| I write queer lit--check my serial enovel |
[02 Feb 2005|03:56pm] |
Friends of queer literature might enjoy my serial enovel The Story Continues. http://home.earthlink.net/~ferdeggan/thestorycontinues/ is where to find it. It includes politics, psychoanalysis, poetry, parody, pastiche, physics; it's like All My Children meet Ronald Firbank.
In fact, maybe there should be a Ronald Firbank community. He's a 1920's, post-Wilde upperclass English twit who was anti-racist but a total queen who wrote about silly princesses. He was a friend of many people involved in the Harlem Renaissance too.
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[21 Jan 2005|04:38am] |
hello. i just created a community for ![[info]](http://library.vu.edu.pk/cgi-bin/nph-proxy.cgi/000100A/http/web.archive.org/web/20050205065847im_/http:/=2fstat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) toddhaynes and am wondering if members of this community would find it interesting as he made the glam rock film'velvet goldmine', and 'poison', which is composed of stories from jean genet. its a very new community and members are more than welcome!
i apologize if promoting such things isn't allowed, and feel free to delete this/ask me to do so if that is the case.
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| As Meat Loves Salt |
[27 Dec 2004|10:15pm] |
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Has anyone else here read Maria McCann's masterpiece, As Meat Loves Salt? I had a friend recommend it to me, and I recently finished the book after a week of reading it during every free moment that I had (even carrying it with me in my purse).
I can't recall the last time a novel so completely immersed me, and made me care so deeply for its characters. I both hated and loved the main character (and narrator), Jacob Cullen. I know I will be haunted by it for days... even now, just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. One of the most bitter-sweet love stories I have ever read.
Part of me would love to see this novel brought to the big screen, but another part winces at the thought, terrified that Hollywood would horribly miss the mark. It would have to be a British production. Anyway, I got to thinking who I would cast in the two major roles, and this is what immediately came to mind:
Christian Bale as Christopher Ferris and Clive Owen as Jacob Cullen
What would your choices be? :D
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| My Queer Book-year 2004 |
[26 Dec 2004|10:56pm] |
Well, it’s not exclusively queer ... but anyway:
At the end of every year I make a list of the books I read during it. This year I made a map instead. I put it here.
Comments would be very welcome.
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| fresh air |
[08 Dec 2004|01:27am] |
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There was a thing on Fresh Air with Terry Gross about the death of Joseph Hansen, author of the Dave Brandstetter detective novels. I don't know much about these novels other than that they seemed to be fairly popular in the German translations when I was in Germany. I guess they were among the first to have a gay protagonist.
Has anyone read any of these novels? How are they? Would you recommend them?
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[20 Oct 2004|09:28pm] |
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hi all! I've been reading a few gay books and movies lately, and I've been a bit disappointed in them. Well, mainly because lots of them didn't end well. I mean, I enjoy a drama every now and then, but all these unhappy endings have got me depressed! SO I'd greatly appreciate it if ya'll could recommend some books (AND movies since I just got netflix and have been watching tons of movies. I've seen get real, beautiful thing, latter days, and trick, and adored them all!) that have happy endings (gay preferred, but lesbian too). And they don't necessarily have to be all light and fun *during* the story, so long as they end well.
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[20 Oct 2004|09:28pm] |
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hi all! I've been reading a few gay books and movies lately, and I've been a bit disappointed in them. Well, mainly because lots of them didn't end well. I mean, I enjoy a drama every now and then, but all these unhappy endings have got me depressed! SO I'd greatly appreciate it if ya'll could recommend some books (AND movies since I just got netflix and have been watching tons of movies. I've seen get real, beautiful thing, latter days, and trick, and adored them all!) that have happy endings (gay preferred, but lesbian too). And they don't necessarily have to be all light and fun *during* the story, so long as they end well.
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| new book community |
[07 Aug 2004|12:18pm] |
I hope it is okay to plug this community here as it has overlapping interests with this one but is more specific.
I've opened a new community, queergirlsbooks - Books By, For and About Queer Girls -
(or just plain of interest to queer girls).
Feel free to come check it out! :)
Gira
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| Gothic literature |
[07 Aug 2004|07:20am] |
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I've just created gothic_lit. It does what it says on the tin. Come and say hello!
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| intro. |
[27 Jul 2004|10:13pm] |
hey. I'm a 20 year old college student in Davis CA (not far from SF). I'm a lesbian. I'm a feminist. I'm an English major and Michelle Tea is my favorite writer (obviously).
I really need lj friends, so feel free to add me.
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| My Favourite Chris Hunt Novel |
[06 Jul 2004|10:03pm] |
Hi, this is my first post in this community.
My favourite gay authors and indeed one of my favourite authors, full stop, is Chris Hunt who writes Historical Novels. I am finding it hard to write a flawless review due to my being almost blinded by admiration but I will atempt to restrain myself and not rave like a mindless fan.
