Brisbane Queer Bookclub
This is the blog of the BQB, an initiative of Narayana, Co-founded by Felicity. There was a shocking gap in the literature world in Brisbane, there was no Queer Book Club! Thus the BQB was formed. This little club is only just beginning to sprout...
If you would like to join this wonderful little book club, send us an email:
brisbanequeerbookclub@live.com
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Great website
So if you have the time (and even if you dont anyway :P) got and have a look at this:
http://www.glbtq.com/subject/literature_a-b.html
First meeting success!!
We met in the Ginormous State Library, had our little room booked, it was so fancy. (thanks Felicity!). We socialised, talked about books and got to know one another :) which is, the main aim of any bookclub. After our booked time was over, we continued on to Southbank to get icecream and sat and chatted some more.
Those present decided on our first book "Written On the Body" by Jeanette Winterson. So for next meeting, hopefully some people have read it, and some read parts of it for interactive discussion! The date of our next meeting is unknown at present, but the location is West End at the Forrest vegan/cafe/restaurant place (please forgive me I have never been there myself, tho Felicity has, and I have heard nothing but good reports about the place from people I know!).
Some of what we discussed at the first meeting was the concept of Queer literature. Here is an exerpt from good ol' Wikipedia:
LGBT literature is an all encompassing term for literature produced by people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or which involves characters, plot lines or themes concerning this community.
“ | In a historical sense, literature as we understand it is a fairly new innovation, and the current concept of homosexuality is even fresher from the cultural oven. It's no great surprise, then, that gay literature — or even gay characters in literature — are so relatively new as to still be shiny. | ” |
— Kilian Meloy , "Influential Gay Characters in Literature" from AfterElton.com |
(there are also Subgenres)
Lesbian literature, gay pulp and gay science fiction are genres of LGBT fiction which represent some of the earliest incorporation of these "taboo" subjects in contemporary literature. Novels like La Garçonne by Victor Margueritte (1922) and The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall (1928) are early examples of books with lesbian themes.
LGBT authors, characters and themes are present in all genres of literature, but the increasing amount of LGBT fiction emerging in recent years has established several (if unofficial) subgenres, including LGBT mystery, horror and romance, as well as gay teen and lesbian teen fiction and humor handbooks.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Our first meeting!
For our first meeting we will be deciding on the books we'll be reading, figuring out a time and place for future meetings that will suit everyone, and generally deciding how the book club will be structured.
Remember that everyone is welcome at our bookclub and if you can't make it to the meeting but you'd like to be included, email us your suggestions and time preferences and we'll take them into consideration!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Spreading the word
if you want to see it go here -----> http://www.citylickers.com/lesbian_links/social_groups
Which means their logo etc will be posted up here too in exchange once i have the html stuff sorted :P.
-narayana
Saturday, April 12, 2008
update
THIS BOOKCLUB ISNT JUST FOR PEOPLE AT QUT, ITS FOR EVERYONE (generally in Brisbane)!!
We need to spread the word about, so if you know of a place where you think people who may be interested will walk past posters can be put up, or just ask people who would be willing to spread the word! I can send you copies of the poster via email if you have any places to post it. I still have to go to libraries and ask there...hehehe exciting.
- Narayana
Sunday, April 6, 2008
First meeting
Felicity and I were discussing where our first meeting shall be held. At first we were thinking the State Library, but then I got an awesome suggestion from one of the Directors of the Queer Collective at my university. We may be able to hold bookclub meetings at the Kelvin Grove Queer Space! On thursdays, around 5.30????, nothing confirmed :) but I'm hoping! Just wanted to post an update.
Take care,
-Narayana