Subjects:  1. Ethics & Moral Philosophy    2. Gay & Lesbian    3. History & Surveys - General    4. Literary Criticism    5. Philosophy    6. Political    7. Jurisprudence & philosophy of law    8. Literary Criticism & Collections / General    9. Literary studies: general    10. Western philosophy, from c 1900 -   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    2. Fiction    3. Gay    4. Gay & Lesbian    5. Homosexuality    6. Juvenile fiction    7. Lesbian teenagers    8. Literature - Classics / Criticism    9. Young adult fiction, American    10. Fiction / Gay   

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Reviews (1)

oh, jack!
it's impossible for me to be entirely fair because i absolutely LOVE judith halberstam...
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Subjects:  1. 1972-1993    2. Feminist    3. Gay & Lesbian    4. Gender Studies    5. Gender identity    6. Literary Criticism    7. Sex role    8. Teena, Brandon,    9. Transsexualism    10. Psychology & Psychiatry / Human Sexuality   

Subjects:  1. England    2. Gay & Lesbian    3. History    4. Homosexuality in literature    5. Human Sexuality    6. Literary Criticism    7. Medieval    8. Psychology    9. Sex    10. Sex in literature    11. To 1500   

Reviews (3)

The plot has lots of twists
J.M. Redmann has four mysteries to her credit, all dealing with private detective Micky Knight, a New Orleans private eye. Her previous titles are: DEATH BY THE REVIERSIDE, DEATHS OF JOCASTA, and LOST DAUGHTER.
Sans Pereil
The Intersection of Law and Desire
Nancy
Once again Ms. Redmann has out done herself.Micky takes us on a great ride. The twists and turns of her life are entertaining and thought provoking.This book is a great read and I couldn't put it down until I finished it at 2am!You won't be sorry you bought it but it helps to read the first two in the series. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Gay & Lesbian    3. Lesbian    4. Literature - Classics / Criticism    5. Mystery & Detective - General    6. Fiction / Lesbian    7. General & Literary Fiction    8. Literature of special Lesbian interest   

Reviews (4)

Rite/Right/Writing
This has to be one of the most significant books on human rights...not just gay issues!Hemphill was responsible for supporting and bringing into the light many Black gay/gay Black writers, and doing so unselfishly.Of all the gay Black writers of his generation he is probably the most creative.This book is an important record of an incisive intelligence and a true human being.His poetry, ranging from brief lyric to complex sequence, is evocative and accomplished (a pity that it remains overlooked by White gay anthologists!)His essays read like finely-tuned, emotional short-stories, especially "Miss Emily's Grandson Won't Hush His Mouth". Ceremonies also contains probing attacks on racism and key thoughts about Mapplethorpe and the representation of the Black male. Essex Hemphill possessed a comprehensive political mind that embraced race issues, gender issues and class issues. In Ceremonies, his voice often rings out angrily in the name of human equality.It is a powerful voice that supports the vulnerable with concern and tenderness.A work of great honesty.

An Unselfish Gift
"I have nothing to lose tonight" -- the line that starts it all. "Ceremonies" by the late Essex Hemphill is a collection of the poet/essayist/activist's remarkable prose and poetry culled over his many years of writing. An impressive collection of memorable poetry and commentary
Ceremonies is an impressive collection of memorable poetry and commentary by Essex Hemphill, one of the few authors who dares to openly portray African American gay life. Raw, compelling, gut-wrenching verse is the hallmark of this serious and powerful compilation. American Hero: I have nothing to lose tonight./All my men surround me, panting,/as I spin the ball above our heads/on my middle finger./It's a shimmering club light/and I'm dancing, slick in my sweat./Squinting, I aim at the hole/fifty feet away. I let the tension go./Shoot for the net. Choke it,/I never hear the ball/slap the backboard. I slam it/through the net. The crowd goest wild/for our win. I scored/thirty-two points this game/and they love me for it./Everyone hollering/is a friend tonight./But there are towns,/certain neighborhoods/where I'd be hard pressed/to hear them cheer/if I move on the block. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American - General    2. Gay & Lesbian    3. Gay Studies    4. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    5. Gender Studies    6. Lesbian Studies    7. Social Science    8. American English    9. Other prose: from c 1900 -    10. Poetry & poets    11. USA   

Reviews (1)

