Slut Lullabies - Book Club November '11
November's Book Club selection is Slut Lullabies by Gina Frangello.
I first heard about this book from here. From when Richard did a review of it. Something in the review really caught me, I think it was when Richard mentioned first sentences. I'm a big fan of that first sentence having to be great. And the first sentence in this book really does hook you in instantly.
It's ten stories. So it should be an easy discussion.
Gina will be stopping by to answer questions and discuss. It should be a good time.
Here's the description:
Following her debut novel, My Sister's Continent, which delved "fearlessly into questions of identity, abuse...trust, trespass, and delusion" (Booklist), Gina Frangello continues her exploration of the power dynamics of gender, class, and sexuality in this collection of diverse, vibrant short fiction. Slut Lullabies is unsettling. Like the experience of reading a private diary, these stories leave one feeling slightly traitorous while also imprinting a deep recognition of truths you did not know you felt.
It is through beauty, horror, humor and chaos that Frangello has managed to pull these ten stories out of her deep understanding of the human experience. A gay Latino man whose pious relatives are boycotting his `commitment ceremony' becomes caught up in hypocrisy and splendor when his lover's Waspy mother hires a glitzy wedding coordinator; a precocious girl seduces her teacher in order to blackmail him into funding her young stepmother's escape from their violent home; a wife turns to infidelity and drugs to distract her from chronic pain following an accident; a teenage boy attempts atonement in Amsterdam after having exploited his naive girlfriend at home; and a socialite must confront her dark past as her husband's deterioration from Huntington's Disease destroys both her bank account and social standing.
Each insightfully drawn, deeply felt character moves delicately amid the despair and wreckage of ordinary life, but always towards hope. And Frangello's oddly uplifting voice acts as the unifying thread, drawing out a beauty and dimension which demands both our criticism and our empathy.
Get to reading!
Thanks so much, Pete, Richard and all Culters for having me on the book club! I'm looking forward to chatting with everyone!
Thanks, Gina. Welcome. Let's do our best to make Gina feel welcome here. Speak up about the stories. I mean, come on people. SLUT LULLABIES? We'll have to get Mirka over here too, I know she was a big fan of this.
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I'm going to try my best to get involved in this discussion - really annoyed I missed The Samaritan. Just a wee bit busy, tho'... fingers crossed this isn't my last gasp for the month, as this looks interesting! 
Andrez Bergen
A couple o' hack novels out, and upcoming noir/pulp/comicbook thing (Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa?)
http://andrezbergen.wordpress.com/
If you've read The Samaritan, you know you can always hop in there and add a few comments.
If not, we look forward to seeing you in here Andrez. 
Thanks, matey! Now to start dressing up Time and keep him in the freezer.
Andrez Bergen
A couple o' hack novels out, and upcoming noir/pulp/comicbook thing (Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa?)
http://andrezbergen.wordpress.com/
haha yeah I hear you. I wish I could freeze time.
Just finished reading Slut Lullabies day or two ago. It took me a couple of stories to get into it but after that, I really enjoyed the collection for the most part. I'm not much of a short story fan so it takes a pretty good batch for me to enjoy them.
Been looking forward to this discussion - Slut Lullabies was a very good collection. There were two or three stories in particular I wanted to chat about.
However it's been a while since I read the book so before I get too involved I'm going to re-read a few bits of it, refresh my memory. I shall be back in a couple of days with some thoughts/questions.
Also, hi Gina, nice to see you dropping in for the discussion.
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I finished the first story, "Slut Lullabies," last night.
First off, as cliche as it is to insert violence, killing, rape into a story toward the end - I really didn't see it coming in this place. The story was so light-hearted (even when talking about the mother and her cancer) that I thought there was going to be some comedic wrestling as the guy tried something and she denied him. I thought he might kick her out and the night would get worse for her. When she said that she passed out on the floor, I thought maybe it would be an awkward morning. And then the story just took this dark turn I wasn't expecting.
I really loved the writing style of this first story though. I'm going to enjoy this collection.
Two thoughts:
1) I enjoyed the writing style of these stories and the style remained constant, even when the point of view changed, which I think is a good thing. There was a bit of talk about how Sinister Miniatures was a real mixed bag and it didn't really work for a lot of people.
2) It was a nice change to read some stories told from a woman's point of view and also written by a woman. i'm trying to think of other books I've read that fit these criteria and I'm drawing a blank. It's a bit different than reading a story told from a woman's point of view but written by a man.
I agree with this. The themes in the book may have been done before but the way the stories were told was different an unexpected.
