[superscience]

Ah...I didn't realize that the author of The Sopranos is the same guy that wrote Movern Callar (I haven't read that, but did see the movie. I love Samantha Morton, just as an aside).

I finished The Night Watch. I liked it, didn't love it, but got pretty into the story and the characters. My book club discusses it this Thursday, and I'm interested to hear what everyone thought. Then I read Valencia by Michelle Tea. It was a quick read. I alternately liked it, and was annoyed by it.

I brought both The Sopranos and Female Chauvinist Pigs with me today, so I can decide which one I feel like starting at lunch.

And, I got another notice from the library today that more books are in!

[bunnyb]

syb, it's an eerie insight into the minds of teenage girls, isn't it?

[sybarite]

Superscience, I'm so sorry to hear about your dad.

I found The Sopranos good but a little problematic on the representation of teenage girls, especially following Warner's Morvern Callar. I'm wondering where Warner gets his info from.

I'm currently reading Lionel Shriver's (We Need to Talk about Kevin) Double Fault, an earlier re-issue, and it is compulsive. It's about a seriously competitive relationship and I can't put it down (although I find myself chastising the female protagonist in my head).

And now I've seen the remake of All the King's Men I really want to read the book, and maybe a biography of Huey Long.

I also bought (on a recommendation elsewhere) a non-fiction book, Privilege, which I'm saving up. It's one guy's undercover investigation of immensely privileged kids at Harvard.

[crazyoldcatlady]

(Supersci- i meant the cd you sent *me* is still in my car. awesome mix, still!)

(and vesica, a dingo ate my username, so i've been around longer than it says, but i've always been cocl.... i haven't been here long enough for the tape swap, although i still proudly own a tape deck )

[bunnyb]

superscience, I forgot to pucker up!

Warner's The Sopranos is a fantastic read, let me know what you think. I must reread it at some point as it's been a number of years but I too have bigger book eyes than tummy. Even for a weekend away, i overpacked books.

[vesicapisces]

I have to confess to obsessively checking my status on a library waiting list... let's see, I was originally #95, now I'm only #46, which means I should get to read the new Dick Francis book... sometime in mid-December? Woo-hoo!!

Superscience, let me join in on the "nice to see you again!" (I'm the artist formerly known as JillieC.) - and I want to know who Crazyoldcatlady used to be - if you've been around long enough to remember the great mix tape swaps!

Danny Wallace's Yes Man has really got me looking at my own behavior and trying to say "yes" to more things instead of curling up on my couch and ignoring the world.

And I'm currently re-reading Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart series - alt-history/fantasy about a courtesan/spy. Lovely stuff, esp. if you're kinky.

[superscience]

and, now back to our regularly scheduled broadcast...

I think I mentioned yesterday that I'd gone a little crazy in requesting books from the library. Yeah. I just got a notification that five books are now in, in addition to the three I already have at home, and the, um, thirteen others that I also requested, but just aren't in yet. I may have to call off work and hole up for the next couple of months to get through this. My (book) eyes are always bigger than my (book) stomach.

But, exciting stuff!

The books I'm picking up today are:
The Sopranos by Alan Warner (someone here recommended this one)
Female Chauvinist Pigs by Ariel Levy (I saw her on the Colbert Report a few days ago)
Join Me! by Danny Wallace (someone here recommended another of his books, The Yes Man, and I read about this one when I looked that one up)
The Secret River by Kate Grenville (on the shortlist for the Man Booker 2006)
Touchy Subjects by Emma Donague (I liked her book Stir Fry)

[superscience]

I'm personally okay with the term "lesbian", but I prefer "dyke" and "queer". The words "dyke" and "queer" denote some political context for me as well--as in, being inclusive of all non-heteronormative identities (i.e. trans, genderqueer, etc.).

However, I have worked with other queer people that actively eschew the term "lesbian". For them the term refers to a history that focuses exclusively on white, upper/middle class women, and does not include/embrace the histories of women of color or working class women. It's similar to the argument that feminism has not traditionally embraced non-white women.

Since I do not have a background in academia of womens' studies and queer theory, maybe someone who does (ahem, Maryjo) could also respond.

(catlady--i did disappear for a while, and also dropped the ball on the cd exchange--my computer died, my dad died, etc. sorry!)

[crazyoldcatlady]

(supersci! i thought you disappeared! i still have your bust mixtape swaparoo in my car )

[bunnyb]

Now that's why I don't think I'm cut out for academia, maryjo. I never see the bigger picture . Like mando I would like clarification too, I didn't know lesbian was a taboo word for some lesbians.

Trumpet may have to be bumped up my list, I've had a copy for ages.

(((mando))) biting my tongue is definitely not my forte! I always jump in feet first and seldom sit back, it's just my way. I'm glad you're enjoying the Gaiman, American Gods was fantastic.

[mandolyn]

just out of curiosity, can you clarify "Many women-who-love-women don't identify with "lesbian" because of class/race implications" for this clueless straight gal? just curious.

nice to see you, supersci! seems like it's been eons! where ya been hiding?
you too, maryjo! i too aplaud your eloquence.

