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Finding Bluefield
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Finding Bluefield, a lesbian-fiction, multi-generational family saga, chronicles the lives of two women who, by seeking love and family, found themselves navigating unknown territory during a time when relationships like theirs were mostly hidden and often dangerous. While Nicky and Barbara and their son Paul’s multi-generational tale crosses paths with political and social events of their day—such as JFK’s election, Woodstock, the MLK March on Washington, the moon landing, voter registration, the Sanctuary movement, and others—the novel celebrates durable love and friendship. Finding Bluefield is the story of being able to imagine a life that they did not know existed, to imagine a life that they could not see, and for which they had no model. Because if we can not imagine, then we can not change.
"By setting Finding Bluefield primarily in the South...Barnehama is able to extend beyond just the societal rejections of Barbara and Nicky’s love. Through them and the equally captivating cast of supporting characters, Barnehama explores and confronts racism, homophobia, feminism, sexism, gender roles, sibling rivalry, and motherhood. I wouldn’t classify this as a political novel per se, but Barnehama doesn’t hold back or shy away from heavy, controversial topics."--Lambda Literary Review
Finding Bluefield, a lesbian-fiction, multi-generational family saga, chronicles the lives of two women who, by seeking love and family, found themselves navigating unknown territory during a time when relationships like theirs were mostly hidden and often dangerous. While Nicky and Barbara and their son Paul’s multi-generational tale crosses paths with political and social events of their day—such as JFK’s election, Woodstock, the MLK March on Washington, the moon landing, voter registration, the Sanctuary movement, and others—the novel celebrates durable love and friendship. Finding Bluefield is the story of being able to imagine a life that they did not know existed, to imagine a life that they could not see, and for which they had no model. Because if we can not imagine, then we can not change.
"By setting Finding Bluefield primarily in the South...Barnehama is able to extend beyond just the societal rejections of Barbara and Nicky’s love. Through them and the equally captivating cast of supporting characters, Barnehama explores and confronts racism, homophobia, feminism, sexism, gender roles, sibling rivalry, and motherhood. I wouldn’t classify this as a political novel per se, but Barnehama doesn’t hold back or shy away from heavy, controversial topics."--Lambda Literary Review
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2012
161 people want to read
About the author
Elan Barnehama
6 books5 followersElan Barnehama’s second novel, Escape Route, Running Wild Press, May 2022, is set in NYC during the late 1960s. His writing has appeared in Rough Cut Press, Red Fez, Boston Accent, Jewish Fiction, Drunk Monkeys, Writer’s Digest, HuffPost, the New York Journal of Books, public radio, and elsewhere.
At different times I have taught writing and literature, was the fiction editor at Forth Magazine LA, worked with at-risk youth, was a ghostwriter for a university president, coached high school varsity baseball, had a gig as a radio news guy, and did a mediocre job as a short-order cook. I am a New Yorker by geography. A Mets fan by default.
At different times I have taught writing and literature, was the fiction editor at Forth Magazine LA, worked with at-risk youth, was a ghostwriter for a university president, coached high school varsity baseball, had a gig as a radio news guy, and did a mediocre job as a short-order cook. I am a New Yorker by geography. A Mets fan by default.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 1, 2014
wanted to read this mainly because I was born and raised in Bluefield. In all reality, the story was A LOT deeper than just being about a small town in the 1960's. I definitely found myself relating to the female character from Bluefield, just because there is something about the small town you can never leave behind. However, the story also touched on deep topics (such as gay rights and racism), so if you have any narrow mindness about such topics, just know this book isn't for your enjoyment.
August 18, 2015
I entered to win a copy of this one, and eventhough lesbian fiction isn't my thing,I have to read this eventually. I grew up in this "obscure" little town in VA and it was a surreal experience to stumble upon it browsing through giveaways. I'm curious........