Thanks, everyone--it's so fun to read impressions of the book coming from all over the world. If anyone has any specific questions, definitely go ahead and shout them out.
I'll pose a question for the readers here:
When you first heard the title Slut Lullabies, what did you think about? And after having read the title story, did it change how you thought of the title, the story, "sluts" and even lullabies?
Discuss.
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When you first heard the title Slut Lullabies, what did you think about? And after having read the title story, did it change how you thought of the title, the story, "sluts" and even lullabies?
Discuss.
I imagined it would be a book of stories about people having lots of sex that people who like reading about people having lots of sex would enjoy reading before bed time.
After reading the story, it did change what I thought the stories were going to be like.
But it's not really something that I thought about too much.
Anybody else?
I'll chime in a bit, get things moving.
I of course pictured this slutty girl, or woman, and when you think of somebody that gives their body away, it isn't always a positive connotation. But what we realize as we get into the story is that the mother is sick, and dying, and any sort of judgement that her daughter may have for her, about her mother's previous reckless behavior, well, it really is pretty shallow. She doesn't want her mother to die, she just wants her back, her mother to get back to being her old self. And that probably isn't going to happen. She also realizes that she's a bit of a slut herself. And that's OKAY. We're all sluts at times, right? And yes, we're talking about sex, about giving up your body, committing acts of generosity with slick flesh in the dark of the night. But we're also talking about compromising yourself, becoming vulnerable, and doing things that can't be taken back in the light of the day. Sometimes these are positive moments, wild nights of debauchery that we look back on fondly. Other times, they are failures, embarrassing acts that we wish had never happened. But the bottom line is that we're alive, and we can grow and change and become better, if we want to. Life is precious, and we should cherish it in all of its glory and horror.
Thoughts?
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While I understand the title and the significance - at least as far as the title story - the book cover and title make the book hard to read in public. I went to get my hair cut and I had this book or a magazine to bring. I chose the magazine.
I finally have found time to finish the second story, "How to Marry a WASP."
As much as I loved the first story, this one was kind of lacking something for me. I had a hard time getting into it.
One thing I do love about Gina's writing style is the conversational tone. It's the same reason I love Denis Johnson's Jesus' Son. It's the reason I've read that book countless times. There are moments where it's ok to say, "Wait, I'm getting ahead of myself," or "I forget exactly what happened." She does something like that in the first story and there are a few small instances of that in the second story too.
I started to enjoy the stories a lot more after the first couple. Which is not to say they weren't good but maybe it took me a while to get into the style or maybe the rest of the stories were even better.
I'm sorry I haven't been posting in here more. I've been super busy lately and barely able to get any pleasure reading done.
I just finished "Tilby in Brasil". I don't know why, but something in this story just really connected with me. I really liked it a lot. It's almost got a Gatsby feel. Being obsessed with somebody you really don't know. Holding them on a higher pedestal than they probably deserve. I just thought it was a pretty original story, beautifully told. One day, when I get more free time, I'm rereading that one.
I enjoyed "Secret Tomas" a lot too. I feel as if it was a fresh take on some older themes. I read that one in two sittings. I would have read it in one if I wasn't at work when I read it.
As much as I loved the writing in the two stories just before it, I had the same problem with both. I felt that I was getting introduced to too many characters too fast and I got confused with who was who and how each person was related to each other. Maybe it's just me though because I have that problem a lot with books when there are a lot of characters. I was confused with all the characters in Under the Dome until about half way through - then they started to feel like different people to me.
I'm skipping around a bit.
I'll chime in a bit, get things moving.
I of course pictured this slutty girl, or woman, and when you think of somebody that gives their body away, it isn't always a positive connotation. But what we realize as we get into the story is that the mother is sick, and dying, and any sort of judgement that her daughter may have for her, about her mother's previous reckless behavior, well, it really is pretty shallow. She doesn't want her mother to die, she just wants her back, her mother to get back to being her old self. And that probably isn't going to happen. She also realizes that she's a bit of a slut herself. And that's OKAY. We're all sluts at times, right? And yes, we're talking about sex, about giving up your body, committing acts of generosity with slick flesh in the dark of the night. But we're also talking about compromising yourself, becoming vulnerable, and doing things that can't be taken back in the light of the day. Sometimes these are positive moments, wild nights of debauchery that we look back on fondly. Other times, they are failures, embarrassing acts that we wish had never happened. But the bottom line is that we're alive, and we can grow and change and become better, if we want to. Life is precious, and we should cherish it in all of its glory and horror.
Thoughts?
I really like the way you explained this. Totally agree.
