Sometimes, being a lesbian is like being a kid back at school. When things go wrong, where do you turn for advice? A grown up, or a straight person, who just doesn't understand at all? Or your friends, who aren't always to be trusted, and who love to gossip? Gaydar Nation's very own ecstasy aunt Ms Honeypussy is always happy to sort out your kinks, but now there's another resource for those in trouble: Lipstick And Dipstick's Essential Guide To Lesbian Relationships.
Curve magazine's acclaimed femme 'n' butch columnists Lipstick and Dipstick, also known as Gina Daggett and Kathy Belge, have been doling out sassy, sincere advice to lesbians for a number of years. They know pretty much all there is to know about dyke relationships. Between them, in this collection of columns, they carefully map out the requirements for a healthy and happy relationship, and offer cautionary advice for the bumps that you might encounter along the way.
The advice in Lipstick And Dipstick's Essential Guide To Lesbian Relationships is laid out as a kind of journey through a lesbian relationship, starting with what happens when you meet someone and ending with wedding bells and contemplations of growing old together. Between these milestones, the pair cover everything from dealing with your girlfriend's ex-husband, how to cope when you hate your girlfriend's cat, dealing with jealousy and internalised homophobia, falling for you honey's best friend and emotional cheating, amongst many other topics. It's quite an eye-opener!
Daggett and Belge dish out the advice in bite-sized chunks. Each problem features a mini case study, some back and forth banter between Lipstick and Dipstick, and some solid advice about what to do next. It's an odd blend of flippant commentary and sober-headed guidance.
What works so well is that the authors are approachable, and whilst they have no professional counselling or advice credentials, they offer some pretty good common sense. What might be a bit distracting fro British readers is that the pair's cultural touchstones are resolutely American, which don't always translate so immediately, and the tone can be irritatingly perky.
There were times when this reviewer wanted more than a quick whizz through the problem, but whilst Lipstick And Dipstick's Essential Guide To Lesbian Relationships could be accused of being a little bit superficial, it's quite comprehensive and acts as a springboard for deeper exploration, discussion and consideration. This can be very helpful when you find yourself in a pickle and don't know where to turn, but this is a book that could really do with an index so that readers can get to the parts they want quickly, without getting waylaid by the parts they don't.
Don't let these gripes put you off, Lipstick And Dipstick's Essential Guide To Lesbian Relationships is funny and real, and is likely to become a reassuring companion for those times when you're not sure what to do.
Lipstick And Dipstick's Essential Guide To Lesbian Relationships, by Gina Daggett and Kathy Belge
Published by: Alyson
ISBN: 159350022X
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