I’ll be honest, I’ve spent more time so far this year watching things than I have reading. It’s been difficult to focus on even the books I’m most excited to read, given the attempted coup, resulting second impeachment, and, naturally, the ongoing pandemic.
My TV screen has somehow been much more effective at holding my attention and keeping my eyes from a smaller screen, where I will inevitably feel my heart rate rise as I scroll Twitter.
In case you’re also looking for some distracting things to watch, here are three quick reviews:
My girlfriend and I started with Dare Me on Netflix, after seeing a rave review that implied WAY more queerness than was actually present. 0 stars, do not watch.
Next, we paid $9.99 to watch Kate Winslet kiss Saoirse Ronan in Ammonite. It wasn’t the best movie I’ve seen about yearning old-timey lesbians by the sea (that’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire), but was still better than most critics give it credit for. 4 stars, at least half of which belong to the steamy sex scenes.
Finally, this week we binged Amazon’s The Wilds, a show that I have not seen talked about NEARLY enough. As a basic overview, eight teen girls are stranded on a remote island following a plane crash—but you learn fairly quickly that the “crash” was no accident. There’s mystery, there’s drama, and there are tender displays of friendship that made me want to cry. Also, as feels relevant to this newsletter, there are multiple queer storylines. 5 stars, please go watch it and report back.
Have you watched any of these? And what else can I be watching to give myself an occasional break from scrolling in the next week? Let me know in the comments!
Also, if you live in Brooklyn and need something to drink this weekend, check out Dyke Beer at Wild East Brewing Co. and consider picking up a 4-pack! They’ll be hosting a soft launch with beer and empanadas on Friday from 5-9pm, and I personally am thrilled to support some local queer brewers.
— Becca
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Fiction, 2002
When I first started to seek out queer books, Sarah Waters is a name I saw repeatedly. She’s published several novels featuring lesbian characters, primarily set in the Victorian era, and they’ve been well-received both critically and commercially. Their success is all the more impressive given that several were published in the 90s, a time that Waters herself says “wasn’t a brilliant time to be gay.”
Obviously, these are books I should read. And I started with Fingersmith.
Here’s the gist: Sue Trinder is an orphan, raised in a household full of petty thieves. One evening, a con man who goes by the name of Gentleman stops by and asks for her help in a plot to swindle a wealthy but naive young woman named Maud out of her inheritance.
It would be difficult to fully review this book without giving anything away, and there is SO MUCH that could be given away. Plot twists galore! Also, this is a good time to mention that the book is well over 500 pages, but don’t be deterred by the length. It’s worth it.
This is the kind of book you really need to give yourself time to sink into, ideally by either candlelight or the glow of some soft lamps. The writing is incredibly detailed and atmospheric and honestly, I didn’t think it was quite my cup of tea for the first 50 pages or so. But trust that once the pace picks up, it doesn’t stop.
I realize that this is a relatively vague review. But if you’re looking for a dark, Victorian lesbian novel, chock-full of lies and deceit and mayhem and murder, Fingersmith fits the bill.
Then, after you read (or before?), check out the highly-reviewed Korean film adaptation. Writing this just reminded me that I’ve been meaning to watch, and now I know what I’ll be doing this evening.
Queer points:
+4 points for a double entendre right in the title
+6 for multiple instances of corset lacing, laden with sexual tension
Buy it from your favorite local bookstore on Bookshop