I was introduced to the writing of this author by a friend who knows my obssesion with history, decadence and homoerotica. STREET LAVENDER did not strike me, from the description on the back cover, as the type of book I would enjoy reading as I feared it will be an opressive and devestating story of male prostitution and the harshness of the victorian street life. I was very wrong. Not that the theme did not involve prostitution: Willie Smith, the main character was telling his life story from its begining in poverty where he learned to use his good looks to pull himself out of the gutter to the beautifully fulfilling ending.
It is not a book devoid of harshness, But it is told realistically, rendered beautifully in a mix victorian slang and modern speech from a point of view of a person who knew no other life and hence does not devestate the reader with its opressive circumastance. On the contrary, it is laced throughout with optimism, acceptance and gentleness. From a reformatory home where he is subjected to terrible treatment as a sodomite, through street prostitution and brothels, being carried off to a rich lords house to fulfil some exotic sexual fantasies, with a brush within the bohamian company of artists as a model for their paintings. It is a dazzling mix of Love, Betrayal, struggles and hope all set against the backdrop of 18th century London. A story of a life with its ups and its downs, convincing, enticing and at parts beautifully erotic.
I would Recomend this book to anyone whether or not they are avid readers of gay literature or historical novels.
And here I was thinking of writing a snappy review of each Chris Hunt Novel I read but ended up ranting at length. so if this meets up with aproval I shall know I can continue with similar posts...perhaps I will even manage to draw people into the wonderful world of Chris Hunt :)
Lamasu
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| Mua ha ha |
[30 Jun 2004|01:22am] |
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Queer as Folk (Shit, now I sound like a total queen) |
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Well well well. What shall I say in my first post? I know, never
read "The Stone Price". Frankly I couldn't get through it. "The
Fire Stone" was a very plotless book the whole way through.
However, Mercedys Lackeys "The Last Herald-Mage" trilogy was one of the
best series I've ever read. I actually cried at one part. I'm not
including a summary of the book because them it would spoil it for you
and I know poeple who would kill me if I did that. Lyne Flwellyn is
also amazing and I suggest her Nightrunner series.
Now, this might peg me as a gothic freak, but I consider Anne Rice's
Vampire chronicles to some of the most homo erotic stuff on earth. So I
fully suggest them from the start all the was up to "Blood and Gold",
be once you hit that book it gets dull, in my opinion.
Well that's all for now. Don't hurt me for not sticking to the "guide
lines" and I promis I will try to abide by them next time, but as this
is my first post here I feel that I should be allowed to make a mistake
or two.
Michael
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| BOOK REVIEW: '34', by Tanith Lee writing as Esther Garber |
[08 Jun 2004|11:44am] |
34 by Tanith Lee writing as Esther Garber
If you are expecting a straightforward dive into lesbian erotica by Tanith Lee (or Esther Garber), you will be pleasantly disappointed. This brief, dense and somewhat experimental book explores the erotic imagination, the nature of memory and mediates on aging. Sexual obsession is the focal point through which many discursive images and ideas flow.
The plot finds 17-year old Esther fleeing London after her mother’s dramatic death. She absconds on a boat across the Channel, and ends up in drab hotel in rainy Paris slum. The amoral and jaundiced Esther is mistaken for a prostitute by the front desk clerk and her services are bought by a virago named Julie, who poses as a man. The sexual chemistry between them awakes passions in Esther. Julie leaves after the tryst. Thus begins Esther’s quest, almost mythic in scope, to find Julie.
If “34” is not a fantasy, it does not happen in the real world. Rather than a traditional ‘other world’, the action takes place in the clouded, magical world of memory and perception, as the first person narrator encounters patently incorrect or wrong things (such as a dog that is part wild boar) or too surreal (such as a Gothic mansion).
The main narrative is interrupted by glimpses into a distant childhood past in Egypt and visions of a future Esther, who is going through menopause in London, and may or may not have a sister (or alter-ego, Anna). Both the future and the past Esthers live in a reality closer to ‘normality.’ The child faces loss and dislocation; the old woman is trapped by her illnesses and indolence. Both are prone to extensive fantasizing.
All of these disparate threads are held together by hypnotic, feverish prose and a dark, sardonic wit. Mythology intersects reality—Demeter, Persephone and Isis all have cameos here. Female ciphers, villains and strange children cavort on the stage. Eroticism and desire infuse everything, obliterating logic and reason.
