within another forum entry - http://www.gayauthors.org/forums/topic/39712-changing-gay-to-straight/- on page 2 i mentioned a book called "Hiding from Myself" by Bryan Christopher - - it was an advert that just so happened to pop up on that forum message - and talk about targeted marketing !

anyhow - on with the quick review - the sub line on the advert was "can a gay person change" - Bryan is a Texan, a fundamentalist christian , and gay. this book describes his struggles to become an "ex-gay" through prayer, self-help groups, getting locked up in a mental ward, taking a job at Hugh Hefner's bunny farm - all to struggle to become "ex-gay" find a wife and become "normal" - he has some female relationships - but he soon strays and tries to go back to stage one - back to the prayers, the church, the men mentors...

there are places in this book that i did chuckle though ... but a lot of the time it was "come on give up on the indoctrinated fairy stories, live your life how you want to".. its a struggle - no denying that - we've ALL had to struggle in one way or another coming to terms of who we are, and what society says we should be .. but first steps is loving yourself .. then worry about the world.

i wont give away the ending .. just to say its a happy one.

was this book what i expected - NO ! - going by the advert & the fundamentalist Christian angle that was there i thought it was going to be all preachy and "YOU'RE A SINNER - BURN IN HELL" (although that bit is brought up - and quickly shot down again) i quite liked this autobiography - i would recommend others to read it - and not just gays - everyone could do with a little bit more understanding - and i think this book helps