Something to Declare: Good Lesbian Travel Writing

by Gillian Kendall (Editor)

Editor Gillian Kendall has brought together in Something to Declare a collection of impressionistic, literary travel essays that explore the sense of place and the pull of wanderlust, and reveal what happens when a traveler follows her heart. On these pages, established and emerging lesbian travel writers present accounts ranging from the poetic and internal to the exhilarating and life-altering.
    Rather than reporting on places to stay, local fare, or politics, these women share personal stories of exploration and adventure. Lucy Jane Bledsoe and her partner camp out and negotiate their way through the Tierra del Fuego in “Fruits at the Border.” Lesléa Newman’s “Bashert” tells the retrospective journey of a college graduate undergoing a simultaneous awakening of her sexuality and artistic talent while working on a kibbutz in Israel. Lori Soderlind’s “Hot Springs, Montana” describes her return—with the help of a native woman—to the place in Montana where her family once made their home.
    Whether set in Italian changing rooms, a Cadillac hearse, an ashram, a medieval labyrinth, a wheelchair, or a kayak, and whether amid Japanese typhoons, Caribbean rain, or rare Irish sunshine, Something to Declare offers stories of reflection, challenge, and growth. 

Genres: Queer, Travel

230 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[KileyV · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel so lucky that I found this! I <3 the library etc etc

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good stories, some better, some less interesting to me. I skipped around rather than trying to read it straight through, which was fun. My favorite story was the one about the young woman who went to the ashram in India. I liked it so much that I copied out a paragraph that I felt applied to my own life, so I could keep it. The one about the friends redecorating the motel was also amusing.

The intro talks about "what is lesbian fiction" which was interesting in it's own right - what DOES that mean? I thought the question was unique... until I picked up a short story collection of "lesbian writers" (see: Hers) in which the editor asks the exact same question in the introduction. I think the books were written around the same time, so perhaps this was something the lesbian community was struggling with. Both books feel a little dated - they are nearly 20 yrs old, after all - but to all the young lezzies out there: it's good to know your roots.

[Marjorie Elwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed the varied stories in this collection. Some of them had little to do with physical travel and more to do with the growth of the narrator. There was one that talked about visits to independent bookstores. Another detailing a trip to Vietnam that was really an attempt by the author to understand her brother's actions as possibly a result of his wartime experiences. All were well written and engaging.

[Sandra Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Disclosure - I have an essay in this collection. Still, there are so many good stories included. The very last one, about traveling through independent bookstores, is one of the best.

[Deborah Sheldon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The editor is a member of my writers' group.

[Nicola Douglas]

Had to return to library. Enjoyed the story about India the description were so vivid.