Coffeeboss's comments (member since Jun 22, 2007)

Coffeeboss's comments from the Guilty Pleasures group.

I just finished this book, and knowing I had seen it on the boards here awhile back had to dig around and look these comments up again. It is a beautifully written book. The last chapter (no spoilers here) was a risky trick that I was reluctant to read, but it also had me in tears, it was so wistful and poignant (and real, in my experience). I'm hovering between a four and five star rating, and have to absorb it a bit more before I can summarize it on my list.

Elisa wrote: "I am a Lesbian and i would like to know anytips to keeping it secret at school and at home."

Hi Elisa,
There is a friendly and active lesbian community forum on the site www.curvemag.com (Curve Magazine's site) that covers lots of topics (including coming out/not coming out). It's a very supportive community that goes beyond just the topic of books. :)

Ha! Valentine, I love the words "grotesque burlesque" right next to each other! :D

1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?

My mom was a children's librarian until my brother and I were born, so we read all the time. On road trips we would be "rewarded" with books via a pillow case full of thrift store books. When we finished one, we'd get to reach into the magic bag for a new one!

2. What are some books you read as a child?

I love all of Walt Morey's books (Gentle Ben, Kavik the Wolf Dog, etc), books by Lloyd Alexander (The Book of Three, Black Cauldron), the Little House on the Prairie series, Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Harriet the Spy, Island of the Blue Dolphins...

3. What is your favorite genre?

I really like non-fiction that is written in a readable adventurous style, like Simon Winchester's "The Professor and the Madman", or Eric Larson's "Devil in the White City", or Mary Roach's "Stiff". I enjoy memoirs (by non-famous folks), especially travel memoirs, and some contemporary fiction.

4. Do you have a favorite novel?

My default for the last 20+ years is "Gone With the Wind". Another that always pops up is "Housekeeping" by Marilynne Robinson.

5. Where do you usually read?

On the bus! My mom is always amazed at how many books I read, and it is almost always on the bus!

6. When do you usually read?

Commuting hour and just before bed.

7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?

I'm usually reading at least two. My bedtime book is different than my bus book... kind of to cleanse my palate, I suppose! Some of my bus books are not appropriate to read just before falling asleep. :)

8. Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?

I'd say no, since nonfiction is kind of my default for fun reading anyways.

9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?

Library! Library! Library! I only buy the books that completely knock my socks off and that I want for my permanent collection. One that I hope to find a nice used copy of is "The Book Thief", which I thought was outstanding.

10. Do you keep most of the books you buy?

Yes, because I only buy books I want to keep! Every few years I purge though. But usually if I add a book to my collection, it is because I want that book for keeps.

11. What are you reading now?

"The Inner Circle" by TC Boyle (I'm halfway through, and have the sneaking feeling that I've read this before... but might just be confusing it with the movie "Kinsey" which was based on this book), and "Maiden Voyage" by Tania Aebi.


13. Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?

On GoodReads I do!

14. What's next?

I've got a couple books waiting for me at the library: Marilynne Robinson's latest "Home" and "Wings in the Snow" by Jim Oliver.

15. What books would you like to reread?

The ones that I've bought for my permanent collection. Sometimes I just like to look at the titles and reminisce about how much I like them!

16. Who are your favorite authors?

Marilynne Robinson, Bill Bryson, Sarah Waters, Alex Garland, Khaled Hosseini, Tim Moore... though I tend to love specific books more than authors... however if any of the above came out with a new book, I'd be all over it.

OK, so this has been whipping around Facebook, and I thought a variation of it would be fun in this group!

Nearest BookShare Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence, and share it!

Mine:

People shopping here tramped in food, hit their heads on food, were enveloped in food, tumbled about in food.

(from "Unto a Good Land" by Vilhelm Moberg)

The first one that comes to mind is Bruce Springsteen's "Philadelphia".

Then today I was just listening to an 80s station and heard Erasure's "Hideaway":

One day the boy decided
To let them know the way he felt inside
He could not stand to hide it
His mother she broke down and cried
Oh my father
Why don't you talk to me now
Oh my mother
Do you still cry yourself to sleep
Are you still proud of your little boy
Don't be afraid
You don't have to hide away
The boy he was rejected
By the people that he cared for
It's not what they expected
But he could not keep it secret anymore
Far from home now
Waiting by the telephone
There's a new world
You can make it on your own
Are you still proud of your little boy
Don't be afraid
You don't have to hide away
Don't be afraid
Love will mend your broken wing
Time will slip away
Learn to be brave

For me, the first book that comes to mind is Some Girls by Kristin McCloy. I wouldn't be surprised if I had read other gay-ish books before that, but this was the one that twanged the rubber band in my gut with an emotional resonance and for once felt like something that related to me. AKA, I thought the book was hot. ;-)

Hi James, I LOVED "Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You" as well... I just posted my answers to the survey, then have been scrolling around to read everyone else's... glad to see that someone else put down the same book for that question! :)

Cheers, Linda/coffeeboss

1. What are you reading right now?

"People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks, and "Maiden Voyage" by Tania Aebi.


