OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS — SEPTEMBER 1997 — 13

 
 

Enter the
7'0/-7/7/D
p Z0/VE
with ReBecca
Beguin

BY DONNA FREEMAN

One glance at the title ”Torrid Zone” and those of us en-
lightened folks immediately think, ”Romance novel, a little bit
of sex, a little bit of that...” That's what I thought, anyway. The
cover declares this a mystery novel, so I also sneered my usual,
”Oh goody, another soft-porn lesbian murder mystery, by a Ver-

mont writer, no less. Save me!”

Even so, Ibegan reading and discovered to my delight an
apparently simplistic story about a farm-girl Vermont lesbian
who is anything but simple. I was surprised, but not disap-
pointed when I discovered that Torrid Zone did not refer to any-
thing sexual, but rather was the name given to a warm and trust-

worthy friend.

Beguin’s novel is a mystery more about Ida, the main char-
acter, rediscovering her own lost (or hidden) emotions and be-
liefs, than it is about a 20 year-old unsolved murder. Her thera-
pist in this rediscovery comes in the form of Viv, a young col-

lege student.

Viv, in need of shelter from harassing violence on campus,
wants to use Ida's experience in a 70's separatist collective as
fodder for a Women's Studies project. Her prodding, youthful
persistence enables Ida to unlock many of her dormant feelings.
Viv’s research also nudges Ida into introducing Viv to the mem-
bers of the now defunct farm collective, as well as finding jour-
nals and documents from the collective years. Ida holds Viv
spellbound as her sometimes painful memories bubble up to
the surface while she recounts daily life in the collective farm.

I found myself to be as captivated as Viv, with Beguin’s
Fried—Green-Tomatoes—esque first person writing style. I got im-
patient with the daily events and chores that Viv and Ida found
themselves dealing with - I wanted more of the nightly tale.
What was it that caused this ideal wimmin’s community to dis-
integrate? And, why did it seem that Ida was existing in a life
with no emotion, even though she had a lover?

As she digs to recover her repressed memories, Ida shows
Viv that she is anything but a simple ho1d—over from the com-
munal times of twenty years ago. She also reveals to herself the
true complexity of her own emerging psyche, the true solution
to her own mystery, that although it appears everyone from the
collective besides her has changed, this is not true.

Beguin’_ s tale is a novel chronicling how some of our lives
evolve over the course of time. It is a revealing account of
changes experienced when the determination we acquire in our
twenties, becomes the disillusionment and disappointment of
our thirties, and, eventually, through grief and regrowth, be-

comes our reawakening.

OB

Brattleboro Area Gay Men’s Film
Club. 7-9pm. FMI call Ron (603) 876-
4825.

GLITTER at Rhombus Gallery,
Burlington. 7:45-10pm.

Pink Flamingoes , by John Waters. By
now, the disgusting film that launched
John Waters career into the gutter has
achieved cult status. Come watch a
400 pound drag queen eat dog poop.
The recently released version will be
shown in our new location on a huge
projection screen.

EATlNG WITH GRACE. a ten week
psychoeducational support group for
women w/food issues. Lesbian/
,bisexual/survivor‘ positive. Mondays
~94-6pm. B'ton, Fee. FMl call Theresa
'{l3acon, MA, ABMP, MSW 985-4045.

09

Brattleboro Area AIDS project annual
meeting at the project office, 67 Main
St., 4th Fl. FMl call 254-8263.

Game night with SAM. FMI call 649-
3133.

09

6th Annual VT HlV/AIDS Educators
Training Conference Lake Morey Inn,
Fairlee, VT FMI call Jonathan at 862-
1668.

19-21 Gender-free dance camp.
Becket/Chimney corners camp,
Beckett, Massachusetts. Contact
Ruth FMI 649-1164.

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‘:1;

: Benefit Concert

I September zoth

I 8pm (doors 7:30)

” Unitarian
’ Universa|ist,152
Pearl St., Burlington
Tickets:

$15 in advance, $13.50 student,
$17 door (student rate for
advanced ticket sales only.

all door tickets 517.)

