One of These Things First A Memoir eBook Steven Gaines
Download As PDF : One of These Things First A Memoir eBook Steven Gaines 
From New York Times–bestselling author Steven Gaines comes a wry and touching memoir of his trials as a gay teen at the famed Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic.
One of These Things First is a poignant reminiscence of a fifteen-year-old gay Jewish boy’s unexpected trajectory from a life behind a rack of dresses in his grandmother’s Brooklyn bra-and-girdle store to Manhattan’s infamous Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic, whose alumni includes writers, poets, and madmen, as well as Marilyn Monroe and bestselling author Steven Gaines.
With a gimlet eye and a true gift for storytelling, Gaines captures his childhood shtetl in Brooklyn, and all its drama and secrets, like an Edward Hopper tableau his philandering grandfather with his fleet of Cadillacs and Corvettes; a giant, empty movie theater, his portal to the outside world; a shirtless teenage boy pushing a lawnmower; and a pair of tormenting bullies whose taunts drive Gaines to a suicide attempt.
Gaines also takes the reader behind the walls of Payne Whitney—the “Harvard of psychiatric clinics,” as Time magazine called it—populated by a captivating group of neurasthenics who affect his life in unexpected ways. The cast of characters includes a famous Broadway producer who becomes his unlikely mentor; an elegant woman who claims to be the ex-mistress of newly elected president John F. Kennedy; a snooty, suicidal architect; and a seductive young contessa. At the center of the story is a brilliant young psychiatrist who promises to cure a young boy of his homosexuality and give him the normalcy he so longs for.
For readers who love stories of self-transformation, One of These Things First is a fascinating memoir in the vain of Susanna Kaysen’s Girl, Interrupted and Augusten Burroughs’s Running with Scissors. With its novelistic texture and unflagging narrative, this book is destined to become one of the great, indelible works of the memoir genre.
One of These Things First is a poignant reminiscence of a fifteen-year-old gay Jewish boy’s unexpected trajectory from a life behind a rack of dresses in his grandmother’s Brooklyn bra-and-girdle store to Manhattan’s infamous Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic, whose alumni includes writers, poets, and madmen, as well as Marilyn Monroe and bestselling author Steven Gaines.
With a gimlet eye and a true gift for storytelling, Gaines captures his childhood shtetl in Brooklyn, and all its drama and secrets, like an Edward Hopper tableau his philandering grandfather with his fleet of Cadillacs and Corvettes; a giant, empty movie theater, his portal to the outside world; a shirtless teenage boy pushing a lawnmower; and a pair of tormenting bullies whose taunts drive Gaines to a suicide attempt.
Gaines also takes the reader behind the walls of Payne Whitney—the “Harvard of psychiatric clinics,” as Time magazine called it—populated by a captivating group of neurasthenics who affect his life in unexpected ways. The cast of characters includes a famous Broadway producer who becomes his unlikely mentor; an elegant woman who claims to be the ex-mistress of newly elected president John F. Kennedy; a snooty, suicidal architect; and a seductive young contessa. At the center of the story is a brilliant young psychiatrist who promises to cure a young boy of his homosexuality and give him the normalcy he so longs for.
For readers who love stories of self-transformation, One of These Things First is a fascinating memoir in the vain of Susanna Kaysen’s Girl, Interrupted and Augusten Burroughs’s Running with Scissors. With its novelistic texture and unflagging narrative, this book is destined to become one of the great, indelible works of the memoir genre.
One of These Things First A Memoir eBook Steven Gaines
One Of These Things First is fascinating, funny, heartbreaking, and inspiring. I laughed out loud more than once! This is not your usualmemoir. It features larger than life characters from movie stars to salesgirls in a bra and girdle store who all play a part in shaping the author as he negotiates his way from life in 1960's Brooklyn to the halls of a posh psychiatric clinic. Absolutely a must read for anyone whom has ever questioned the life they're leading and the lives they could have led.
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One of These Things First A Memoir eBook Steven Gaines Reviews
I love memoirs, and this one has it all. The Brooklyn cast of characters as well as the inside psyche of what it means to be gay in the 60's,.....you will enjoy this ride into Brooklyn with an amazing tour guide and your heart will melt.....its little Stevie,....he suffered yes,now he is a bestseller of many books.IM NOT WORTHY,,,WOWO.,,,,,,COULD BE A BROADWAY PLAY OR MOVIE,hear that Stevie???? I adore you.
