
Lots and lots of references to Texas places.
February 1, 2021
This is a lovely big hearted novel about a family which will linger in your mind. Lacy was the smartest girl in town; her mother, who had a secret, wanted her to be pretty. Aaron was the smartest boy in his town as well but when he doesn't make it into medical school, he finds himself drafted. These two become unlikely pen pals during the Vietnam war and then, on the day Aaron finally gets back to the US, they marry. Their son Julian watches their marriage fall apart even as he discovers his own sexuality. He too is the smartest kid in town and ends up at Harvard, where he meets and ultimately marries, Phillip. That's the outline but what's within is the story of a woman whose intelligence is squashed by the system pushing her out of a Phd program, a troubled man who finds solace in cheating on his wife, and a son who spreads his wings. Lacy does everything she can for Julian and after he graduates for the gay kids at the high school where she teaches. This opens with Julian reflecting on the son- Pabl0- he has adopted with Phillip. I would have skipped the prologue, which to my mind didn't add because it removed the tension from their effort to have a child but no matter. I loved these characters, especially Lacey, loved the small things (the Ren faire!), the big things (what we hide from ourselves and others). Deabler is a terrific storyteller and I found myself unable to put this down. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. I loved this one and highly recommend.
February 11, 2021
Me encantan los libros con sagas familiares y este es de ese tipo, pero no sé si es porque es debut pero le falta garra. Los personajes están muy desdibujados y no acabas conectando del todo con ninguno. Una pena porque podía ser un libro muy completo porque la historia da para ello.
December 1, 2021
Good story about 4 generations in Texas. Touches on racial discrimination, same sex relationships, and economic disparity. Takes place starting in the 1960s to about 2012. Many historical events are mentioned which occurred during that time period.
January 28, 2023
I found pieces of myself I had hidden away somewhere in this pretty smooth paced saga that covers decades of soapy, revelatory modern family drama where Texas may be the lone star.
“And he wondered—which stories to tell?” (pg 3)
“And he wondered—which stories to tell?” (pg 3)
February 14, 2021
I loved this book. It’s a multi-generational family saga that takes place in Texas where the hair is big, people pray at the altar of football, you’ve got to go along to get along and if you are even slightly different than everyone else life can be harder than it has to. Julian ponders the question asked by his husband “what will you tell our son about your family history and from whence you came?” The writer takes us along on Julians journey through generations to figure out who he is and how he came to be. The writing is exquisite, loving, kind, explores so many different and important times in our history and interestingly so many of the issues that were relevant then are no less relevant today. Immigration, war, LGBTQ, racism, bigotry, politics……And how each factor in to Julians life road of experience. Please do yourself a favor and read this book slowly and take it all in. It's an emotional story that will leave you better for reading it.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press and Justin Deabler
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press and Justin Deabler
January 25, 2021
I'm still parsing through all of my thoughts on this one a bit, but overall I really enjoyed this debut by Justin Deabler; I think this would a really interesting book to discuss with a book club. I love a good multi-generational family story and this one definitely delivered on that front. I was quickly sucked into the story and trying to figure out where it would all lead. In particular, it made me think a lot about how we are shaped by our parents'/family's pasts, even the parts we may not know about. There were some parts of the family's story that I was hoping we'd eventually get more clarity on - but perhaps that was the point, that some things will remain somewhat unknown? I was completely engrossed for the majority of this book but then there was something about the ending that left me a bit dissatisfied - and I'm still trying to figure out what exactly it was.
4/5 stars
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2021
Why did I pick this book? I believe it was featured in an article in Good Housekeeping- noting the "feel good" family story to it.
General Summary A modern family saga, the story opens with new father, Julian Warner pondering what stories from his childhood and what memories of his parents will he tell to his own child. The author then takes the reader back in time (to the 1950s), meeting Julian's mom- Lacy- who grew up along the border of Texas and Mexico, and his father-Aaron- who grew up in West Texas and found himself drafted into the Vietnam war. The story then continues forward-through Julian's childhood, and into his years as a young adult, and newlywed.
My thoughts and impression Maybe I was just in the mood for a good emotional read but this book hit all the marks. It was easy to get into, the stories flowed, the characters while flawed also had true talents and gifts that were expertly explored by the author. The story left me pondering- what stories and memories do I hope to pass on to my children and how will their childhood as they move onto their own adult journeys.
I loved how the author infused the story with historical events- from the Eisenhower's anti-immigration border raids of the 1950s, to the Vietnam era, through the early years of the AIDS epidemic, even the financial collapse of Wall street in2006-2007. Just a dash of history to help the reader sort through where we were as a nation in that time in the character's lives.
I found this review to put my thoughts into perfect words:
Lone Stars tells a universal story, as all good books do. Each of us spends a lifetime searching for belonging, for our place and our tribe. The best of us, the Lacys of the world, attempt to prepare the ground, amending the soil for the next generation. As Lacy would say, “Raise hell. Never shut up. It’s all over before you know it.”
General Summary A modern family saga, the story opens with new father, Julian Warner pondering what stories from his childhood and what memories of his parents will he tell to his own child. The author then takes the reader back in time (to the 1950s), meeting Julian's mom- Lacy- who grew up along the border of Texas and Mexico, and his father-Aaron- who grew up in West Texas and found himself drafted into the Vietnam war. The story then continues forward-through Julian's childhood, and into his years as a young adult, and newlywed.
