Culture > Reviews

Dan Savage — Skipping Towards Gomorrah
a Lavender Salon Review
Review by John Olski
Posted 8/27/03

Skipping Towards Gomorrah is Dan Savage's answer to Robert Bork and other "virtuecrats" -- conservative "scolds" who have made an industry of pointing out the moral failings of less conservative Americans. Savage pits the lamentations of Bork, Bill Bennett, Bill O'Reilly and others against the ideal of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," touring America via the seven deadly sins of greed, lust, sloth, gluttony, envy, pride and anger.

Savage explores each sin in its own chapter and revisits them all in a libertine, New York City finale. While relevant points are made against right-wing moral ranting, the deadly sins device and the author's satirical tone often confuse the book's Jeffersonian premise.

"Anger," for example, presumes that gun aficionados are angry people, though readers encounter well-trained handgun users who enjoy target practice. Savage also learns that he's a darned good shot, making the chapter a better examination of pride, in the opinion of one Lavender Salon member.

"Sloth" looks at pot smoking, though with more attention to drug legalization than indolence. While the connection between sloth and marijuana use is plausible, it isn't a conservative rant; right-wing "scolds" are more concerned that liberal programs like welfare will induce sloth.
With "Pride," Savage uses a gay parade in Los Angeles to argue that pride events are more honestly about the pursuit of happiness. For some Lavender Salon members it was a positive look at gay events, though this writer felt that the author propped up a flimsy argument. Questioning the mindless, "do it for the children" motivation of some muscle-bound gay guys doesn't change the fact that many pride event organizers -- not interviewed by the author -- are indeed driven to help gay kids. Had Savage left the metropolis for a small city or college campus, he would have developed a broader view of gay pride events.

Skipping Towards Gomorrah offers some amusing and educational narrative. Savage places himself in many unusual situations, from a weekend conference for a fat acceptance organization to a paid hour with a muscular, heterosexual male prostitute. Readers learn about gambling, swinging couples and guns, among other topics. While the book may stumble over its own thesis, it remains an interesting read with some funny moments.

One additional criticism: Skipping Towards Gomorrah contains numerous grammatical errors of the just-run-it-through-Spell-Check variety -- "…especially as their loses mount," (p. 46); "Bob was nice guy…" (p. 48).

Most Lavender Salon members at August's meeting wouldn't recommend Skipping Towards Gomorrah, but would suggest skipping instead towards Dan Savage's previous book, The Kid.

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