anotheranon | books and other goodies

As promised, some of the current contents of my bedside stack:

Hidden from History: Reclaiming the Gay and Lesbian Past - a book of essays about the nature of same-sex relationships throughout history. Lots of big words like "essentialist" and "constructivism" used, but fascinating - a whole parallel history, most of which I've never heard of! Prurient note: contains historical scenarios that are ripe for exploiting in slash (samurai "man love", dashing bisexual Restoration rakes, even two Antebellum gentlemen "rambling in the pine barrens")....

The Return to Camelot: Chivalry and the English Gentleman - recommended by Robin Netherton in her Victorian Meets Medieval lecture, it's an overview of the Victorian fascination with all things medieval - chivalry, castles, jousts, maidens in distress, etc. - and how retro-medieval values expressed themselves in almost every facet of 19th century life, from art to politics.

I can certainly see now where a lot of the butchered ideas of medieval history came from - we're still relying on Victorian sources that are so old that we take their "truths" for granted.

I'm also realizing that at least for some these "retro-medieval" ideals (glory of war, dislike of democracy, "white man's burden", blind love of god/king/country) aren't dead. I'm not convinced that "chivalry" (either the medieval or the Victorian kind) is an entirely benign worldview either: I'm getting these mental images of Bush II seeing himself as a gallant knight fighting for the new American Empire and protecting the peasantry from evil and he is so, so not these things.... but I digress.

Shadowland - Novel with good plot and characters interesting enough that you care what happens to them. This would be an easy, pleasant read if it weren't for the subject matter - this is a lesbian leather novel, and I find certain aspects of it to hit very close to home. I'm taking my time with it because it IS so provocative, emotionally and intellectually. May merit it's own "rehash" when I'm done.

And these just sort of jumped off the shelf - nothing to do with me!

Queen's Ransom, another in Fiona Buckley's 16th century mysteries (yes, I'm a slut for anything Elizabeth I :P) I've read the first 2-3 in the series and they are enjoyable enough. Call this one "light reading".

Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers - saw this on the new books shelf and thought it sounded interesting.

And for extra geek points: Google's jumped into the scholarly papers/citations biz - typing in "fashion" or "costume" comes up with a few interesting essays. When I'm ready to spend some serious screen time, this is where I'm going!

And passed on from