The Heresy of Self-Love
Originally published in 1968 and reissued now with a new preface and conclusion, this work explores versions of Narcissus that have powerfully shaped the attitudes of our culture. Ranging from the Gnostics of the second century A.D. through mediaeval mysticism, courtly love, Tristan and Isolde, Skakespeare's Sonnets, Milton, Descartes, Spinoza, and Rousseau' to Kierkegaard, Herman Melville, Boudelaire, de Tocqueville, Marx, and the contemporary world, Paul Zweig atempts to dramatize and clarify this experience to self-cultivation and self-exaltation.
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Subjects:  1. Gay & Lesbian    2. Literature - Classics / Criticism    3. Narcissism    4. Narcissism in literature    5. Literary studies: general   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Gay Studies    4. Gay consumers    5. Gender Studies    6. Lesbian Studies    7. Lesbian consumers    8. Marketing    9. Marketing - General    10. United States    11. Literary Criticism & Collections / Gay & Lesbian   

Reviews (1)

A Wonderfully Written, Accessible, Fascinating Book
Catriona Rueda Esquibel's book is a superb exploration of Chicana (and more broadly defined, Latina) lesbian literature and culture.She has an engaging style, and even incorporates some personal (autobiographical) anecdotes, giving us a good sense of who she is and why she cares so deeply about this topic.Readers will find in this book invaluable information and analysis.The author is to be commended for her important contribution to this field. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American - Hispanic American    2. American literature    3. Gay & Lesbian    4. History and criticism    5. Lesbians' writings, American    6. Literary Criticism    7. Literature - Classics / Criticism    8. Mexican American authors    9. Women authors    10. American studies    11. Literary Criticism & Collections / Hispanic American    12. Literary studies: general    13. Mexico   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. American - General    3. American poetry    4. Cold War in literature    5. Gay & Lesbian    6. General    7. History    8. History and criticism    9. Literary Criticism    10. Literature - Classics / Criticism    11. Poetry    12. Politics and literature    13. United States    14. Literary Criticism / Poetry   

Reviews (8)

Interesting book, but not well written; unbelieveable characters, etc.
As someone previoulsy alluded, this book is for teenagers, which is a very good thing, indeed. There isn't much out there for young men and women of color who are gay or questioning so, from that aspect, BREATHE gets a gold star.As for the writing, it's not particularly good.There are, however, a few passages where Mr. Poole clearly indicates he has talent as a writer.As for the story: I really can't comment about what happens to Nafig after his parents find out his gay - maybe things like that do happen. If it does, that's tragic and heart-breaking, though, Mr. Poole's handling of the situation was predictiable and formulaic, but without any real tension. The plotting, at times, seemed contrived to make a point and character development was seriously lacking.Not a bad book; just somewhat incomplete in its execution.

It was alright.
This book reminded me of myself when I was in high school. Although the book is capable of holding the readers attention it was was very predictable.

great read
This was a really good book. I recived it yeserday and finished it today. It was really intresting and was hard to put down. It talks about the struggles of a young teen growing up and dealing with his sexuality. He goes through hard times and later on finds out who truley cares for him. It gives the story of a young homosexual coming out to the world and shows the reactions of the people around him and shows how difficult the lifestyle can truley be. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American - African-American    2. Gay & Lesbian    3. Literary Collections    4. Literature - Classics / Criticism    5. Literature: Classics    6. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Homosexuality    7. Fiction    8. Fiction / Gay    9. Gay teenagers   

Reviews (3)

But How "Visible" Are We?
There is no doubt that Larry Gross is a top scholar in the field of Gay Media Studies.Having just completed my own thesis and graduate work in the area, I found this work by Gross priceless because he makes the material readable, enjoyable and understandable for anyone.Looking at Gay representation in Mass Media from a variety of different perspectives, Television, Print Media, Film and briefly touching on gay visibility on the Internet. It is amazing that although I have been studying this material for 6+ years, Gross brought new insightful information to me on the material that I haven't heard or read before.This is must read and worthy personal library addition to anyone interested in Gay Studies.When we realize how far we have come, Gross is quick to remind us how far we have to go.

Engrossing but biased
This book is a fascinating, well-written survey on how the LGTB community has been treated (or not)in the media in recent decades. While by no means comprehensive, the wealth of material covered will certainly satisfy (if not aptly enrage)the average reader. The main problem with the book is that the material presented enrages the author himself too much. While the material covered is ostensibly presented as dispassionate reporting, the author's footnotes and editorial asides intrude too much in leading the reader into what he/she is supposed to think. Lest we miss yet another insult to basic human rights or cowardice on the part of the powers that be, these points are repeatedly underlined. So what appeared as a sociologic survey transforms into a book of personal essays. This is unfortunate because it is easy to be convinced of the authorial point of view if the facts are allowed to speak for themselves. Nonetheless worthwhile reading if not the book it hopes to be.

