For Nights Like This One: Stories of Loving Women

by Becky Birtha

Book by Birtha, Becky

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Queer, LGBT, Lesbian

107 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

As a writer, I'm the author of three books for adults: two collections of short stories and a volume of poetry. My short stories have been widely anthologized, and some of my writing has appeared in textbooks. More recently, I've written two children's picture books. I'm also a parent, a Quaker, was an adoption worker for many years, and currently live in Delaware County, PA, just outside Philadelphia. I enjoy visiting schools to share about my books.

As a reader, I got my first library card at age seven, and I still approach books in much the same way that I did as a kid. I go to the library a lot. I pick out books on the shelf by the author, or the topic, or-- yes, often, the cover. Usually I skip the jacket copy because I don't want the story spoiled-- I want to make up my own mind about the book. And though I've read plenty of adult books in my lifetime, I mostly read children's books these days-- probably because that's also what I'm writing these days. I'm especially interested in books by other African American writers and with African American, black, or biracial kids as characters. I read lots of picture books. Few things are better than having a bag full of picture books to savor, one a night, before going to sleep.

Reviews

[lithomancy]

No matter how much I love Becky Birtha, I was extremely disappointed to read in that book one story featuring a student/teacher relationship. The rest of the book is really good, but this part was extremely uncomfortable and potential reader should be aware of that.

[Anna Lenè · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely, tender collection of stories that make me so grateful to be a woman who loves women. There's a quote on the back of my copy from the Body Politic that says these stories "prove our loves are well worth the fight," and I couldn't agree more. The kind of lesbian text that makes me feel so understood and hopeful I never want to read anything by straight people again lol.

Also since there are only a handful of reviews, I want to point out that "Next Saturday," the story featuring a teacher & student, isn't really about a relationship between the two so much as it's about the teacher developing a crush on her student and the complex/toxic emotions tangled up in that. It's definitely uncomfortable, but I don't think the point of the story is for us to root for that relationship. It's also the only story in this collection that explores those kinds of themes. So, even if you're not comfortable reading that kind of material, I'd still highly recommend the rest of the collection.

[l · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories are so beautiful and tender.

[Hailie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.75 stars

[Felicidad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a sad glimpse into these lesbian lives begging to be validated. Writing style was not my favorite, though it felt of the time.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This $5 wonder is worth every penny and so much more. Becky Birtha is an extraordinary storyteller! She has graced us with vignettes that bring to life the everyday stories of our living – taking risks, experiencing loss, looking at differances, finding home & family, what we give up and what we gain. The title story For Nights Like This One takes us inside the heart of a woman who discovers that she not only wants to love but also “she wanted to be loved by a woman, by a woman who could be much more than her own imagination could create.” The discoveries we share along the way left me saying yes indeedy! My opening line “and it was the telling that made things become so special between them” from Safekeeping speaks of what is now special between Becky Birtha and Mikkata ... I will read everything this woman writes. Open it up - read on ... find that something special.

[Frankie Lennon · Rating 5 out of 5]

So interesting and enlightening. And beautifully written. I'm adding it to my list of books for my literature course. I think the students will like reading stories that show Lesbians are human beings with everyday concerns, love lives, problems like heterosexuals.