BOOKS

I AM A WOMAN by Ann Bannon

Gold Medal Books, 224 pp.

There are two types of homosexual novels those for homosexuals and those for heterosexuals. Most of the novels I read are for heterosexuals. I am a Woman, a follow-up to Odd Girl Out, is, happily enough, a novel for homosexuals.

This is not to say that I am a Woman is a good book. As the title may indicate to some, it tends toward the sensationally commercial. The sex scenes are too many, too descriptive, and for the most part, a little phoney. Since this is a novel for homosexuals, there is no need for the detailed description. It cheapens a good portion of the book.

Like the sex scenes, many of the characters are unbelievable. Marcie, the heroine's straight roommate, is one minute a conniving whore, the next a compassionate friend, and then a stupid, innocent girl. The heroine's father is an overdrawn grotesque individual. By way of contrast one gets almost no picture of the heroine herself, Laura.

Despite the book's many unreal characters, there is one individual completely believable and wonderfully so. Jack, the male homosexual who is Laura's buddy is a type of man many lesbians would like to know. Male readers, also will enjoy reading about Jack as he is a person with whom it's easy to identify.

Also on the commendable side of I am a Woman are certain scenes scattered throughout the book, some of them with Jack's roommate Terry, which show real writing ability.

One of the main things which makes this a novel for homosexuals is the happy ending. It is indeed heartening to read a happy ending in this era of suicidal finishes; and this is a complete happy ending. In every situation the homosexuals come out ahead at the end and the heterosexuals are unhappy! While perhaps this may sound like contrived propaganda, it actually is not so and works out quite logically. I am a Woman is a book that basically all homosexual readers, both men and women, will enjoy reading.

A. H.

EDUCATION HANDBOOK: Indi vidual and Group Projects and Organizational Techniques, Compiled by Carl B. Harding, Director Department of Education. Mattachine Society, Inc., $1.00, pp. 63.

The present Handbook is an outline and highly condensed compendium of just about every aspect of the ideals, purposes, and activities, actual and potential, of the Mattachine Society. It is called an Education Handbook, but education is defined in the broad sense of every influence that can be brought to bear upon the individual and society to change the current attitudes of misrepresentation, prejudice, and discrimination toward the homophile to those of understanding, sympathy, and just treatment. Classroom instruction is but one of the many suggested activities which include the spoken word, the written word, the arts, research, along many lines, organizational activities, national and international, and financial. The Handbook is designed to be only a directive, leaving content to be derived from the now abundant source books covering the subject. It should be invaluable to all leaders of groups

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