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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
I'm working my way through Liebegott's oeuvre and The IHOP Papers did not disappoint. Francie, the main character is a hapless, depressed white lesbian sort that we all know and love. And in her early 20s she's just trying to figure out this thing called life. Lots of lesbian drama, hot sex scenes and the drum of sobriety and trying to make it in San Francisco describe the main character's life. There is a level of sweetness meets absurdity in this tale that brings multiple forms of pleasure for the reader, not least of all trying to figure out how similar one's own life may or may not be to aspiring writer Francie's. Good stuff. The kind of book I wish I would have had as a young person, the kind of book I wish I had more versions of, which basically means I'm grateful for Liebegott's style and story structure and can't wait to learn more of her ways through the characters she creates!
Having seen and been floored by Liebegott while she toured with Sister Spit, the book was actually a surprise and exceeded my expectations of it as a silly, light summer reading. The book is quite mature in its understanding of what it means to be self-destructive, aware and yet entirely passive and apathetic about it, creating a more developed character and avoiding the uninteresting cliches of these kinds of characters. It's also damn funny, if not a bit painful at times (not a bad thing). I look forward to more from Liebegott.
A good, quick read, if a little too self-conscious. It trys a litte too hard to be the literary equivelant of that late-teens queer teenager and like my relationships to humans in this category, I found myself loving the main character and rolling my eyes at the silliness masquerading as angst.
I really liked Liebgott's Cha Ching. And this was almost as good. Demerit for being partially about San Francisco.
Loved the structure. Not obviously satiric, but definitely satire.
A mostly sympathetic narrative from a very specific kind of person, at a very specific time and place (ie, total chaos) in their young queer life.
The biggest "90's moment" was a young butch in SF being forced to wear an IHOP dress and nurse shoes.
Loved the structure. Not obviously satiric, but definitely satire.
A mostly sympathetic narrative from a very specific kind of person, at a very specific time and place (ie, total chaos) in their young queer life.
The biggest "90's moment" was a young butch in SF being forced to wear an IHOP dress and nurse shoes.
This book is reminiscent of Michelle Tea's Valencia, but less epic and is peopled with emotional trainwreck characters whose constant issues feel affected and unbelievable.
So the overall plot of the book annoyed me, but the episodic interludes were pretty funny & relatable if you've ever waited tables at a miserable restaurant.
So the overall plot of the book annoyed me, but the episodic interludes were pretty funny & relatable if you've ever waited tables at a miserable restaurant.
