Lesbian classics

Interesting article on kissed by venus.

link here:

http://kissedbyvenus.ca/?p=2759

Lesbian classics,

how many of these have you read?

“Orlando” by Virginia Woolf
 “The Well Of Loneliness” by Radclyffe Hall
 “The Children’s Hour” by Lillian Hellman
 “The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas” by Gertrude Stein
 “Ruby Fruit Jungle” by Rita Mae Brown 
 “Patience & Sarah” by Isabel Miller 
 “Oranges are not the only fruit” by Jeanette Winterson
 “The Price of Salt” by Patricia Highsmith
 “Annie On My Mind” by Nancy Garden
 “Stone Butch Blues” by Leslie Feinberg
 “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker
 “Tipping The Velvet” by Sarah Waters
 “Beebo Brinker” by Ann Bannon
 “Curious Wine” by Katherine V. Forrest 
 “Desert of the Heart” by Jane Rule

I’ve read ten of the fifteen,

I’m not sure if I’ve read,

The Color Purple,

I’ve seen the movie several times,

it is one of my exes,

all time favourites,

That, and Sound Of Music, but we won’t go there:-)

I read The Well Of Loneliness,

as a teenager,

that book is enough to scare,

a butch,

off women,

for life.

Dark and gloomy,

I’m glad I read it,

only because,

I can honestly,

say,

that I read it.

The Children’s Hour,

I’ve read and seen.

I must say,

the movie,

left a bigger impression,

but,

I love all things,

Lilian Hellman.

Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown.

I first heard about this book,

in a movie,

Educating Rita,

with Micheal Caine,

and the gorgeous, magical,

Julie Walters.

If you have never seen this movie, do, it’s amazing.

Julie takes the name Rita,

in honour,

of Rita Mae Brown,

who changed her life through,

Rubyfruit Jungle,

the filmaker is poking fun,

and Rita, the character,

 isn’t even gay, 

but,

I had to read the book.

I bought it,

on an unforgetable trip,

to Boston,

years ago.

I’ve read it,

ten, twelve times,

I do find it a bit dated,

but,

Molly is a strong,

independent,

uncompromising character.

My copy,

had a picture,

Of Rita,

the author,

on the back cover,

I wanted to look just like her.

silly butch:-)

I have read many of Brown’s books,

in the last few years,

I’ve gone off her,

how much can you read,

about quaint Virginia,

and foxhunts?

before,

deathly boredom sets in.

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit,

by Jeanette Winterson.

This book is amazing,

I can’t say enough good things,

about Winterson,

although I prefer,

Written On The Body,

Oranges,

 is a coming of age,

autobiographical novel.

I read all her books,

some of them are,

very strange.

odd journeys,

but,

I trust her to,

take me somewhere,

interesting.

I’ve read both,

The Price Of Salt,

and,

Stone Butch Blues,

in the last year.

I liked,

The Price Of Salt,

Stone Butch Blues,

shook me to my core.

Sarah Waters,

Tipping The Velvet,

is funny, entertaining, sexy and reflective.

All of her books,

are must reads,

in my opinion.

Victorian Lesbians,

very hot.

Beebo Brinker by Ann Bannon,

not only is it,

a pioneering novel,

but,

it’s a really good read,

Beebo is a tender character,

the ultimate butch,

nothing stone about her.

Curious Wine by Katherine V Forest,

so romantic,

so, so romantic.

The love scenes,

will make you melt.

Desert Of The Heart by Jane Rule,

this book to me is,

the Lesbian classic.

The movie is a classic,

as well,

deservidly so,

the first time,

I ever saw two women,

kissing and making love,

that looked real.

Nobody dies,

or goes back to her husband,

revolutionary stuff.

Well, that is my take on the list,

what’s yours?

How many have you read?

Most of these can be enjoyed,

by all,

you don’t have to be a lesbian:-)

Later girls,

BB

Author: Bookish Butch

I am a bookish butch in my mid early fifties. I live in Montréal and always have. I used to run a small used bookstore. Reading keeps me sane. My latest jiggie is photography, book project in the works, living the dream

4 thoughts on “Lesbian classics”

  1. Eleven and just acquired soon-to-be number twelve, “Price of Salt,” based on your recommendation. I’d have to agree that reading Radclyffe Hall as a teenager was not exactly uplifting and ‘looking to the future’ type stuff. But “Rubyfruit Jungle” more than made up for it. I didn’t come across any Ann Bannon until fairly recently. Both Jeannette Winterson and Virginia Woolf are interesting reads that I spent a lot of time with when I ws in university but I don’t think I have the patience for their styles these days.

  2. I also have Gertrude Stein’s , The Autobiography Of Alice B Toklas, waiting in a pile by the bed.
    So, I’ll be at eleven if I can manage to make it through, it is a scarry book, it’s reputation precedes it.
    I hope you enjoy The Price Of Salt, but, I’m pretty sure you will-
    We have much in common:-)

  3. Even if it means I’m benched from the lesbian team for a bit, I think I’ll give the Toklas one a miss. That is one thing about the “classics”, as in the older books, more doom and gloom than I need.

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