LAMBDA RISING BOOK REPORT - 8
I’M LOOKING FOR MR. RIGHT, BUT I’LL SETTLE FOR MR. RIGHT
AWAY, by Gregory Flood (Brob House, 115 pp. $6.95).
CARRY ON, UNDERSTUDIES:
Theatre & Sexual Politics, by
Michelene Wandor, (Methuen, 210
pp. $10.95).
This is an updated revamp of Wan
dor's UNDERSTUDIES which was publ
ished in 1981. It provides us with an exten
sive history of feminist and gay theater in
England (the emphasis being on the former,
not the latter).
Wandor, being a feminist playwright
herself, possesses a strong background in
the history of sexually political theater. Also,
because of her own writing experience, she
has an exemplary writing form which allows
for a fluid reading pace which neither insults
the reader, nor is excessively political as to
become a bore. But, UNDERSTUDIES is
written in such a way as to make the reader
question exactly how Wandor meant for it to
be organized. The divisions that Wandor has
created falter because of the seeming con
fusion as to whether or not she meant for it
to be in chronological or objective order.
Wandor has broken up a timescale of events
from 1968 to the present into three phases,
with a fourth phase (not in the first edition)
of new women playwrights. The problems
arise when these four chapters are inter
spersed with the other chapters which are
not organized chronologically. A historical
book need not be written necessarily in
chronological form, but should be wholly
organized in one form or another so as not to
confuse the reader.
At any rate, once the information is
processed mentally, we see a greatly detailed
overview of the theater’s reaction to the
feminist movement (and vice versa). The ext
ent of Wandor's knowledge of the play
wrights, women’s companies, workshops,
and actors throughout the course of the
European movement is exhaustive in detail.
And she completely and competently gives
(lUlirtratioa from th* cover)
us a view of all aspects of the theater: scripts,
stagehands, audience reactions and changes
brought about by the feminist movement.
One must keep in mind as they read
CARRY ON that Wandor is herself a play
wright and a critic and not simply a historian.
We see from time to time that her views and
opinions, or even her method of presentation,
shade the content or its perception. As with
any critical history, one must always be aware
of the author’s connotations.
CARRY ON is an excellent book for all
who are involved in the theater. It makes one
realize how slanted the business can be
towards the “maleness” of our society and
how theater perceives this machismo and
responds to it.
-Jim Colony
Many books come out every year that
take lots of space and say not very much. But
occasionally a work comes along that is brief
and simple yet has volumes of wisdom and
wit. That is the type of book Gregory Flood
has put together.
“The purpose of this book (is) to give
you some new ideas about yourself,” writes
Flood. “If this book has a message, it’s sim
ply that you are unlimited. It is you purpose
in this life to establish an intelligent working
relationship with life itself.” This slight,
115-page book, subtitled “AIDS, TVue Love,
the Perils of Safe Sex, and other Spiritual
Concerns of the Gay Male,” does just that. It
makes the reader think in an incredibly new
light about all sorts of topics that come up in
the daily lives of the 1980’s gay person.
Most of all, this book is a positive tome
on the person. Floods message seems to be
one of affirmation, of believing in your self, in
shedding the sterotypes that seem to bog
down gays and living up to the real potential
in all of us. That is truely a message that
needs to be heard in these days of AIDS
hysteria and renewed homophobic hatred.
LOOKING FOR MR. RIGHT... is writ
ten almost as a diary would be, with par
agraphs that could stand alone. After each
series of themed paragraphs. Flood sum
marizes in concise statements. Finally he wri
tes an affirmation prayer or meditation to
finish off his thoughts.
This really is a book that should be on
the bedstand of every gay person. A book of
clean, crisp writing that could be read in an
hour, but should be savored a few minutes at
a time, and thought about for hours. The
world needs more counsellors and priests and
politicians with the insight and compassion
of Gregory Flood. Perhaps if more people
read and heed his words, it will!