Before reading the book, or even seeing the cover and knowing the author is a woman, I assumed it would be a book about women. Just kind of goes with the idea of a slut being someone who gives away sex, love, affection, trust too easily. Not a very masculine thing, I suppose.
The first story... really bothered me. Don't think I'd reread it. The lullaby title made sense though. Ending with a positive note, always comforting herself by seeing and assuming the best in people, situations.
I just finished "Tilby in Brasil". I don't know why, but something in this story just really connected with me. I really liked it a lot. It's almost got a Gatsby feel. Being obsessed with somebody you really don't know. Holding them on a higher pedestal than they probably deserve. I just thought it was a pretty original story, beautifully told. One day, when I get more free time, I'm rereading that one.
I absolutely looooove this story. I liked the characters quite a bit. I definitely see the Gatsby thing. Although when I was reading it, I was thinking more of Invisible Monsters. Even though it's been a loooong time since I've read that book... I think mostly it was because of the way Merlot kept calling her beautiful in the beginning. And the pedestal thing, yes.
I could talk more about this one and others but I'm just rambling. I'll add more stuff next week when I finish reading the rest of the book.
Gatsby, Invisible Monsters, and Fight Club all have very similar themes. So that makes sense that you would think of Invisible Monsters and I would think of Gatsby.
I'm glad you're reading this. I've been waiting for you to jump into a Book Club discussion.
I'm glad you're reading this. I've been waiting for you to jump into a Book Club discussion.
That's true, of course. All of these have similar themes though and that one is still the only one that gave me the Invisible Monsters vibe.
I'm glad too! I really, really liked these stories and I wouldn't have read them if you guys weren't talking about it.
I'm not sure what to talk about right now but my two favorites are without a doubt, "What You See" and "Waves".
I loooooved the humor in "What You See". I mean, they all have a bit of humor but the sarcasm, irony, whatever in this one was amazing. I think this is one of the ones you said introduced too many characters too quickly, which is something I've struggled with in other books as well... mostly because I'm really slow with names in general... the characters in "Marie Antoinette School of Economics" confused me more in the beginning, for example. But anyway, the fact that you never learn any of the characters' names in "What You See" actually made all of them easy to keep track of. That's pretty much what you do with people you who aren't important enough in your life anyway... well, I do... in my mind... I loved how it was narrated too. That is, I think, what made it funnier than the others. It worked so well with Frangello's style. I'd love to read a whole book told by a sarcastic narrator.
Also loved how this story most literally let their identities change as the situations called for it. Rebel Sister, Band Sister, Jewish Girl, Beautiful Woman and all that. And poor Fat Councillor. I liked her story line too. Putting things into perspective.
Oh and "Waves", although significantly darker, was also really great. I don't do drugs but that's about how I would imagine addiction to the self destructive. It was almost painful to read. But I liked it... not really immediately but more after I read it a second time... Guess it grew on me.
Which one did you guys enjoy the most?
I still have 2 more stories to read. I'm going to try and finish this either tonight or tomorrow.
So far my favorite stories are:
Secret Tomas
Trilby in Brasil
Attila the There
As I look back on them now, I'm going to have to steal something from what you said I think. The thing I probably liked the most, or made the stories better for me, was the dark humor. They injected this humor into situations that should be sad or scary or whatever. But it was also done in a way that didn't cheapen it. Very well done.
Also each of those three stories had a great character. The lead in each one was somebody I wanted to read more about.
You guys are all great--it's so cool to see people responding so strongly to different stories. You may be interested to know that "Trilby in Brasil" is one of the oldest stories in the collection. I almost cut it when I was getting the manuscript ready, but decided at the last minute to keep it in, and am so glad I did. I've been able to see it with fresh eyes thanks to the people who have read the book. It was a story that meant a lot to me when I wrote it, and then some 10 years passed and I just lost my connection to it, but the response of readers has helped me to reconnect.
Actually, I think "Trilby in Brasil" and "What You See" (a much newer story) are in some ways variations on the same themes, though the voices are very different. It would have been fun indeed to write a whole novel in the snarkier voice in "What You See" (though I probably wouldn't have had any friends left if I'd done that!)
I can't think much in terms of my own favorite pieces in the book, though if I really press myself to play favorites it might be "Waves" and "Attila the There." Though the story that impacted me the most in the writing of it (it was written in a single day, at Ragdale artists' colony) was "How to Marry a WASP." A couple of people have indicated this one having a lot of characters up front and being a little confusing, which is probably true. I've always thought it would make a good play, though, for some reason, even though I don't write plays.