This novel isn’t for everyone, though. The vaporous, meandering storyline and the disturbing, politically incorrect sexuality on display here will stop many a reader. But those who like sophisticated erotica and experimental fiction will find this Angela Carter meets George Bataille work entrancing.
http://www.tanithlee.com
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[16 May 2004|11:48pm] |
 She smelled of grapes, like she had bathed with children’s bath soap. I’ve always hated the smell of grapes—or any fruit for that matter—but on her it smelled better than just about anything. Her name was Michelle but everyone called her Mike, which I thought was almost as cool as Blossom’s best friend, Six. Mike was new at our school so everyone was curious. The cheerleaders wanted her to be on the squad. The goth kids wanted her to sit at their table at lunch and scowl at the other cliques. The theater kids wanted her to try out for this year’s school play. It went on and on, everybody wanting her to be their best friend like when any new kid arrives at Mayland High. But me? I didn’t want much of anything from her, except maybe for her to just say hello or something. But she didn’t say hello. She didn’t even look my way. She would just walk past me without acknowledging my existence. But that was enough for me to catch the scent of grapes. It had been almost a week since Mike arrived at Mayland and I hadn’t even gotten a slight glance. I guess in a school of almost two thousand that’s bound to happen, right? From “A Girl Called Mike” the new short story by Taryn Hipp of Girl Swirl Zine.
This is the story of two girls with only one thing in common, not having a thing in common with anyone else. This is desperation & love, confusion & heartache. This is cutting school rather than sitting through Algebra, not because you think it’s cool but because she does. This is about making out in photobooths, not watching what you say & finding romance in the last place anyone would ever expect. This is the story of two girls with only one thing in common, each other.
To order on line click here
To order through the mail: $2 to:
taryn hipp pob 312 warrington pa 18976 usa
please note: this is a complete story, not just a reprint of what appeared in girl swirl.
(xposted, sorry) |
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[25 Apr 2004|11:55am] |
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I finished reading Michele Tea's "Valencia" yesterday. It randomly chronicles her expierences living in SF in her early twenties. The books is broken up into parts, each part describing various relationships with various women/girlfriends. It's extremely poetic and harsh, she doesnt gloss over her feelings, she's pretty upfront. It's also infused with her quick wit and sly humor, but always returning to her sincerely sarcastic take on her friends. I like it.
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| for you rconsideration |
[25 Apr 2004|03:19pm] |
friends its long time since ive written,
now I am presently preparing a book on nudism, in our vernacular.
it comprises, the philosophy of western nudism and naturalism, its various streams, the spiritual, familial and activist streams etc..
I also wish to include narratives of individuals into the work,
The book would also hae a portion of the present Indian response to nudism, I wish for indian naratives and people willing to speak out. Im not sure who will be willing.
now I request my LJ friend to support me with the work, You can help me by , providing materials, documents, narratives and of couse your experiences, opinions and reservations about the project.
I wish to acklowledge LJ in the production of the book, I would love to make it a collevtive effort, so may be it would become history.
Please let me know if there are anyone willing to help me, by collecting materials that are not so easily accesable thru the net. You can also suggest links, You can speak to friend, conduct and interview and send it to me.
I wish your whole hearted coperation, please feel free to mail me at
silentrain@rediffmail.com
prayers
jonathan
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| To whoever runs this community |
[11 Apr 2004|07:56pm] |
I might be tempted to come along, but could I request a change? Purple is all very well, but the contrast between pink and purple is very hard on the eye. Could you lighten the text and/or darken the colour, please?
And hello everyone, I'm a bi English Lit student and always happy to discuss both obvious queer lit and the less obvious. Question one: anyone else think Scarlett O'Hara is a repressed lesbian?
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| Undead_Authors |
[25 Mar 2004|05:56pm] |
Hello, I am sorry if this isn’t allowed in your community. Feel free to delete it. However this is something that everyone should get the opportunity to see.
Recipe to Cure your Boredom and Fulfill your Need to Read
1.join undead_authors LJ Book Club
2. Nominate and Vote for Books written by authors from many cultures and worldviews
3.Read, Review and Discuss among LJ's savviest intellectuals *wink*
4.Repeat steps 1-3
5.Relax and Enjoy undead_authors!
In short, this is a community that doesn’t focus solely on books by old/dead straight white men. This is for all of you who are into books by today’s authors but still love the classics. This is for you, no matter what color you are or where you live-- you know a good book when you see one!
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[21 Mar 2004|06:42pm] |
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I finished reading "Rentboy" by Gary Indiana a week or two ago. It tells the story of a twenty-something year old guy in NY. He's a rent boy, men call him up for whatever and he delivers. It's very straighfoward but not standard by any means. It's written in sort of a letter format to his former boyfriend(if I remember correctly). I wish I still had it at hand(I got it from the library) many passgaes were extremely beautiful. I'm not sure if it's autobiographical, but he does mention Kathy Acker a lot, or a character based on her. I'm not sure if Indiana and Acker were friends. Whatever, the book was fantastic. Has anyone else read his stuff? Any recommendations?
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