Hey guys, I'm pretty new here.
I have a lesbian book club - we're been meeting for about a year, and we're getting our book list ready for 2009.
Any suggestions? Most of us have been out for a bit, s have read the Sarah Waters/Winterson kinda stuff, but would still be interested in classic stuff, not just new fiction.
Let me know what you got!
Thanks
My new novel, {Magic Happens} tells the story of Kate Driscoll, suburban mom, recovering alcoholic, and as she calls herself, "relentless heterosexual."
But when her husband's business goes broke, and he sinks into a deep depression, Kate finds that even her regular AA meetings don't help with the money worries, so she turns to a local gym for stress relief.
Kate loves the workouts, but soon, she is horrified to find herself falling in love with Lou, a female instructor at the gym.
Kate's affair with Lou carries her through her husband's growing depression, increasing money worries, and fighting the urge to drink again until she is forced to make a decision that will shape the rest of her life.
I hope you like {Magic Happens} and decide to include it on your list of recommendations .
http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Happens-Cath...Oooo, classic lesbian fiction? -rubs hands together- I love this stuff!
Well of Loneliness, of course, is
the classic lesbian novel, but it is a little difficult to get through, depressing, and very possibly more about a transgendered individual than a lesbian. Still, it's worth mentioning.
Winterson's
Oranges are Not the Only Fruit and
Rita Mae Brown's
Rubyfruit Jungle are absolutely essential.
Other than that,
The Price of Salt (aka Carol) is a classic lesbian novel. It was the first lesbian pulp fiction novel to have a "happy ending" (as in: neither of them are killed, go insane, or suddenly turn straight).
It might be fine to dabble in the old lesbian pulp fiction just for the laughs, like
Women's Barracks (the original lesbian pulp fiction book. I haven't read it yet) or
Spring Fire (it came out just after), but do expect bad writing and homophobia.
I loved
Patience and Sarah; it was the first lesbian book from before the 90's I read that wasn't totally depressing.
If you're willing to read Young Adult books,
Annie On My Mind is another absolute classic. (But my favourite YA lesbian book is
Hello, Groin for being realistic but not depressing and with a literary touch!)
I'm glad you've read Sarah Waters or I would've started with her.
Well, that's all the ones I've actually read. I'm super jealous you have a lesbian book club! Let us know how it goes!
4>
This is a stale thread revived by a spammer, but hopefully even if the original book club doesn't need suggestions anymore somebody might.
Not all of the old pulps are homophobic! Those written by and for men probably were, but the ones written by and for lesbians certainly aren't; they're a product of their time, so of course they're set in homophobic society and the characters are often unhappy, but that's realism, not authorial homophobia. There are even some where the characters don't have to either die or go straight at the end. (Ann Bannon comes to mind, of course, and
Lesbian Pulp Fiction is a good overview.)
Of course if "set in a homophobic society" is what you mean by "homophobic", then feel free to ignore everything I've said.
Ooops! I didn't even look at the date. Oh well.
Really? Hmm, I have wanted to read some lesbian pulp fiction, but I don't have a whole lot of access to any (I get most of my books through Bookmooch and I've read the only one I could find at the library). Do you have any other recommendations?
The original post is a little stale, but the book club is going strong!
For those who are interested, we've done
Fun home,
The price of Salt,
Lois Lenz, Lesbian secretary,
Highsmith,
Brass,
The Night Watch,
Orphan Gunner, Olivia,
Bastard out of Carolina and a few others I can't remember
We've ended up doing some non-lesbian stuff, because some of these were a little disappointing. I'm also hesitant to put books that aren't well reviewed on there, because it gets a little expensive, especially when even the well known ones aren't mind blowing.
FYI - the big successes were
Lois Lenz,
Fun Home and the
The Night Watch. Most people found the pulp stuff a little depressing - the bead writing and homophobia was so real it didn't make for nice escapist reading! And
Price of Salt was supposed to be the best of the bunch!
PS - I loved
Annie on my mind!
Yes, I found The Price of Salt depressing. Am I the only one who found their relationship bordering on abusive?
Aah, of course the Sarah Waters book was a hit. She could write the phone book and I'd read it cover to cover.
I'm so glad the book club is still happening!
Have you tried Carol Anshaw? Great writer but don't read 'Seven' if you want HEAs (Happy Ever Afters) for your reading group.
Karin Kallamker and Radclyffe would do if you want to try modern lesbian romance?
Another writer I like is Cameron Abbot for a well written story that is also easy reading.
I know plenty of new fiction stuff that is more in the category of fantasy. Wasn't a huuge Twilight fan but I think it has opened many people up to this genre. Many more books ar being published that I find quite interesting.
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