So today, post-school I bought my first Caribbean based piece of GLBT literature. In fact, being 17 and in this country I bought my first piece of GLBT literature ever. Through some fast talking and quick-wit (ie: luck) I even bought said novel with my mother's money, while she was in the store next to me and demanding to see the book.
So, here is my very first Book Review. If my luck holds out, there may be another. It's entitled Sections of an orange and its written by Anton Nimblett. The CAISO website (see previous posts) tipped me off to the presence of a Trinidadian author writing Gay, Caribbean literature -from the relative safety of the US. Needless to say I was intrigued when I found out and ecstatic when they informed me that the novel was carried by NRK (Nigel R' Khan's) my favorite bookstore. The price was 115 dollars which wasn't that bad. Wasn't my money, after all. So, let's begin:
Firstly, the model on the cover is very, very cute. His eyes are amazing. (The tattoo, not so much, but okay.) Secondly, I'm pissed. Anton Nimblett is a good, perhaps great, writer. So the only fault I could find was that the stories finished far too quickly. As it stands I read the entire novel cover to cover in a little under 3 hours. Straight. It was amazing, and now I'm craving more. For my first piece of literature (baby's first gay novel, awwwww) it was a dynamic mix of elements. Both gay and straight relationships, young and old with the telltale whispers of being written by someone who understands far too much for his own good. The stories delve deeply into the realm of Trinidadian living while still migrating back to foreign (American) stories fluidly enough to happen without friction.
So, I don't want to spoil anything about the novel, so I'll just say that while my experience with literature of this genre is limited, I am a reader at heart, and I can honestly say that this IS a good novel. For anyone out there who reads/has read this novel, here's a list of my favorite stories. In no particular order.
5) On The Side (as a critique, the use of similar names for the characters confused me. But I intend to read the entire novel over. That should remedy that.)
4) Sections Of An Orange
3) Ring Games
2) How Far, How Long.
1) One, Two, Three - Push (So much can be said about this story. It's just...epic)
Okay I lied, those ARE in a order. From fifth favorite, to first (most) favorite. That aside, ALL the stories were interesting reads. They've left me wondering exactly what happens to them after the end of their story!? (Especially the first story, Visiting Soldiers.) Mr. Anton, I hold you directly responsible for this.
Overall: Four Out Of Five Stars. Bravo.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Dear Michelle Smith
F-U. Seriously. You deserve that. I've seen many, many low people before in my life but never have I seen someone sink this low. Your heart must be so twisted deep down inside. I feel sorry for you but yet I can't bring myself to care for you if you can't care for us.
Let me explain. Our country's Women Express has been gently probing the edge of homosexuality lately. With interesting articles that while not exactly PRO-Gays they weren't exactly ANTI-gay either. So as long as they were portraying us as human beings I was fine with it. Then along came Ms. Smith. Lesbian extraordinaire. Ms. Smith claims to be a lesbain from Jamica who was "saved by god" from "demonic forces." Yes, seriously.
I'll summarize here, but the full story is at (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_woman_mag?id=161539675) or (http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60799-842-6)
So, lets quickly debunk Ms. Smith's story. Firstly, she claims that "demonic forces" made her "think she was a man." Sorry to tell you honey, but if you think you're a man than makes you transsexual not homosexual. You need to pray for something else entirely. The same applies to wearing men's clothes you're a cross dresser and/or a transsexual but these things CAN (and often are) mutually exclusive form being homosexual.
"I came into the church a man and people saw me leaving as a woman." Excuse me? Don't confuse society's current definition of a man with being a man. At its smallest form a man is simply a formation of chromosomes, genes and genitalia. A man is not someone who walks a certain way or talks a certain way. Nor is a woman someone who wears make up and jewelry. (The Egyptians are responsible for this and both Egyptian men and women wore these things as a sign of wealth not gender.) So unless you walked in with a (excuse my language) penis and walked out with breasts no one "saw you leaving as a woman."
I've been meaning to get this out there. This may be a little complex, but try to follow me. A lesbian, according to this woman is someone who thinks, acts and wants to be a man. Having "penis envy." Thus, this person wants to be with a woman. A woman is someone who is feminine and curvy and wears makeup and all that like. Now then, if two lesbians get together each having penis envy and craving a woman who is feminine won't they be unsatisfied? Under the logic that lesbians are manly and "butch" searching for feminine women they'll have a failed relationship because women that are curvy and feminine are straight. So a lesbian relationship will thus, become a pseudo-gay (male) relationship.
