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Thankfully Reading mini-challenge #1

Written by Kirsten on November 26th, 2010

The first mini-challenge of the Thankfully Reading readathon asks what book we’re most thankful for, and why.
I’ve read so many influential books in my life, but the first one that came to mind was Les Feinberg’s Stone Butch Blues. It was my inauguration into the world in which I am now deeply and lovingly ensconced, the world I didn’t know was mine until I discovered it within the pages of this book. Every time I read it, I find myself relating to it in new and different ways, learning more about my community of friends, my relationships with my lovers, my own innermost self.

What book are you most grateful for?

 

12 Comments so far ↓

  1. The thing I love most is how books help change us, form us, help us realize things about ourselves. I’m glad you found this book, and that it helped you be “you!”

  2. Pam says:

    I haven’t read this. Thank you for sharing!

    • Kirsten says:

      Absolutely! I find myself being more critical the more I read it, too, but the first time through was a true epiphany. If you read it, I’d love if you stopped by to let me know your thoughts!

  3. Thanks for introducing me to this book. I’ve never heard of it before.

  4. Beth F says:

    Wow. Books that make us say “hey, I’m not alone” are the most powerful.

  5. christina says:

    Found you via #thankfulreading. I agree with the above, books that let us know we are not the only ones are meaningful. I went to a roundtable discussion while at NCTE last week where the topic was LGBT themes in Young Adult literature. It was heart-wrenching to hear the letters written by teens in the who had no one to identify with, prior to the publications of such phenomenal authors like David Leviathan and Julie Anne Peters. We discussed how the books are slowly changing from “this is huge I’m gay” to “so what I’m gay”.

    I think I just rambled on your blog, so many apologies. I’m not nearly as eloquent when I first wake up and have had only one cup of coffee.

    • Kirsten says:

      No apology needed – I love ramblings in my comments :)
      I would love to hear or read more about the roundtable – did you blog about it? A couple of friends and I are beginning a butch-femme book club, and we re-read SBB as a trial run among just the three of us; some really great conversation sprung from that, and I’m really looking forward to discussions that are based not on academic analysis, but emotional reflection on how the books in our queue affected each of us.

  6. It’s a great thing when you find a book that lends such a deep personal connection.
    I haven’t read that one, but I’m definitely going to check it out.

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