LESBIANA

BY GENE DAMON

190. THE TROUBLED SEX BY CARLSON WADE. BEACON BOOKS, 1961.

THE USUAL CONGLOMERATION OF LIES AND TRUTH AND MISINFORMATION BY ACCIDENT AND MISQUOTES BY DELIBERATION. A SERIES OF CASE-HISTORIES HIGHLY FICTIONALIZED AND BORDERING ON THE SEXUALLY SENSATIONAL. THE ONLY UNUSUAL AND SALVAGING VIRTUE IN THIS COLLECTION IS THE AUTHOR'S HEAVY EMPHASIS ON THE EXTREME DAMAGE DONE TO THE PERSON BY DENYING HOMOSEXUAL LEANINGS AND EMPHASIS ON THE "NORMALNESS" OFF LESSBIANISM FOR MANY PEOPLE.

191. MR. BALLERINA BY RONN MARVIN,

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19.

REGENCY BOOKS, 1961.

A RATHER SAD LOOK AT THE VERY GAY WORLD OF THE BALLET, ACCORDING TO MR. MARVIN, EXCLUSIVELY PEOPLED WITH HOMOSEXUAL BOYS AND AN OCCASIONAL HOMOSEXUAL GIRL. BASICALLY ANOTHER OF THE CONFLICT STORIES, IN WHICH ONE CHARACTER FIGHTS AGAINST HIS HOMOSEXUALITY. THE SAN FRANCISCO BACKGROUND IS VERY COLORFUL AND THE PRESENCE OF MAJOR LESBIAN CHARACTERS WILL MAKE THIS OF INTEREST TO LADDER READERS. A FAIRLY GOOD FIRST NOVEL. MR. MARVIN WILL BEAR WATCHING.

THE SMALL ROOM BY MAY SARTON,

NORTON, 1961

WITHOUT EXCEPTION THIS IS THE VERY BEST NOVEL YET WRITTEN USING THE DEVICE OF INTRODUCING IN A WHOLLY NATURAL MANNER A MAJOR LESBIAN LOVE AFFAIR TREATED IN A COMPLETELY FRANK, SYMPATHETIC, OFFHAND, AND UNCONCERNED WAY. THE CONFLICTS, PLOT, ITS RESOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT ARE ALL DIVORCED FROM SEXUALITY OF THE CHARACTERS INVOLVED, AT LEAST AS FAR AS IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT CHARACTER DESTRUCTION. THERE ARE SIX MAJOR CHARACTERS, INVOLVED IN A SCANDAL CONCERNING PLAGIARISM IN A WOMEN'S COLLEGE. HIGHLY AND ENTHU SIASTICALLY RECOMENDED TO EVERYONE. THE NOVEL IS BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN.

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