Likewise, if a gay man is someone who is very effeminate and seeks a male who is butch and manly but that type of man is straight then two gay men in a relationship are creating a pseudo-lesbian relationship. Do you follow? The stereotypes society attempts to place on lesbian and gay couples stupidly traps them into a long winding road of defining the relationship. If we are the stereotype and it's a "demon" inside us then we won't get what we want from a relationship and it won't last. Which is proven false due to the actual presence of long lasting gay relationships.
Finally, returning to Ms. Smith's article and book.
Let me explain. Our country's Women Express has been gently probing the edge of homosexuality lately. With interesting articles that while not exactly PRO-Gays they weren't exactly ANTI-gay either. So as long as they were portraying us as human beings I was fine with it. Then along came Ms. Smith. Lesbian extraordinaire. Ms. Smith claims to be a lesbain from Jamica who was "saved by god" from "demonic forces." Yes, seriously.
I'll summarize here, but the full story is at (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_woman_mag?id=161539675) or (http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60799-842-6)
So, lets quickly debunk Ms. Smith's story. Firstly, she claims that "demonic forces" made her "think she was a man." Sorry to tell you honey, but if you think you're a man than makes you transsexual not homosexual. You need to pray for something else entirely. The same applies to wearing men's clothes you're a cross dresser and/or a transsexual but these things CAN (and often are) mutually exclusive form being homosexual.
"I came into the church a man and people saw me leaving as a woman." Excuse me? Don't confuse society's current definition of a man with being a man. At its smallest form a man is simply a formation of chromosomes, genes and genitalia. A man is not someone who walks a certain way or talks a certain way. Nor is a woman someone who wears make up and jewelry. (The Egyptians are responsible for this and both Egyptian men and women wore these things as a sign of wealth not gender.) So unless you walked in with a (excuse my language) penis and walked out with breasts no one "saw you leaving as a woman."
I've been meaning to get this out there. This may be a little complex, but try to follow me. A lesbian, according to this woman is someone who thinks, acts and wants to be a man. Having "penis envy." Thus, this person wants to be with a woman. A woman is someone who is feminine and curvy and wears makeup and all that like. Now then, if two lesbians get together each having penis envy and craving a woman who is feminine won't they be unsatisfied? Under the logic that lesbians are manly and "butch" searching for feminine women they'll have a failed relationship because women that are curvy and feminine are straight. So a lesbian relationship will thus, become a pseudo-gay (male) relationship.
Likewise, if a gay man is someone who is very effeminate and seeks a male who is butch and manly but that type of man is straight then two gay men in a relationship are creating a pseudo-lesbian relationship. Do you follow? The stereotypes society attempts to place on lesbian and gay couples stupidly traps them into a long winding road of defining the relationship. If we are the stereotype and it's a "demon" inside us then we won't get what we want from a relationship and it won't last. Which is proven false due to the actual presence of long lasting gay relationships.
Finally, returning to Ms. Smith's article and book.
"I could feel the demonic forces leaving me," she said. "And when the spirit of lesbianism left me I saw myself as a woman again."She had prayed for two weeks straight - begging the Holy Spirit. "God if you are real I want to know. I want to know you Lord." It was a desperate cry. "Let me know you. I want to know you." she begged.
Two weeks? You prayed for two weeks? Try two years. Try crying yourself to sleep at night, every night for two years. Praying, fasting, reading the bible. Screaming, crying, begging and pleading even bargaining with god for him to take away the demonic spirits. I didn't realize God was in the business of playing favorites. Your two weeks is better than my two years? My years of faithful christian service before that? Smith says she was never religious and lived a life of sin. I lived for my religion and tried my best every day to live pure and holy. Your TWO WEEKS are better than what I've done? Or does god like you more? Which is it? Why do YOU get saved while so many of us seek salvation and are denied? You think we don't want to "change" our mindset and be free? You think we ASK for this day after day? To be ridiculed, separated from our churches, our families, our friends and even our god?
You, Ms. Smith are a hypocrite. Your two weeks of faithful praying is nothing compared to those out there who've dedicated their life to God and been handed an attraction that their god then deems ungodly. It isn't fair that you're now turning around and showing these people your back. That you're telling them they're not good enough. Not as good at praying and begging as you are. Because you were saved. What about us, Ms. Smith? What about us?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
