The Girls Next Door

[Mia14]

Wow. Lesbian ladies especially, you HAVE to check this out.



I'm currently reading a book called The Girls Next Door (http://www.amazon.com/GIRLS-NEXT-DOOR-Into-/dp/0684811189/sr=1-4/qid=1156906532/ref=sr_oe_4_1/102-4754832-6144921?ie=UTF8&s=books).

This book is absolutely amazing. :applause: It looks at the lesbian community as a whole and gives insight into the different views and lifestyles of lesbians. It also gives you a look into three large gatherings of lesbians, such as the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival.

It's made me reexamine some of my views of women who love women.

Did I mention that it's also funny? :lol: I take it with me to read at work and I'm constantly grinning, giggling, and laughing. Definitely a must-read.

Anyone else heard of it? Read it? I can't say enough good things about it.:love: :love: :love:

[Beth K. Eyres]

Nope, Mia, have not read it. And I thought this post was going to be about the reality show called The Girls Next Door--you know, the whole Hugh Hefner thing? Kendra, Holly, and Bridget?

What views did it make you re-examine?

[Mia14]

The book points out some interesting things about being a lesbian that I never really looked at.

For example, you may have heard the joke:
What does a lesbian bring on a second date?
Answer: A U-Haul
I'm reading through a part now that talks about "serial monogomy": "You meet someone; the U-Haul pulls up, and you move in; you live together for two or three years. Then someone goes,'You know, Jo on my softball team is kind of cute. It won't hurt to have coffee with her...' And then the U-Haul's pulling away."

It also addresses butch/femme of past and present where the roles used to be set in stone, but now can be fluid. They interviewed an older woman who was talking about being identified as butch and feeling attracted to another butch, but the two of them could not be together because butches were supposed to be with femmes. Another part of the butch/femme discussion was the idea that this sort of relationship makes it easier for lesbians to initiate dating and sex because it gave instructions - yet some people are completely against it for that same reason.

It's made me look at my own views of myself and my relationship to compare it to butch/femme relationships. I've decided that we're pretty androgenous, but if you had to classify us I'd be the butch. I've also come to a new understanding of butch/femme relationships and why it might work really well for some people. I'm also a bit more curious now... who knows?

All very interesting! I can honestly say its my favorite book thusfar.

[Vanessa White]

The title is interesting, I may have to read it myself. I definitely remember, without dating myself too much, how much more strictly roles in lesbian relationships seemed to be defined as butch/femme twenty years ago (OMG, can I really say I remember the community twenty years ago????? I feel really OLD right now!) I also remember being out at the clubs in my twenties, and seeing lesbian couples coming out that were probably the age I am now, in their forties, and I was thinking, I will NEVER be out at the bars at that age- they are too OLD to be here! Now, I crave a good Saturday night dancing outing once in awhile- and I feel like the one that is too old! It came back to bite me! Things in relationships do seem to be much more fluid now. Challenges some old beliefs and stereotypes as well, because as with everything else in life, you never know judge by looking at someone......

[Mia14]

Now, I crave a good Saturday night dancing outing once in awhile

Hey! You're definitely not too old! Let us know when you're free and I'm sure sbonser, my girl, and I will take you out for a night of dancing on the town!

Really, just let me know.

*You hear that, sbonser? We've got some planning to do...*

[BruceChris]

t looks like a good read. More later.

9/4: I like it. Good read, good energy, good people. And, as many of you already know, lesbians are almost always my favorite people. I used to be a mechanic for a lesbian motorcycle club, and I still keep in touch. I have also noticed that the lesbian women that I meet are almost always very competent at what they do. Maybe more later.

P&L, BC

[Vanessa White]

I may end up taking you up on that offer. I mean, I used to be able to go out with friends and dance for hours, and have an absolute blast. A great way to expend energy, too- so maybe we will have to make a plan once my life calms down a little! :) :love:

[sbonser04]

definately sounds good to me.....

[HarmlessEccentric]

Thanks for the recommendation- I've put this on reserve at the library.

[BruceChris]

9/5: I particularly identified with the section on part on Processing. At our last church Council meeting, we spent over an HOUR discussing whether or not it would be an unjustifiable use of our time sharing each of our life experiences with racism. (An exercize that would take MANY hours) And these are people who have to get home to put the kiddies to bed, and then get up for work the next morning.

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

[NathanATX]

Nope, Mia, have not read it. And I thought this post was going to be about the reality show called The Girls Next Door--you know, the whole Hugh Hefner thing? Kendra, Holly, and Bridget?

What views did it make you re-examine?

lol... me too...

... not that I watch that show or anything... :lol:

[zimnah]

Mia, I'm about halfway through the book, and I LOVE IT! :applause: It's as you said: informative, funny, and it really makes me want to save up for Michigan.
Again, thank you for the recommendation.
BTW all, I got a hardback for about $5 online at Amazon.com. It said it was used, but it looks new to me.
--Dawn :love:

[trulyme212]

Hey! You're definitely not too old! Let us know when you're free and I'm sure sbonser, my girl, and I will take you out for a night of dancing on the town!

Really, just let me know.

*You hear that, sbonser? We've got some planning to do...*



:D I too would like to be included in that wonderfully sounding event!! :D

[Vanessa White]

To keep me young and energized, I would say!! Believe me, when we can get it planned out, I am definitely on board. I just hope I don't embarass myself too much! BTW, Zimnah will lend me her copy of the book so I get to read it as well. I am looking forward to it..... Peace out, all!:love: :love:

[HarmlessEccentric]

I really enjoyed this book. I think my favorite chapter was the one on the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival... I just went to my first women's (sorry, that's womyn's music festival, locally, and left feeling that I was in a strange and foreign land, where the customs were all different and everyone knew what they were doing there but me.

[Mia14]

I really loved the book and I'm planning to bring it back to the library so some one else can read it, then buy my own copy :).

I, too, have made mental plans to someday go to the Michigan Womyn's Fest because of this book's amazing account.