Category Archives: Book Love

Not reviews or appreciations. A categorie where I discuss my love of reading or of books.

Ramble, Ramble, Ramble

Posted on by
2

Another,

grey one,

ah,

early Winter,

a time of,

grey.

I’ve finished Pat Barker’s,

Regeneration,

a powerful novel,

about what war does to man.

I recommend this book,

not preachy,

not macabre,

a mature book,

with flawed, contradictory,

characters,

living breathing people.

A plot synopsis,

would give too much away,

I think.

Besides,

it isn’t really about plot,

more about people,

ideas,

growth,

fear,

bravery.

I look forward to reading,

the second and third parts,

of this trilogy,

unfortunately,

our library doesn’t seem to have them.

That’s OK,

I’m patient,

they’ll turn up.

Sort of in between books,

right now,

so I’m re-reading,

Loose End ,

by Ivan Coyote,

I picked it up,

at the show,

a few weeks ago.

I’ve read it,

but,

it was during,

my Ivan marathon,

last year,

it bears re-reading,

so,

enjoyable,

so,

buddies shooting the shit,

to me,

Ivan has a Mark Twain,

kind of humour, wisdom,

fishing stories,

kids being kids,

and,

a we’ve all lived,

thisness,

about it.

Doesn’t require,

great concentration,

short pieces,

sketches,

even,

but,

laced with a subtleness,

I envy,

universal truths.

A treasure,

a butch treasure,

nice:-)

Been a,

Himalayan week,

up and down,

very high,

pretty low,

dress warmly,

consider oxygen,

prepare,

things should be OK.

Looking forward to the weekend,

I’ve got a date,

with an angel,

my angel,

deep, contented, sigh.

and now for some silliness,

philosophy,

and,

loot lust,

via,

Face Book and Pinterest,

Yeah?? Hearing some bells??

Now that’s some cool ‘wishings’

Pinned Image

So cute, so butch,

no that isn’t necessarily redundant:-P

Pinned Image

L.L Bean Katadhin work boots, kick ass!!!

Pinned Image

I like everything about this, the books, the smiles, the caps, the house, everything, I’m a sucker for classic American sportswear looks.

’til soon

:-)

Later girls,

BB

 

 

Maternal wisdom…

Posted on by
6

Been a slow,

beginning of the week,

at the bookshop,

I’ve managed to finish two books.

I’ve started and finished,

Utz by Bruce Chatwin,

a novel about a collector,

of Meissen porcelain,

in Czechoslovakia,

during the communist reign.

An odd, short and engrossing,

novel.

Chatwin is much more,

famous,

for his travel and anthropological books,

On Pantagonia,

Songlines,

and all.

This novel,

Utz(the name of the main character)

deals,

in a humourous way with,

the obsession to collect,

and,

much more subtly,

with the real meaning of freedom,

of the mind,

how one can be truly,

free,

inside a totalitarian regime,

and,

less so,

in a,

supposedly democratic one.

As someone who was an avid,

collector himself,

and,

someone who worked in auction houses,

and,

knew many collectors,

as well as being an avid traveller,

Chatwin,

brings insight and experience,

as well as a keen sense of,

observation to this novel,

a little gem,

not for everyone I’m sure,

but,

an interesting look at Prague,

in a pre Havel period,

a couple of hours,

well spent.

The other novel I read is,

Slow River by Nicola Griffith,

a British writer,

good book,

complex themes,

ecological consequences,

abuse,

identity,

family,

not easy to wrap up,

a good read,

set in,

the not too distant future,

a Nebula Award winner.

Sci-Fi isn’t usually my thing,

but,

this I liked.

Took me a while to get,

‘into’ it,

but, once I did,

I wanted to know,

and I cared.

What would happen,

and,

about,

the characters.

If I don’t care about the characters,

like or dislike,

it’s very difficult for me,

to immerse myself in a book.

Both these novels had,

people,

I cared about,

at their center,

and,

both allowed me to pass,

the long hours,

of waiting for customers.

I like a book to distract me,

take me away,

and,

make me think.

When I was a child,

pretty young,

seven, eight,

not quite sure,

my mom told me,

‘When you read, you are never bored’

of course,

she was right.

