Lovers' Choice

by Becky Birtha

Lover's Choice takes the reader on short trips into the lives of eleven different women. Through her stories, Becky Birtha creates a sense of continuity by weaving strength, passion, pain, and ingenuity into each character. Ms. Moses makes clear that the government doesn't really help the poor: "Ain't no reason for you to be gaping at me. I pay my taxes, just like everyone else." Sahara "never wanted a man...Sometimes it seems she has spent her whole life finding ways to get close to other people's children." Camped out under the stars, she thinks back over those children and opens her heart to yet another one. Maurie questions her taste in women:"White Anglo-Saxon Protestants. The Bourgeoisie. What the hell was she doing in love with someone...like that?" And Johnnieruth, who can ride her bike as fast as the boys and resents her mother trying to rein her in because she's a girl, watches in a park as two women greet each other with a kiss on the lips. For the first time, she sees herself mirrored.

Genres: Short Stories, LGBT

Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

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

[Sydney Leahy]

Gay oh so gay

[Emma Keiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best collection I have read in a long time. "Johnnieruth" and "In the Life" are now in my top 10 favorite short stories. I cried.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. I'd never heard of the author until I came across this book in a sale last month-& I'm so glad I did. I want to buy this book for every black &/or queer woman I know. Recommended.

[Charlotte Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very rarely read short story collections but I have bought quite a few recently and was immediately drawn to this one. In eleven stories, Becky Birtha explores the lives of eleven very different black lesbian women, all with different life experiences and personalities.

I love how different the characters were and how their sexuality was always seamlessly part of their lives, rather than being the main point of the story. There are stories about characters discovering their sexuality for the first time, characters experiencing new love or connections, characters dealing with break ups and everything in between. I enjoyed most of the stories but particularly the final two; one was about the desire to have a child and the other was about an older lady who had lost her partner years before the story takes place. Becky Birtha perfectly captured longing and grief in both of these stories and did so in under 20 pages.

Overall I would highly recommend this collection. As with many collections there were some stories that I did not care for as much but on the whole I really enjoyed it. If you read and enjoyed Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo I think you would particularly love what Becky Birtha has done with this collection.

4 out of 5 stars!

[Anja V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this gem in a very cute, very messy used bookstore. What a find!

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my 2nd Becky Birtha collection of short stories ... and although it might be hard to believe ... it is better than the first!! I have read the last selection In the Life out loud to ten other women and each one has become a Birtha fan. BB has the gift of telling our heart's stories in her short pictures ... she paints with a brilliant brush! My favorite tells us of women having grown old and deep in their love ... so deep that when one of them dies, the other still speaks, shares and cares with her love and sees thru the eyes of that love -- Gracie & Pearl are precious. In the Deep Heart's Core tells the story of reaching a hand from one generation to another, while Past Halfway begins in the pain of breakup but leads us thru the need to let go, seek your own answers, find your own way, make connections. These are glorious gifts BB hands to us. Find it, read it, share it.

[lithomancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I have to say that I love Becky Birtha so much, I love her writing, I love her style... I actually discovered her through this very book, and this is how I fell in love with her work, so I absolutely recommend it to anyone who's tired of white (talentless) lesbians being considered "classic lesbian literature" and wants a book that's actually good.