Book Reviews - December
24 November 2009
50 Gay and Lesbian Books Everybody Must Read
Richard Canning
Alyson Books
4.5
It’s always absolute genius to include in a book’s title the word ‘must’. Films you must see before you die, Top 10 places you must visit, and now 50 Gay and Lesbian Books Everybody Must Read.
But don’t expect the usual format of lists and brief synopsis, this book delivers so much more than that. In fact, within these covers you will find 50 succinct essays by critics, public figures and authors. This alone will make 50 Gay and Lesbian Books Everybody Must Read, a must read itself.
The Reluctant Daughter
Leslea Newman
Bold Strokes Books
3.5
Leslea Newman first came to fame with her 1988 book, Heather Has Two Mommies. Since then Newman has penned over 60 books.
Her latest offering The Reluctant Daughter is the story of Lydia Pinkowitz and her strained relationship with her mother. Lydia is a lesbian and a feminist scholar. When her mother develops a life-threatening illness Lydia is torn between her daughterly obligations and her fears of rejection. It’s a universal story told with warmth and humour. Good holiday reading!
Sex Slang
Tom Dalzell & Terry Victor
Routledge
4.5 stars
Sex slang is not as prevalent as it used to be and is that such a good thing? In Dalzell and Victor’s book we find such gems as, an ‘Aussie Kiss’, which is just like a French Kiss only given down under and the ‘Bagpipe’, which is to stimulate the penis to orgasm under the armpit of a lover.
There is much to learn in Sex Slang and at times it gets positively filthy, so it’s bound to be a hit. There are 3,000 words and phrases complete with etymology. An absolute joy.
Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines
Mike Madrid
Exterminating Angel Press
4.5
If you love your comics and your super-heroines, then you will love this book. This is a look at all the favourites from Wonder Woman to Supergirl and their contributions to popular culture.
This is a tribute to the women many of us either wish we were or wish we had! From the Great Depression to modern times, Madrid considers the context of these different super-girls and why they appeared when they did and what they achieved. Be immersed in the worlds of characters like Phantom Lady and Ms Marvel. This book is pure joy.
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