Edmonton Lesbian+ Book Club

Here are some discussion questions for you all to ponder before next discussion, courtesy of Jenn! Thanks Jenn! 1. What's in a name? Is it possible that Stephen's name influenced her personality? Or perhaps the fact that her father treated her as the boy he'd always wanted? Which side (if either) of the nature/nurture debate does Radclyffe Hall seem to be taking? 2. The Well of Loneliness has been called the "lesbian bible." Do you think that this title is still applicable today, nearly 100 years since its original publication? Are the challenges the characters face throughout the novel still relevant for the queer community today? 3. The introduction to the story suggests that the book should be read for its historical value, rather than its literary value. Do you agree/disagree with this statement? 4. Religion seems to have played a large part in Stephen's understanding of her identity. She often identifies with biblical figures who had suffered. Do you thi...

We just finished discussion of The Creamsickle, a delightful novel from Rhiannon Argo. Everyone seemed to enjoy the characters a great deal though the plot seemed a little meandering. All in all we loved it and we intrigued by it and identified with it... love that. This month we're reading the lesbian classic with the most uplifting title, The Well of Loneliness . Originally published in 1928, it was subject of a storm of controversy. It became the target of a campaign to have it banned for obscenity. Although its only sexual reference consists of the words "and that night, they were not divided," a British court judged it obscene because it defended "unnatural practices between women." According to Wikipedia , in 1926, Radclyffe Hall was at the height of her career. Her novel Adam's Breed , had become a bestseller and award-winner. She had long thought of writing a novel about "sexual inversion" and believed, her literary reputation would allo...