Jael makes sexuality and lesbianism a reality. Maria, who is
somewhat intimidated by the louder and fiirtier Jael and smitten
with the more nurturing and earthier Ruth, suddenly finds herself
at odds with them after walking in on them kissing. “Now sud-
denly here were two friends of hers kissing on the table she ate at
every night...How could she not have known? And then, em-
barrassment swinging to anger, the question reversed: How the
hell was she meant to know?”

Maria starts to work it through by talking about it with her
straight University pal, Yvonne, who resorts to cliches in de-
scribing Ruth and Jael although she has never met them. Maria’s
irritation at this, which she makes known, lends to the in-
telligence and integrity of the novel. On her way home that night
“she kept forgetting there was anything to worry about”.

Ruth finally confronts Maria with the reality of her and Jael’s re-
lationship and in a combination of dialogue and aside thoughts,
Maria’s fears and intrigues are illuminated. While she is young
and not very worldly, her intelligence and emerging sophistica-
tion carry her where ignorance could rule.

As the three of them relax into a more comfortable space with
each other, they no longer have to hide public displays of affec-
tion in their home. Jael’s flirtations serve as a wake-up call to
Maria as she begins to define her own attractions.

The dialect is sharp, the witticisms clever, the characters in-
telligent, well-defined and Iikeable. I was sorry that the book
ended at the juncture that it did. I wanted more of this emerging
dyke—drama. Emma Donoghue, published playwright and editor

MANSFIELD PSYCHOTHERAPY ASSOCIATES
I77 BATTERY STREET
BURLINGTON, VERMONT 05401
(802) 363-9079 1-8002869079

   
 

  

Mansfield
Psychotherapy
Associates

CHERYL L. HALLER, M.S.
CERTIFIED CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR

ACOA'S I BEREAVEMENT I RELATIONSHIPS

.°.I%TI”.§E5I[’§IE%FLSE’é’sL7§Roups INCEST & SEXUAL TRAUMA
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Burlington, VT 05402
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November 1994

of Passions Between Women, is a great new voice in lesbian fic-
tion and I look forward to her next cast of characters. V

ZVOTE
SUSAN
FOWLER

CHITTENDEN
COUNTY
PROBATE JUDGE

LEGAL EXPERIENCE:
Practicing Attorney -
14 Years,
Experienced Trial Attorney;

 

Private Practice, July 1984 through present,

° General practice in Probate, Family, District and
Superior Courts of Chittenden County;

0 Statewide Probate adoption practice representing
birth parents or adoptive parents in relinquishment
and finalization proceedings;

- Private legal counsel in hundreds of contested
matters involving family issues;

Deputy State’s Attorney, 1981 - 1984

- Chittenden County and Windsor County,
Prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases including
two murder trials and dozens of sexual assaults,
Chief Deputy State’s Attorney, 1983 - 1984;

0 Argued twenty—eight cases before the Vermont
Supreme Court;

Acting Judge, Vermont District Court;

Judicial Law Clerk for Vermont District Court
Judges, 1980 - 1981;

UNIQUE EXPERIENCE:
Vermont’s only attorney who is an accepted
member of the American Academy of Adoption
Attorneys;

Appointed by Governor Kunin to the Vermont
Adoption Reform Task Force, 1991 — 1993;

Adoptive Parent

PLEASE VOTE NOVEMBER 8TH
Paid for by Susan Fowler for Probate Judge Committee