42 J
m
Mat * december 15.20ÛÛ
Dashing through the store
Last-minute ideas for nifty gifting
R a in b o w
O rnam ent
$21.95
his classi
cally
designed
glass rainbow,
handmade in
Poland, rests on
a silver-painted
cloud that would
add sparkle anywhere. A wonderful
stocking stuffer. Available online
from www.10percent.com.
T
T h e F em m e ’ s G u id e
t o t h e U n iv e r s e
by Shar Rednour. A lyson Books,
2000; $14.95 softcover.
1 : Whatever do I give the
femme (or wannabe femme) in
my life for the holiday season?
A: Shar Rednours The Femme’s
Guide to the Universe, of course!
Rednour, erotica writer and self-proclaimed Queen of Femmedom, presents a guide
book for those aspiring to reach the pinnacles of Girl-Goddessness.
In a sassy and intimate voice, she introduces us to “Shartopia,” the realm of endless
possibilities where “there are always strawberries, chocolate, shrimp and avocados to go
around.” Her goal is to help you create your own “Youtopia,” no matter your budget,
location or marital status.
It’s a sexy but also handy book. Where else can you learn to have sex in high heels,
rescue an earring that’s fallen into the drain and play host to a great party all in one
fun-to-read guide?
The book is crammed with expert advice. Rednour, generous and “divafabulicious”
queen that she is, has been around the block a few times and is willing to let you learn
from her mistakes. “Don’t put alpha-hydroxy creams on your eyelids,” she advises at one
point, “or they’ll puff up like blowfish.” From butt zits to dating hints, this girl knows it all.
A large chunk of The Femme’s Guide is devoted to relationships, namely “femme-on-femme and femme/butch desire.” Rednour encourages
embracing these sexual identities and says, “To name yourself is one of the most empowering things you can do.”
She celebrates the power of the femme-on-femme dynamic, saying, “They aren’t doing what the Playboy Channel says they’re doing.” Rednour
also praises “butch-and-femme lovelust,” giving advice about communication and “reasons to try a good butch.”
All of this generalizing could make a reader uneasy, especially the section devoted to “Butch Boot Camp” in which she says, “If you can’t find a good
butch woman, then you’ll have to train one.” The fact that she encourages women to manipulate their lovers into being male (she suggests, “Go shop
ping with her and ask her to try on the tailored suit in the men’s section”) undermines one of the pleasures of lesbianism (loving women, not men).
Still, Rednour recognizes the duality of butch women: “The butch embodies everything studly, honorable and charming in masculinity, yet she
understands cramps and second-class citizenship firsthand. What a combo!”
It’s up to the reader to pick out the sensible advice from the outrageous. Of course, what might be outrageous to some is sensible to others— not every
body has wondered how to clean smudges from a PVC corset. But, as Rednour would say, “Onward, darlings, onward.”
—Jessica Citti
R omance on F ilm , R omance
Michael Feinstein • Concord
on
B roadway
his two-disc set is filled with love songs
crooned by gay pianist Michael Feinstein.
1 He divides the collection evenly between
tunes originated on the screen and those
derived from the stage.
Film highlights include “As Time Goes By”
from Casablanca, ‘T h e Way You Look Tonight”
from String Time and Feinstein’s theme song,
“Isn’t It Romantic” from Love Me Tonight.
Broadway highlights include “The Best Things
in Life Are Free” from Good News, “My Funny
Valentine” from Babes in Arms and “Ev’ry Time
We Say Goodbye from The Seven Lively Arts.
Feinstein’s passion for musicals is evident
T
through
out. In
fact, he
hints in
the liner
notes that
his early
experi
ences lis
tening to
romantic
songs
helped
him become more comfortable with his hid
den desires.
“As a child during my formative years my
parents would sometimes allow me to stay up
L e s b ia n A r t in A m e r ic a :
A C o n t e m p o r a r y H ist o r y
by Harmony Hammond. Rizzoli, 2000;
$50 hardcover.
et there be no bones about it: This is a
< highly subjective history of, to paraphrase
1 the late Audre Lorde, living, loving and
making art in the trenches,” says Harmony
Hammond in her informative introduction to
this pioneering work. She documents lesbian
art in the United States since 1970 within the
context of queer culture and political activism
and profiles 18 prominent lesbian artists,
including Kate Millett and Catherine Opie.
Although this is a visually stunning book,
easily a coffee-table treat, Lesbian Art in Ameri
ca also nourishes the intellect with Hammond’s
sharp analysis and commentary. Truly the first
of its kind!
—Catherine Sameh
\m
late to watch the old movies on television,”
Feinstein writes. “Something naturally made
me gravitate to the love songs of musical films
because they created a feeling inside of me and
a yearning that I had not yet experienced at
that young age.”
I saw Feinstein tickle the ivories during the
Equality Rocks concert last April in Washing
ton, D.C. The poor guy was sandwiched
between energetic artists such as Melissa
Etheridge and the Pet Shop Boys, so the audi
ence talked through most of his set.
Feinstein’s mellow sound certainly isn’t for
everyone. But when it comes to curling up
with your honey on a cold winter’s eve, Fein
stein is the ideal hearth to warm your heart.
—Jim Radosta
Out of Print: RED RANGER CAME
CALLING by Berkeley Breathed, 1 st edi
tion—$ 16 . 95 . A wonderful holiday story
for grown-ups or children.
Portland’s only children’s bookstore— we can help you choose that perfect
holiday gift from our large collection o f children’s books, music, games
and puzzles. Story/craft time every: Sat 11am, stories Sat 2:pm.
from
4807 NE FREMONT ST., PORTLAND 503 284-8294
EvCEH TLA L
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