As it turns out, when you take the dreaded social media off your phone, your time really frees up, so I’ve been reading more lately. I love talking about what I am reading, so let’s have a little book review! It is fun sharing what we are reading, so if you have any recs or you need to tell someone how amazing a book is, comment or email me! (raven@ravenrohrig.com)
Boy Slut by Zachary Zane
I love when I find a book written about the bisexual experience. This one was particularly lovely because it was unapologetically sex positive. I’ve found conversations around bisexuality have to do heavy lifting to dispel damaging misconceptions about being bi. Some of those include that we are not cheaters, riddled with STIs because we are sleeping with everyone, or that we are not greedy and hurtful to who we love. BUT as someone who is polyamorous, enjoys and needs regular intimacy, and loves all bodies…it is good to read about the bisexual experience that is sex positive.
I’d recommend this book to my fellow bisexual baddies. I learned about new kinks, felt validated in my sex forward nature, and learned new ways to describe my bi experience!
On Censorship by Ai Weiwei
Weiwei has got to be one of the most censored artists in the world, and for that I am thankful for his thoughts around being censored. This book was thought provoking and inspiring to fight for my right to express myself in my fullness. His way of breaking down what censorship does to a society and the future of our thinking, expressions, and ability to thrive was eye opening. I particularly liked his thoughts on AI. As someone who is very against the use of AI in art and most of life, it gave me words to describe what AI is doing to our minds and freedoms.
I would recommend this book to anyone who faces censorship and those who feel there is a need for censorship. As someone who faces censorship, I feel more energized to push against “it.” And for those of you who think censorship is needed, you might want to rethink about the effects of this mechanism to control and homogenize.
You Are Here *for now by Adam J. Kurtz
I bought this in the second year of the pandemic and never read it. It is an inspiring read wrapped with some self-help language and inspirational quotes. I enjoyed this little gem, and am a huge fan of Adam JK. I’ve read some of his other books and always found some goodies to walk away with.
It was an interesting read for this moment in my life. I think it would have served me better when I bought it and was going through personal struggles and feeling the impact of the global pandemic. This, and Adam’s other books, I would recommend for anyone who lives with mental health issues, is at a low place in life, or who is an artist (not to place us creatives in “struggle,” but we do carry the weight of bringing beauty into this world.)
The Faggots & Their Friends Between Revolutions by Larry Mitchell and Ned Asta
The title of this book called to me across the whole bookstore and I knew I needed it in my brain. Picking it up, I learned this a queer classic and one reviewed by some incredible queer folks. So I brought it home and enjoyed the hell out of it. As I was reading there were so many passages I wanted to shout from the rooftops!
This book is a gay manifesto presented as a musical theater piece. Exceptional. It is filled with love, sexual liberation, what it means to be part of a community, and does a great job of describing the damages caused by cis, heterosexual, toxic men/masculinity. So many amazing passages. I’d recommend this to everyone, and particularly my fellow queers. It is inspiring and energizing.
Create Dangerously by Albert Camus
This book stretched my reading capabilities, so I need to read it again, but I walked away with some vigor to keep going as an artist. Us creatives know our value and necessity to our societies success, but we historically are under valued, dismissed, and replaced by mass production; this book is encouragement to keep making. I’ll be reading through this again, as I said, so I will have more thoughts, I am sure.
I would recommend this book to everyone. Artists: we gotta keep making our work, and we need validation for our struggles – you’ll find that in this book. Non-artists: educate yourself on why art is necessary and why artists are critical to our ability to thrive.
Hey! I have a new mini bookmark set! This baby is for my queer community and allies. Buy it here under the mini bookmark filter. There are two more sets that might strike your fancy, too!
What are you reading?! I love talking about books and how amazing reading is ◡̈
Keep reading folks, this is one of our most important forms of rebellion!
A Good Cunt 
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