Archive for April, 2014
Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is on my wishlist to own! Thank you, Washoe County Library System for carrying this book!
It is not an easy book to get through. But if you manage, you find so many diamonds of wisdom to apply to your own life.
Which of us has gotten through childhood unscathed? Which of us, as parents, release healthy, unscathed adults into the world? In Alison Bechdel’s first memoir, Fun Home, Alison addressed her life with her father. In this book, Alison tells of her life with her mother. I was amazed at how well she was able to keep the story on her own interpretation of her own life. She brings in her therapists and friends and lovers in how they help her understand why certain things happened and how she can get over it and become whole.
Though this is done in comic book form it is far from funny. Yet, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, she was able to speak volumes using this method of story telling. It brought my own mother issues to mind while reading this.
A spot of vomit on the floor. Running lines with mom for the next play she’ll be in. The inability to cry properly. Maybe these things wouldn’t cause you cathartic experience, but as you follow Alison’s path, which is also her mother’s path, it is easy to relate to both women. As Alison calls into play the works of Virginia Wolfe and Freude among others to help her understand how it all fits and how we all fit into our mother’s worlds.
This book may have triggers for some people but I think that most people will find if they stick it out there are more answers than questions through Ms. Bechdel’s story. I recommend it highly to everyone.
Dykes and Sundry Other Carbon-Based Life Forms to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a fast read for me. Having read the Essential Dykes to Watch Out For, I found many of the strips repeated here. Or is it the other way around? I think this was written first. actually. But it was nice that there were some unique strips in this book. I especially liked the longer last on in the book giving us a deeper understanding of the characters and what they were going through.
Now that I have read this one I feel I want to read all the Dykes to Watch Out For as I can see there are a lot of them. This will give me some light reading and will be equally fast, like this one.
As I said in my review for Essential Dykes to Watch Out For, I think everyone should read these, regardless of your sexual, national, political leanings. It is an introduction into what others think and how they operate their lives. Love is love and life is complicated. Join these friends as they try to make it through both.
Thank you Washoe County Libraries for carrying these books. If I ever get a few pennies ahead I think I would like to aim for owning the complete collection of Alison Bechdel’s work.
Questionably Human by Miss Kitty Roads
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a freebie from author for Fourth of July (2012). Thanks!
Wow, since I have had this book for nearly two years, I am sorry it took so long. I am hoping the author has taken the time to edit this book. The reader already has to suspend disbelief on this erotic sci-fi, but to have so many errors, especially ones that made me have to stop and reread a lot of passages, made this a rough read.
I loved the story and the characters. Keva is one tough cookie and sexy as hell! Even when she is shot she fights to save her mate. For those that are turned off by language or erotic situations, this is not for you. But for those willing to enjoy a different type of story… this is it!
There is space travel and evil scientists all the things that make a good sci-fi, Miss Kitty Roads just took that kind of story and made it sexier. Thank you for letting me read your story. Sorry it took so long for me to get to it.
Darswords 
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