Chicken [Paperback]

Paula Martinac (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2001

It wasn`t even a chic street corner, certainly nothing you`d write about in an arch novel of manners, but there Lynn was, on that unfashionable intersection, dumped by her lover of 13 years because they were no longer `enlarging themselves`--like the road to bliss was stuffing yourself with rich Belgian chocolate. What`s a lonely urban girl to do except completely fall apart and into every bed she can find? Lynn quickly finds herself sleeping with two much younger women, one of whom just happens to be the daughter of a famous feminist. Sometimes the only way to survive utter desolation and despair is to look at the bright side --three hours of sleep a night due to competing lovers sexual demands, the privilege of ghostwriting a book for a woman who carves large wooden sculptures of women`s genitalia and an ex `enlarging` you to become the ten-year-old you always wanted to be.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Lambda Literary Award-winner Paula Martinac's new novel, Chicken, is terrific fun. When dumped by her partner of 13 years, fortysomething ghost writer Lynn Woods embarks on extremely sexy affairs with two--count 'em, two--great looking twentysomethings. Part of the story takes place at the beach, where Lynn and her best pal, the recently outed Harold, try to escape Lynn's overeager paramours. This goofy book is packed with snappy dialogue and comic reversals reminiscent of the Keystone Cops. Chicken also provides an affectionate and embarrassingly accurate portrait of the differences between lesbian youth cultures of the 1970s and the 1990s. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Paula Marinac is the author of the Lambda Literary Award-winning Out Of Time. She lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Bella Books (October 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931513074
• ISBN-13: 978-1931513074
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,305,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rita Mae, step aside!, January 4, 2002

By 

Lesbian Reader (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chicken (Paperback)

I don't know how I missed this book the first time around. Chicken is witty, sexy, real and fun. It reminded me strongly of the Rita Mae Brown I once loved -- quirky characters and excellent writing.

It looks at lesbian life in a different way than the romance novels do, which provides for a rich story with a lot of breadth. Fortunately, even though I don't consider this book a romance per se, it's got plenty of the good stuff.

I am so glad this book was brought back into print. It's a slice of lesbian life and a delightful novel.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, Humorous Romp, May 30, 1998

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chicken (Paperback)

This is the first book I have read by Paula Martinac, if this is the way she writes, I'll definitely be reading more.
Chicken is a delightful, humorous romp in the relationships of lesbians, especially the main characater, Lynn.
Some of the things Lynn does are not exactly kosher, but I found myself never condemning any of her actions. I couldn't wait to read what was going to happen to her next!
Lynn has just been dumped by her long time girlfriend, Claire. At first she obsesses over Claire, then she meets young Lexy--a lesbian for the 90's. They get hot and heavy immediately. Next Lynn & another much younger woman named Jude get involved.
While trying to balance these two hot girlfriends, Lynn is also trying to help her very shy gay friend, Harold, come out to his family and get a boyfriend.
Everything comes to a head when Lynn & Harold vacation at Cherry Grove. All these twists, turns, and relationships are handled with a great deal of humor. I laughed out aloud while reading this one!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quick Getaway, like a trip to vegas..., July 7, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Chicken (Paperback)

This book was a fun read. Entertaining, humorous, and a definate dose of drama for those, like myself, whose homo love lives are teetering on the edge of mundane. It's a book with sand tucked away between the creases of each page, and visibale wrinkles and dog-eared pages, left by all of those friends who have hovered over the same copy in the past couple weeks. I recommend you get a couple of friends to pitch in a buck or two, and make the book do laps. Hey it'll be cheaper than the latest meant-for-twenty-somethings movie and leave you with the same satisfaction. Enjoy!