As the title indicates, this book scans
the spectrum. It is not, nor does it try to be,
inclusive. Instead, Kehoe has chosen can
efully from the best of the new lesbian scho
larship. The abstracts range from Judy
Grahn's superb pjece on Native American
culture and lesbianism to Kehoe’s own report:
“Lesbians Over 65: A TViply Invisible Min
ority,” which is especially welcome since
among lesbians we often encounter the
ageism of larger society. Not surprisingly, it
seems lesbians are more capable of adapting
to old age than the average straight woman.
There are surprises, however-shockers,
really. This reviewer was completely bowled
over by the news that in 1696 lesbian plays
were successfully produced in England. Kath
ryn Kendall traces one particular play from
1696 through 1858 and shows us how the once
acceptable, openly lesbian theme shifts and
twists into an anti-lesbian, anti-female
theme. It is worth having the book for this
manuscript alone. Willa Cather fans will
enjoy the articles concerning her writing and
how it subtly reveals her lesbianism.
Overall, the historical and literary asp
ects of this book are fascinating. The sexual
aspects, possibly because they were written
by psychologists, were rather dull. These
writers seem to love their little tables with
their 6.2’s and 8.8’s lined up in neat little
columns. I’m impressed by the work that
goes into them but I was thankful only one
article contained them.
Even though this entire volume is
serious scholarship penned by degreed wri
ters, most of it is vital, accessible, and
thoroughly readable even to the casual stud
ent of lesbian history.
a heart warming anthology of how twenty
five women were affected when their daugh
ters came out to them as lesbians. Although
their reaction varied upon first hearing the
news, from disbelief to casual reception, the
essence is that all of the mothers not only
accepted but strongly supported their daugh
ters choices.
A range of racial, religious, and class
backgrounds are represented. Many of the
stories are transcribed from interviews. One
commonality shared by all twenty five
respondents was the initial fear of sharing
their daughters life styles with their own
explained how they eventually resolved that
who their daughters loved didn’t matter, or
that it was okay not to have grandchildren.
Most eventually did reach out in ways rang
ing from supporting others whose children
had come out, to joining local parents and
friends of lesbians and gays, to testifying at
congressional hearings.
This book exemplifies the efforts of
parents to love and accept their children,
often after unfairly suffering parental guilt.
The chapters are short, easy to read, and
entertaining. Every lesbian should have two
copies, one for herself, and one for her mom.
Sabra Holbrook’s latest effort covers a
whirlwind of issues facing the gay and lesbian
community. Holbrook, in a short number of
pages, canvases most of the highlights of the
political struggles since Stonewall and the
rise of the activist movement across the Uni
ted States. By no means is Holbrook exhau
stive in her discriptions of the struggle gays
and lesbians have endured. This book,
however, gives an informational starting
point for individuals outside the struggle,
whether they are gay or straight. FIGH
TING BACK is, at best, an overview and
perhaps a source of motivation for the reader
to become involved personally in the mov
ement.
A sympathic author, Holbrook's tou
ches most every area of concern to the
community. She addresses the rights denied
10 percent of the citizenry because of their
sexual orientation, gaining acceptance at
church and school, violence, getting a job and
getting promoted, surviving after being
thrown out by parents, AIDS and more. Poin
ting out specific campaigns and neigh
borhood issues, such as housing and employ
ment discrimination, Holbrook interjects
issues of race and religious biases to draw
some irrefutable and enlightening parallels
between the gay movement and those who
have fought for racial and religious equality.
FIGHTING BACK gives an understanding
of the motivation behind gay and lesbian
activism and the need for this activism.
As a result of the broad generalities
made concerning the whole nature of homo
sexuality, Holbrook may be raising as many
questions as she answers. But, those ques
tions just might be the springboard which
impels some readers to educate and involve
themselves beyond the parameters which
FIGHTING BACK offers
The greatest asset Holbrook offers in
this introductory text is the positive tone in
which she writes. In a non-militant and non-
judgemental voice, Holbrook views the activ
ism of the gay and lesbian community and
applaudes the courage and resourcefulness
she discovers. FIGHTING BACK is a valua
ble primer for anyone who wants to under
stand the activism of the gay and lesbian
community.
