Edmonton Lesbian+ Book Club

Hey everyone. Sorry for the long break between posts. Here's the scoop. We've had excellent book discussions in the last couple of months. And, we had a lovely little pre-holidays get-together too. We take a break from book club in December because people are always so busy with the holidays. And here are our plans for the coming months: January: We're reading "Our Sister Killjoy" by Ama Ata Aidoo. February: We'll read "Loose End" by Ivan E. Coyote . Unfortunately, we had to shelf the idea of reading Nicole Brossard's "Mauve Desert" as it is out of print and difficult to get hold of. Perhaps when her latest, "Yesterday, at the Hotel Clarendon" goes paperback, we'll read it. That's it until the new year!!!

Our reading schedule for the coming months, based on your votes/anti-votes/requests! October: Finding Ms. Wright, by Anne Seale November: Written on the Body, by Jeanette Winterson December: we're on hiatus January: Our Sister Killjoy, by Ama Ata Aidoo February: Mauve Desert, by Nicole Brossard

We're reading "The Quilt" by Ismat Chugtai. a review.

1. Lilly was awarded the German Federal Service Cross in 1981 for “her heroic efforts” to conceal and protect Felice. Did you find Lilly “heroic”? 2. Was this a memoir? 3. Did you find their affair passionate? Do you think the circumstances of the war heightened their affair? 4. Did you find Lilly self-serving? 5. Do you think Felice regretted not leaving Germany when she had the chance? 6. Did the relationship come across as obsession to you? 7. “It is not an introspection on being or becoming lesbian. It is not the reminiscence of a woman who regrets not doing enough to save her lover from the Holocaust. It is not an inspirational memoir by an ordinary Berliner who learned great lessons from her experiences. Neither is it a compelling account of that dreadful time nor even much of a love story.” Do you agree? What is it, if not a love story?

I'm just posting our discussion questions from the following two books, in case you missed the weekend, but read the books... Questions for He Drown She in the Sea (Shani Mootoo) 1. Why did Mootoo set this novel in a fictional island instead of Trinidad? 2. What is the effect of the skipping through time? 3. What role do class divisions play in the story? What about race? 4. How did you feel about Rose’s father’s reaction when he discovered the children sleeping together? 5. Reviewers describe the patois her characters speak as lyrical and sensuous. Do you agree? 6. An important scene happens when Rose and her mother visit Dolly and Harry at their seaside shack. She says to him “They are not our friends. Maybe I myself mislead you.” What impact did this scene have? 7. The book takes quite a plot twist at the end. Did it feel real to you? Note: Click here to hear Shani Mootoo read from her book. Questions for Venous Hum (Suzette Mayr) 1. The publisher calls this novel “magic realis

For August we're reading "Aimée and Jaguar" by Erica Fischer, and may be watching the movie too! Some reviews of the book here! Don't forget about the weekend getaway in late August, where we're reading "Venous Hum" by Suzette Mayr (publisher's description) and "He Drown She in the Sea" by Shani Mootoo (publisher's description) . See earlier post for details. And in September, it's "The Quilt and other stories" by Ismat Chugtai. (Read a review. )

1. The Jews in Cuba are described as going into hiding here by converting to Catholicism, a practice that has occurred in many areas of the world. Do you see this as paralleling/not paralleling the experiences of members of the GLBTQ community who have stayed or gone into hiding i.e., "the closet." What about other cultural variations on the same theme? 2. Many of the characters are confronted with the challenge of assimilation and the emergence of multiple identities. Is Alejandra Cuban or American or both? How does Judaism play into her identity? How does lesbianism or bisexuality factor into her identity? What about her lover- how does she respond to Ale's multiple cultural identities? 3. Ytzak both gave up, and took from others, much for his beliefs especially in regard to his relationships to with his family. How do you see this paralleling the queer community? Do you think Ytzak overstepped his rights as grandfather? 4. What is "love"? Have you ever been

Hey Lesbian Book Club! Tell all your friends and loved ones! The book club is having its second annual weekend getaway at Pine Trails! When? The weekend of August 26, 27 and 28th, 2005. Where? Pine Trails at Pigeon Lake How much does it cost? It’s $70 per person for the weekend. Tent sites are less. What’s happening? Well, the details are far from finalized, but here’s the plan. We’ve selected two titles to read and discuss over the weekend: "Venous Hum" by Suzette Mayr, and "He Drown She in the Sea" by Shani Mootoo (both local authors!). We’ll barbeque! We’ll go swimming. Or whatever you like. If you’d like to go, you need to reserve a spot. Contact tree_dream@yahoo.ca! **More details to come as things as finalized.**

Hey everyone, July's title is "Days of Awe" by Cuban-American author Achy Obejas. Some links: A great interview with the author, some discussion questions, etc: National Yiddish Book Centre Another fantastic site with interviews, discussion questions, etc.: bookclubs.ca More questions: random house publishing group For those planning ahead, August we're reading "Aimée and Jaguar" by Erica Fischer, and may be watching the movie too! And in September, it's "The Quilt and other stories" by Ismat Chugtai.

