Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Mama's Boy
- The Art of Building Bridges
- Narrated by: Dustin Lance Black
- Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
Mama's Boy
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
'To outsiders, my mom and I should have been enemies. Our house should have been divided -North vs South, red vs blue, conservative vs progressive, or however you want to put it. Instead, my mom and I fuelled each other. Her oil lit my lamp, and eventually mine lit hers. The tools I'd learned to wield growing up in her conservative, Christian, southern, military home were the same I'd used to wage battles that had taken me from a broken-down welfare apartment where gunfire sang me to sleep, to the biggest stages in the world, and to the front row of the United States Supreme Court to fight for LGBTQ equality.'
Dustin Lance Black wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for Milk and helped overturn California's anti-gay marriage Proposition 8, but he grew up in a conservative Mormon household outside San Antonio, Texas. His mother, Anne, was raised in rural Louisiana and contracted polio when she was two years old. She endured brutal surgeries as well as braces and crutches for life and was told that she would never have children or a family. Willfully defying expectations, she found salvation in an unlikely faith, raised three sons, and escaped the abuse and violence of two questionably devised Mormon marriages before finding love and an improbable career in the US civil service.
When Lance came out to his mother at 21, he was already studying the arts instead of going on his Mormon mission. She derided his sexuality as a sinful choice and was terrified for his future. Mama's Boy explores what it took to remain a family despite such division - a journey that stretched from the steps of the US Supreme Court to the woodsheds of East Texas. In the end, the rifts that have split a nation couldn't end this relationship that defined and inspired their remarkable lives.
Mama's Boy is their story. It's a story of the noble quest for a plane higher than politics - one of family, foundations, turmoil, tragedy, elation, and love. It is a story needed now more than ever.
Critic reviews
"A magnificent achievement...I cannot remember a book where I cried so often. Brave, insightful, unflinching, funny, sad, triumphant...everything. And both a warning and a hope for the times to come." (Stephen Fry)
"A beautifully written, utterly compelling account of growing up poor and gay with a thrice married, physically disabled, deeply religious Mormon mother, and the imprint this irrepressible woman made on the character of Dustin Lance Black. Their extraordinary bond left me exhilarated - it actually gave me hope for the future." (Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air)
What listeners say about Mama's Boy
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Willowdusk
- 04-02-20
Excellent
Loved it. Amazing and very moving. Highly recommend for everyone.
"A promise is a sacred thing."
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs JK
- 25-01-22
I loved it
Such an amazing story about two inspirational people, and read with such powerful emotion by the author.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jo Bird
- 05-09-21
Inspiring, uplifting.
Possibly the best book I’ve read this year. I cried, I giggled, I cried again, but ultimately I was uplifted and inspired by the telling of this very personal story. I’m certain I’ll be reading this regularly since I couldn’t put it down the first time.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- J.P. Bebbington
- 04-05-19
Sentimental, sweet and inspirational.
A wonderfully written book that details a life and a family filled with battles fought, hardships faced, and love given.
There were many moments that had me in tears, and many that had me in fits of laughter.
I don't yet have the words to fully describe how this book makes me feel, but know that it is incredible.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- cat
- 22-07-19
Amazing !
Absolutely loved it , such an emotional rollercoaster
just listening to the book has made me want to be better and fight for what I believe in . DLB's mother was one of a kind !
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Louise Merrifield
- 27-03-20
Very moving, beautifully read.
Dustin really opens up about everything his family went through. You can hear the love he has for his family. I shed many tears whilst listening to his story.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Emma Ranshaw
- 17-11-21
Incredible!!
This book is a must read for everyone. it had me laughing, crying my eyes out and was filled with so much pride.
Masterfully written and flawlessly performed.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jo H
- 27-05-20
Captivating. Flawless. Inspiring.
After watching an IG live with DLB, Ryan and Todd, I knew I had to get this book. I struggle to stay focused when reading books, so looked into the audio version. When I saw DLB had narrated it, I didn't hesitste in getting it. From the prologue to the acknowledgements, I was engrossed. I have literally laughed, cried and smiled my way through DLB's emotional narration. To hear it read as he intended when writing, gave so much more depth to the book, not that depth would be in any way lacking but the way he was able to bring people off the page with his vocalisations of accents and intonation, is something nobody reading could ever do themselves. Given he is a screenwriter, it isn't surprising how extraordinarily well stories are told and his and his Mother's family, friends, struggles and triumphs painted so clearly it is as if I've met the people and lived through it myself. Truly thought provoking and eye opening from beginning to end.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- NJCP2980
- 10-08-19
amazing emotional roll a Costa tears and laughter
never cried so much and laughed at a book at the same time hearing lance black reading this was so emotional you canhere it in his voice which made even more special as far as i am concerned excellent amazing emotional performance best read of the year
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jess Swarbreck
- 14-11-21
Wonderful
A riveting story and beautiful tribute. Totally inspiring. I enjoyed every second of it. Thank you!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!