Living in a small town comes with lots of stereotypes like, progress comes just a little slower in small towns.This book seems to be answering that with a resounding No! According to this book my little hometown of Bluefield Virginia was the home of the first free black Babtist church, and contained progressive (for the time)people who believed in equal rights even when helping the cause placed them in a dangerous situation. I don't doubt that the latter was concievable, however the first I know to be false only because the church in question is in Bluefield WEST Virginia; though its historical significance could be true. The truth is, many locations like the hospital were/are located in West Virginia and despite another stereotype of small towns you can not walk from one place to another (ex when Barbara walks from the airport to the hospital to the cafe where she meets Nicky without need of a car.) Bluefield fact: it is one town which crosses the border between the two states. The reason this all bugs me so much is because a book about civil rights for both blacks and gay/lesbians in a place most assume were behind the times for such progress should feel like historical fiction and be researched to make it authentic. Instead this book is fiction in the most soap opera like fashion. The story being told deserved to be taken seriously.
As for the characters I felt drawn into the characters lives as if they were real, but the story sometimes seemed to wander at times like the scenes were all written separately and were compiled, sometimes disjointedly, together.
I was really looking forward to this book, but the problems I had with it often distracted me from reading.
Living in a small town comes with lots of stereotypes like, progress comes just a little slower in small towns.This book seems to be answering that with a resounding No! According to this book my little hometown of Bluefield Virginia was the home of the first free black Babtist church, and contained progressive (for the time)people who believed in equal rights even when helping the cause placed them in a dangerous situation. I don't doubt that the latter was concievable, however the first I know to be false only because the church in question is in Bluefield WEST Virginia; though its historical significance could be true. The truth is, many locations like the hospital were/are located in West Virginia and despite another stereotype of small towns you can not walk from one place to another (ex when Barbara walks from the airport to the hospital to the cafe where she meets Nicky without need of a car.) Bluefield fact: it is one town which crosses the border between the two states. The reason this all bugs me so much is because a book about civil rights for both blacks and gay/lesbians in a place most assume were behind the times for such progress should feel like historical fiction and be researched to make it authentic. Instead this book is fiction in the most soap opera like fashion. The story being told deserved to be taken seriously.
As for the characters I felt drawn into the characters lives as if they were real, but the story sometimes seemed to wander at times like the scenes were all written separately and were compiled, sometimes disjointedly, together.
I was really looking forward to this book, but the problems I had with it often distracted me from reading.
April 23, 2013
I got Finding Bluefield a few months for review and had actually filed the e-mail away into my book folder and forget to read it. To Elan Barnehama, I am sorry for the wait in the review to be done.
Finding Bluefield is about two women who fall in love in the 60s and one, Nicky, goes to the Martin Luther King march and sleeps with a man for the sole purpose of getting pregnant. Nine months later and they have Paul. Nicky's sister wants to adopt him so he'll have a 'normal' family. Nicky gets scared to lose him so she sells her father's (hers then) farm and her, Barbara and Paul move to Medford, New York where they live their life.
I really had no attachment to any of the characters in this book. I felt Nicky being basically the main character should have brought more to the story. None of the characters showed any real emotions about the situations they were in. Such as, Barbara really didn't seem all that angry that Nicky cheated on her with a man just to become pregnant. Which by the way, even if she thought of Barbara the entire time she slept with the guy, it's still cheating.
You don't learn much about Barbara or Paul at all during the book either which is odd considering they're supposed to be a bit part.
To me, this book wasn't about them finding out how to be a family but about Nicky doing what she wanted and 20 years later finding out that she doesn't have it so bad. This book had all the workings to be great with the storyline of lesbians in the years 60s-80s raising a child together but, to me it just fell short and was disappointing.
