Book Love – Page 5 – Bookish Butch

The Summer of Ivan

It’s been a hot week,

and a little bit slow,

at the bookstore,

and in my life.

When, it’s really hot,

I don’t sleep well,

and,

when,

I don’t sleep well,

I get cranky,

and,

slow.

Last night was cool,

and I slept,

like the proverbial baby:-)

Funny when I’m cranky,

or a little bit down,

I do a lot of reading,

which stimulates,

my thoughts,

and,

helps me emerge from,

my doldrums,

provided,

it’s the right kind,

of reading,

for my mood.

The Gladwell,

helped me think,

and,

perhaps,

consider a new path,

for the future.

A fabulous book,

can’t recommend it,

strongly enough,

it’s ten years old,

and,

yet,

so fresh.

But, this Summer,

has been,

the Summer of Ivan.

In the last week,

I have read,

three of her books,

add,

to the two,

I had read,

previously,

it is almost,

the entirety,

of her oeuvre.

I think Ivan,

has arrived,

in my life,

at the right time,

she speaks to me.

Her openess about,

being a butch queer,

and,

what it really means,

the good,

the bad,

the ugly,

rings so true.

I don’t mean her,

life and her path,

ressemble my own,

she hails from The Yukon,

and I’m from Montreal,

she now lives in Vancouver,

I’m still in Montreal,

she’s famous,

I’m not:-)

She’s a writer,

I want to be,

but,

her search for,

understanding,

who she is,

and getting,

the message out,

to youth,

and everyone,

that yeah,

we may be different,

but,

there are many of us,

and we love,

our family,

Grandmas,

extended family,

dogs/cats,

girlfriends/partners,

and,

have learned,

from our parents.

So,

just how different are we?

We don’t question your rights,

and,

reason for being,

why question ours?

But,

mostly Ivan,

makes me smile,

and think,

about my butchness,

and how sometimes,

I question it,

she helps give,

myself permission,

to embrace,

my label,

and my stereotype,

as well as,

trancend it.

I’ll have to catch,

one of her performances,

or maybe,

write her,

a fan letter,

wait,

maybe,

I just did:-)

I love Ivan,

like a brother,

or a sister:-)

Just wanted to tell you all that.

Later girls,

Discoveries

It was a grey,

cloudy day,

today,

quiet at the shop,

time to read,

I’m almost through,

Bow Grip,

by Ivan E. Coyote,

great name, don’t you think?

I like this writer,

and I don’t understand,

how come,

I’m just discovering her,

now,

oh well,

isn’t that how it is,

with books,

with life,

you keep wondering,

how come,

I’ve never seen this,

I’ve never read that,

I’ve never been there,

I’ve never felt this way,

before,

a journey,

that’s what it is,

and if it wasn’t filled,

with discoveries,

with adventures,

with pitfalls,

and the occasional,

mudslide,

to go with,

the sunshine,

and,

rainbows,

it would be boring,

and boredom is not,

an acceptable option,

for the curious,

of mind,

I guess,

well,

I’m off to read,

I’ll tell you what,

I think of the book,

tomorrow,

most likely,

Later girls,

mise en place for writing?

It’s a grey day,

here,

in the city.

I finished,

Anne Lamott’s,

book, Bird by Bird,

yesterday.

It is a special book,

I promised,

it to someone,

but,

I hesitate,

to part with it,

so soon.

It has made,

me think,

it has brought me,

joy and insight,

I recommend it highly.

So many parts,

rang true,

spoke to me.

I believe,

it will speak to anyone,

who writes,

aspires to,

or,

even,

reads.

Lamott writes it,

more clearly,

I think,

than I,

can say it,

There are lots of us, some published, some not, who think the literary life is the loveliest one possible, this life of reading and writing and corresponding. We think this life is nearly ideal. It is spiritually invigorating, says a friend, who converted at eighteen from Christianity to poetry. It is intellectually quickening. One can find in writing a perfect focus for life. It offers challenges and delight and agony and commitment.