Tickets available at:
Outright Vt. Office, Peace and
Justice Center, or by mail: checks
payable to Lavender Visions,
Productions, Inc., PO Box 307,

St Albans, VT 05478
i_nformation: (802) 849-2739

o all profits from this
concert benefit Outright

  

 
   
   
    
    
     
       
     
    
    
   

Triangle Ministries AVAYAVAY
A Center For Lesbian Er Gay Spiritual Development
14 White Birch Lane, vwlliston, VT O54-95
802-860-7106 or Email: revcsl@aol.com

"Surfacing Our Souls”
A Study of Families, Fear, fir Faith
November 28 - 30, 1997

," "Having the Holy in Our Holidays"
’/ ~ December 1 9-21, 1997
/ "Body & Soul”
/ A Valem‘.ine"s Retreat For Lesbian Couples
/ February 13 - 16, 1998, I
I’ Contact for ratesxegistratiorr, 5! further information
I or visit TM web page http://members.aol.comIrevcsl V
A \
an " l
E WITH RlCHARD SHlNDELL I
; in a benefit for the I
i Peace & justice Center II
4< SEPTEMBER 21 st, 7 PMS 1
 Unrrnsmn Cnuacr: ,’
 I BURLINGTON, VT ’
E $15-$20 sunms SCALE 1’

__l Tickers AVAILABLE AT

 Peace & Justice STORE
Fawn Box Omcz

_ Fun: 909, suamisron A d v e r t i s e

 Mmnuaauav Nnum. Foon Co-or —

 ' VERMONT Eiummc Co., MONTPEIJER Y O U r F a I I
 C0-SPONSORS!) BY 5 P E C I A_ L

. E V E N T S I n

r
E :
,

Q rox iriroririmon CALL 555 T5326

furniture. We also need paint brushes,
pans, and rollers. Contact Tami FMI
865-9677.

  @

AlDS walk in Rutland to benefit VT
CARES. Walk starts in the Main St.
Park at 9:30am. FMI call Leah at VT
CARES, 863-2437.30th Anniversary
Annual meeting of the ACLU at the
Cortina Inn on Route 4 in Killington.
Beginning at 9 with registration.

BAD Grrrls (Brattleboro Area Dykes)
Pot Luck. 6pm. Call 254-7721.

The Amelia’s Underground is adopt-
ing a NH highway in the name of “Up-
pe_r Valley Lesbians”. We’ll be doing

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Enfield/Lebel ffifv’l‘1’lli'tla‘llf<5L'lili‘-zl'*llri-

terstate exit (I89 #17) We’re meeting
at the Interstate Tire Parking lot
at1'0am. FMI call (603)632-7146.

Amelia’s potluck and open house at
Vanessa and Jayne’s (603) 448-5201 .

Lucie Blue Tremblay at the Unitarian
Church, 152 Pearl St. Burlington. All
proceeds will benefit OUTRIGHT VT.
Tickets available at OUTRIGHT, The
Peace and Justice Store or call, 849-
2739.

20-21 Sleepless in September. Get
off campus and explore the beauty
and fun of the Green Mts. with other
VT GLBT college students and allies

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0ITM'ps Arts
8: Entertain-
ment guide.

at

AIDS Walk in St. Johnsbury. To ben-
efit VT CARES. Walk starts in
Ramsey Park (across from Troll
Press). FMI call Leah at VT CARES:
863-2437.

Dar Williams with Richard Shindell at
UU Church, Burlington to benefitThe
Peace & Justice Center. Tickets avail-
able at Peace & Justice Store, Flynn
Box Office, Pure Pop, B'ton,
Middlebury Natural Food Co-OP, Ver-
mont Trading Co., Montpelier. FMI
call 863-8326.

more CAENDAR

at Middlebury College's Breadloaf “stings on 
campusin__Ftlpton. Sponsored by  p ' _ -I 4  H
-'l$IEGilEiA'ahiiJ=.fe_e"To;Be.‘at.’UVM.   ,;_’;.i;_; i‘";;:;_‘j»;¢;,,