Queereaders discussion

This thread is for chatting about general topics or anything that doesn't fit neatly somewhere else.

My friend Alice from another group posted this about a new women's history program on BBC, and I thought I'd share it because it looked interesting. Maybe others are interested too? If I have time, I'll watch it:

Don't know if you guys are aware: BBC Two will be airing a 4-part documentary series about the history of women (titled The Ascent of Women) starting September 2.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowanda...

From the program website's information, one episode profiles Empress Wu Zetian, stressing that history has vilified her and slighted her contribution. I can't help feeling that Westerners tend to be obsessed with this Empress Wu and Empress Cixi, both of whom were viperish and self-indulging murderers, but they tend to view them through rosy lenses!

That's interesting! I have to say the two books I've read about Cixi, though, did not view her through rosy lenses.

If I can remember to DVR this I will. This is pretty much right up my alley. Thanks!

A. wrote: "That's interesting! I have to say the two books I've read about Cixi, though, did not view her through rosy lenses.

If I can remember to DVR this I will. This is pretty much right up my alley. Tha..."

My pleasure Arin!

I'm embarrassed to admit that I know almost nothing about Cixi though. Alice is from Hong Kong originally, and lately, she's been doing a lot of research on Chinese historical figures (particularly the empresses) and Chinese poets; so I think that's why she honed in on that part of the show. I'm ignorant on those topics but always eager to learn. :)

The show looks like it will be right up my alley too!

Dang. I don't think I get BBC2.

Has this started? I am wondering how far back in history they go.

Kernos wrote: "Has this started? I am wondering how far back in history they go."

It's supposed to start today Kernos, but now I'm not sure if I get BBC2 either (like Arin). My friend who posted lives in Canada; so I'm guessing they have different offerings there.

Hopefully it'll make it onto BBC America eventually - that channel I do get. As to how far back it goes, I think with the talk of Chinese emperesses, it must go back pretty far. Not sure if it goes as far back as Boudoca though - I read the article at the link a week ago, and my memory is notoriously bad!

Who are your favorite powerful/important, historical female personages?

Boudicca and Cartimandua for sure (I'm a Celtic history geek), Scathach from the Ulster Cycle which I think legendary rather than mythological. Cleopatra, the Alexandrian scientist whose name escapes me. Elizabeth I, Mary of Scotland, Madam Curie, Rita Levi-Montalcini... There are many more, these spring to mind.

Kernos wrote: "Who are your favorite powerful/important, historical female personages?

Boudicca and Cartimandua for sure (I'm a Celtic history geek), Scathach from the Ulster Cycle which I think legendary rather..."

The story of Boudicca definitely captured my imagination the first I heard of it, and Elizabeth I was a fascinating, capable woman!

I'm afraid that my knowledge of history is a little spotty - usually I end up getting into history through the back door. My interest in the Henry VIII period started with a haunting poem composed by Sir Thams Wyatt while he was confined in the Tower. My interest in Edward II started with the Derek Jarman movie. I became interested in Cleopatra after reading about her and Mark Antony in Herodotus. That sort of thing is typical for me. I never undertook any comprehensive historical study, just dabbled in numerous personalities and events that fascinated me at the time.

In college, I never took any history courses either, though I learned of several events and movements from classes in literature, philosophy, women's studies, and such.

Long answer to a short question! Maybe Elizabeth I. I greatly admire her shrewd intellect and her capacity to bring the religious conflict (and successive waves of Catholic and Protestant massacres) under some form of control.

My history studies have been ad hoc too, though I'd go into depth. I also did not have a survey course for history in college, but did in some classic courses specific to periods. I've read al lot about Hadrian and Elagabalus because I collected their coins. I spent about 16 years on the Celts and other 'barbaric' cultures. They are particularly interesting since the field has exploded since about 1980 with new discoveries being made almost monthly. It has been a latter day interest. There are still masses of untranslated Gaelic and Welsh manuscripts.

Phillip wrote: "FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was keeping tabs on Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez for 24 years according to an article in today's Washington Post which obtained the writer's file: "news of t..."

It doesn't surprise me - the government was extremely paranoid in those days. It didn't take much for Hoover's FBI to start a file.

But it is an interesting question. Writers & artists were one of the groups the Nazis went after early too - so called "degenerate art": https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degen...

Power doesn't like free-thinkers and writers generally are prone to think for themselves. They are still as paranoid as ever, but now have the means to monitor almost everything we do and keep records of it.