Hugh Shaber
HISTORICAL, LITERARY AND EROTIC ASPECTS OF LESBIANISM,
edited by Monika Kehoe (Harrington Park Press, 181 pp. $10.95).
-Deborah Kachelries
THE WINGED DANCER, (Naiad, 265 pp. $8.95), PAZ, (Naiad, 326 pp. DIFFERENT DAUGHTERS, by Louise Rafkin (Cleis Press, 154 PP. $8.95.
$8.95), both by Camerin Grae.
Told by the mothers themselves, this is peers. As each story unfolded, mothers
Songwriters are often derided for writ
ing only one song, then using variations on
the melody to create subsequent hits. What
Fleetwood Mac did with “Sara” and
“Gypsy,” Camarin Grae has done with her
first two novels, THE WINGED DANCER
and PAZ. Using the theme of personal power,
its uses and abuses, Grae has produced two
mystery/science fiction novels with decidedly
similar protaganists, Kat Rogan and Paz. It
takes a good writer to carry off the "two-
books-one-plot" trick, and judging from these
books, Grae is an excellent writer. What
works for Grae is her style, direct and int
imate.
Kat Rogan, THE WINGED DAN-
CER'a heroine, is an average lesbian-feminist
in Chicago, until she witnesses the murder of
a Central American gentleman. Through a
bizarre series of events, Kat winds up not
only in Marigua, Central America, but in
prison as well. In confinement, she explores
(albeit unwillingly) the sado-masochism
which may be inherent in all of us, given the
proper circumstances, or which may be social
(IRaatnriaa trmm tto esm l
conditioning. Kat ponders these questions
from the “butch” side, then soon learns what
the other side is like. And, as any good mys
tery heroine, Kat spends plenty of time fall
ing in love, as well as trying to solve the
murder which began her on this wild journey.
PAZ’s protaganist, Drew McCallister,
is also primarily involved in experimenting
with personal power. The victim of an unu
sual head injury, Drew acquires the ability to
control people's minds. For the reader, this
can be vicariously joyful, as when Drew con
vinces a would-be rapist that he is paralyzed.
However, the “gift” is not so simple. Her best
friend attempts to capatilize on this freak of
nature, the government becomes involved in
its quest for world control, and yes, the
formerly-heterosexual Drew comes out.
Ultimately, the courageous star, now called
"Paz", for her ability to “zap” thoughts into
individuals’minds, uses her abilities to create
a lesbian-feminist utopia in-you guessed it-
-Central America. It is certainly subjective
heroism, for how would readers feel if Jerry
Falwell acquired the same ability?
Nonetheless,.MDUL/ .MDNM/since most of
us reading this book are women-oriented,
Paz's world does sound idyllic.
Many lesbian writers (and hetero
sexuals as well!) fall into the “all books are
the same" trap, utilizing again and again the
same plot, characters and theme. Grae's sav
ing graces are her captivating style, her vivid
imagination, and her ability to convince
readers of the most inconceivable situations.
Though Kat and Paz have similar person
alities, Grae brings to each of them a different
set of obstacles and surroundings, bringing
new life to each page. The unique combination
of mystery and science-fiction, and Grae's
ability to look at political-correctness with an
almost-objective eye. make both these books
enjoyable beach reading (or, in winter, curl-
up-by-the-fireplace reading). And although
this reviewer maybe shouldn’t mention this,
Grae's third book, SOUL SNATCHER, is her
second-favorite book of all time.
Whether you are on your way to
Province town, or waiting for the mainstage
concert to begin at Michigan, pick up a copy
of THE WINGED DANCER and PAZ, and
you’ll be enthralled...or at least entertained.
•Sarah Chauncey
-Johnette E. Banks
FIGHTING BACK: The Struggle for Gay Rights, by Sabra Holbrook (E.P.
Dutton, 99 pp. $13.95).
-Will Guilliams