Want to try something different? Let's share a little of our book love? 1. Total number of books owned 2. Last book bought 3. Last book read 4. Five books that mean a lot Post your answers in a comment!

The Lambda Literary Awards were announced! The winners are: The Lesbian Debut Fiction Award was given to Judith Frank, who drew on her experience as an adult literacy tutor to write her first novel Crybaby Butch (Firebrand). The Lesbian Fiction Award was given to Village Voice writer and novelist Stacey D'Erasmo for A Seahorse Year (Houghton Mifflin), which follows a San Francisco family coping with a 16-year-old son's mental illness. Lesbian Poetry: Sweet to Burn by Beverly Burch , Gival Press Lesbian mystery: Hancock Park by Katherine V. Forrest , Berkley Prime Crime/Penguin Group USA Independent LGBT Press Award: Bella Books

Hey book club members, June's title has been changed!!! We've had to switch things up again. So, June's title is "The Touch Typist" by Helen Sandler.

Why was Lenny included in the story? In Mark's speech, after being caught by Tina, why do you think he said Liz lived through Tina? Do you think that Tina was being blind to everyone's feelings by bringing up Timothy at every opportunity? Why was Flo Tina's first love? Were you surprised by where Timothy ended up being? When does your dark side come out?

May's title is "This Wild Silence" by Lucy Jane Bledsoe . From the American Library Association : Bledsoe follows the stories in Sweat (1995) and the working-class novel Working Parts (1997) with a tale of family loyalties, lies and secrets, and the daunting terrain of sisterhood between two wildly different people. Christine (Tina), a physician in San Francisco's Tenderloin district, seems to have difficulty in forming and maintaining intimate relationships and seeks solace in her work. Meanwhile, her outdoorsy, survival-enthusiast sister Liz's marriage to high-school sweetie Mark, now an educational publisher, seems faultless. But beneath smooth surfaces lie fault lines, as Tina learns while snow camping with Liz and Mark in California's Sierra Nevadas. Both women have lived with the guilt stemming from the disappearance of their brother, then a preschooler, while they were watching him during a family excursion three decades ago. Will the harsh environment

Some questions to ponder as you read: 1. What moral/ethical choices did the characters make? What did you think of those choices? 2. Why do you think the author wrote this? What is her most important message? 3. How did you feel about the characters? Who did you like or not like and why? 4. What did you think of the ending? 5. How does the setting figure as a character in the story? Will have more questions soon!

I found a women’s studies class syllabus (it's a pdf file) on heroic journeys in lesbian literature. The course is from San Diego State University. Here's a bit from the course description: "In literature, myth, and religion, a human life has often been imagined as a journey along the path from birth to death: a quest, pilgrim’s progress, or heroic tale. Overcoming obstacles along her/his way, the pilgrim comes to understand her/his relation to self, gods, and society, and is rewarded at the end with love or punished with death. But what if that pilgrim progresses along a lesbian path? What kind of journey does she undergo? What kind of self does she discover—or construct? What kind of tale does she tell? What kind of love and place in society awaits her at the end?" The course’s required texts include: Paula Gunn Allen, The Woman Who Owned the Shadows Leslie Feinberg, Stone Butch Blues Jewelle Gomez, The Gilda Stories Radclyffe Hall, The Well of Loneliness Judith Ka

Hey, the Lambda Literary Foundation has announced the finalists for the annual Lambda Literary Awards! (aka the Lammys) For us lovers of lesbian fiction, here are the finalists in the in the category of lesbian fiction: A Seahorse Year by Stacey D'Erasmo, Houghton Mifflin Abundant Light by Valerie Miner, Michigan State University Press Life Mask by Emma Donoghue, Harcourt Skels by Maggie Dubris, Soft Skull Press Venus of Chalk by Susan Stinson, Firebrand Books And in the new category of lesbian debut fiction: Crybaby Butch by Judith Frank, Firebrand Books Death by Discount by Mary Vermillion, Alyson Publications Dish It Up, Baby! by Kristie Helms, Firebrand Books (note to book club members - we already read this one!) Fire & Brimstone by Laurinda D. Brown, Strebor Books Minus One: A Twelve-Step Journey by Bridget Bufford, Alice Street Editions

April's title is "The Woman Who Owned the Shadows" by Paula Gunn Allen. She is one of the first Aboriginal (American) authors to be published, let alone lesbian ones! For those of you planning ahead, May's title is "This Wild Silence" by Lucy Jane Bledsoe, and June's title is "The Quilt and other stories" by Ismat Chugtai.

