Book review: Girl Meets Boy – Ali Smith

This book is an easy read.  By easy I mean there is no drama, no soul-searching, no difficult conversations with mothers or other relatives, no meddling ex-girlfriends and no heartbreak.  It’s practically a gay fairy tale, only with less of a storyline.

Andrea is twenty one and has just moved in with her older sister Imogen.  Imogen has a nice house, a well-paid job and a lean physique due to daily exercise.  The only thing rebellious about Imogen is her motorbike named Rebel.  Andrea knows that Imogen wants her to live an equally sensible life but she can’t.  Instead she goes shopping instead of going to work, only to quit work altogether when she meets Robin.

Robin went to school with Imogen, but where Imogen became sensible, Robin became an activist.  Robin and Andrea fall in love forcing Imogen to change her view of the world.  How this occurs I can only imagine.  The chapter between Imogen the bigot and Imogen the broadminded appears to have been missed.   What wasn’t missed are the fascinating details the author puts into this book, from Ovid’s story of Iphis and Ianthe, to the statistics spray-painted onto Marks & Spencers.  This is a beautifully written book and, like all fairy tales, ends happily ever after.

Review by Ida Raine
 

Book review: And Baby Makes More – edited by Susan Goldberg and Chloe Brushwood Rose

In these times of rising equality, queer families are coming out into the open, bringing their queerness into our courts, schools and even supermarkets.  But what is a queer family?  If we see them in the media they are usually two mums or Elton John, yet we know our community is more diverse than that.  This book attempts to address the invisibility of today’s queer family.

And Baby Makes More is a book of short stories.  All are about creating babies in queer families and all the families represented are wildly diverse.  There are lesbians who intentionally chose a donor dad and lesbians who accidently created a donor dad, the donors themselves, trans and genderqueer family members, gay men, single mothers and polyamorous parents.  The issues explored are, what makes a parent, the importance of biology, decision making, grandparents, methods of creation, societal expectations and so on.  There is even a comic book entry.

The stories were edited by two women who are both lesbian mothers themselves, with their stories included in the book.   It would have been easy for them to create a book solely on the joys of motherhood, but they didn’t.  They also included stories of failure, of fears, and of family situations gone wrong.  In amongst the thought-provoking stories there are also some genuinely funny moments.  This would be a great read for anyone wishing to start their own queer family.

Review by Ida Raine

 

Mary Gauthier

Venue: Bush Hall 
Date: Thursday 11 October 2012

In 2010 Mary Gauthier, (That’s Go-Shay y’all.),  recorded her most recent studio album, “The Foundling”, like all of her music, is a response to a life that includes her illegitimate birth, being adopted by a dysfunctional family andcoming out as HIV positive, first hitting the scene, and drug & alcohol addiction. 

It’s an album of songs which need to be listened to rather than just heard. So when sales failed to match expectations, you can understand that Mary took this personally. Personally enough to remove every studio mandated fiddle, bell and tambourine and to re-issue it at her own expense as “The Foundling Alone”, turning the songs into a stronger, more honest experience in the process. 

She uses this same stripped down approach on her new album, “Live at Blue Rock” which was being promoted at the Bush Hall last week. Two mics, (Mary was joined at one point by support act, Ben Glover), a table for a mouth organ and an empty guitar case are all that adorn the stage because we are lucky enough to be listening to a performer confident of their own ability to captivate with the minimum of fuss. 

Notes from a well ‘loved’ guitar, (The poor thing is covered in scuffs and scratches), the confidence to inhabit songs and a dry sense of self deprecating humour are all that is needed to bring to life the stories in those songs. Stories which most of us would rather experience through the medium of song, dance, tapestry even - anything barr first hand knowledge, but that simple, honest playing style and humour show that it is possible to come out the other side not only still standing but happy.

Along the way we learn why it is important to keep your empty guitar case with you on stage - singing about compassion for those who have wronged you, “Mercy Now”, doesn’t always go down well in Texas, even if you are singing about your own family. That moment where you suddenly see your lover as the rest of the world sees them, a psychopathic narcissist, (“Sweet Words” - both songs from “The Foundling”), and how she was once voted gay country singer of the year (then claimed the award was probably invented for her). 

