Welcome to Litsy!

#anglophileapril

(Day 2 - #RumorHasIt)

For some reason, this made me think of some of the most outrageous authorial hoaxes ever perpetrated on the reading public. Finally, after considering several (The Hitler Diaries, anyone?), I landed on the weird, winding tale of J. T. (for Terminator) Leroy, aka Laura Albert. Humph. Whatever, for what it‘s worth.... (shrugs shoulders).

Unusual coming of age tale about a cross dressing truck stop hooker.
Great simple read

Finally getting through the back log. Old recommendation from an old friend. #truckstophookers

I've been on the fence about whether to declare this a pick or not. It's a dark fairy tale set in truck stop brothels in the contemporary American South. Told in the voice of a 12-year-old male prostitute who has learned to equate physical abuse with love. Raw, disturbing, funny, offensive & sad. The author's decision to publish under an invented avatar whose backstory claimed that the novel is loosely autobiographical adds a layer of perversity.

"Uncle sold Le Loup his corn liquor, but it was really just Sterno that we would pour through loaves of Wonder bread to clean it up some."

I don't eat supper before Feminist Book Club, even though we don't start until 8 pm. Fascinating discussion, as always. It's one of those books that's overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the author, and I think that's fair, since Laura Albert created a pseudonym gay male persona whose backstory was that he did sex work while still a boy, and that his writings were "loosely autobiographical."

Only a few pages in, but I've broadened my knowledge already:
1. Raccoon penises have a bone. (Googled, see image above. You're welcome.)
2. "Lizard" is slang for a truck stop prostitute.
3. Kentucky coffeetree seeds can be roasted for a coffee substitute, but are toxic if unroasted.

Omläsning. Otäckare än jag mindes. Coolare slut än jag mindes.

Omläsning.

Best book ever! I cried a lot when I read it.

This book is out of print, but by some miracle my best friend managed to find it after much research. It was the best Christmas gift I received. #JTleroy 🤘🏼❤️