I know,

it’s silly,

and,

perhaps,

even,

a little,

pathetic,

that,

the words of,

a perfect stranger,

somehow,

validate?

illuminate?

elucidate?

your wandering,

meandering,

path.

As if she is saying,

BB,

don’t worry,

about,

spending,

your life reading,

and,

and seeking,

it’s all,

mise en place,

for writing,

at least,

I hope that’s,

what she’s,

saying:-)

Later girls,

When you’re, ready?

Yesterday,

was,

kind of quiet,

at the bookstore,

but,

honestly,

bookstores tend,

to be.

I was roaming,

around the shelves,

looking at what,

I have,

and why,

some of them,

aren’t selling.

So,

rooting around,

my dictionary,

grammar,

foreign language,

style guide,

section,

happened upon,

this writing guide,

Bird by Bird,

by Anne Lamott.

It’s been there,

a while.

I thought I would,

check it out.

Some books sell,

themselves,

some books,

wait for,

their reader/buyer,

and some,

you have to nudge,

into someones,

hands.

This book,

should have sold,

ages ago,

a lot of wannabe,

writers,

frequent,

used bookstores,

this is a good guide,

cheap,

and in more,

than adequate,

condition.

When I acquired it,

I figured it would,

go,

fast,

but,

a year or so,

later,

it’s still on the shelf.

The reason I believe,

it hasn’t sold is,

the title,

people must,

think it,

a missplaced,

ornithology guide,

in fact it is,

a delightful,

practical,

book,

on writing.

Not, one of those,

how to become,

the next Stephen King,

James Patterson,

or assorted other,

bestselling millionaire,

but, how to write,

really write,

everyday,

eek out a living,

be happy,

and,

miserable,

doing what,

you must do,

write.

Filled with,

memories,

and observations,

on life,

and the creative,

process,

a gem,

maybe,

it hasn’t sold,

because,

it was waiting,

for me to read it,

first,

or,

last:-)

Lamott has,

an easy going,

and,

quirky,

funny style.

She speaks to me:-)

From page fifteen,

on the reasons it is important,

to write,

not just be published,

Because for some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.

Nice huh?

Sometimes,

a book,

waits patiently,

for you,

to pick it up,

to need it.

When you’re ready,

when you are,

there.

Maybe,

not just books,

🙂

Later girls,

Coyote, Judaism and Soul food

Wow,

what a morning,

honestly,

it’s the only appropriate,

word,

wow.

Sales yesterday,

were amazing,

I don’t want to be greedy,

but,

if the whole week,

was like that,

I’d be grateful,

I’m thinking,

of doing,

a little,

ex parte,

communication,

with,

St-Jude,

can’t hurt,

right?

My reading lately?

Sporadic,

all over the map,

examples?

In the last week,

I have read,

an Ivan E Coyote,

a book on Judaism,

for proselytes,

which it turns out, means Gentile converts. who knew?

and a book,

of Great American Poetry,

like I said,

eclectic!

The Ivan Coyote,

is a book of stories,

Close to Spider Man,

and was given to me,

by someone,

near and dear,

to my heart,

she described it,

as more,

vignettes,

than stories,

and,

I agree,

small slices of life,

growing up,

a tomboy dyke,

in the Yukon,

a funny, tender,

read,

not sentimental,

or cutsey,

simple evocative,

language,

The women smelled of gift perfume, the men of new sweaters.. Iced window panes seperated us from the bitter white of winter outside. Everyone I’d ever known was still alive- from Walks Like

I can smell,

the new,

Shetland wool sweater,

itchy and warm,

and hear,

my grandfather’s laugh.

or this,

I was an accomplished tomboy by this time, so I was used to hating my clothes- from No Bikini

visions of a,

pink,

fleece lined jacket,

my mother,

brought home,

from a,

a shopping,

expedition,

eek!