A nice beginning
If you're wanting to examine exactly how LGBT issues have been affected by the media, this book is by no means an encyclopedia filled with in-depth information.If you do, however, want to start understanding -- or if you're new to media studies or [gay] studies -- then this is the book for you.It lays the information out concisely (and, from what I can tell, accurately), and it never weighs itself down by stilting its language to impress the reader.A quick, simple, yet informative read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gay Studies    2. Gender Studies    3. Lesbian Studies    4. Mass media and gays    5. Media Studies    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. United States    9. 21st century    10. Gay & Lesbian studies    11. History of specific subjects    12. Literary Criticism & Collections / Gay & Lesbian    13. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    14. USA   

Subjects:  1. Film & Video - General    2. Gay & Lesbian    3. General    4. Literary Criticism    5. Literature and morals    6. Moral and ethical aspects    7. Motion pictures    8. Philosophy    9. Semiotics & Theory    10. Special Subjects In Motion Pictures    11. Theory Of Literature    12. Literature: History & Criticism    13. Philosophy / General    14. Topics in philosophy   

Subjects:  1. Gay & Lesbian    2. Gay Studies    3. Homosexuality and literature    4. Homosexuality in literature    5. Sex role in literature    6. Sociology    7. Gay & Lesbian studies   

Subjects:  1. England    2. English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    3. Gay & Lesbian    4. Gay Studies    5. Gender Studies    6. Gender identity    7. Hermaphroditism    8. Hermaphroditism in art    9. History    10. Human Sexuality    11. Literary Criticism    12. English    13. Literary studies: 16th to 18th centuries    14. Modern period, c 1500 onwards    15. Novels, other prose & writers    16. Social Science / Gender Studies   

Reviews (1)

a must read
I had to read this for government, it is worth the time. It goes in depth about books banned; art of love, casndide, dubliners, the handmaid's tale, judge the obscure, lolita, madame bovary, and women in love. The sad fact is that there are millions of book lost by the surpression of a few, with it went our first amendment rights! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Censorship    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Erotic literature    5. Gay & Lesbian    6. General    7. History    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Literary Criticism & Collections    10. Literature - Classics / Criticism    11. Prohibited books    12. United States    13. Bibliographies, catalogues, discographies    14. Literary studies: general   

Reviews (1)

Toward a Queer of Color Critique
In this brilliant book, Rod Ferguson interrogates canonical sociologys' regulation of sexual difference as part of its pathologization of African American culture.Sophisticated in its critiques of race, gender, and sexuality within analyses of cultural, economic,and epistemological formations, this book breaks new ground in sociology, American studies, queer theory, and women of color feminism.Great for graduate and undergraduate courses on the problematic history of the discipline of sociology as well as courses on sexuality and queer theory. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. African American authors    3. American - African American & Black    4. American fiction    5. Gay & Lesbian    6. Gay Studies    7. General    8. History    9. History and criticism    10. Homosexuality and literature    11. Literature - Classics / Criticism    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. United States    15. American studies    16. Black studies    17. Gay & Lesbian studies    18. USA   

Subjects:  1. 1830-1886    2. American - General    3. American poetry    4. Criticism and interpretation    5. Dickinson, Emily,    6. Gay & Lesbian    7. History and criticism    8. Intellectual life    9. Lesbians    10. Lesbians' writings, American    11. Literary Criticism    12. Literature - Classics / Criticism    13. United States    14. Women Authors    15. American English    16. English    17. Gay & Lesbian studies    18. Literary Criticism & Collections / American    19. Poetry & poets: 19th century    20. Poetry & poets: from c 1900 -    21. USA    22. Women's studies   

Editorial Review

Any attempt to identify the canonical or authoritative texts of any culture, let alone one as diverse as gay culture, is going to be fraught with peril, but Robert Drake makes a valiant effort here, operating on the assumption that "a gay book is a book that addresses issues of same-sex love, or a book written by an author who enjoys his same gender for sexual fulfillment and/or relief." (Of course, buried in that statement is an implicit assumption that we are, for the time being, only considering "same-sex love" between men; the formation of the lesbian canon is a task Drake leaves to others.) With position in the canon determined either by content or authorial orientation, but not necessarily both, some interesting choices wind up on the roster. You expected E.M. Forster, Marcel Proust, and Tony Kushner, no doubt, but what about Henry David Thoreau and Anne Rice? Twenty-three books are explored in particular depth, with the aim of providing a syllabus to be pursued alone or in a book group. Chances are you probably won't agree with everything Drake has to say about gay literature, but there's no doubt Read more

Reviews (5)

