Customer Reviews

A/K/A: A Novel

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have to disagree with Ms. Snyder and say that this book was one of the most subtly witty and genuinely intelligent lesbian novels I've read in ages. (I also have to say that amazon.com's comparison of this book to, say, Karen X. Tulchinsky's "Love Ruins Everything" is totally off-base; the only similarity is the fact that both books have lesbian characters!) The fast-moving plot's twists as it wove around two fascinating protagonists kept me turning the pages almost too quickly--I didn't want the book to end. All in all, the novel was quirky, imaginative, and full of the kind of dark humor that appeals directly to readers like me. I look forward to Robson's future works, which I'm betting will be more masterpieces of literary fiction.

Cora, I understand your sentiment exactly- when is anyone going to write any lesbian fiction I can really relate to? This was better than most, but that isn't really saying anything - hence only two stars. Besides a highly implausible story, the two main characters were just not appealing in any way. None of the supporting characters were interesting and most were generally annoying. The death of one supporting character is completely unnecessary and depressing. A whole book about peoples' sad lives followed by a ridiculous ending out of a bad Hollywood movie - take a pass on this one.

Completely frivolous note -> despite the late 90s publishing date, the author obviously had been writing for some time considering the descriptions of hideously 80s clothes. :)

As compelling and suspenseful as a thriller novel, a/k/a lays bare the lives of two arresting women from vastly different worlds on an inexorable trajectory toward each other. A tour de force of originality, complexity and edgy intelligence

This book is wonderful! It shows how identity is hard to define. It is so wonderfully written that any lesbian would enjoy it ! I wasn't sure about it when I first checked it out at the library, but now I just love it! Please read it.

Please, is anyone ever going to write a decent lesbian novel? I'd given up on them long ago, but picked up a/k/a for its misleading reviews. I THOUGHT that I would be getting a story about normal lesbian women (yes, I know it's hard to believe but they actually exist!). I THOUGHT I would be getting a story with wit and humor, perhaps one pointing out how funny it really is to have to be closeted in this day and age. I THOUGHT that Ms. Robson's acknowledgements thanking "several women who wish to remain anonymous" meant that these were friends who preferred not to be outed in print. Now I see that they were probably ashamed to have had anything to do with this book which was NOT (surprise, surprise) about normal women at all; nor was it witty, or warm or even well written. Ruthann Robson has just added another terrible novel about two ...... women to the lesbian card catalogue at the library. Do NOT buy this book-don't even steal it! END