Quebec lesbian author Nicole Brossard celebrates her 40th publishing anniversary. This month, Coach House Books will publish Yesterday, at the Hotel Clarendon the English translation of Brossard's 2001 novel, Hier. It's her first English novel in 8 years, and will be launched at the Blue Metropolis Montreal International Literary Festival on March 31. I know, we're in Edmonton, she's in Montreal. Still, it's good news and worth mentioning in case you are planning to be in Montreal later this month! The event will feature readings of Brossard’s work in English and French by Martine Audet, Denise Desautels, Louise Forsyth, Alberto Manguel and Elise Turcotte, and a collaborative reading from Yesterday, at the Hotel Clarendon by Brossard and the novel's translator, Susanne de Lotbinière-Harwood. Yesterday, at the Hotel Clarendon is hailed by critics in Quebec as the synthesis of almost four decades of writing. According to Coach House, it is a meditation on time,

1. How is reading a collection of short stories different from reading a novel? There were 14 stories. Do you have a favourite? Do you have a least favourite? 2. Most (all?) of the main characters identified as butch. Do you identify as butch? Did you like reading stories from this perspective? For instance, did you enjoy “Stone Butch,” and the main character, Mitos? 3. The copy on the back cover says that the book “expands the definitions of butch.” How many different definitions of “butch” do you think the book offers? 4. Some of the stories didn’t give names to the characters, such as in “Big Nipple of the North.” Did you like this? 5. Many of the stories had lesbian characters that knew they were lesbians (or something different anyway) at a very young age, such as “When You’re Six.” What did you think of this? Did you know at a young age that you were “different”? Do you know anyone who has had this experience? 6. What did you think of “The Lesbian Hen”? 7. In “Innocent Lust” the

Another great link provided by Lindy: Rainbow Reading: A Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Booklist Check it out!

Throw It To the River by Nice Rodriguez (review found on a discussion board for Filipinos about books that made a difference in their lives) I really liked this book. It's a collection of short stories (fiction) about women in the Philippines. Some are funny, sad, political, sexy, frustrating, emotional, or a combination. It's about relationships between women and how those relationships affect the other people around them. It is the only book I know of that portrays different experiences of being queer and female in the Philippines (most of the stories take place in Manila). It's also politically and culturally enlightening. I think all of the characters are interesting and prismatic (not one dimensional). A very nice read. Highly recommend, whether you are queer or not. Throw It to the River by Nice Rodriguez (review found at a UCLA student discussion) This debut collection of short stories introduces Nice Rodriguez as a writer whose style is fresh and clean. Set in the P

March's selection is "Throw it to the River" by Nice Rodriguez. The author is Filipino, living in Toronto. The book is actually a collection of short stories - this should be an interesting change from our routine. It portrays the lesbian experience in the Philippines - most of the stories take place in Manila.

Feel free to submit your own! Edmonton Public Library I guess this one is pretty self-explanatory. The Edmonton Public Library carries many of the titles we read in the book club. Some libraries even have little rainbow stickers on the spines to indicate that it is an lgbt-related book. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer encyclopedia This is an amazing resource about all things lgbt - including literature and authors. It also includes discussion forums. Lambda Literary Foundation The Lambda Literary Foundation gives out the Lambda awards every year to lgbt writers. We've read a number of the award winners.

Carol Anshaw We read "Lucky in the Corner." Ngahuia Te Awekotuku Ngahuia is a Maori lesbian from New Zealand. We read her collection of related stories, "Tahuri." Ngahuia was kind enough to respond to all of our questions via email! Ann Bannon Ann Bannon's "I Am a Woman" is just one of her many legendary pulp fiction novels written in the 50s. Our members contacted her about coming to visit the book club and she was quite willing, but unavailable. This woman is still very very busy - giving lectures to university classes on feminist and lesbian fiction! Barrie Jean Borich We read her autobiographical "My Lesbian Husband." Rita Mae Brown "Rubyfruit Jungle" is now a classic lesbian novel. One of our members told us she used it to identify lesbians in the crowds! Emma Donoghue We read this Irish writer's novel "Hood." Camilla Gibb We read "The Petty Details of So-and-so's Life" - a best-seller by this

February's title is Trace Elements of Random Tea Parties, by Felicia Luna Lemus.

What we've read so far: Anshaw, Carol. Lucky in the Corner Awakotuku, Ngahuia Te. Tahuri Bannon, Ann. I Am a Woman Barnes, Djuna. Nightwood Borich, Barrie Jean. My Lesbian Husband: Landscapes of a Marriage Breedlove, Lynn. Godspeed Brown, Rita Mae. Rubyfruit Jungle Calderón, Sara Levi. The Two Mujeres Donoghue, Emma. Hood Gibb, Camilla. The Petty Details of So-and-so’s Life Griffith, Nicola. Ammonite Helms, Kristie. Dish it up, Baby Humphreys, Helen. The Lost Garden Kwa, Lydia. This Place Called Absence Lai, Larissa. Salt Fish Girl Luke, Pearl. Burning Ground MacDonald, Ann-Marie. Fall on Your Knees Martinac, Paula. Out Of Time Millett, Kate. Sita Mootoo, Shani. Cereus Blooms at Night Stein, Gertrude. The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas Tea, Michelle. The Chelsea Whistle Waters, Sarah. Fingersmith Woodrow, Marnie. Spelling Mississippi Woolf, Virginia. Orlando