2. Do you have any idea what you’ll read when you’re done with that?

"The Last Town on Earth" by Thomas Mullen is the next library book on my list.


3. What magazines do you have in your bathroom right now?

Booklist, Entertainment Weekly, BUST, assorted catalogs from REI and Eddie Bauer... yes, I like to read magazines while, um, passing time in the bathroom.


4. What’s the worst thing you were ever forced to read?

"The Scarlet Letter" in junior high. I think the reading level might have been too difficult or cryptic for me at that age, but finishing it was like pulling teeth.


5. What’s the one book you always recommend to just about everyone?

"Housekeeping" by Marilynne Robinson, one of the most gorgeous yet accessible books ever written, in my opinon. I keep loaning out my copy, never getting it back, then having to buy it again. More recently, "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, which is beautifully written, engaging, and made me sob at the end.


6. Admit it, the librarians at your library know you on a first name basis, don’t they?

I share my bed with a sexy librarian, so, oh yes, she knows me on a first name basis! ;)


7. Is there a book you absolutely love, but for some reason, people never think it sounds interesting, or maybe they read it and don’t like it at all?

"Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell. I'm so besotted with this book that I've been afraid to read it a second time in case it isn't as good as it was when I was 16. I've recommended it to many people who either scoff and dismiss me, or read it and shrug.


8. Do you read books while you eat? While you bathe? While you watch movies or TV? While you listen to music? While you’re on the computer? While you’re having sex? While you’re driving?

I'll say yes on the eating and bathing (though I haven't figured out how people read in the tub without the book getting wet... is there a secret?). And I always read while on the bus. I have read while walking down the street, though I've seen others almost get hit by cars doing the same thing, so this is a risky premise.


9. When you were little, did other children tease you about your reading habits?

If they did, I didn't notice, because I was too busy reading. :)


10. What’s the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn’t put it down?

"Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You" by Peter Cameron. OK, the novel wasn't huge, so I didn't really need to stay up half the night... but it was the last one that I read that I wished was twice as long. I didn't want it to end, it was so fabulously well-written, funny, and sad.


BONUS QUESTION: Do you like reading digital versions of books?

Ugh, no. I sit at the computer long enough every day, at work and at home. I consider reading a physical book a treat, a sort of solitude of solace.

I agree with Skip about "Fun Home" (which I also thought was a great book)... the story would not have been the same if Bechdel had tiptoed around the issue about her father. It actually made the bigger picture story that much more complex. But then again, perhaps it is different when the parent has passed away? Does that make them fair game? I don't know. If the parent was still living, then I would definitely agree with Alex... or at least think twice. Interesting question!

Don't know about the name, but I do know that the photo is of Little Edie from the cult 1970s documentary Grey Gardens, about Jackie Onassis's crazy aunt and cousin who live in a decrepit mansion in the Hamptons! The movie is like watching a train wreck, and it simultaneously horrifying, fascinating, and endearing, because the two women are perfectly happy in their unique squalor. And Little Edie became a cult fashion icon for her... unique enesembles. Everyone on this list should totally check the movie out! :)

Oh, in elementary school ALL the girls were reading Flowers in the Attic! Whenever one of the new books came out, half of the girls in class would be reading them. I remember finding out that VC Andrews died, yet new books continued to be released, written by her "estate". They were very formulaic (incest, affairs, evil parents) and oh so trashy! We loved them!

Thanks for the recommendations, Simone! I've actually read Rent Girl awhile back, and thought it was very interesting and raw. I'll check out Fun Home next. :)

I'm checking out Jaime Hernandez' compilation: "LOCAS : The Maggie and Hopey Stories: A Love and Rockets Book". Apparently it is a 700+ page book that compiles over 15 years of the Love and Rockets graphic novels about two bisexual punk rock girls who are best friends. I read one of the single editions, called "Ghosts of Hoppers", and though the style took a bit of getting used to, I think I'm interested in checking out more...

Greetings, all! I never paid much mind to graphic novels, but just stumbled on Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore. It is a series that is just wrapping up after 14(!) years. It involves three friends: David is in love with Katchoo who is in love with Francine. Anyways, I'm totally hooked.

I was wondering if anyone knows of any other graphic novels with LGBT themes? I also checked out a couple others, one of which was Jane's World by Paige Braddock. I was less impressed with this, as it was just kind of sitcom-y. Any suggestions? Boy/girl/trans, anything?