May 11, 2013
This story takes place between 1960 and 1983 and follows the lives of Nicky and Barbara. The story is interesting especially as you place it into historical context and realize how much more difficult it was to be in a same sex relationship in the 60’s and 70’s and the extent that they had to hide their relationship. Having said that there were definitely times where I couldn’t fathom some of the decisions that Nicky would make just assuming that everything would be wonderful. She’s not just wearing rose colored glasses she has an entire rose colored bubble around her. I was disappointed in the lack of ramifications from several of these decisions. Especially the one where Nicky sleeps with a stranger because she’s always wanted a child. I just couldn’t relate to Barbara’s non-response to (a) being cheated on and (b) Nicky making such a life altering decision for both of them… without any input from Barbara.
Half way through the story, I realized that although I couldn’t relate to Nicky’s decision making process the story itself was interesting in that it portrays two women living their lives like any other couple and that not all relationships look the same.
Half way through the story, I realized that although I couldn’t relate to Nicky’s decision making process the story itself was interesting in that it portrays two women living their lives like any other couple and that not all relationships look the same.
December 9, 2012
Don't let the subject matter fool you. This book goes beyond what "lesbian fiction" is conceived to be. It's a universal story about love and acceptance - either from one's self or society - whose central characters happen to be two women who want to share their lives together and be a family. From a historical perspective the book spans from 1960 to 1983 and you are taken back to relevant periods where the underdog is longing to be heard through civil right issues. Along with that, the author gives us a ride through southern and northern cultures, religious pondering, cancer, humour, food and wine. Amongst the underlying social meaning behind the story, Finding Bluefield, is not just about Nicky literally finding her hometown, but finding herself through her losses and love of her family.
February 25, 2019
Not so much a character story as a history lesson.
Set from the early 60's covering a 20 year period. In this time Nicky and Barbara meet, Nicky has Paul and they raise him to 20. And really that is almost as much as we get for their relationship.
However, we have their life played out against some of the big events of the times - King Rally, Woodstock - and against the social mores of the time. It shows that we have come so far and yet also nowhere!
Nicky's family caused lots of worry and upheaval in their lives, and again at the end of the story it is Nicky's family which causes the return to Bluefield - and ultimately the freeing of Nicky and Barbara.
An easy to read story, quite pacy and I quite enjoyed it
Set from the early 60's covering a 20 year period. In this time Nicky and Barbara meet, Nicky has Paul and they raise him to 20. And really that is almost as much as we get for their relationship.
However, we have their life played out against some of the big events of the times - King Rally, Woodstock - and against the social mores of the time. It shows that we have come so far and yet also nowhere!
Nicky's family caused lots of worry and upheaval in their lives, and again at the end of the story it is Nicky's family which causes the return to Bluefield - and ultimately the freeing of Nicky and Barbara.
An easy to read story, quite pacy and I quite enjoyed it
August 16, 2013
Sadly, this was one of my least favourite reads in a while.
My main problem of Finding Bluefield is this: it tries to do too much. It's as if it's trying to document racism and homophobia in the 60s and 70s South in a 216 page lesbian romance (?) novel, but the topic is too broad and it's as if the narrative keeps getting distracted by other things.
My full review is here: http://lesbrary.com/2013/08/14/danika...
But suffice to say I didn't enjoy it.
My main problem of Finding Bluefield is this: it tries to do too much. It's as if it's trying to document racism and homophobia in the 60s and 70s South in a 216 page lesbian romance (?) novel, but the topic is too broad and it's as if the narrative keeps getting distracted by other things.
My full review is here: http://lesbrary.com/2013/08/14/danika...
But suffice to say I didn't enjoy it.
December 29, 2012
An endearing book, about the love of two lesbians going through the hardships of life in a crucial time for our country. It was an enjoyable read, something one would pick up to pass the time away. However, I found it lacking in details. There was more about Nicky than Barbara; little about Paul as he grew up. It just seemed to be a rough draft of a story of what could have been more.
March 18, 2021
I loved this book. It's style of writing isn't something you come across with modern writers and though I do find it sort of racially esteeming, it was a pretty good read all through... well perhaps the later parts were revelations come to play does feel somewhat unfulfilling but good book all the same
November 1, 2015
2013 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews