Jessie Grearson and Lauren Smith have written a fine companion to their earlier book SWAYING, which was a compendium of writings by people in international, interracial, and intercultural marriages. This time, in LOVE IN A GLOBAL VILLAGE, Smith and Grearson are the authors, telling the stories of fifteen intermarried couples they have interviewed. Cynics (such as the anonymous author of an unfortunate review in Publisher's Weekly) may wish to see conflict, dysfunction, anger, poverty, and misery in intercultural families. To suggest, as that review does, that such negativities are the usual lot of intermarriages is a racist mistake. Grearson and Smith eschew such unthinking racism. Instead, they show us families as they are. The families they interviewed sometimes suffered the effects of racism and poverty. But the message here is ultimately one of confidence and hope. That is because these families basically work. As one who has interviewed thousands of intermarried couples and their children (author of Mixed Blood: Intermarriage and Ethnic Identity in 20th-Century America), I found Grearson and Smith's account rang true. The book is also beautifully produced by the University of Iowa Press. I recommend it heartily.

...it was, for me, like a book of travelers' tales, about a land I myself am about to enter. Instead of dry academic posturing, "Love In A Global Village" led me on a dozen journeys taken, before me, by people with whom I could relate. I had actually met one of them, I found, a woman in Evanston, Shirlee Taraki, who married a man from Kabul and moved to Afghanistan. I knew something of her story, but I found out a lot more by reading Jessie Grearson and Lauren Smith's book. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to know about the day-to-day adventures and difficulties in an intercultural relatrionship.

I am so happy I found this book. If you are in an intercultural relationship, these are a wonderful compilation of stories from others who are going through or have gone through similar situations. I was laughing out loud at situations so similar to my own. It is a wide range of people and situations and just a joy to read. There defiantely aren't a lot of books on the subject, and this is a great addition to my library!

If you are in a cross cultural relationship, or are attracted to people who are different than you are, this is a must read book. For your effort you will have the pleasure of reading delightful and fresh accounts of a variety of relationship experiences across cultures. As someone who has read more analysis in one life time than anyone should read in a hundred, its a real treat to be shown by example what the experience is like.

Relationships require frequent communication and connection - when there are language gaps, gaps in expectations, gaps in experience, gaps in communication styles - the challenge of sustaining a fulfilling interaction is real. Go in with your eyes open, learn from the honest stories these women share.