| Transcript |
16
OUT ON THE BAYOU
DECEMBER 31, 1999 • HOUSTON VOICE
Out In Print
BOOK NEWS
Top shelf reading from 1999
Three of our reviewers—J.S. Hall, Debbie
Fraker and Colleen McMahon—pondered
their 1999 reading lists for highlights of the
year in print.
THE BOOK OF LIES by Felice Picano,
Alyson Publications. In the next decade,
an up-and-coming queer studies scholar
discovers both more and less than he bargained for when he learns of a previously
unknown member of the gay male writing
group, the Purple Circle. Picano shows his
considerable range in excerpts from nine
different fictitious authors in this sprawling tale, which is part literary mystery,
part affectionate tribute to his fellow members of the Violet Quill.
BRUISED FRUIT by Anna Livia,
Firebrand Books. Possibly the funniest
novel ever about childhood trauma, abusive relationships, and serial killers. The
scene in which one character uses a
Mickey Mouse mask to disguise herself
while shopping in Good Vibrations is
worth the price of admission alone.
CINNAMON GARDENS by Shyam
Selvadurai, Hyperion. A refreshing
change of scenery from the present day
gay ghetto that takes place in 1920s Sri
Lanka. Its leisurely pace recalls a bygone
era of writing, and as its characters evoke
classic English literature, the novel contains pride, prejudice, and a passage to
India as well.
THE CRISIS OF DESIRE by Robin
Hardy with David Groff, Houghton
Mifflin. With a striking combination of eloquence and pulling no punches, Robin
Hardy reaches from beyond the grave to
remind us that AIDS is not over and
explores the not-so-obvious ways in which
the virus affects the daily interactions of
gay men. Chilling and thought provoking.
THE ELUSIVE EMBRACE: DESIRE
AND THE RIDDLE OF IDENTITY by
Daniel Mendelsohn, Knopf. Personal memoir mixed with gay cultural research and a
touch of philosophical musing make this a
very thought-provoking book on gay iden-
Euro
Pine
Direct Importers
of Fine Furniture
'Where The Trade Is
Always Welcome"
Phone: 713-266-4304
Fax: 713-781-8445
E-mail:
hbw4gla@acninc.net
visit us on the web:
www.europinedirect.qpg.com
3029 Crossview,
Houston, TX 77063
One Block East of
Fondren and
Westheimer
WESTHEIMER ROAD
CLARKCHEST
N
GO l
CO
o
rr
° i
AVENUE
tity, how we define it and how that identity
interacts with our various communities.
FULL EXPOSURE by Susie Bright,
Harper San Francisco. The queen of sex
writing has done it again. She can always
come up with new, original and exciting
material, even when you think she's said
everything she could possibly say about sex.
THE GUMSHOE, THE WITCH AND
THE VIRTUAL CORPSE by Keith
Hartman, Meisha Merlin Publishing. One
of the best books of the year, queer or otherwise. Keith Hartman combines a sus-
penseful plot and on-target cultural commentary with a near-future Atlanta setting,
lots of well-drawn characters, and oh yeah,
it's laugh-out-loud funny. What more
could you ask for? A sequel.
TALES OF THE LAVENDAR MENACE: A MEMOIR OF LIBERATION by
Karla Jay, Basic Books. A personal
account of the gay and feminist movements of the late '60s and early 70s. The
two movements have not always worked
well together, causing difficulty and confusion for lesbian feminists like Jay.
Though she has done a lot of work in aca-
demia, this book is very readable and
close to the heart.
THAT'S MISTER FAGGOT TO YOU:
FURTHER TRIALS OF MY QUEER LIFE
by Michael Thomas Ford, Alyson
Publications. Ford's follow-up to his hugely successful "Alec Baldwin Doesn't love
Me" is darker, angrier and just as bitingly
funny. Fabulously testy and trenchant, he
simultaneously exposes our foibles for
ridicule and embraces them The essay
dealing with a disastrous first try at active
anal sex will have readers rolling on the
floor with laughter.
TO BELIEVE IN WOMEN: WHAT LESBIANS HAVE DONE FOR AMERICA by
Lillian Faderman, Houghton Mifflin.
Though it is thick and densely academic,
this is a very important account of lesbians in the early history of the women's
movement. One hopes that it will inspire
an equally brilliant historian to fill in the
gaps of lesbians of color missing from
these pages.
WEDDING BELL BLUES by Julia
Watts, Naiad Press. A zany marriage-of-
convenience tale about a gay man and a
lesbian in a sham marriage to protect her
daughter from her dead lover's vengeful
family. It's light entertainment with something serious to say about the tenuous
state of child custody for queer non-biological parents.
A WOMAN LIKE THAT edited by Joan
Larkin, Bard Books. Who'd have thought
that in 1999 an anthology of coming out
stories could still be fresh and worthwhile?
The writers filling this book are top-notch,
from established lights of the community
like Judy Grahn and Minne Bruce Pratt, to
newer voices like Cecilia Tan, The stories
range from funny to sexy to heartbreaking,
just like real life.
Wfcojt your neighbors
are reading . . .
1
Cybersocket 2000
by Gaynet Directories, $9.95
2
Comfort & Joy
by Jim Grimsley, $21.95
3
Way to Go, Smith
by Bob Smith, $24
4
Let Nothing You Dismay
by Mark O'Donnell, $12
5
Best of the Superstars 2000
edited by John Patrick, $11.95
6
Murder Undercover
by Claire McNab, $11.95
7
Best Little Boy in the World
Grows Up
by Andrew Tobias, $12
8
Outfoxed
by Rita Mae Brown, $24
9
The Hours
by Michael Cunningham, $13
10
Girls Will Be Girls
by Leslea Newman, $12.95
c
B
Crossroads Market
OOKSTORE 8c. CAFE
1111 Westheimer
713-942-0147
1
Best of the Superstars 2000
edited by John Patrick, $11.95
2
Chop Suey Club
by Bruce Weber, $60
3
Sensual Men
by Bruno Gmunder, $29.95
4
Best Lesbian Erotica 2000
ed. by Tristan Taormino, $14.95
5
Best Gay Erotica 2000
ed. by Richard Labonte, $14.95
6
Innuendo
by R.D. Zimmerman, $21.95
7
Mayhem at the Marina
by Carlene Miller, $11.95
8
Down From the Dog Star
by Daniel Glover, $26.95
9
The Woman Who Rode
to the Moon
by Bett Reece Johnson, $12.95
10
Girls Will Be Girls
by Leslea Newman, $12.95
,LOBO
3939 Montrose Boulevard
713-522-5156
|