Absolutely dazzling! The writing is sharp and crisp and besides the nostalgia value of Brooklyn in Mr. Gaines' time, the story of his stint at Payne Whitney is eye opening. As a musical theatre writer and historian, I am thrilled to read about the Hallidays and their effect on Steven. Richard Halliday is maligned in history and although he was a difficult man for sure, Mary Martin's husband was a positive force in many lives and it's good to read about him as a flawed human being who helped a young boy. Great story telling and highly recommended.
I was deeply moved by this beautifully written book, and I recommend it highly. What the author went through as a child more than 50 years ago should never happen to a child now, yet we have a political party encouraging conversion therapy. Anyone thinking that's a wise choice needs to read this book. I'm glad therapy didn't "fix" Steven Gaines; he's perfect as is.
I read Steven Gaines' memoir during the hottest August I can remember - perhaps a parallel to his description of the August he spent in a famous NYC psychiatric facility. It made me feel a certain closeness to this sad young man, obviously brilliant, yet alone, scared and at odds with what he knew to be true.
Mr. Gaines bares his soul and an awful lot more in this striking and touching memoir. It will take me a while to digest the full meaning of the disclosures and emotions of this book, but it's very honesty and openness is a gift. Bravo, Steven, and thank you for sharing this extremely intimate story of your life.
One of These Things First A Memoir-- is a richly detailed and delightful coming-of-age story that begins in 1962 of the writer as a gay youth. Steven Gaines (1946-) is the author of 12 books, that include the Beatles, Beach Boys, Calvin Klein, and others. As a journalist and radio broadcaster, other topics Gaines wrote about was the NYC scene and celebrity culture.
Today it seems rather unusual that Gaines spent such a large part of his boyhood under the supervision of three salesladies or “harpies” at “Rose’s Bra and Girdle ” (NYC), where his grandmother worked. By the time he “outgrew” remaining there, he was fearful of the realization he was a “homo”-- and others had noticed what he desperately attempted to keep hidden, their jokes and comments tormented him and he developed OCD behaviors that included shoplifting/petty thievery. Terribly confused, he wasn’t at all like Christine Jorgenson who had the sex change operation in Sweden, nor the weird Michael/Michelle who wore nail polish with girlish mannerisms. He wrote a long letter to Dr. Joyce Brothers asking for her advice.
When his parents sought therapy for him, his doctor advised mental hospitalization. While watching late night TV Gaines saw that Marilyn Monroe had been admitted to Payne Whitney. Gaines wealthy grandfather agreed to pay for his treatment at Payne Whitney if Gaines would agree to get well. Today, it is shocking how little was known about homosexuality which was considered at the time a mental disorder/illness. Dr. Meyer, a Freudian psychoanalyst treated Gaines for over five years. Gaines was enchanted by Dr. Meyer’s strange/odd thoughts as to the origins of his homosexuality, and urged him to stop focusing on boys and think of girls instead. The popular therapeutic culture of that era largely supported that sexual orientation could be changed. Dr. Meyer would eventually apologize for portions of treatment/misdiagnosis.
Gaines was the youngest patient on the ward, and befriended the famous film director Richard Halliday. As a movie buff, Gaines was excited to talk to Halliday as they pieced together jigsaw puzzles in the dayroom. When Halliday’s famous wife Mary Martin visited, she liked Gaines so much she had the latest novels sent for him to read, influencing him to become a writer. Realizing how many famous individuals had spent time at Payne Whitney helped Gaines to feel better, which eventually led to acceptance of himself as a gay man. Towards the closing chapter Gaines recalled the changing times, culture, and what happened to the numerous individuals Gaines included in his absorbing fascinating story. Photos included.
** With thanks and appreciation to Open Road Integrated Media via NetGalley for the direct e-copy for the purpose of review.Coming
One Of These Things First is fascinating, funny, heartbreaking, and inspiring. I laughed out loud more than once! This is not your usual
memoir. It features larger than life characters from movie stars to salesgirls in a bra and girdle store who all play a part in shaping the author as he negotiates his way from life in 1960's Brooklyn to the halls of a posh psychiatric clinic. Absolutely a must read for anyone whom has ever questioned the life they're leading and the lives they could have led.
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