I liked,

this book,

I like this writer,

I want to read more,

I will.

The book on,

Judaism?

Well, it literally,

fell off the shelf,

in the religion and,

spirituality section,

and I thought,

to myself,

what do you really,

know about Judaism?

Not a lot,

and,

fifty-six pages,

matches my current,

attention span,

so why not,

I’ve learned a bit,

and I enjoyed it,

and,

now,

I know the difference,

between,

reform and orthodox Jews.

The poetry?

well,

it’s good for the soul,

and my soul,

can always use,

nourishment.

Later girls,

The Powerbook, a personal response

There is no penance that can calm love and no regret that can make it bitter-The Powerbook by Jeanette Winterson

I’ve been busy,

but,

I have to share with you,

a powerful,

reading experience.

What little reading,

I’ve done lately,

has been spent on,

The Powerbook by Jeanette Winterson.

I’ve read this book,

before,

and yet,

I haven’t.

The woman, the butch:-)

who read this novel,

ten years ago,

doesn’t exist anymore.

She has been changed.

Life,

experience,

pain,

joy,

fear,

love,

transform you.

You don’t notice,

and then,

you hear, something,

you see something,

you read something,

and there it is,

the change,

the new you,

reborn,

from your scar tissue.

This work of Art,

that you saw,

heard,

or, read,

holds up the change for you to,

see.

As, I read this novel,

it reminded me of,

that old Roberta Flack,

song,

or for the youngest of you, the Lauryn Hill and The Fugees version,

Killing Me Softly.

I felt he found my letters and read each one out loud

I can’t really give you an objective,

opinion of this book,

it was a personal,

and,

visceral,

experience.

I can’t tell you,

it will have the same,

effect on,

you.

But, I can guarantee,

you will get,

something from,

it.

Later girls,

Musings on not much

Terrible,

the earthquake and tsunami,

in Japan.

The Japanese are an,

organised,

resilient,

people,

they’ll pull through,

Godspeed.

Yesterday,

started off well,

I was feeling good,

had a rhythm going,

and then came,

the rain,

and,

the weirdos.

But, hey,

to paraphrase,

Scarlett O’Hara,

today is another day.

Gone With The Wind.

How many of you have read,

Gone With The Wind,

by Margaret Mitchell?

I read it the summer,

I turned,

fourteen?

Yeah, I’m pretty sure,

fourteen.

What an impression,

it left,

on my baby butch,

mind,

imagination.

I love that book.

I know it’s full of,

stereotypes,

sexism,

racism,

longing for a,

romantic old south,

that may have existed,

almost exclusively,

in peoples’ imaginations,

but,

still.

Scarlett is so strong,

such a survivor,

her mother,

class personified,

Melanie Wilkes,

the very definition,

of loyalty,

Stand by your man.

I confess,

I always thought,

a good butch,

wouldn’t have,

walked out on,

Scarlett,

like Rhett did.

What can I say,

I’m crazy that way,

I sometimes substitute,

butches,

for the male,

characters,

it’s weird,

but,

it works for me,

also,

I’m almost certain,

others do the same.

Do you?

Well,

I must go to work.

Do I feel like it?

Damn, no.

But, you gotta do,

what you gotta do.

Later girls,

*I’ll write something better tomorrow, because after all: Tomorrow is another day**

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,

Green Mansions

Taking advice from concerned,

fellow bloggers:-)

I have put Giovanni’s Room,

aside,

at least for a few days,

I have taken up Green Mansions,

by W.H Hudson.

This book was given to me,

by,

a customer of mine.

He is an older gentleman,

retired teacher,

and every once in a while,

he says to me,

“you simply must read this”,

He is a tad excentric,

and doesn’t read anything,

published post 1950,

but,

his taste is good,

sure.

Green Mansions,

left a major,

impression on him,

he gave me,

a vintage illustrated copy,

well,

we traded,

he took some Zola,

in English.

