a few books i recommend
for those of you who don't know me, books are one of my passions in life. i read anything i can get me hands on, usually text and refence boks, but there are a few fiction titles i've read that are particularly notable, which i would like to share with you.
pick a title to go straight to it, or just scroll
through
two gentlemen sharing by william cortlett
the year they burned the books by nancy
garden
only one life by jenny mckean tinker
the color purple by alive walker
licking our wounds by elise d'haene
a certain age by rebecca ray
captain corelli's mandolin by louis de bernieres
big deal by helen sandler
millennium fever by julia wood
oranges are not the only fruit by jeanette winterson
prozac nation by elizabeth wurtzel
the "dykes to watch out for series" by alison bechedel
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two gentlemen sharing by william corlett
i only finished this book recently, but it is one of the funniest things i have ever read. no exaggeration. the story is set in the sleepy english village of bellingford, much the same as any other quiet english village. then rich and bless arrive on the scene fromlondon. rich is a theatre producer, bless and actor. then there's laurence, richard's odious friend, and maggie, bless's irrepressible partner in crime. however, the thought of "two gentlemen sharing" is a but too much for some of bellingford's residents, the brigadier in particular. the scene is set for disaster, but the actual events that the story reveals become far more hilarious, with the arrival of the "foreigners." to tell any more would spoil the story - but it's well worth a read, thoroughly entertaining. |
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the year they burned the books by nancy
garden this is set around the newspaper office of wilson high school, and the senior students who run it. there is much controvesy regarding the school's policy of sex education and health education. this explodes with the appointment of the outspoken obbsesive bigot lisa buel to the school board committee. a political and motional battle ensues, dividing friends, families and the whole community. simple to read, not taking too much thought, whilst simultaneously being very thought-provoking about society and the world at large. i really enjoyed this book, and the weekend i spent reading it! |
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only one life by jenny mckean-tinker
this was recommended to us by the staff of silver moon women's book store and it was superb. i admire book that can turn me from crying to laughing in a few paragraphs. this is genly romantic and touching without losing plausability, or becoming too syrupy. the love scenes are subtle yet also very moving,as the love between the two central characters unfolds. |
the color purple by alice walker
this book was a little difficult to get into at first, written in a southern american dialect, and using their slang terms. however, after establishing what was going on (!) i thoroughly enjoyed the book. despite being very sad in many places, there is - i feel - an inherent hope that one comes away with after reading it. i don't really know what else to say about this book. it's an engrossing read, but worth persevering with as you can learn a lot. |
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licking our wounds by elise d'haene
this was an incredibly moving and heart-wrenching story of a lost lover and a dying friend. the narrative was superb, giving trmendous insight into the psyche of the characters. i was particularly impressed with the simple humble honesty of the book. scenes which could easily have been sordid, making the reader uncomfortable were very well handled, lightening the atmosphere of a heavy novel. |
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a certain age by rebecca ray self-harmers please note: this book may be triggering i was impressed by the sensitivity and understanding of ray in this work is highly commendable. the book charts the early teenage of a self-abuser dysfunctioning within her functional family. the downward spiral begins with her allowing boys to touch her, even though she doesn't want to, taking a deep plunge when she being a relations ship with oliver - in his thirties. well worth a read, but i feel the ending is disappointing and depressing. |
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big deal by helen sandler
after reading the review and interview with the author in diva earlier this year, curiosity finally got the better of me and i bought a copy! if you want some "just about beleiveable if you don't think too hard about it" gender-bending lesbian porn, then this is one i would recommend. it's pretty explicit, so not really for the light hearted as lane and carol embark upon a sexual rollercoaster- the deal is that for every gay man that has sex with lane, she must take home another woman to have sex with carol. the punishment for carol breaking her side of the bargain (having sex with someone other than presented by lane) is anal penetration - whcih she dreads. whilst lane begins visiting london's cruising grounds, carol becomes the mistress of an all-girl student orgy...things can only get worse! |
millennium fever by julia wood
another title from virgin's saphire range. much tamer than big deal, the sex scenes are fewer and further between. however the romantic love is more of a focal point, as the book charts the coming-out story of 40-something nicky. predictable, but pleasant. nice on a lazy sunday afternoon! |
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oranges are not the only fruit by jeanette winterson
my interest in this book began in the sixth form, when my friends were studying it for their a-level english course. the similarities to my own life are quite frigtening to me, aside from the religious bit! i have enjoyed it every time i have read it. the book is thought provoking and disturbing but also comforting in a round-about sort of way. something about it reminded me of "the pistachio prescription" by paula danziger. |
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captain corelli's mandolin by louis de bernieres
this book was recommended to me nymy homoeopath - and it has a record of being bestseller before a single crit was written about it. the narrative is superb - set on the greek island of cephallonia in the second world war. the subtle sub-plots and intreguing characters are masterpieces - a must read for everyone. at first it seems confusing, long-winded and difficult, but soon you are immersed into the story and don't even notice the words you are reading. |
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prozac nation by elizabeth wurtzel
i am still reading this - review to come as soon as i've finished! - so far so good! |
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the dykes to watch out for books by alison bechedel
i absolutely adore these comic strips. they become more enthralling as they develop. the latest - split level dykes to watch our for - is absolutely side-splitting. there's no way to describe these tales about the long-suffering mo and her longer-greatersuffering friends. beg, borrow steal or even buy a copy and get giggling! |
| also of note, although i have yet to read it, is alison bechedel's semi-biography - the indelible alison bechedel containing mandy rare and unseen strips. |
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