(((bunny))) i admire how fearless you are, how you're never afraid to speak up. there have been many an ageist crack made in the lounge that makes me bristle, but i usually bite my tongue because i know - as the resident dinosaur - i'm in the minority 'round here. and because, well ... biting my tongue is my forte.

trumpet's on my list too.

i'm lovin' neverwhere!

[anoushh]

I recently read The Night Watch and was underwhelmed. It felt like it meandered a lot to me and it felt, well, pointless.

I've just requested (and rec'd) several of Octavia Butler's books from the library. I've never read her work before, but am looking forward to it.

I don't get terribly excited over fiction generally, though.

[maryjo]

Yay! It's great to see you, supersci – I'd love to hear what's up with you in other more appropriate forums.

I'm so glad you reserved Trumpet – I hope you like it as much as I do. Jackie Kay's poetry is great too; she actually grew up in the suburb of Glasgow where I went to high school, which I never cease to find amazing.

[superscience]

mj! Thanks. You're always so much more eloquent than I ever am.

I just reserved Trumpet at the library. Sounds like a good'un.

[maryjo]

I edited this post to make it longer and clearer. I hope no one responded while I was doing that! Sorry.

Hmm, as the resident bustie queer critic, I think that insisting all literature be 'universal' and refusing to acknowledge its subcultural importances is extremely problematic. In other words, there's nothing wrong with the concept of dyke lit. By including non-normative literatures in the category of the 'general' and refusing to give them special attention you don't make the category of the general more egalitarian or inclusive, you erase the specific. It's like refusing to call yourself a feminist or call special attention to women's issues because women are people too and we all ought to be humanists and make everything a matter of gender-free human rights: it would work fine if we didn't live within a sexist and homophobic dominant culture.

Make any sense, bunny? I have no intention of insulting you, I just want to help you understand where the queers (and other minorities looking for spaces or categories to work with the specificities of minoritarian experience) are coming from.

Of course, it's good to problematize the category, to ask what we mean by a dyke text or a dyke author, and to look outside of the obvious subcultural boxes when looking for new work to deal with. And what we mught call dyke lit, if we find the category useful, should not only be read by dykes. Just as I consider it important for me, a white person, to make sure I read and engage with work by people of color.

I also think that maybe when one is not immersed in queer context, certain words resonate more with their negative connotations than their positive ones. 'Dyke' carries very specific connotations to me, for example, and can often suggest discomfort with the identity category of 'lesbian' and even of 'woman'. One can be a bi dyke, a genderqueer dyke, etc. It's not usually my preferred identification, but I certainly wouldn't refuse it.

As for "dyke" readings, may I recommend Trumpet again? Your group will have lots of fun arguing about trans and the politics of passing, but it's a very gentle and beautiful book. Or if you don't want to open those particular cans of worms, I am spending a lot of time with Octavia Butler at the moment and any of her works would be great additions to a queer book group's list.

[superscience]

Bunnyb--let's kiss and make up. (but, you should know, i've often been guilty of slipping in a little tongue).

Heh.

[bunnyb]

Yes, I have read the Muscio book.

"Dyke" is defined as a slang insult, a disparaging insult for lesbians, but if some are reclaiming the word and defining themselves as that then good for them. I don't have to like the word but I shouldn't have told you to refrain from using it; I hate the singling out of literature into one "pocket" when it's of wide appeal. Oh, and I define myself as a bitch.

[superscience]

Bunnyb--Yes, you're entitled to your opinion, and I'm entitled to tell you that you don't get to tell me what term I can use to DEFINE MYSELF on a feminist website. Not trying to fight with you, just trying to clarify my use of the word "dyke" and its signifigance in my personal lexicon. (p.s. Have you read the book Cunt: A Declaration of Independence by Inga Muscio? I never liked the word "cunt" until I read that book. And, now I'm a confirmed "cunt" lovin' lady.)

Sybarite--you're absolutely right, The Night Watch isn't exclusively dyke literature. It's obviously got wide appeal. My point was that my book club has, up to now, read only books by dyke authors. We're now thinking of branching out into non-dyke authors as well.

I've read lots of Patricia Highsmith and Jeanette Winterson. Love them both. Thanks!

[sybarite]

Yeah, but: The Night Watch is not merely lesbian or dyke literature, but it can also be dyke or lesbian literature, no?

/my 2 cents

Patricia Highsmith is just great: evil murder mysteries and the Ripley stories.

Actually , I really disliked I am Charlotte Simmons too. I'm funny with the Tom Wolfe; I feel I shouldn't like his deal, but Bonfire of the Vanities and A Man in Full drew me in despite myself. I got that Charlotte Simmons was satirical but it was still 'eh' for me.

*just looked and saw I cross-posted with superscience...*

[bunnyb]

well, one, you're assuming that I am straight. I don't like the word "dyke" and I don't like "rug muncher" and I don't like "poof" and I don't like a lot of words whether my gay friends do or not (and some do indentify with those words). Yeah, it makes me uncomfortable - not for anything to do with sexuality- but I don't think it's a nice word (I don't like the word "cunt" either, whether some feminists have reclaimed it or not). It's the same as using the "n" word, people of colour may use it because they identify with it but I still bristle at it's use - that's my opinion and I'm entitled to it.