Customer Reviews

The Unsinkable Bambi Lake

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I became curious about Bambi Lake after hearing Justin Bond sing several of her songs in NYC. She's a marvelous songwriter. The book was great--really evoked a particular time and energy that just doesn't exist right now in queer life. The book is witty and fabulous--also touching and smart. I can't attest to the factual basis of all her stories, but they certainly ring true in the larger sense. The book was money well-spent.

This book is pure fantasy. I do not know anything about the original Cockettes, but have met quite a few of Ms. Lakes "friends" and associates from the late 80's/early 90's San Francisco "End Up" (a bar)/ "Popstitutes" (performance group) crowd of people that were loosely affiliated with each other. She had a reputation with these people (Im not naming names here...) for making things up and generally causing a commotion for no reason, as well as being extremely moody, unpredictable and unstable. The book itself is a series of vignettes told in the first person, ostensibly to impress and amaze the reader with the fabulosity of its author. Obviously, I am neither impressed nor amazed. Except for the actual subject matter, it reads like a series of tall tales told by a reasonably intelligent 6th grader. If you are interested in purchasing a fictional book about the adventures of a truly interesting transgender female, I earnestly suggest "Sick Burn Cut" by Deran LUDD. It has a lot more depth and complexity to it than Ms. Lake's self-promoting fantasy life.

An engaging narrative that makes it difficult for the reader to put down. The fantastic quality of this book is not just the history and the story..but how much the author's voice, wit, wisdome and beauty, comes across..loud and clear..it is like having a 200 page conversation with Bambi in your boudoire..telling you all about the glam, the glitz, dish, and the juice of her fabulous life.
Ultimately, it is a book that shows how to be true to oneself with dignity and a sense of humor.- in other words Unsinkable to circumstance and time.....a la the Unsinkable Ms Lake...

I am an original Cockette, my name was Big Daryl. Since New York, I have gone by Kreemah Ritz. The Cockettes called Bambi Lake Johnny Mincer, because he was always trying to mince in on the Cockette action. He could neither sing or dance or deliver lines or look good in a costume, just a few of the criteria to join the Cockettes. His book is full of lies, but most people slandered in the book could care less and are ignoring the fact. I just think the public should know the other side of the coin, and file this book under "Fantasy". Contact me at cockettes2000@yahoo.com for further comment.

Last night I saw Bambi Lake read in San Francisco. I bought her book and stayed up half the night reading it. Oh my, she is so cool. Talk about a busy life! Follow Bambi from her childhood days in Woodside and Redwood City to the wild days of 1070s San Francisco, through her encounters with everyone hip and famous through the decades. And in person, she is warm, friendly and gorgeous. In my book, she signed "To Glitter, Glam, Punk and Mermaids." Yow, this books sizzles.

Another Sunny Day
Back in 1978, Bambi Lake was pretty hot looking. I have no memory of meeting Bambi Lake in a nightclub, getting her phone number or calling her on the phone. But I paid Bambi a visit once at her lux hi-rise apartment down at the Marina at the end of Van Ness. It was far and away the most slick pad I have ever seen.

When I entered, Bambi said "I'm so glad you have brown eyes, I hate blue eyes!" For the next five minutes, she strutted around in the most expensive dress I ever saw, acting like some kind of super-sex goddess. Unfortunately, she kept babbling on and on about how much she hated blue eyes. So, I got fed up and left.

Outside the door was an English punk pacing feverishly back and forth. I waved my hand down and up and said to him "She's all yours". He didn't see the humor in it.

The book is very very good. I bought a copy. Hopefully, I am not in it.

Loved it. Best of all is Bambi's own story, which is compelling. A must-read for anyone with gender confusion!

book by legendary SF Trannie Bambi Lake - she wrote some great songs, the best being "Charlotte Rampling" which was later covered by Kiki and Herb (Justin Bond & Kenny Mellman) in their stage show...