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Summer Fun
Summer Fun | Jeanne Thornton
11 posts | 4 read | 1 to read
"Gala, a young trans woman, works at a hostel in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. She is obsessed with the Get Happies, the quintessential 1960s Californian band, helmed by its resident genius, B----. Why did the band stop making music? Why did they never release their rumored album, Summer Fun? Gala writes letters to B---- that shed light not only on the Get Happies, but paint an extraordinary portrait of Gala. The parallel narratives of B---- and Gala form a dialogue about creation-of music, identity, self, culture, and counterculture. Summer Fun is an epic and magical work of trans literature that marks Thornton as one of our most exciting and original novelists"--
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review
psalva
Summer Fun | Jeanne Thornton
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Pickpick

This is a difficult book to review. It‘s a novel with a lot of layers. Thornton writes in the author‘s note about the act of projection, and particularly the type of mythologizing that happens in fandoms. The novel is very much an exploration of this idea, with The Beach Boys and the mythology surrounding Brian Wilson as the model. It‘s essentially a Beach Boys myth retelling with Brian recast as a trans woman. ⬇️
#translit #lambdaawardwinner

psalva It's all told through letters written by the MC, Gala (also a trans woman) to the character of Diane, the founder of the Get Happies. Overall, it's got an uncanny valley quality that seems so real but also not quite right. It makes for an unsettling reading experience in a way that made me question what what was real and what was the character projecting. ⬇️ 2y
psalva In the end, I found this quite interesting and thought provoking, even if it wasn't a happy story. I would also say I think knowledge of the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson will add to the experience. 2y
Reggie Is there a Manson side character somewhere in there? Also, by any chance do you have my book Red X? Because I never got it in the mail and I know you were moving and it could have just as easily been put into a box or maybe you put the package in your car but it slipped under a seat. If you could check for me, please. Thanks!🙂 1y
psalva @Reggie No Manson character as far as I could tell but there is a character who goes to a commune. I didn‘t consider it might be related to Manson but it‘s possible. And I‘m really sorry about Red X! I meant to email you. It‘s in the mail but I just sent it the other day. You should get it this coming week some time. It did get bit lost in the shuffle but I didn‘t forget about it- I apologize for the delay! 1y
Reggie No worries, I just wanted to make sure that it didn‘t get lost in mail purgatory somewhere. Thanks! 1y
15 likes5 comments
blurb
psalva
Summer Fun | Jeanne Thornton
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There‘s been a number of new-to-me words in this book. A lot of of them have had unpleasant connotations in context (toxoplasmosis is another less than pleasant word I‘ve picked up). Sebaceous just means relating to fatty material- I‘m not sure I‘ll include it in my vocabulary but it certainly fits the bill for #weirdwords Wednesday!
@CBee

CBee Oh yep, due to past nursing study and career, I know exactly what sebaceous means 😂😳 2y
currentlyreadinginCO This sentence is unhinged 😂 2y
psalva @CBee It‘s interesting you bring up nursing. You make me wonder if the author has a background in or maybe just a fascination with medicine. There‘s a bunch of words I‘ve had to look up that relate to medical conditions/terms- very interesting. 2y
CBee @psalva ooo, feel free to share more words you‘ve learned! I love medical terminology 🤓 2y
17 likes4 comments
blurb
psalva
Summer Fun | Jeanne Thornton
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Sometimes when I‘m enjoying a book I like to search the author‘s name on my podcast app. I was excited to find Jeanne Thornton‘s name come up in an episode of a show called T4T being interviewed by the host, Hazel Jane Plante, about this book! It‘s a short lived podcast, with only 14 episodes but I‘m looking forward to listening. Some of the other authors interviewed: Ryka Aoki, Megan Milks, Bishakh Som, Vivek Shraya, and Torrey Peters. ⬇️

Lindy I‘m going to check out that podcast! Thanks for the tip. 2y
17 likes2 comments
blurb
Pigpen_Reads
Summer Fun | Jeanne Thornton
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AmyG Awesome! That was fast. 🎉 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🎉🎊🎉 2y
13 likes2 comments
blurb
cwarnier
Summer Fun | Jeanne Thornton
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#thoughtfulThursday @moonwitch94
#1 Iced Coffee- really regular coffee
#2 Paperbacks
#3 Swimming Pool
#4 Camping

MoonWitch94 Thanks for playing 😎 2y
8 likes1 comment
blurb
TiminCalifornia
Summer Fun | Jeanne Thornton
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Two bingos for June. Wide variety to enjoyment of the books I read. Definitely included a lot of #queer themed books but will revert back to my usual variety in July.

#bookspinbingo
#bookspin
#doublespin

TheAromaofBooks Great month!!! 3y
30 likes1 comment
review
TiminCalifornia
Summer Fun | Jeanne Thornton
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Pickpick

Not Summer and Not Fun but Good. In 2009 Gala has an obsession with a ‘60s era band. Through her, we learn about the band leader‘s life: a mash-up of Captain Beefheart, The Beach Boys and The Twyborn Affair. An animal magnetic force, or maybe magic, pulled me through the non-linear storyline, the fractured relationships and the narrator‘s apparent dissociative disorder. Thank you #SohoPress and #Netgalley for the free ARC.

#trans
#queer

review
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
Summer Fun | Jeanne Thornton
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Mehso-so

I'm torn on this one. I think Thornton's writing is beautiful and insightful, and in theory I love the concept of this book: a contemporary aimless trans woman writes letters to the lead of a fictional 60s band leader a la Brian Wilson, whose life turns out to intersect with hers in unforeseen ways. But I had a lot of trouble connecting to any of the characters. It may be an issue with me as a reader rather than the book. #QueerBooks

TiminCalifornia Good review! I just finished this one too. Great writing and good story but difficulty feeling a connection with the characters 3y
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian @TiminCalifornia Thanks! Sounds like we had similar experiences. 3y
29 likes3 comments
blurb
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
Summer Fun | Jeanne Thornton
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It is feeling very much like summer now where I live, so that this book feels very appropriate. Took a break from reading to do some strawberry harvesting. Yum! 🍓😋

BookDragonNotWorm Gorgeous! No matter what I do mine always produce such small berries. 3y
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian @BookDragonNotWorm Thanks! I feel like the productivity of my strawberry patch is kind of dumb luck? I do a bit to help it, watering of course and I cut back all the old growth in the spring but that's it! 3y
33 likes2 comments
quote
TiminCalifornia
Summer Fun | Jeanne Thornton
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“Money, and lots of it, has been spent on cultivating this dog.”

#FirstLineFridays

blurb
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
Summer Fun | Jeanne Thornton
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My dog might be snoozing but I am very excited to start this one! #TransBooks #QueerBooks