PReading Offers an Alternative to Complaining About the Weather! Short Reviews of Three Books. vlichael Warner \s the winter months stretch endlessly nto spring, clouds fill the sky, and the grey weather makes many of us “winter vimps” long for warmth, sunshine, the )UT-of-doors-tlie escape of a mce day 0 hike or swirn-tliere are many ways to emper cabin fever. The one I find most eliable and least dependant on variable :'actors is curling up on my sofa with the zompanionship of a good Like tveryone else, during the holidays I :‘ound myself at a loss for the time to really enjoy a quiet moment alone with a book. Yet I have managed in the past months to read several books which I recommend. For those interested in biography, Cures: 2 Gay Man's Odyssey by Martin Duber- man has a lot to recommend it. Duber- man is an educator, writer, historian and critic, who, according to advance re- leases, has made himself a major figure in contemporary culture. His story is one which is familiar to many. Growing up in very homophobic times, the 40s and 50s, he relates his attempt and struggle to “cure” his homosexuality. From his own internalized homophobia to the hope of- fered by psychoanalysis, we follow him on this quest to understand and to finally accept and celebrate himself. Part biog- raphy, part history (especially for those of us who came of age in the post- Stonewall era), this book illustrates more than just Martin Duberrnan’s story, it documents the story of a generation and the “coming out” of the gay movement. liot exactly light reading but worth a S 0t. For me, fiction tends to be the greatest help in escaping from daily routines, problems and boredom. Vanishing Rooms by Melvin Dixon is an amazing book which I enjoyed a lot. The narrative follows the reactions of three main char- acters to a brutal and untimely death. This action happens outside the story yet affects each character in a significant and different way. The rhythm and pace of Dixon’s prose is dictated by the one—two- three. one-two-three steps of aspiring dancers, Jesse and Ruella. Each learns, grows and develops as the chapters un- fold. The cathartic event which cements the two of them together in this novel Wm‘ Lonny. a young street punk, is the senseless gay-bashing of Jesse’s lover Metro. This violence, which could have been lifted from the headline of any American newspaper, is secondary to the complex character study which Dixon accomplishes. The book is just over 200 pages and reads quickly. It has a very contemporary fla- vor. Unlike some fiction, Vanishing Rooms did not leave me feeling cheated by the author. It was as if, for a brief moment, I was allowed to step into the intertwined lives of three people and ob- serve for myself their perceptions and emotions. Finding one’s way in the world has been made much easier in the last few years by the phenomenon of so-called “self- help” books. While I don’t usually spend much time reading books of this genre, one I did find both interesting and helpful was Intimacy Between Men: How to Find and Keep Gay Love Re- lationships by John H. Driggs and Ste- phen E. Finn. Counselors who write from experience with gay men, Driggs and Finn manage to make their observa- tions and advice positive, helpful and in- teresting. Illustrating and documenting the theme that men (especially gay men) have a hard time developing and main- taining intimacy, they offer first-hand experience and advice for overcoming and dealing with the barriers which pa- renting, society, conditioning and even plain fear have taught us to erect and hide behind. Topics covered include the differences between kinds and levels of intimacy, between sexuality and in- timacy, coming out and coupling up. lt’s a good book for the gay man looking not only for “Mr. Right” but for himself as well. It’s also a good read for gay men already in relationships who are looking to strengthen and develop their them. Given the repressive homophobic society in which we live, we can all use a little help now and then! These three books represent only_the tip of the iceberg and there are literally hundreds of titles worth considering when snuggling down this season. So go ahead and enjoy! V February 1992 Classifieds 0ITM’s Classified Section features items for sale, housing opportunities, services offered and the like. Individuals may placeadsatarateof50¢perwordwitha $5.00 minimum; businesses 75¢ per word with a $10.00 minimum. Subscribers to OITM may place free advertisements in any category up to six times per year. You place or respond to ads at your own risk; we cannot screen ads for legitimacy nor assume responsibility. To be con- sidered for publication, ads must be re- ceived by the 1st of the month prior to the issue. Mail to PO Box 177, Burlington, VT, 05402. Payment must accompany your ad copy, and we must have your full name, address, and phone number (these will be kept confidential). CONFERENCES OutWrite ‘92 National lesbian & gay writers conference. Boston, Park Plaza Hotel, March 20-22, 1992. Sponsored by Outlook magazine and Gay Community News. Registration $40 until Feb 15, $50 after Feb 15 and at the door. Contact Sue Hyde at (617) 695-0511 or write to Out- Write ‘92, 540 Castro St., San Francisco, CA 94114-2512. EDUCATION Champlain College gay, lesbian, bi- sexual support group. Weekly meetings in Student Resource Center. Contact Becky Peterson at 658-0800 ext. 2605 or Carol Moran-Brown at 658-0800 ext. 2603 for more info. Lesbian Educators Meeting occa- sionally- Call Margaret at (802) 879- 6559. Lyndon State College gay, lesbian, bi- sexual support group, The Beacon. Call Mary Sue Kelly at (802) 626-9371 ext. 140, or write The Beacon, c/o Student Activities Office, Lyndon State College, Lyndonville, VT 05851. Johnson State College Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Group meets Wednesdays twice a month fnom.6-7:30 p.m. in a con- fidential location. Group open to student, faculty, staff and members of the local community. Call Jackie or Shelly at (802) 635-2365 ext. 259 for more info.