Chasing Lightning

by Rachel York

Chasing Lightning (new release edition) is the provocative story of Scarlett Faye Turner’s coming-of-age in the 1960s. Her journey into sexual self-discovery and acceptance is at times hilarious, sometimes shocking, and always entertaining. When she isn’t mouthing off and scandalizing just about everybody in the backward river town of Dillinger, Pennsylvania, Scarlett has her nose buried in a book dreaming of a life far away where fame and money can keep her safe from the bogeymen of her childhood and the consequences of following her heart. Scarlett believes falling in love makes you as crazy as her neighbor who chases thunderstorms with her camera. She is positive no one in their right mind would risk being struck by lightning any more than they would by love. But that resolve quickly crumbles when seductive Gina Jamison shows up Scarlett’s senior year and knocks her heart sideways. Their improbable meeting and steamy love affair starts Scarlett on a journey that will take her across the years and through a succession of lovers…from a women’s college in West Virginia to the magical desert of New Mexico to the sexual liberation of Paris in the 1960s…from the arms of a woman she can never forget to the depths of her own soul and a painful realization that promises to transform her completely.

Genres: Fiction, Queer, LGBT, Lesbian, Lesbian Fiction

456 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2000

Reviews

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this book for free from my city's pride library. I liked it! I appreciated all of the different ways being a lesbian was, from a tiny town in PA to southern all-girls schools to Europe and LA. The writing was easy to read but still had depth. I was pleasantly surprised by the conversations in here about the fluidity of sexuality and being a lesbian vs bisexual. Although it didn't really lean in much to this (because that's not what the book is about) I thought it was pretty open-minded for being from over 20 years ago and for coming from Scarlett's perspective lol

I liked how complicated Scarlett was even though she did annoy me sometimes. Sometimes the emphasis on how so smart and clever and talented she was got on my nerves. And what do you mean she had a bestselling book of poetry published while she's still in school?? Crazy.

Thought the ending was kind of bonkers considering how realistic the rest of the book was (not to say that stuff like that couldn't have happened but it was just like. what??). Also didn't like how the one butch character in the book was portrayed. Justice for my butches!!

[Heidi Housten · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best lesbian book I've read in a long time. Too many lesbian novels are full of cliches and so poorly written that I struggle to get through them, hoping for some redeeming feature. "Chasing lightning" refreshingly breaks away from the pack.

It is a funny and captivating coming out novel. The main character is a handful: tough, sharp, pulls no punches, and humorously and painfully spot on at times. She knows what she wants and goes out to get it with determination.

The whole book moves at a good pace and the writing pulled me right in. The sex scenes are also well written.

This book was easy to read in small bits because the chapters are short but it is very hard to put down if you have the time to sit and read.

I am not sure I've enjoyed a lesbian novel this much since I read "Ruby Fruit Jungle" and "Six of One" too many years ago.

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading queer fiction and I really enjoyed this book. I would definitely read something by this author again. Although I am completely different from the main character and she frustrated me sometimes, I still liked her.

[Hollieann · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was rather unrealistic. I only read it as I wanted to read gay fiction that I could relate to. However - I found all the notions in the book unrealistic and absolutely no description about anything. There was a lot of travelling, a lot of faffing about and a lot of silly situations.

[Nancy Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good love story. It delves into the complexities of love while being an entertaining read.

[cj · Rating 2 out of 5]

forgettable.