Reading cures and prevents,

boredom,

and,

Pinned Image

I always have a book lying by,

the side of the bed,

in fact,

most of the time it’s lying,

right next to me,

in bed.

:-)

Do You?

Happy Halloween.

Later girls,

BB

Poets, love, I guess that’s been on my mind:-)

Posted on by
Reply

Grey day out there,

drizzly,

damp,

grey,

kind of,

yeah,

I’ll say it,

yucky

:-)

Been a hard week,

but,

that’s over now,

time to focus,

on positive things,

and,

hang with positive people.

Going to have dinner,

with my ex,

tonight,

good nutritious food,

stimulating conversation,

maybe watch a movie.

I told her I was dying to see

In which James Franco,

plays the beat poet,

Allen Ginsberg.

I am not really a fan,

of the beats,

I wish I was,

love the iconoclasm,

their in your faceness,

their style,

those dudes had style,

but,

I can’t get by their,

machoness,

well,

let me rephrase,

I can’t get by,

Kerouac’s machoness,

I wish I could,

maybe I’ll have to try again.

Kerouac having,

French Canadian origins,

and all.

But, the one beat I adore,

and,

wish I knew more about,

is Ginsberg,

his poem,

Howl,

to me,

is a masterpiece,

I want to get to know,

more about how it was,

banned,

and,

how he was put on trial,

for obscenity,

well,

City Lights,

and,

Ferlinghetti were.

This stuff fascinates me,

it’s a wonder I haven’t seen,

the film,

yet.

When I heard Franco,

was to play Ginsberg,

I was skeptical,

but,

I like Franco,

and,

if this picture is any indication,

he looks right,

the ‘real’ Ginsberg,

not bad, eh?

On the book reading front,

I’ve been dipping in and out,

of a few this week,

some more highbrow,

than others.

I had a copy of,

Awakening The Virgin 2,

on the shelf,

at the bookstore,

published about ten years ago,

I thought I would give it a,

look see,

having so enjoyed the first collection, about fifteen years ago, and coming back to it, time after time, a lovely erotic and romantic collection, about discovery and sensuousness.

Both edited by Nicole Foster,

I expected  some hot flushes,

in it’s reading,

not to be confused with hot flashes, don’t have those….yet:-P

Dissapointing,

but,

maybe that’s me,

and my current lack of energy.

I’ve finished,

E.M Forster’s Aspects Of The Novel,

it was good,

insight into a writer’s reading,

discussion,

of character,

of plot,

etc,

informative and witty,

without pretention,

and,

glibness.

I’m also reading,

Slow River,

by,

Niccola Griffiths,

a futuristic novel,

not usuually my cup of tea,

but, this is good,

interesting plot,

about the environment and pollution,

good character development,

promising.

But, the real gem,

in my current reading pile,

is,

How Do I Love Thee: The Love Letters Of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett,

a jewel,

if you like books,

of correspondence,

which I do,

two poets,

damn good poets,

who fall in love,

with each other,

via,

the written word,

and,

against all odds,

‘get together’.

A story that appeals,

to the romantic in me,

and,

inspiration,

for all those who live,

complicated,

and,

long distance relationships.

Browning and Barrett,

weren’t that far apart,

physically,

and,

yet,

there were many obstacles,

the course of true love:-)

Well, that’s quite enough,

babbling for now.

Have a great Sunday,

be well, ladies.

Later girls,

BB

 

 

 

When I grow up….

Posted on by
6

It’s a grey cloudy morning,

of the October variety.

I don’t mind,

I feel good,

my friend Pierre,

webmaster extraordinaire,

fixed the pesky problem,

with the blog,

just to be clear,

you all were never in danger,

of contamination,

it was a Google alert brought on,

by a spam,

left on the blog,

incredible amount of spam,

you gotta wonder

!!??!!

any way,

it’s fixed,

BB is back

:-)

It’s been slow and odd,

at the bookstore,

remnants of full moon,

weird Fall weather,

cold,

hot,

rainy,

grey,

everything within three days.

So, instead of obsessing on that,

or the blog,

limited success with these but, still…

I have been reading,

Ivan E. Coyote’s,

latest collection of stories,

One In Every Crowd,

Fun aside, recently when I visited the Queer Book Fair here in Montreal, Queer Between The Covers, I bought both this book and, Persistence: All Ways Butch And Femme, from Arsenal Pulp Press’ table and as we strolled the rest of the book fair, I was carrying the books and met the artist who created both book covers, Elisha Lim, she was very pleased that both books had her art:-) At the Anarchist Book Fair, I had also purchased her Zine, The Illustrated Gentleman, which is an adorable twist on GQ, Butch style. She does nice work, you should check her out, at http://elishalim.com/

Getting back to Ivan,

you all know,

I love her work,

her written work,

since I have never seen her perform,

someday, I hope.

Ivan’s writing speaks to me,

directly to,

my butch soul.

This collection is no exception.

A few of the stories,

have been published,

previously,

in other collections.

At first,

I thought,

oh, I’ve read this, too bad,

and then it felt,

like I was visiting with a good friend,

talking about the old days,

what Bruce calls ‘Glory Days”,

and,

catching up on what’s been going on,

with her,

in her life,

talking about her Grandma passing,

her quitting smoking,

her new and marvelous love,

bitching together on,

how Harper is ruining Canada,

and,

how the Christian Right,

is messing with our American cousins.

Catching up,

reminiscing,

butch to butch.

That’s what it feels like to me,

when I read Ivan,

shooting the shit,

with a pal,

a sister,

a brother.

I’ve never met Ivan,

I probably never will,

so?

doesn’t make our ‘relationship’,

any less,

‘intimate’.

That’s what great books,

give you,

connection.

Now,

I am way past the age,

of needing guidance,

from a butch who’s been around the block,

but,

I think the young LGBTQ people,

that Ivan wrote this for,

well, mostly,

will benefit,

from knowing,

that there are uncle Ivans,

out there.

Who live their lives as they wish,

who write,

and,

perform,

and earn a living,

who come from families,

that love and support them,

and,

those who don’t have families,

like that,

can find them,

make them,

that many of us,

exist.

Some of us,

are messed up,

some of us,

are well adjusted and happy,

we just are.

It’s good to know,

that High School,

even for those of us,

who do fine,

or pass,

whatever the case may be,

isn’t the end all.

I had a supportive family,

like Ivan’s,

we didn’t have to talk about this stuff,

it just was.

High School was fine.

I’ve said it before,

I’m lucky.

I’m not sure I would have needed,

Ivan’s book,

but,

it would have been,

nice to have,

just as it is now.

Be it for an example,

or a warm familiar presence,

it’s good to know,

that the Ivan’s of the world,

are there,

and writing to us,

comforting,

and,

inspiring.

A must add to your collection,

in my humble opinion,

and,

something to give to a kid you know,

who feels different,

nothing preachy or academic about this book,

a talk with your favourite uncle.

Some of them might even think,

when I grow up…

I’m gonna be like that

:-)

Later girls,

BB

***the header is an homage to what is quite possibly my favourite book, 84 Charing Cross Road**

 

 

A book of substance and joy, Persistence

Posted on by
4

Well,

looks like,

Fall,

is finally here,

glad to see it,

I’ve missed it,

in the sweltering heat,

the humid,

clingy,

heat.

I even wore,

my tweed cap,

yesterday:-)

This Summer,

has been particularly,

difficult on my reading,

can’t concentrate in,

the sizzling city.

Now,

if I had escaped,

to the sea,

or,

the lake,

with my love,

maybe,

I would have done,

more reading

but,

I doubt it,

swimming,

with or without,

bathing attire,

with a woman,

who you love and desire,

who’s mere presence,

is enough to fill you,

with joy and warmth,

who,

makes you feel better,

than anything,

more than,

any good book,

could.

Isn’t ideal for reading.

But, I digress,

my point was,

Fall,

renews my concentration,

my quest for knowledge,

for entertaining stories,

and,

intellectual stimulation.

I can’t think deep thoughts,

talk as convincingly,

in so far as I can!,

in the Summer,

it makes me grumpy,

and,

sort of brain dead.

I know many of you can, because, you have down time in the Summer and you enjoy the lazy, hazy days, I must admit, I’m a little jealous, but, I’m just not wired that way, Quebecois and Scottish ancestry means for me, I think, that I thrive in the crisp and the cold, in long walks outside followed by ‘fireside’ reading evenings.

In the Fall,

I’m full of energy,

plans,

and,

plots,

(wink)

for the long,

Winter,

ahead.

Much reading will be done,

this Fall and Winter,

the hockey lock out,

(:

will contribute,

as well.

I’ve read this Summer,

but,

a couple of books,

a month,

rather than,

a couple of books,

a week.

One book I’ve been reading,

on and off,

because it requires,

brain cells,

and,

reflection,

is,

Persistance: All Ways Butch and Femme.

If you haven’t read this book,

I suspect many of you have,

I recommend it wholeheartedly.

The editors are Ivan Coyote,

and,

her brilliant wife,

Zena Sharman.

You all know what I think of,

Ivan,

a butch hero of mine,

yes, yes, forty-seven year old bookish butches can have heroes!

a wonderful writer,

communicator,

a butch,

with substance and style.

This anthology of fiction,

essays,

explorations,

and,

explanations,

of what butch and femme mean,

to the various contributors,

now,

in this day and age,

in an age where some,

would say,

butch and femme is passe,

that it is recreating,

the heterosexual model,

and,

that in order for lesbians,

to be taken seriously,

we need to drop,

these labels,

and,

roles.

There are some who say,

we need to be more inclusive,

to give more room,

to everyone.

but,

I woud also say,

that butch and femme,

is in no way,

simple,

or,

indeed,

stereotypical,

and,

that part of inclusion,

is allowing people to live,

their lives,

sexual ans otherwise,

as they wish,

without judging them or calling them,

on every little thing,

that seuality and individuality,

aren’t about fashion.

This anthology,

will buoy you,

and,

perhaps,

occasionally infuriate you,

representing a large spectrum,

of experiences,

nothing boring about it,

and,

the caliber of writing is high.

Some parts will speak to you,

more than others,

but,

you won’t regret reading any of it,

even the ‘not your cup of tea’ parts,

or the upsetting parts.

Made me feel good,

about my butchness,

and,

question it as well.

A book that makes you,

smile,

think,

and,

choke up with angry tears,

is worth your time,

and,

the twenty bucks:-)

I will be returning to it,

and,

I will be lending it,

out,

to friends.

Let me know what you think.

Later girls,

BB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But,

now that,

Fall is here,

a feel a renewed appetite,

for good stories,

and,

intellectual stimulation

 

 

 

A Kallmaker to soothe the grumpy butch

Posted on by
Reply

It’s been a tough week,

seems like there have been,

many of those,

this Summer,

hot and humid,

makes for low sales,

and,

a grumpy,

sleep deprived,

butch,

with wonky concentration.

But, I still got my looks and a rockin’ new haircut:-P

The kitchen is getting a face lift,

new doors,

on the cabinets,

and,

a subway tile ceramic back splash,

looks good,

brings it,

into this century,

from the nineties,

mom is over the moon happy,

I like it too.

The problem is that it messes with ,

my already messed up,

sleep.

oh well,

it will be finished soon,

I hope :-)

My lady sent me,

a package with some books,

she’s so sweet and considerate that way<swoon>

One of the books,

helped with my mood,

and,

my concentration problems,

a Karin Kallmaker romance,

that I hadn’t read,

Nice:-)

I have read all but,

the last two,

I read one last year,

that I wasn’t crazy about,

the story didn’t work for me.

However, even a Kallmaker,

that isn’t her best,

is still head and shoulders,

over most romance novels.

The one I read this week,

is Warming Trend,

set briefly in Key West,

but mostly,

in Alaska.

An Alaskan setting is perfect when you are suffering from the heat

I liked this book,

a lot,

good romance,

an intrigue,

some science,

that seems credible,

mind, I’m no scientist.

I enjoyed the info about ice,

and the effects of,

man made havoc.

The main character,

Ani is a brilliant,

butch ice geologist,

well, almost she’s working on her Phd,

full of passion,

and irresistible naivete,

a strong, smart, character,

who perhaps trusts people,

too much.

Her work ethic and honesty,

are exemplary,

she doesn’t play games,

she doesn’t even know how,

thinks everyone is like her,

honest,

straightforward,

and,

working in the interests of science.

I’m simplifying a complex character,

but,

this is at her root.

A good story,

interesting characters,

even the ‘vilain’,

isn’t one dimensional.

The secondary characters are well drawn,

the mark of good fiction,

and,

it’s wonderfully romantic.

Good read,

entertaining, sexy.

Just what a grumpy ole butch needed.

Later girls,

BB

 

 

 

 

 

Queer Between the Covers

Posted on by
Reply

Kind of a cloudy one,

today,

still cooler,

I’m grateful for that,

yep, grateful.

Haven’t written much about books,

in a while,

still savouring my John Irving.

Next weekend,

I’m taking Saturday off,

and,

going to the Queer Book Fair:-)

My friend Francoys,

the anarchist,

in tow.

Isn’t the poster amazing?? Has a real butch vibe to it don’t you think??<wink> Love the name, although, I’m pretty confident most of the attendees will be queer not just between the covers.

I know there will be representatives,

of all the Queer presses,

as well as some zine artists,

it will be in ‘le village’

maybe we’ll have a beer afterwards.

Since L’Androgyne went under,

years ago,

we hardly have anywhere to buy,

gay books,

I think this is especially true,

of lesbian fiction.

So if you happen to be in Montreal,

on Saturday August 18 TH,

maybe I’ll see you there,

I’ll be the butch with the short hair,

accompanied by a jolly rotund,

gentleman anarchist.

Have a good one girls:-)

Later,

BB

 

 

Live Free or Die

Posted on by
2

It’s a beautiful,

Sunday morning,

sort of hot,

not blindingly,

thank you,

Goddess:-)

I’ve been reading a book,

that was laying around,

the bookstore,

a Canadian classic,

of sorts,

the kind I might,

have read in college,

Swamp Angel,

by Ethel Wilson.

Buried In Print,

wrote about it last year,

she loved it,

and she was right,

she has good taste.

Had I read this book,

in college,

I probably,

wouldn’t have,

appreciated,

the sparseness,

the exactitude,

of the prose,

the language,

or the seemingly,

simple plot.

I’m only a third,

of the way through,

and,

I know,

it will be one,

of my top books,

of the year.

It’s about being true,

to yourself,

quietly,

without shouting,

from roof tops,

very reserved,

very Canadian,

in an old-fashioned way,

when being Canadian,

at least in our literature,

meant,

yearning for freedom,

not flashily,

just going about our,

business-ly.

Reminds me of,

the New Hampshire,

motto,

Live Free Or Die,

no chains but,

reponsibility.

I wonder if any of this making sense,

to any of you.

I don’t think Canadians,

or anybody else,

for that matter,

were great then,

and,

are crap now,

I just think,

the worls is very different,

and,

with all our means of,

communication,

our supposed freedoms,

are we really ‘free-er’ ?

I don’t know.

First let me state,

I didn’t live through,

the fifties,

so what do I know,

but,

it seems a time,

where a person,

could go off,

if well planned,

and,

executed,

and,

live their own life.

There were many,

societal,

religious,

and,

other,

constraints,

but,

there was the possibility,

of starting over.

Oddly enough,

today,

you can go anywhere in the world,

so much easier,

but,

the paper,

and,

cookie trail,

is easy to follow,

so dissapearing or,

starting over,

involves either,

lots of money,

to change your identity,

or a life of,

clandentistiny.

Does living in a world of instant messaging,

instant everything,

and,

it’s not my faultism,

mean it is harder,

to live by,

the New Hampshire motto,

or even,

To Thine Own Self Be True?

Not sure,

but,

the first third of Ethel Wilson’s,

book,

has got me thinking,

about that.

I’ll let you know my over all,

impression,

once I finish,

the last two thirds.

:-)

Have a great Sunday,

I’m off to a family BBQ,

to chill and eat,

and,

enjoy the joy,

and,

exuberance,

of my family.

Later girls,

BB

 

Imperative? Yeah, Imperative

Posted on by
8

I’m feeling,

a little bit,

lethargic,

could be the heat,

could be,

coming down,

after a blissful visit,

with my lady,

could be…

<sigh>

Lately,

I feel unmotivated,

it’s bound to pass,

must keep on keeping on:-)

When I’m tired,

lethargic,

hormonal,

I ask myself,

too many,

questions,

I hear yeah, ‘But BB how is that different from usual?

You know,

maybe it isn’t,

maybe it is my lot,

to ask myself questions,

maybe,

it is everyone’s lot?

Am I being all I can be?

Am I making a difference?

I try,

but, …

Virginia Woolf’s A Room Of One’s Own,

has me reflecting,

on time,

on space,

on using,

my creative force,

my potential,

on reaching,

for,

….

Oh, I’m not sure…

One thing is sure,

fabulous book,

worth your time,

worth thinking about,

getting yourself,

a quiet place,

a room,

a spot you can go to physically,

not just in your mind,

to be with yourself,

to really hear,

what your heart,

what your mind,

what,

you,

are telling ,

you.

Sometimes,

the busyness,

of everyday,

of earning a living,

of taking care of others needs,

and,

also just of wasted time,

gets you away,

from that,

quest,

journey,

to find,

you.

I was going to ask,

if you all feel that way,

but,

I know the answer is,

of course!

Let’s be good to ourselves,

it’s not selfish,

to need time to think,

to breathe,

to dream,

to stop,

it’s essential,

and,

imperative.

Later girls,

BB

 

 

 

On travel ??

Posted on by
4

What a glorious morning it is,

sunny, cool, blue blue sky.

I’m at home,

Thursday morning,

mom’s in charge,

at the bookstore.

I’ve had breakfast,

Great grains cereal with extra raisins and soy milk, I’m so middle aged- the Dude looks hopefully at the bowl and when I let him have the dregs , he looks at me, disappointed, puzzled and, I think, a little grossed out. He doesn’t speak human, but, if he did, I’m pretty sure he’s be saying “you like this shit?”- In point of fact- I do, a Franciscan monk breakfast, for the twenty-first century:-)

It’s my birthday next week,

I’ll be forty-seven,

and,

three days later,

I’m getting my,

buzz cut for Cancer:-)

Should be an interesting week,

if you factor in the fact,

that mom has picked that week,

to have the kitchen painted,

busy, busy, bald:-)

I got my new John Irving,

yesterday,

hot of the press.

I ordered something else,

in order to avoid,

the shipping charges,

a Helene Hanff book

(she of 84 Charing Cross Road fame)

it’s called,

Apple Of My Eye,

all about Helene’s New York,

a sort of a guide book,

it’s delightful,

as all her books are,

feel like you are right there with her,

sharing a Martini and a cigarette,

nice.

The thing is,

I don’t travel,

never have,

it’s not in my,

temperament,

not part of my lifestyle,

I have no objections,

per se,

I just don’t.

Many people think that’s,

close minded?

reductive?

lacking an adventurous spirit?

all this might be true,

I don’t think it is,

but still,

what do I know?

:-)

I know,

that I like to travel in books,

with interesting people,

I used to like,

historical novels,

read tons of them,

not so much anymore.

Now, I like my fiction,

and,

memoirs,

not biography so much,

as,

memoir,

slices of lives,

traveling to New York,

with Helene,

watching Paris from my window,

with Colette,

and her cats,

having and raising a baby,

in France,

with Adam Gopnik,

drinks with Janet and Hem,

walking through the 1930′s garden at Sissinghurst,

with Vita and Virginia,

that’s what I like.

But,

since I now eat my cereal,

with soy milk,

maybe,

I’ll experience Shakespeare and Company,

for myself,

live,

with the sights and sounds.

If I can have my head shaved,

change my eating habits,

maybe I can learn to travel,

maybe,

you can teach a middle aged butch,

new tricks

WinK!!!

Later girls,

BB