In my neighborhood,

I don’t sell too much Zola,

and in English,

practically never,

so,

it wasn’t much of a trade,

but,

he was happy,

me too.

He made me promise,

that I would not sell it,

without reading it first,

As if I would?

I have principles,

you don’t sell gifts,

especially,

when someone recommends,

with such fervor.

So, I’m going to read a romantic story,

about the rain forest.

Why not?

One of the best parts of owning,

a bookstore,

is the sharing of book love,

you recommend to them,

they recommend to you,

reciprocity.

My friends are all readers,

but,

aside from my writer friends,

noone reads as much,

or,

as eclectically.

Well,

that is not strictly true,

my virtual blogosphere friends,

do as well.

that sounded weird.

I think feral geographer put it best,

in this post,

http://feralgeographer.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/the-ignored-houseguest-and-the-blogger-too-much-about-my-dreams/

a thoughtful and imaginative,

articulation,

of how many of us feel.

Do yourself a favour,

check it out.

Well, I’m off to read.

Later girls,

What’s your favourite book? And Why?

I have spent a good part,

of the last two days,

reading,

Where The Red Fern Grows.

I am sure many of you have read it.

It’s something of a classic,

there are over,

eight hundred reviews,

on amazon, alone.

OK,

I’m sort of embarrassed to admit,

I had never heard of this book,

until about a month ago.

A woman I met,

told me about it,

it seemed to mean,

a lot to her.

I was intrigued and interested,

by both the book and the woman.

So, a couple of Sundays ago,

I took it out of the library.

It was the first time,

I went to the children’s section.

It’s a wonderful book.

Full of fun and adventure.

It’s about the importance,

of friendship,

of family,

of loyalty,

of sacrifice,

and of hard work.

Full of love and compassion,

as well as,

pain and heartbreak.

An exemplary piece of children’s literature.

One of the first questions,

I ask someone who I find interesting,

is,

what is your favourite book?

It’s important to me.

I also know it’s not really,

that easy a question to answer.

It can vary,

depending on life circumstance.

For instance,

the summer I was fourteen,

I read a giant opus of a book,

Youngblood Hawke by Herman Wouk.

I was really taken with it,

all I remember about it now,

is that it was humongous,

and it made me dream of being a writer.

It was about a writer and I thought,

wow,

that is the most interesting of lives.

I have never re-read that book,

I don’t know if I would still like it,

so,

I will go on remembering it,

vaguely,

and dreamily.

It’s better not to tempt,

dissapointment.

One book I love and have re-read is,

The Catcher In The Rye,

I know many people don’t like this novel,

but,

to me,

it is the best portrayal,

I have read,

of how alien and marginal,

a sensitive, intelligent,

teenager feels.

I read it last year and I felt,

the gnawing in the pit of my stomach,

I was fifteen again,

not in a nostalgic,

wasn’t it great sort of way,

but,

in a,

my God,

will anyone ever get me, way.

But, my favourite book of all time is,

The World According To Garp.

I have been thinking about this,

the past few weeks,

and wondering,

what this says about me.

I think it means I expect the worst,

but,

fervently hope for the best.

I also think it means,

I think you should be weary of,

joining anything,

that orthodoxy,

even when it starts from a good place,

more often than not leads to fanaticism.

It says I know love is imperfect,

and,

sometimes painful,

but,

always worth the risk.

It means I should always try to,

remember what being a child is,

that flippant off hand remarks,

can lead to years of misunderstanding,

and sometimes permanent scaring.

It means that life is both,

hysterically funny and tragic,

sometimes,

simultaneously.

An odd choice as a favourite granted,

it’s about a man,

raised by a single mother,

who has a family and is a writer.

I am none of these things.

And yet,

somehow,

I always felt that someway, somehow,

I was Garp.

Strange.

But, if,

I am anything,

I am strange:-)

Tell me what your favourite book is,

I’m interested.

Later girls,