Honor Thy Children: One Family's Journey to Wholeness
by Molly Fumia
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Book Summary Information
Author: Molly FumiaEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-02
ISBN: 1573241989
Number of pages: 336
Publisher: Conari Press
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Book Reviews of Honor Thy Children: One Family's Journey to Wholeness
Book Review: "This Is My Son"
Summary: 5 Stars
This must be the saddest book I have ever read. HONOR THY CHILDREN is the true story of the Nakatani family of San Jose, California and what a sorrowful story it is. Jane and Alexander Nakatani, Japanese Americans, were married in 1960 and had three sons, Glenn, Greg and Guy. Two of their sons Greg and Guy were gay and died of complications from AIDS. The other son Glenn was shot by a Latino, someone he did not know, after the man dented the fender of Glenn's Mustang. Although the driver of the car was later convicted and went to prison, the shooter escaped to Mexico and was never apprehended.
Molly Fumia, married and the mother of six children, was commissioned by Guy in 1993 to write this family's story but soon became much more than an objective journalist. She soon found herself becoming one of the family's closest friends and was present at his bedside during the last days of Guy's life although she did not witness his death.
Alexander and Jane Nakatani were decent people and in many ways victims as much as their two gay children-- homophobia like racism hurts us all-- since they, like many parents over the globe did not in the beginning tell their sons that there was nothing wrong with being gay, that they should love whomever they would.
There are so many things wrong about this story and to feel bad about: the fact that the Jane and Alexander had difficulty buying a house they wanted because they were Japanese, that Guy permed his beautiful black straight hair and wore blue contacts in order to look less Japanese, that Jane used the "f" word early on in characterizing gay people, that both Greg and Guy had unprotected sex with no thoughts for their future, that Alexander did not nurture his sons as he should have because they were males. The list goes on.
What makes this book worth reading, however, is that this family learned from their mistakes and grew in love and courage. Guy devoted himself to making speeches to mostly high school audiences, warning them of the dangers of AIDS, and admonishing them not to become another statistic like himself. (He spoke to over 37,000 young people before he finally became too ill to continue his project. His father was there for him every step he took; and when he could no longer walk, Alexander pushed his wheelchair. In a passage that will break your heart, Alexander introduces Guy to the last audience he will ever speak to at Saratoga High School: "This is my son, Guy Nakatani, who has brought honor to our family's name."
"Honor thy children" is obviously a play on the words of the commandment to "honor thy father and mother" from the King James Bible. something that Jane and Alexander Nakatani ultimately do-- with a vengence. This very well-written book should be read by both parents and children, both gay and straight. When I finished it, I wished that I could meet these parents who lost so much and tell them how much their story moved me.
Summary of Honor Thy Children: One Family's Journey to Wholeness
The inspirational account of a Japanese-American family's triumph in the face of the death of their three children, two from AIDS and a third the victim of a tragic drive-by shooting, Honor Thy Children chronicles the creation, devastation, and remarkable resurrection of the Nakatanis - who journey from unimaginable grief to healing.Nonfiction Books
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