Actually Mary is a pukka award winning singer songwriter, the title track of “Drag Queens and Limousines” received the award for Best Folk/Singer-Songwriter song at the first Annual Independent Music Awards in 1999,  in 2002 “Filth & Fire” was named Best Indy CD of the Year in the New York Times no less, and Mary was named Best Country Music Artist at the Gay and Lesbian American Music Awards in the same year.  

We’re also introduced to two new songs, (‘Can’t guarantee the songs but I can guarantee they’re not happy songs.’), plus “Cigarette Machine”, a beautifully bitter-sweet song about a love affair with Class A’s, and “The Rocket”, which are both on “Live at Blue Rock”, telling a story of love and rejection.  

A new studio album was hinted at and a song has been recorded recorded for a TV series, “Nashville” which if it’s picked up by the networks means Mary ‘Will get a  new car, but don’t spend the money ‘til the cheque arrives!’
 
It’s a clever thing, the quiet intimacy of this person telling stories of a difficult life, whilst appearing utterly comfortable in their own skin. It sucks you into believing that you’re sitting in your own front room, sharing with a friend and wondering how they did it. Makes for an utterly beguiling evening.

The tour lasts until the end of October with dates in the Netherlands and Italy. The chance to get to know a performer you may never have seen before and who will leave you a little in awe of herself, is well worth the fare.


Laura Alexander - Arts Reviewer

Book review: Sing You Home – Jodie Picoult

In these baby-booming times this book will likely strike a chord with a few people. Being about human infertility and the unrelenting desire to have a child, this isn’t a happy book.  All of our main characters are struggling with recognisable demons and it takes almost half the book for them to truly become likeable.  Despite all of that I’m a little bit in love with this novel, so much so that I sat up to 2am one night in order to finish it.  It is genuinely unputdownable.

After nine years of fertility treatment, Zoe still doesn’t have a baby.  After being advised to give up on her dream of motherhood due to ill health, Zoe refuses.  A baby is more important than her health.  Her husband, Max, doesn’t agree and instead files for divorce.  Time passes and Zoe falls in love again – with a woman!  Unfortunately Max also falls in love, only his new love affair is with God.  When Zoe approaches Max for the rights over three frozen embryos they have remaining from IVF, Max approaches his church for advice.  From there things start to get messy for Zoe.

This novel may be a clash between gay rights and religion, but it in no way demonises either.  Jodie Picoult is careful to develop her main characters in order for us to really understand their motivations.  No one person is in the wrong here and all are trying to do what they think is right.  Ultimately Zoe and her ex-husband have to make big decisions and we, the reader, can only stand by helplessly and hope for the best.  A very moving book.

Review by Ida Raine

 

Club Night: Chick Habit featuring Amity & JD Samson

Now, I have to admit that I haven't actually been to Candy Bar in a while. I see myself as outside of the core customerbase. When I think of Candy Bar I think of uber-trendy student lesbians, under 25, and who are single and looking for fun. Thursday night was quite an eye-opener to the fact that the customerbase of this bar is expanding beyond this stereotype.

I wasn't the oldest lesbian in the room, I wasn't even the only lesbian not looking for a night of fun. Hell, there were even lesbians who aren't uber-trendy types (me included!).

This event was bound to be popular; JD Samson (known  most famously from Peaches and Le Tigre) was the top bill on her only UK date this tour.

Chick Habit runs from 9pm to 3am. A weekly event every Thursday (occasionally doubled up with Candy Bar's own comedy night beforehand). This week was a special Chick Habit, starting with Amity and ending with JD Samson (DJing from 1am).

Amity was on early to a select crowd. The crowd were extremely mixed, and clearly there for the music since they were all paying attention and listening to the music rather than chatting away which was nice as at some gigs there is little respect for the artist on stage when they are a support act.

Amity, originally from Wolverhampton has been around since about 2003 and released her debut EP in June 2011. Amity isn't your usual artist, she plays live the guitar, ukelele, kazoo and drums (at one point all in the same song at the same time - you need to see it to believe it). She is quite an alternative artist and uses some amazing techniques within her songs - well worth catching on one of her future gigs.

