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Swinging on the Garden Gate

A Memoir of Bisexuality and Spirit
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Swinging on the Garden Gate is a profound memoir by Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew, exploring her journey of embracing bisexuality as a sacred part of her identity. Through reflections on faith, spirituality, and self-discovery, Andrew reconciles her United Methodist beliefs with her sexuality, finding holiness in her body and experience. The memoir spans themes of childhood, nature, creativity, and the challenges of coming out, offering a unique queer feminist perspective on Christian teachings.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3799
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for readers interested in LGBTQ+ memoirs, spiritual growth, and those seeking a heartfelt exploration of faith and bisexual identity. It will particularly resonate with individuals navigating questions around religion and queer identity.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A stunning memoir of coming of age and coming out bisexual by award-winning writer and teacher Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew.

Every story begins with a word. As a young woman, Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew carried a word within her so potent that it spread through her every artery and vein. She carried it in secret until she was shown a different way and the word inside her turned restless and eager.

Swinging on the Garden Gate: A Memoir of Bisexuality and Spirit describes a period of time in award-winning writer and teacher Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew's life when she came to know bisexuality as an embodied manifestation of divinity. Andrew not only reconciles her United Methodist faith with her sexuality but realizes that her body is holy, her sexuality is holy, and the word she carried within her has always been holy.

The spark of spirit Andrew identifies in her body she also finds throughout the solid matter of lifeβ€”in childhood, nature, creativity, loss, death, and especially the coming out process. Andrew brings a distinctly queer feminist lens to Christian teachings and answers the question innumerable young people have posed to her over the years: "Is it possible to be both queer and spiritual?" The act of bringing hidden, personal truths to light is transformative, and for Andrew, a universal calling.

This second edition includes a new note from Andrew as she looks back on its twenty-year history and a foreword by Bishop Karen Oliveto, the first openly lesbian bishop to be elected in the United Methodist Church.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781558968783

Publisher: Skinner House Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 June 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Skinner House Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 224

About the Author

Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew teaches creative writing at Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is the author of the novel, Hannah, Delivered; the essay collection On the Threshold: Home, Hardwood, and Holiness, and two books for writers: Writing the Sacred Journey: The Art and Practice of Spiritual Memoir and Living Revision: A Writer's Craft as Spiritual Practice, which received a Nautilus Award in 2018. She is also a recipient of two Minneapolis State Arts Board artist's fellowships, the Loft Career Initiative Grant, and a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award. She delights in her partner, daughter, and garden.

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