Myra Breckinridge

Myra Breckinridge: Myron ; Kalki ; Duluth | Gore Vidal

so-so

You know…I just…I don‘t know. I enjoyed this book as a satire and Myra‘s one-woman mission to even out the sexes…HOWEVER, there were a few things I didn‘t enjoy. ⚠️ : rape. Also: I feel like some would/could read this book and walk away with very damaging ideas about what it means to be transgender and/or gay. I don‘t know. Something just didn‘t sit well with me on this. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 205/1,001 #1001Books

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M-D

Myra Breckinridge: Myron ; Kalki ; Duluth | Gore Vidal

Finally found this book, along with some more political books that I had to tell a certain someone not to judge me😂😂😂

Sometimes it's good to read up on the opposition

Kat_Reads

7 likes

ValerieAndBooks

Myra Breckinridge: Myron ; Kalki ; Duluth | Gore Vidal

pick

On the surface, this is about Hollywood aspirations in the 1960s. But Vidal intended this as satire and also pushed boundaries on what was then considered traditional gender roles by introducing Myra Breckinridge. It is a really weird book though (with TWs) and not for everyone. I'd suggest you do research online and decide if you're up to trying to find an out-of-print copy. I have the sequel (Myron) and will read,but no hurry! #birthdaychallenge

ValerieAndBooks Next up, for 1969 :

The Godfather

JanuarieTimewalker13 Oh geez, every time I hear the name Gore Vidal, I think of the feud on the Dick Cavitt show with Norman Mailer. It's on YouTube and quite awkward. I think I may revisit that!! Lol 8y

JanuarieTimewalker13 *Cavett. 8y

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ValerieAndBooks @JanuarieTimewalker13 I kept seeing references to that when I was trying to decide whether to read this book! They had big egos for sure. I can't find a good captioned version of the interview (I need captions, am deaf). In searching again came across this 2006 article on various author feuds - interesting that it mentions Colson Whitehead. Link: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E6DF1F3FF93AA25752C1A9609C8B6... 8y

JanuarieTimewalker13 @ValerieAndBooks oooh, I have to check that link out! Oh man! I wish there were captions! Janet Flanner does an excellent job of knocking them both down. Apparently Mailer was inebriated. At least that's what I saw in a much more recent Cavett interview. Thank you for the link! Will check it out! 8y

ValerieAndBooks @JanuarieTimewalker13 I think Mailer was inebriated quite often 😉 8y

LauraJ @ValerieAndBooks I thought it was his permanent state. You may want to check out Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia on Netflix. 8y

Zelma @ValerieAndBooks I am buying this for Mr. Z for Christmas. He loves reading books after seeing the movies and, watching this one for the umpteenth time, wondered aloud if it was any good. 👍 8y

Zelma @ValerieAndBooks The Godfather, not Myra Breckinridge. I've read the Vidal and it is so odd. 8y

JanuarieTimewalker13 @ValerieAndBooks probably! I don't know much about him except for reading 2 of his books. Although, years back I passed by him on the street on the upper east side and I was like "omg! That's Norman Mailer!" To my friend but she wasn't familiar with him, and he didn't look very happy. But neither did Sean Connery, although she flipped at that one and his presence was lost on me, except that he was very tall. I think he may have cracked a smile? 8y

ValerieAndBooks @LauraJ you're probably right about Mailer 😂! Thanks, I'll have to look up the one on Vidal soon! 8y

ValerieAndBooks @Zelma I've just started The Godfather and so far so good! Good idea, giving it to your hubby for Christmas. I have never seen the movie (except for bits of it here and there) and just know I will after reading this. As for Vidal -- I did like his historical fiction that I've read so far! (edited) 8y

ValerieAndBooks @JanuarieTimewalker13 how cool about your sightings -- it's fun when they are random and unexpected. 8y

Zelma @ValerieAndBooks the first two Godfather movies are fantastic. I highly recommend them! The third isn't so great, but most people agree on that. Seeing it once is more than enough. 8y

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ValerieAndBooks

Myra Breckinridge: Myron ; Kalki ; Duluth | Gore Vidal

Running away from The Destiny of the Republic (AG Bell was making me too mad) and trying to get into this for my year 1968 #birthdaychallenge book. I know what the basic plot is and that there are controversial sex scenes, and am not scared of that, but the writing is kind of trippy 😳. Anyone read this? I know @LauraJ has. It's been out of print for a long time but somehow I found this copy and the sequel at different used bookstores.

Dragon I've seen the old movie but haven't read the book. 8y

ValerieAndBooks @Dragon from the research I did online when looking for books for my birthday challenge, I saw frequently that the movie was considered to be terrible. Was it? 8y

Zelma I read it years ago and just recall that is was really weird and kind of uncomfortable. Only saw bits of the movie because it was so bad. 8y

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Dragon It seems to me it was. It certainly wasn't memorable except for the name . 8y

Cinfhen Having trouble locating a book from 1968, since I'm living overseas my library is not very resourceful 😩 I did find my 1969 pick 😉1968 was kind of a dud year for literature 😁 8y

ValerieAndBooks @Dragon @Zelma I probably will skip the movie. This book is going to be tough for me to review! So weird. @Cinfhen if you read YA for your challenge, would The Pigman by Paul Zindel work? I can't use it b/c my challenge is to read books I haven't before. Or short stories? I believe Alice Munro's first collection was published in 1968.

Dance of the Happy Shades: And Other Stories

Dragon @Cinfhen I Book I liked as a teen was published in 1968 , I wonder if science fiction is part of your challenge?

Chocky

Zelma @ValerieAndBooks good choices. You can't go wrong with Munro and the Zindel book is well regarded. I haven't read it yet but it is highly recommended in libraries. 8y

Cinfhen Thanks @Dragon & @ValerieAndBooks for recommendations 😊I'm gonna see what I kind find at the library tomorrow 📚 8y

ValerieAndBooks Thanks for the additional feedback @Zelma and the rec @Dragon -- good luck tomorrow, @Cinfhen 😊 8y

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LauraJ

Myra Breckinridge: Myron ; Kalki ; Duluth | Gore Vidal

pick

Myra's 1960's Hollywood is barely indistinguishable from the one I live in today. We haven't made nearly enough social progress in the last 50 years. Nonetheless, this is a darkly humorous, twisted tale that's worth picking up if you run across a used copy. It's #oop in the US.

LauraJ It's also the first book in my #birthdaychallenge Up next Ursula LeGuin!

Left Hand of Darkness

athorne Imma steal your #gingerbrat 8y

ValerieAndBooks I'm reading this one soon for my #birthdaychallenge! Did you read Myron yet? 8y

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LauraJ @ValerieAndBooks Not yet, but it's in the tbr stack. 8y

LauraJ @EMJenkinson He threw up five times today. 8y

athorne @LauraJ Does he eat too much too fast? My gingerbrat Otis tends to do that. 8y

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