The Commitment: Love, Sex, Marriage, and My Family

This memoir was at times very entertaining, but too often lapsed into repetitive lecturing. I am straight, but I wouldn't have chosen this book if I disagreed with gay marriage. So on a number of occasions I felt like protesting, "you're preaching to the choir here!" But, all in all, Savage is an engaging writer and storyteller.

I am still laughing to myself. I will definitly read this again. I felt like I was listening to a good friend tell me a story.

Love the book, but didn't care for the narrator. The narrator was very grating, like a straight dude trying to mimic a gay man.

I've enjoyed this author's work for many years - so much that I dutifully credit him with important contributions to many of my own best life choices (my younger boyfriend - now husband; our daughter; etc). This is the first of his books that I've read, and it was new to hear that familiar authorial voice - the humor, the fantastic logic, the strong undercurrent of no bullshit compassion - in a longer narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I'm now rightly scared of and in love with his late mother, I looked up Terry's picture - just wow - and I love the Chinese Room at the Smith Tower even more.

Though I enjoy the author's own spoken performances very much, I was impressed by the performer here and very much enjoyed his reading.

I always enjoy Dan's books and this one is no exception. A completely different look at family life. It's funny, profane, serious, and thoughtful all at the same time.

Double margaritas in Saugatuck, observations driving through the midwest, too many to number...

Clear, Formal, Rigid. This is the one thing I didn't like about the book. Mr. Garcia's voice and speech patterns are too formal for Dan's writing style. While his voice is clear and easily understood, it's sort of like your high school english teacher using four letter words...it just doesn't flow naturally given the material.

I liked the book. It was very interesting and fascinating information and back story (what happened to the toy poodle's other eye?). However, after reading his columns for years and listening to hundreds of his podcasts, the performance was lacking. It didn't go with the subject matter at hand. The narrator was far too formal for Dan's writing.

The narrator. I didn't like the tone of his voice. Maybe it was the content but the tone of his voice came off sarcastic minus the funny.

Yes I would. I am a fan of Dan Savage and read his column in The Stranger when I lived in Seattle.

Dan Savage can be merciless yet funny. This narrator didn't convey that to me.

Nah. And if it were a movie I'd wait until it came out on TBS.

I am a Dan Savage fan, having read his sex advice column for many years. He offers good information that other writers wouldn't dare publish. And like his columns, this book contains a core of thoughtful history and insights on marriage, gay and straight. I learned from him. But, alas, Savage's personal history and relationship with his husband wasn't one to which I could relate -- a series of argumentative, unpleasant encounters, especially when the two of them were on the road with their son. Since the memoir leads up to the decision of whether to get a tattoo or get married, Savage convinced me that they should have the right to the legal and social benefits of marriage, but I couldn't help feeling that perhaps marriage wasn't best for this couple, a feeling cemented by his description of the ceremony.

Perhaps my negativity was compounded by the reader, who read slowly and with overly clear diction. I found him unable to convey the narrative voice and humor of the book in the spoken voice.

I enjoyed listening to the snippets of Dan Savage and Terry Miller's perceptual evolution into the idea of marriage. I have considered some of the points mentioned by Dan and Terry and how they relate within the context of my own life. Which I believe is the mark of a good book and good author. Throw in the perfect narrator for the dialog at hand, and you have a mandala of the evolving family that Dan, Terry and D.J. are creating.

I have listened to the book twice now, and had an even better experience the second time.

Dan Savage is well known to me for his advice column, and his efforts to stop bullying. I often agree with what he has to say, and this book is just another example of his wit, grasp of social dynamics, solid emotional morality, and his willingness to drag poor Terry into the limelight! (You’re shameless on that one Dan!)

This book left me with a stronger sense of family (no quotes needed there) and even helped me provide a framework for what exactly I'm trying to achieve with my own marriage.

Absolutely wonderful book!

Laughter, tears, empathy, sympathy, deep thoughts.

So many great moments - stories well told.

Overly affected reading