The Boatman a Memoir of Same-Sex Love  (English, Paperback, Burbridge John)

I was pleased to lend support as well as a bit of critiquing to John on his reflective journey. From the beginning, he minces no words as he sets us up early in the first chapter of The Boatman: India defies preparation; it demands submission. This is both an intense and sensitive coming-out story into which John skillfully weaves the thread of a double life in a cultural setting not his own. He connects us to himself and to his journey as he struggles with complex issues through discovery of...

I knew John Burbidge in Brussels years ago when he was working here for his association after his sojourn in India. If I remember correctly, he was taking a writing course at that time. Whatever, he certainly writes an engrossing story of his "finding" himself in India. His writing is so vivid, one can almost taste, see, smell, hear what he describes. I did not know the details of his experiences in India, not even that there is where "it" all started. So, I found it a very interesting - enjo...

Wow! Honest, intense, and fascinating--this story captures it all. It was so much more than a coming-out account of a young man in the 1980s (which was interesting in itself). I especially appreciated the insight into the author's relationship with his mother; I found it a touching and sweet complement to his main storyline of exploring his sexuality in India. The inner workings of the organization he worked for also kept my interest. He reveals just enough information about the organization ...