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reviews_and_ramblings
An American Queer: The Amazon Trail by Lee LynchLesbian Non Fiction
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books (October 14, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626392048
ISBN-13: 978-1626392045
Amazon: An American Queer: The Amazon Trail
Amazon Kindle: An American Queer: The Amazon Trail
This collection of Lee Lynch's columns chronicles over a quarter century of queer life in the United States, from the last decades of the twentieth century into the twenty-first.
“From the beginning of my writing career, I just wanted to write about lesbian/gay life as I experienced it. Like so many, I came from a place of great isolation. At the same time, being gay filled me with great pride and joy. Writers Jane Rule, Isabelle Miller, Radclyffe Hall, Valerie Taylor, Ann Bannon, and Vin Packer gave me inspiration and even the lesbian companionship I needed as a baby dyke. More than anything, I want to give to gay people what those writers gave me. And I want to do it well enough that my words might someday be considered literature and, as such, might endure because, as open as some societies have become, there are always haters, and cycles of oppression. Our writers strengthen us, offer a sense of solidarity and validation that we are both more than our sexualities and are among the best that humanity offers.”
A wonderful, evocative memoir. An excellent retrospective of Queer history in the United States, through the lens of one woman's experience. A truly enjoyable read.
A personal take on our modern history, from someone who was there from the pre-Stonewall days to Marriage Equality. This collection of columns has been expertly crafted into a cohesive whole. It was a pleasure to read.
Excellent overview of the Stonewall generation from a politically active member.
This book is damn near perfect as a leisurely, scenic stroll through the past decades of American lesbian history. Writer Lynch describes the political and emotional landscape of the times with a deft hand and a bright heart in this series of snapshots, bringing out details that don't often make their way into formal history books. Her memories, hopes, and dreams permeate the stories told, revealing her as someone worth knowing, someone of substance: a role model for young queer people, yes, but also for allies who want to do more. This should be required reading.
This is a really remarkable essay collection, a fascinating slice of lesbian life over the last few decades.