A Necessity that Longs for Expansion
Literary study demands a Gay Anthology, and a companion to such a compilation, but this particular attempt is sparse and leaves much to be desired. Drake offers brief commentary on a variety of works, some that overtly belong in the "gay canon," some that don't, but in too many places, the commentary is too brief. For example, the entry on Arthur Rimbaud is merely 3 paragraphs long. There is no mention of Sappho in the book. Overall, this book is a great idea, but it has been a poorly executed one in this case.
A Good Guide
OK.No book attempting to establish any kind of a canon, let alone a gay canon is going to satisfy anyone.I picked this book up a couple of years ago, and used it as the basis for an online book group that read through Drake's recommended book group selections.Since then, the book group has dissolved, but I've kept the book on hand as a handy guide when I'm looking for something to read and don't have any immediate ideas.Drake's list is by no means exhaustive or all-inclusive, but it's a good place for the curious, or anyone who just wants to broaden their literary horizons, to start.

More irritating than useful
I have to give Drake credit here for a couple of good ideas: the formation of an actual canon of gay/gay-themed works and the suggested ways of building a reading group around those works.However, his approach borderson the erratic (some texts get huge write-ups, others barely get a pagewith little or no mention as to why they should be included in this survey)and his writing style aims for cleverness but usually only makes it tomelodramatic, twee, or even flat-out vulgar.In my quest to findrecommendations of "gay lit," I have been better served bycollections such as _Pages Passed from Hand to Hand_ and especially _TheColumbia Anthology of Gay Literature_, both of which provide not onlyspot-on analysis but also sizeable and helpful excerpts of the worksthemselves. (And not to quibble--after all, it's Drake's list, notmine--but was _Dancer from the Dance_ really as awful as he would like usto believe, and where is Leavitt's _The Lost Language of Cranes_?) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Books & Reading    2. Books And Reading    3. Gay & Lesbian    4. Gay men    5. Gay men in literature    6. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    7. Homosexuality    8. Homosexuality and literature    9. Homosexuality in literature    10. Literary Criticism    11. Literature - Classics / Criticism    12. Literary Criticism & Collections / Gay & Lesbian    13. Literature of special Gay interest    14. Modern fiction    15. Short stories   

Reviews (6)

Fascinating and easily accessible
In 1990 some friends and I formed a book group to read books by and or about gay people.The guys often kid me about being the facilitator, steering committee and publicity chairman (I piece together a monthly newsletter).Our goal has been to discover our gay roots - our hidden history.Throughout the past four years primarily (though obviously I've been reading all along), I have read a great deal of fiction, poetry, biography and history written by and/or about gay people.Perhaps because of my own trek through gay literature, I found Rick Whitaker's book enthralling.His observations are keen.His choice of writers and individual works are fresh and his writing is accessible.You don't have to be familiar with each of the writers discussed to appreciate Whitaker's take on their work.The fact that I have read, or at least heard of most of, the material discussed here only increased my appreciation for this truly remarkable little book.God bless you Rick for drawing our attention to James Purdy and Jane Bowles and Frank O'Hara and Glenway Wescott.Perhaps your book will inspire your readers to seek out books by these authors.Well done.

Small Book With Large Sensibility
Well, not just an interesting glimpse at over a dozen gay American writers by a young writer himself. (Thoreau, Melville, Whitman, Wilde, Firbank, Baldwin, and minors such as Halleck, Fuller, Van Vechten, Ford, Purdy...) But also a valuable concept of "gay sensibility" in writing. Whitaker describes this as "original and fresh," but also "clever, scornful of laws, introspective, energetic, and sexy." Often it imports irony and wit. Usually also some melancholy. This concept usefully expands the concept of "camp," and it refreshes the shopworn query, "But is there such a thing as gay literature," etc. An interesting survey to some queer and near-queer writers
Early on in this collection of enjoyable and highly engaging essays, Whitaker admits that he is laying before us the gay and lesbian authors he has been drawn to. This is a personal essay, not a Gay Lit 101 textbook. Consequently, some major gay American writers are not included: David Leavitt, Christopher Bram, Edmund White, Christopher Isherwood, Tennessee Williams, Carson McCullers, Truman Capote. Lesbian representation is slight--just Emily Dickinson (near queer, at that), Jane Bowles, and Gertrude Stein. And one slot was taken up by a writer who isn't even American (Oscar Wilde).Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th Century American Literature    2. American literature    3. Books & Reading    4. Gay & Lesbian    5. Gay Studies    6. Gays' writings, American    7. Gender Studies    8. History and criticism    9. Homosexuality    10. Homosexuality and literature    11. Literary Criticism    12. Theory, etc