Another post by a friend I thought worth sharing:

Storyheart wrote:

"I saw a great documentary on the history of feminism in the US this weekend: "She's Beautiful When She's Angry". I was moved to tears by the film. It made me remember things like my mom needing my dad's permission before the bank would give her a credit card even though she was our family's sole breadwinner, or that there was a time when job ads were classified by gender. We all owe those women so much. A must see!

http://www.shesbeautifulwhenshesangry...
"

Greg wrote: ""I saw a great documentary on the history of feminism in the US this weekend: "She's Beautiful When She's Angry". ..."

Thanks Greg. I'll try to catch this and compare notes to Australia over my lifetime. Such change.*

*Must remember, when I am depressed with the world, how massive change can be in one person's witness. How activism works. [Still obsessed with refugee issues at present]

Bryn wrote: "Thanks Greg. I'll try to catch this and compare notes to Australia over my lifetime. Such change.*

*Must remember, when I am depressed with the world, how massive change can be in one person's witness. How activism works. [Still obsessed with refugee issues at present] ..."

Would love to hear your opinions on Australia - I have yet to go there, but the friends I know that took vacations there loved it! Of course vacationing and living in a place are different things.

It is difficult not to get discouraged sometimes, but I do believe at least in America so much has changed for the better. When I graduated and started my career in the early/mid 1990s, it was still a big thing for my employer to know about my sexual orientation. There were definitely people who didn't approve that had the capacity to cause trouble for me and felt justified in doing so. Now even at church I am fully open. Not everyone understands, but they still think of me as a person, not an issue. Most people have enough goodness in them that they have trouble mistreating people that they perceive as people.

But of course progress is never across the board. In other issues in some areas, things haven't changed so much. Back in Arizona where my parents live, there are very high & passionate feelings against immigrants (illegal and legal). Those have definitely been stoked to great effect by certain political figures to their own gain. Not everyone there feels that way of course, but it's pervasive. Once my nephew Dylan told me something about how Mexicans cleaned the floor with their tongue (he was young, about 8 years old), and all the blood went out of my head. But I waited until later when we were home and I was calm, and we had a long talk. He said he heard it from my Aunt - she's crazy but I find it hard to believe she'd actually have gone that far. No doubt he was picking up on her prejudices though. I suspect it came from some of the other kids at school. Either way it's pretty horrifying for the 21st century.

I occasionally see images and hear stories of the refugee crisis in media (print and TV) and it's heartrending.

Greg wrote: "It is difficult not to get discouraged sometimes, but I do believe at least in America so much has changed for the better..."

I tend to think of us as roughly equivalent/neck & neck, though I probably base my information on my Twitter feed (!); I've never been to the US and aren't even familiar with television-US which most people here are.

It is astonishing how far we have come in sexualities acceptance; I'm only now understanding how mass the new attitudes are, due to marriage equality which has brought opinion out into the open. Great to hear about your church; I'd say similar here. And yet, Fred Nile (of a Christian right party) is still in parliament... when I was in my 20s he was influential & a big thing in the gay press. I guess he doesn't matter now but there he sits.

At present, I have a dear uncle who maintains Islam, and/or Muslims I suppose, need to be expunged from the earth; I can say he's 'outback' (or was just always a bit loopy), but then I have town cousins whom I do not question closely on Aboriginals. I've been posting about refugees on Facebook which is where my cousins & a couple of uncles intersect with my social media life; I know they might belong to what I think of as the conservative rump of Australia, whose information feed is such that sympathy for the Syrian refugee crisis just won't be forthcoming. I've even been glad to dodge a family event next month; it isn't why I dodged, but I was afraid they'd bring up refugees with me, and I am too emotional at the moment to deal with family views where anti-Muslim sentiment exacerbates the hostility towards boat-people that our present conservative government has fostered.

On the other hand I am hugely cheered by people-led turnarounds on policy... even our Prime Minister Tony Abbott, whom we got rid of yesterday, changed his rhetoric on refugees after rallies, and so did our worst newspapers.

Bryn wrote: "Greg wrote: "It is difficult not to get discouraged sometimes, but I do believe at least in America so much has changed for the better..."

I tend to think of us as roughly equivalent/neck & neck, ..."

I'd heard about Abott. I don't know much about Australian politics, but from what I've heard it does sound like an encouraging thing!

Yes, sometimes family gatherings can be trying for me too, though I love them very much. All my family except my cousin and I are FOX news addicts (the Rupert Murdoch outlet), and they always throw one zinger or two my way at any gathering. I try not to take the bait because if we talk too much about those things, they're bound to say something that depresses me. Especially the retired folk in my family seem to sit and watch those right wing news stations all day. I just wish I could flip a switch and turn it off for a few hours everyday so they could get out and enjoy some sunshine .. see some real people and the real world instead of the evil 24/7 carnival of paranoia that's on FOX news!