Between Amity and JD Samson we had DJ Amy B and DJ Cece Wyledeck Estrada keeping the dancefloor bopping with a variety of indie, electro, rockabilly and alternative music.

From 1am JD Samson hit the decks, and showed she is a truly remarkable DJ. She is a legend in her own right, and could have easily just played her normal set and the music she enjoys, but regularly you'd see her popping her head over the DJ booth to check the response from the crowd. She interspersed her style of music with floor fillers that pleased the audience, introducing new music whilst ensuring the dance floor remained full at all times.

If you haven't been to Candy Bar in a while, perhaps you might fancy giving it another go. They have a variety of nights now, for all tastes including Laughing Labia comedy show, Girls-A-Loud Karaoke, Monday Madness, Shake and Pop, Monster and Sunday Social.

The next Chick Habit is on Thursday 11 October and features Moya, a singer-songwriter from Brighton.

Naomi

Book review: Unexpected Pleasures – Tamsin Wilton

Many people were shocked when Cynthia Nixon claimed to have had a ’choice’ over her sexuality when she met Christine Marinoni.  Accusations flew between those who felt she must have always been bisexual and those who believed choice was more credible than biology.  Yet the notion of same-sex relationships as a ‘choice’ wasn’t a new one in 2012, it wasn’t even new in 2002 when this book was published.  The possibility that some lesbians were born while others were made, has been with us since feminism first allowed female sexual autonomy.

Tamsin Wilton is a woman who came out later in life.  Hitting her mid 30’s she felt she made the choice to become a lesbian, only to discover this was not a popular view.  Wanting to talk to other late bloomers like herself she placed an advert in Diva, from which she expected to receive possibly a dozen replies.  Instead she received 40 in a day, with more coming in the weeks that followed.  Realising she had hit a nerve, Tamsin interviewed hundreds of women from all over the country and beyond, eventually creating Unexpected Pleasures out of their stories.  Many had resisted being gay until they were unable to fight it any longer; some had never guessed they were gay until the day they fell in love; and some, like Tamsin, felt that given a choice they had chosen women.

This is not a book of science, as the author admits she is dubious about any biological explanation for homosexuality.  Instead this is a book about experiences, the experience of coming out as a woman who loves women, at a time when you were supposed to be settled into heterosexual family life.  Unexpected Pleasures is interesting just for highlighting those experiences, and would be invaluable for any woman who unexpectedly found herself bursting out of the closet later in life.

Review by Ida Raine

 

Hip Hip Hooray, we sash-ayed the Big Gay 10k

Sunday 30 September, Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Sunny cloudy weather. A bunch of gays. What more could you want for the end of the Summer?

We arrived early, ready to set up our stall, which was bang in the middle of the row of pop up gazebos.

Within an hour we were ready to go with our village fete games – pick a lolly, play your cards right, tombola and find the cash behind the tube station, as well as a fine assortment of homemade cakes to sell (Naomi spent all day Saturday in the kitchen baking!).

Katie checked in for the walk, and took park in the group limbering up, with lots of dynamic stretches led off from the main stage.

Just before midday, Diva’s Jane Czyzselska called all the women over to take part in the lesbian visibility kiss. Before we knew it dozens of lesbians were smooching away with each other.

And then, Cheryl Baker was calling the start of the walk! All the runners, walkers and mincers led off, on the 10k path that took them along the riverside, South Bank, up to London Bridge, over and back down the other side.

It was a beautiful walk and the weather was perfect. It got a little busy in the South Bank area and Westminster – making it hard to keep full pace throughout, but Planet London walkers returned to Vauxhall in very respectable times indeed.

The afternoon continued with some great acts on the live stage including lesbian bands such as Grey Matter, stand up comedians Jen Brister and Zoe Lyons, and rounding off with members of the L Project singing It Gets Better.

The village fete worked really well and all the stalls had made a big effort to be fun and informative. There was a chilled party-like atmosphere all afternoon.

Planet London is very proud to have been a part of this event – walking and in the fete. We raised approximately £200 from the stall and walking which will go towards helping London Friend and Pace.