Queer

The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells

2013, Books in Bed, Queer, Sci Fi and Fantasy, Women /

Here’s another book that started a little slow for me — slow enough that I wondered why I take “what to read next” advice from TW so often. But, just as I was thinking I’d put down The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells and start something else, I realized it was written by the author of The Confessions of Max Tivoli so I stuck it out.

I’m glad I did. Because once Greta found herself in her second life/time, I was hooked and pretty much wanted to just read straight through (with brief stops for Candy Crush, of course.)

Interesting ending. I didn’t think that’s where the “original” Greta would stay, though it was the time/life that made the most sense for her (and probably the other Gretas, as well).

The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells Read More »

The Teahouse Fire

2013, Books in Bed, Fiction, Queer, Women /

After reading The Last Nude and loving it, I was surprised to see that TW only gave The Teahouse Fire three stars on GoodReads. Now that I’ve finally made my way through it, I understand.

There were a lot of problems with this one — it’s really long, the storyline is less than plausible, the ending was a lot far-fetched (and even worse, unnecessary.) I wanted to really love it, and I did love parts of it. Cut 100 pages or even 50 pages and change the epilogue drastically and this would have been a great book.

The Teahouse Fire Read More »

The Last Nude

1 Comment / 2013, Books in Bed, Favorites, Fiction, Queer, Women /

In my quest to read my lesbian fiction, I sometimes stop and grab recently reviewed or mentioned titles from The Lesbrary feed in my feedreader. The Last Nude is one that I added to my library reserve list after seeing it on that blog. I’m glad I did. It was even better than I expected it to be, part one, in particular. Part two… well, I didn’t hate it but it was somewhat unsatisfying but that’s probably the best way to leave a story about Lempicka’s life.

Tamara de Lempicka was fascinating, in this book and in everything I’ve ever read about her… it would have been fascinating to meet her.  Here’s the page that shows her work, during the primary period of the book. La belle Rafaëla  in red is better than the green.

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

The Last Nude Read More »

Mr. Churchill’s Secretary

1 Comment / 2013, Books in Bed, Favorites, Feminism, Fiction, Queer /

The first few pages of Mr. Churchill’s Secretary made me nervous because I wasn’t feeling the instant love. I kept plodding along because EVERYONE I know really liked it. By the time I was 75 pages in, I was hooked  and I must find  out what happens to Maggie Hope next! (I sure wish Aunt Edith wasn’t stuck in the USA, because I’d like more of her. I’m not so taken with Edmund, but maybe he will grow on me?)

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

Mr. Churchill’s Secretary Read More »

The Chaperone

2013, Books in Bed, Fiction, Queer, Women /

I finally found time to read The Chaperone, FINALLY. It’s been on my TBR list for ages. Sheesh.

I really enjoyed it – the Louise Brooks aspect and the story of Cora. I would have liked it more if there wasn’t quite so much time packed into the book, or if it was another 100 pages. Time passed so quickly without any real character growth once Cora came back to Kansas.

(And now I want to watch some Louise Brooks movies, lol.)

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

The Chaperone Read More »

Lois Lenz, Lesbian Secretary

2012, Books in Bed, Favorites, Fiction, Queer, Women /

I  saw these on some  book blog, or maybe on some gay blog, or may be on some gay book blog and was thrilled to see our library system had Lois Lenz, Lesbian Secretary.  Lesbian pulp fiction – there’s NOTHING better. Really.

Our library doesn’t have Bobbie Blanchard, Lesbian Gym Teacher so I’m gonna have to buy it, lol.

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

Lois Lenz, Lesbian Secretary Read More »

Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?

2012, Adoption Reading Challenge, Books in Bed, Non-Fiction, Queer /

I love Jeanette Winterson and that’s pretty much all I knew when I grabbed Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? From the library shelf. It was obviously non-fiction, with a picture of a child who had to be a young Winterson – so I figured it was a memoir. Or maybe not a memoir but something about coming out . Whatever. It didn’t matter. Winterson wrote it, I was going to read it.

And I did. Not quite straight through, because I started it very late one night, but pretty darn close.

Winterson writes in true Winterson fashion about her adoption and early childhood with Mrs (and Mr) Winterson – it wasn’t pretty, to say the least. Mrs Winterson had some big, big problems and Mr Winterson had a few of his own, (war related, poverty related, his own childhood related, and of course – Mrs Winterson related.)  Then, she jumps ahead 25 years – to her nervous breakdown and the realization that she needed to look for her birth mother.

At that point, I was left wishing I knew a little bit more than I did about the missing 25 years.

Let me spoil it for you… Winterson finds her mom, an aunt, a half brother, more family members. They don’t mind her queerness, they want her to be part of their family but… it’s hard. Of course. Adoption is hard. Finding your birth family is hard. Figuring out what happens next is very hard. And when you throw in the childhood, the rough 25 years, the celebrity, the breakdown, the very thing that is Jeanette Winterson… it’s all going to be hard.

I’m fascinated by the Amazon reviews/comments. The people who thought it would be a self-help book. The people who find Winterson unlikeable. The people who find her treatment of her birth family untenable. The people who don’t recognize Winterson’s mentions and quotes from her novels as important to this story, to understanding what led her to be the person she was. Fascinating. This is a book for those who are thoughtful – It’s not self-help and Winterson doesn’t want you to like her. She tells you that here. She’s been telling you that in every novel she’s ever written. She doesn’t want you to like her because… she does not deserve it. Mrs Winterson (and the circumstances of her adoption) taught her to believe that…

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? Read More »

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

2012, Books in Bed, Fiction, Queer /

In The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Cameron is a lesbian – she’s been attracted to girls for… forever. Unfortunately, she lives in small town Montana and her parents die the day after she kissed a girl for the first time.

It all goes downhill from there.

She falls for a straight, popular girl in high school but the girl is not so straight.  She does, however, tell everyone that Cameron took advantage of her (all summer long!) and Cameron is sent off to a special Christian boarding school to learn how to not be a lesbian.

Lots of bad things happen. Some good things happen, too.

I liked the book, well enough – but I had trouble getting into it and staying in it. Too depressing because this still/really happens to kids. (Not just the deprogramming schools/camps, but the rest of it, too…)

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post Read More »

Saints Astray

2012, Books in Bed, Fiction, Queer, Women /

Book two – Saints Astray… I read it. A long time ago (I’m way behind, darn conference and redesign…) I liked it. I liked the way the women (whose names I’ve forgotten by now) hooked up with the rock band and the rock band found their cause. I can totally see that happening. This would actually be a fun series. GMO & lesbian partner go out and save the world, or at least change the world – right wrongs, do good things, etc. Fun!

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

Saints Astray Read More »

Santa Olivia

2012, Books in Bed, Fiction, Queer, Women /

TW read the second book and warned me that I should read the first book, Santa Olivia, because I don’t like reading series out of order. Totally true and I’m glad I read this one first, there’s too much story that I’d have been confused, I think.

Post-apocalyptic lesbian fiction – awesome.  The little saints are great characters. I think the polyamorous relationship was surprisingly well done, too. And, I really like Loupe and Pilar together.  I also love the female boxing storyline.  I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

Santa Olivia Read More »