On another note (I don't know if this has been a topic anywhere else - apologies if so), I noticed there's a NOH8 photo shoot in Dallas next month. I can make it to Dallas and back in a day, easy.

Totally going to this. Might check and see if they still need volunteers too.

Also, I read what you wrote WAY too fast before Greg, and for a second I'd thought you said you were a FOX news addict yourself. It was my morning 'SRSLY?' moment. :D

A. wrote: "On another note (I don't know if this has been a topic anywhere else - apologies if so), I noticed there's a NOH8 photo shoot in Dallas next month. I can make it to Dallas and back in a day, easy. ..."

Awesome Arin! A worthy thing to do and probably fun too! I've never been to one of the shoots, but I've certainly seen the pictures online.

Bryn wrote: "...On the other hand I am hugely cheered by people-led turnarounds on policy... even our Prime Minister Tony Abbott, whom we got rid of yesterday, changed his rhetoric on refugees after rallies, and so did our worst newspapers. "

This seems the best news I have heard in ages. Abbott was scum, from what I've read about his policies, esp Climate Change which I follow closely. He reminds me of what would happen if one of those GOP crazies won the presidency of the US. Canada's Harper is another who must go. IMnsHO.

GLBT rights have changed dramatically since I was a teen, but it could all change in an instant with the wrong people in power. Berlin was Gaily free until the Nazi's took power and then were sent to the camps. We must be ever vigilant and VOTE!

Kernos wrote: " We must be ever vigilant and VOTE! ..."

For sure it's always good to be vigilant & informed and to vote!

@Kernos -- laughing. Abbott was scum; I see his reputation has preceded him. The people gave him the boot, more or less. He's in the running for most absurd/worst PM Australia ever had. (Everything in-my-opinion).

Oh I agree: be vigilant and vote. I have US friends who don't vote... I itch to say, if you won't can you vote for me? The US president has such world effects I feel I deserve a vote.

Completely loved this collection of lesbian artifacts. As a lesbian who came out at mid-life, I got some catching up to do ...

http://www.vulture.com/2015/11/28-lif...

Riddle: What do the following book titles all have in common?

Nothing Goldfinger Can Stay
The House of the Seven Clark Gables: A Biography
Go Ask Alice's Restaurant
The Railway Children of a Lesser God
A Man and his Peter Pan
I is for Innocents Abroad
City of Glass Menageries
Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great Gatsby
Are You There, American God, It's Me, Margaret
Gone with The Wind in the Willows
Onion Field of Dreams
Breakfast of Champions at Tiffany's
Hunt for Red October Skies
Remains of the Day of the Jackal

If you guessed that they were all answers in the Fun & Games Group's Novel Mash-up Game recently then you'd be right.

The goal of the game is to think of two well-known novels that share a word in their titles. Then meld the two plots into a single synopsis and challenge all comers to deduce the combined title.

For those that think there are already too many games threads on GoodReads, my apologies. But if a game that actually relates to books and their stories sounds interesting, come join our game at:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

May I celebrate this couple? I don't actually know who they are -- not much of a movie-goer. But to have famouses go public with an unconventional love is just a good thing.

'Sarah Paulson says she absolutely is in love with Holland Taylor'

http://moviepilot.com/posts/3807597?u...

Celebrate away! I LOVE Sarah Paulson! She's always brilliant on American Horror Story! Her double duty in Freak Show was incredible!

(I'm a big fan of Evan Peters too, but that's a whole other animal ;)

Yay Sarah and Holland!

:) Perhaps I better watch that show, Rick.

She has a small role in the first season, but seasons 2, 3 & 4 are much larger parts. I haven't seen season 5 yet. She plays a different character each season, and each season is a completely different and self-contained story, so you can watch the seasons in any order you want.

Is anyone else on here gay and single?

I'm sure there are a lot ofus. ;)

Rick wrote: "Celebrate away! I LOVE Sarah Paulson! She's always brilliant on American Horror Story! Her double duty in Freak Show was incredible!

(I'm a big fan of Evan Peters too, but that's a whole other an..."

Sarah Paulson has been great on that show Rick!

Hayden wrote: "Is anyone else on here gay and single?"

I am... Very gay and very single. But... not available. I still have to get over my ex, and it's been 5 years or so (I lost count, it's a bit like being in Purgatory; there's no tome after love), and I just can't fall in love.

Anybody use Audible? Is it worth it?

Caitlin wrote: "Anybody use Audible? Is it worth it?" Audible IS worth it for some people. Individual mileage may vary.

If you have access to a good library system there is an ever widening variety of things available on audio-books that your local library may have or may get for you on request.

I have purchased a few titles on audible but don't have a monthly subscription. I've also reviewed a number of m/m books that are available on audio through audible and the quality is usually pretty good but again it varies.

