#glbtiq

[Image: 7 stripes colored with darkish yellow, lightish yellow, violetish grey, white, violet-ish gray, light-ish yellow and dark-ish yellow]

Bigender: having two distinct gender identities, either at the same time, or at different times. Not necessarily ambigender.

SEATTLE QUEER BOOK CLUB FOR MAY

I almost chose FIVE QUARTS by Bill Hayes for our May book. It’s an intriguing analysis of the five quarts of blood we all possess, made personal by Bill Hayes’ recording of his struggle as an HIV-negative man with an HIV-positive lover. But then Bill Hayes’ new book, INSOMNIAC CITY came out. At the age of 48, when his lover in San Francisco dies, Bill leaves the west coast to start over in New York – and falls in love with Oliver Sacks, with whom he spends the last years of Oliver’s life. We all adore Oliver Sacks. Here’s an inside look at him!

As an object in itself, this is a fascinating book. The cover is entirely black, with little eighth-of-an-inch squares cut out of it. Underneath the paper cover is a gorgeous full-color wraparound photograph, but it can only be seen in little glimpses through the holes. This gorgeous book is like that – it consists of photographs, poetry, journal entries, and fragments about the world of New York and of loving Oliver. The people I’ve talked with in the bookstore love this one. I’m going to read it blind with you, a chunk of the book for each Wednesday meeting.

We’ve had five-to-seven members at every meeting so far, so Queer Seattle Book Club is off to a good start – but a book club, when it thrives, is a group of friends who like getting together and talking about their reading experiences. I’d love to have a few more regulars. Tempted? Come one Wednesday. If you buy INSOMNIAC CITY at University Book Store and tell them it’s for Nick’s Book Club, you’ll get a 20% discount. I’ve got mine. I’d love to know what you think of this one. Haven’t come to a meeting for a while? Read a little, come to a meeting, and surprise me!

Happy 140th Birthday to Alice B. Toklas!  She was author of a classic cookbook, hostess to every famous name of her time, and spouse to a great American writer.  Bless you, Alice.