Can't Keep a Straight Face: A Lesbian Looks and Laughs at Life

by Ellen Orleans

Book by Orleans, Ellen

Genres: LGBT, Nonfiction, Queer

109 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1993

Reviews

[Annika]

I found this book in a pile of donations at our library, and it's a lovely little slice of lesbian life in the 90's. (All the other books in the pile were about being a high-powered woman in the work place, so apparently a lesbian business woman retired somewhere; I wish her the best.)

I loved the "What if Pride Month was as commercialized as all the other holidays?" essay. It's a pretty fun read in 2022 when uh... clearly her facetious predictions have been far exceeded.

[tatterpunk]

THREE STARS: I might read it again.

Essays are a mixed bag: sometimes warm, funny and relatable; sometimes aimless and pointless, like they were thrown together to make a deadline. But a really great snapshot of queer life to see what has changed, and what never does.