Caitlin wrote: "Anybody use Audible? Is it worth it?"

I definitely find it to be worth it Caitlin because they generally have different audio offerings than my library.

I check my library system first, and it they don't have the audiobook I want or if the waiting list is to long, I can usually find it on Audible. For instance, it so happens that both of our group reads this month (A Boy's Own Story and Bloodchild and Other Stories) are available as audiobooks on Audible, but my library doesn't carry audiobooks of either of them.

Since my work commute is an hour a day, I go through quite a few audiobooks! I have a one-audiobook-a-month subscription, and I love it! You don't lose credits; they roll over. So some months I listen to all library books; others I go on an Audible binge.

Another option that's good for older classics is Librivox. There's a lot of free audiobooks of classics and free domain books on there, though the readers aren't professional; so you should sample before you pick books. Some readers are better than others.

So far I haven't been unhappy with any Audible books - they've all been very professionally done. My only mild complaint is books in translation - Audible often doesn't list the translator which is very annoying.

Caitlin wrote: "Anybody use Audible? Is it worth it?"

Audible is great. I also check if there are audio upgrades to my kindle books because sometimes they are really cheap, and you can switch between kindle and audiobook depending on what you are doing at the time.

Hope everyone who celebrates Easter had a great one! Happy belated Easter everyone! :)

Thanks! My new favorite book of this spring is "Rubyfruit Jungle". I read it over Easter break and suggest every queer fiction fan read it.

Sofia wrote: "Thanks! My new favorite book of this spring is "Rubyfruit Jungle". I read it over Easter break and suggest every queer fiction fan read it."

I haven't read it yet Sofia, but I've heard it's fantastic!

Sofia wrote: "Thanks! My new favorite book of this spring is "Rubyfruit Jungle". I read it over Easter break and suggest every queer fiction fan read it."

Read that a couple of years ago, when I thought it's about time that I read a lesbian classic. Thoroughly enjoyed it, though I don't know how I feel about the ending. I was hoping for something less open-ended...

I have read four books in the course of one week. I'm afraid that I might not be taking the time to "savour" them but I really can't help it, it's just onto the next after I am done with the last.

Raul wrote: "I have read four books in the course of one week. I'm afraid that I might not be taking the time to "savour" them but I really can't help it, it's just onto the next after I am done with the last."

I do that sometimes too Raul, though it looks like your last few books have been good ones! The Stranger is great. I haven't read The Sound and the Fury yet, but I recently read his As I Lay Dying, and I loved it!

Sofia wrote: "Thanks! My new favorite book of this spring is "Rubyfruit Jungle". I read it over Easter break and suggest every queer fiction fan read it."

That was an excellent book. :)

I do agree Greg, The Stranger is such a great book, I loved how simple the language was and how profound the message was. The Sound and The Fury was an incredible read as well, it took some time to get used to the style but as the story slowly developed I came to love it! I am now reading Within A Budding Grove, by Marcel Proust :)

Raul wrote: "I do agree Greg, The Stranger is such a great book..."

I'm a Camus fangirl! I don't know which I like best: The Stranger, The Fall or The Plague. I tend to read them as a Trilogy which I need to read again at this stage of my life. I also find The Myth of Sisyphus to be the most optimistic work of the period/genre.

The Stranger was my first Camus book Kernos, but I can't wait to read his other works!

Read The Stranger for a philosophy class in high school, and The Plague for college.

Found them both very thought-provoking.

Andrew wrote: "If you liked The Stranger I would recommend reading The Meursault Investigation..."

I'd never heard of this book before Andrew - thanks so much for posting this! So fascinating! I have no idea The Stranger was based on an actual real event. I'd really like to read this book, and it's not too long either. I think I'll pick this up soon!

Andrew wrote: "Raul wrote: "The Stranger was my first Camus book Kernos, but I can't wait to read his other works!"

If you liked The Stranger I would recommend reading The Meursault Investigation..."

I have that novel somewhere, but forgot about it. I was planning on reading the 2 books back to back. Thanks for the reminder!

Andrew wrote: "Greg wrote: "Andrew wrote: "If you liked The Stranger I would recommend reading The Meursault Investigation..."

I'd never heard of this book before Andrew - thanks so much for post..."

Ah, how interesting Andrew, so it's an imagining of what that fictional Arab character's brother might have thought if he'd existed.

Since the writer was also a journalist, I got confused at first and thought Camus' story was unbeknownst to me based on an actual murder and this was a book about the actual brother. How embarrassing! :)

I'm still just as interested to read the book though - both this and The Stranger are short. Perhaps I'll re-read The Stranger just before reading this one so it's fresh in my mind.