Recs for you, recs for me

[jlh]

For me: While I was at MoCCA this weekend I thought about how much boyslash is floating around all the time and how much more girlslash I need in my immediate vicinity, and I'm awaiting femslash08 with great interest.

In the meantime, I'm looking for novels or manga with lesbian themes. I am planning on reading Sarah Waters's books for a lot of reasons, but I'd love to read other things—any recommendations? I prefer romances and mysteries as genres, and I do like historical fiction but I also like things set in the present day.

For you: foxysquid was in NYC this weekend for MoCCA and ended up in my flat on Sunday evening enjoying AC and gazpacho (for those of you who heard my tale of woe on Saturday, we got it in eventually) and I was reminded, for no apparent reason, of Amanuensis's Rituals and Traditions, an oldie-but-goodie Harry/Draco story. Hilarious, and entirely ridiculous, and completely awesome. Link is to the author's website—thanks, anemonerose!

Also, through a sequence of events that included fandomsecrets, I found a really superlative Kiss Kiss Bang Bang story, You Know What They Say About Eavesdroppers. Harry/Perry, NC-17, plus a very well done Harmony.

I've actually been reading a great deal of het lately, despite these recs. As you might expect the HIMYM fandom has exploded with Barney/Robin since the series finale, and himym_fic has a lot of it. I hesitate to make recs because really, there isn't that much fic and also it depends on your preferred take on the pairing. I say check it out!

Comments

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

I might actually read some B/R fic. I watched HIMYM tonight (still getting into the show) and it was the ep where they had to tape or TiVo the SuperBowl and then watch it later and none of them wanted to get spoiled for the results. Damn funny stuff (Ted's crazy headgear FTW!).

[jlh.livejournal.com]

It's so them, especially the way they don't know who the guy was who died until they actually see him at the funeral and they all go "Oh!"

[anemonerose.livejournal.com]

I *love* Rituals and Traditions. It's one of my all-time favorite H/D oneshots. An alternate link (non-password protected, even) is here (http://www.amanuensis1.com/ritualsandtraditions.html), on what I think is her personal site. :)

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Brilliant! Thanks so much for the link! Yeah, this is a really fantastic story, and so many moments of it have really stuck with me.

[calloocallay.livejournal.com]

Can original fiction count as slash?

[jlh.livejournal.com]

I didn't mean to say that—my terms sort of ran together in the way that I constructed that paragraph, so I've edited it accordingly. That said, "girlslash" does sound friendlier and more fun than "lesbian novel" which sounds a lot more important than what I'm looking for, if that makes sense?

But yes, I'm looking for original fiction, in either novel or manga/comic form.

[calloocallay.livejournal.com]

My favorite novel with girl on girl action is Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe. And of course you know that the CUNY Feminist Press has reprinted a bunch of lesbian pulp, right?

[evil-erato.livejournal.com]

Ohh - pulp fiction! I can't believe I forgot about them. Beebo Brinker Chronicles FTW! ;)

[jlh.livejournal.com]

I LOVE FANNIE FLAGG. Some chick on LJ has made a bajillion icons of her. She's awesome.

I knew that a lot of lesbian pulp was being republished but didn't realize CUNY was part of that! Excellent! That sounds like boss summer reading.

[evil-erato.livejournal.com]

I think you'll like Sara Waters - I greatly enjoyed the books of hers I've read, with the possible exception of Affinity. I just couldn't get into it for some reason, though I may take another stab at it after I'm done with emo vampires. I *really* liked Fingersmith. :)

I'm drawing a blank at the moment on other lesbian themed books - I'll peruse the shelves when I get home. :)

[jlh.livejournal.com]

I knew you, lady of books, would have some suggestions! Please do start me off in the right direction in the land of pulp!

[locumtenens.livejournal.com]

Ooh, you know I just watched 'KKBB' for the first time a few weeks ago. Why has no one introduced me to that movie before?!

Anyway, since then I keep seeing it mentioned every time I turn around. Will have to tag the story to read for later when I have the time.

How is your story coming along, btw?

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Chapter six should be up for you to see today! It's nearly done, but it wants to be written by hand in a notebook, rather than typed.

OMG how awesome is KKBB? And if you had the DVD I hope you listened to the commentary track because it is HILARIOUS.

[locumtenens.livejournal.com]

I haven't listened to the commentary, nor do I own it, but I JUST bought it off Amazon! I'd been meaning to ever since I watched it and your comment reminded me to do so. Will def. listen to it ASAP.

(Who taught you English?!)

[foxysquid.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't have any idea what you've already read, so I'm just shooting in the dark here.

One of the first "lesbian" novels I ever read was Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson, so it's the first that comes to mind. She has a lot of queer girl and genderqueer themes in her work in general.

Wet Moon by Ross Campbell is a comic series that I like where the majority of the characters are female, and a high percentage of them are gay or queer.

It's too hot to think clearly, so I feel like there are also some obvious things I am forgetting. I'll get back to you if/when I remember them!

I've only read Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters, but it was definitely fun! The miniseries based on it was quite hot, too, haha.

Also, it was nice seeing you again this weekend!

[jlh.livejournal.com]

This, is great, thanks! I've read not that much, and no comics at all, so thanks for that recommendation!