My thoughts and impression Maybe I was just in the mood for a good emotional read but this book hit all the marks. It was easy to get into, the stories flowed, the characters while flawed also had true talents and gifts that were expertly explored by the author. The story left me pondering- what stories and memories do I hope to pass on to my children and how will their childhood as they move onto their own adult journeys.
I loved how the author infused the story with historical events- from the Eisenhower's anti-immigration border raids of the 1950s, to the Vietnam era, through the early years of the AIDS epidemic, even the financial collapse of Wall street in2006-2007. Just a dash of history to help the reader sort through where we were as a nation in that time in the character's lives.
I found this review to put my thoughts into perfect words:
Lone Stars tells a universal story, as all good books do. Each of us spends a lifetime searching for belonging, for our place and our tribe. The best of us, the Lacys of the world, attempt to prepare the ground, amending the soil for the next generation. As Lacy would say, “Raise hell. Never shut up. It’s all over before you know it.”
November 27, 2021
For some apparent reason, I did not want to like this book. I am not fond of the state of Texas, and I am not fond of the ideas and beliefs that come out of Texas. It's far too conservative a state for me. I am proud to say that I have never been to Texas. That's my history. But I read the book with an open mind and I do believe I needed to read this book, to give me a more balanced view of the state and to show me I needed to take down a wall. Texas does produce some awesome and amazing people and some great ideas too. But not enough of either.
I truly loved the author's writing skills. I really enjoyed the look across generations. I loved the way history evolved for these families. I love the way important occasions were planned, prepped, and talked about, but you were not there to actually witness them. That was left for your imagination. A great tool the author used.
I became very emotional reading this book. I do not know why. Many times throughout the book I was struck to tears as I was reading. The author seemed to know what emotion to pull out of me. Another great tool in his literary tool chest. In the end, I do recommend this book and gave it a five star rating, not because it was a profound literary achievement, but rather because it changed me for the better.
I truly loved the author's writing skills. I really enjoyed the look across generations. I loved the way history evolved for these families. I love the way important occasions were planned, prepped, and talked about, but you were not there to actually witness them. That was left for your imagination. A great tool the author used.
I became very emotional reading this book. I do not know why. Many times throughout the book I was struck to tears as I was reading. The author seemed to know what emotion to pull out of me. Another great tool in his literary tool chest. In the end, I do recommend this book and gave it a five star rating, not because it was a profound literary achievement, but rather because it changed me for the better.
December 29, 2020
I guess I should have read the description a bit better, but I gave it my best shot and got to 55%. Then I closed it and said, “self, you don’t have to finish this”. When a book makes you feel uncomfortable and anxious, I have to call it quits.
I am a 64-year-old grandmother, have two nephews that are gay and I respect their choices. But I do not want nor need to read about, observe or inquire of their personal sexual relations. This story crosses that line. The first half of this book is good, it starts out with Lacy and Julien’s early life, then about 50% in, it takes a dive and that was it for me. I even started flipping thru trying to see if it got better and I couldn’t find it. Sorry, this one comes in with 2 stars since the first half of the book is really not bad but then there should be a gay sexual alert in the description due to the content.
I think this story had potential if the author could have just stayed with the family saga and the trials and tribulations of immigration, but it tipped over into politics and intimacy. Quick turn off for me.
I was given the opportunity to read an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my honest unbiased review. This one comes in with 2 stars.
I am a 64-year-old grandmother, have two nephews that are gay and I respect their choices. But I do not want nor need to read about, observe or inquire of their personal sexual relations. This story crosses that line. The first half of this book is good, it starts out with Lacy and Julien’s early life, then about 50% in, it takes a dive and that was it for me. I even started flipping thru trying to see if it got better and I couldn’t find it. Sorry, this one comes in with 2 stars since the first half of the book is really not bad but then there should be a gay sexual alert in the description due to the content.
I think this story had potential if the author could have just stayed with the family saga and the trials and tribulations of immigration, but it tipped over into politics and intimacy. Quick turn off for me.
I was given the opportunity to read an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my honest unbiased review. This one comes in with 2 stars.
July 11, 2020
"Lone Star" by Justin Deabler is a fictional story that centers around Julian Warner and the history of the family that raised him. Deabler's inclusion of many different topics like racism, discrimination, coming out, and same-sex relationships and adoption made this a really interesting read. The beginning of the story made me think the focus of the book was Julian and Phillip's journey into parenthood, but Deabler takes the reader into the distant past, through Julian's childhood, and into his current life. This is definitely an enjoyable read that will make you feel a multitude of emotions.
September 16, 2020
Multi-generational look at Julian Warner life and family through the 50's and into the 2000's packs an emotional punch at times. His conservative Texas childhood, loves, coming out and marriage are set in the changing history and issues of the period. Often, I thought that Julian is more of a observer of the issues; I would have liked to see more conflict. However, Deabler is very effective in presenting his characters. One feels for them.
Thanks to the publisher and Above the Tree for this electronic edition.
Thanks to the publisher and Above the Tree for this electronic edition.
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