Thanks, everyone, for chiming in. Again, if anyone has any particular questions about any of the stories, do feel free to shoot them my way--I'll continue checking in here.
With all those characters - I think "How to Marry a WASP" would work great. I think that naming all the sisters and relationships wouldn't be so confusing with it playing out in front of you.
"Trilby" seemed so fresh. I find it hard to believe that it's the oldest story. I love the little facts you learn when the author chimes in!
So far my favorite stories are:
Secret Tomas
Trilby in Brasil
Attila the There
As I look back on them now, I'm going to have to steal something from what you said I think. The thing I probably liked the most, or made the stories better for me, was the dark humor. They injected this humor into situations that should be sad or scary or whatever. But it was also done in a way that didn't cheapen it. Very well done.
Also each of those three stories had a great character. The lead in each one was somebody I wanted to read more about.
"Attila the There" and "Secret Tomas" were up there for me too.
I enjoyed way she tied "Attila" in with The Unbearable Lightness of Being, which happens to be one of my favorite books. Though the story was more about the movie... but still... it was clever and worked really well since it could easily be the other side of that story. Also, this was another one that seemed to have extra humor in it. Loved it.
"Attila the There" was different for having the straight male protagonist. Camden had an incredibly interesting story and I agree that it's one I wanted to know more about.
Definitely. Those were probably the two I found myself most easily relating to... females friendships can be the most interdependent, brutally hurtful, power disproportionate, and ridiculous. Haha, I'm a big fan of good snark but I can understand not wanting to commit social suicide. Consider it though!
Thanks, everyone, for chiming in. Again, if anyone has any particular questions about any of the stories, do feel free to shoot them my way--I'll continue checking in here.
Hmmm, I could also see it as a play. I think I would've liked it more in that form.
Also, I'm glad you're checking in. Always cool to talk to a good author.
I've never seen the movie or read the book, so maybe that is a dimension of the story that I totally missed. I mean, I know she referenced it. And I guessed there might be some tie-in. But other than that...
You've got to read it! Unbearable Lightenss isn't to be missed. (For reasons way beyond getting references in my story . . . ) It's sexy and weird and complicated, though told in this stark, beautiful prose. What a melancholy, fabulous book. Probably my favorite book on the planet, though it does have some close contenders out there.
For some reason the book always struck me as being "written for women." So I never even read the description. But then just now after reading the description, I still had that feeling. So I scrolled down to the reviews, and the first review... 5 stars. The review - written by a man.
I guess it'll go into my wishlist.
But if I don't enjoy it - I will hunt you both down!
A boyfriend recommended it to me but didn't read it until after we broke up. I'm glad because otherwise I'd probably have an annoying mental connection between that silly relationship and the book. Though that means at least two guys in the world like it! It's a good book and feel free to hunt afterwards. I'd be really surprised if you felt the need though.
Gina, I was wondering something while reading "Attila"... did you ever live in Amsterdam? If you didn't, you certain did a great job of pretending. I haven't been but it seemed really realistic.
And for those that might have wanted to read Richard's review, here it is:
One of the things that Gina Frangello does really well is grab you from the first sentence. Narrative hooks, they never go out of style. Here are three examples of how she pulls you in, from 'Slut Lullabies', 'Waves' and 'Saving Crystal', respectively:
"I found out my mother was a slut from my best friend, at a bar with my secret Greek boyfriend who was possibly a homosexual and his uptight brother who pretended to know nothing of our affair."
"Van tells me one of his students has written a story about a girl with a tracheotomy, whose English teacher breaks into her bedroom at night and makes love to the hole in her neck."
"The last time I saw my dad beating Crystal she was two months pregnant."
BAM. In the first example, the impulse is to laugh. Who calls their own mother a slut? It's funny--dysfunctional, but funny, raw and honest as well. But over time, it takes on another meaning, the daughter realizing that she'd rather have a mother that got out there and had a good time than the dead-eyed one she has now, struggling to fight the sickness that drains her body of life. The second is a shocking visual, ridiculous in its imagery, funny if it wasn't so violent and perverse. And maybe funny anyway. The third is straight into the darkness, an abusive father, witnessed by his child, beating on a pregnant woman, no forgiveness allowed of such low behavior. She runs the gamut with these opening sentences, a wide range of emotions, but always honest, never turning the camera away, forcing us to bear witness to it all.
But Frangello is smart. She breaks up the serious moments and heavy endings with a lot of humor. Sometimes the jokes are at the expense of her protagonists, and sometimes we laugh with her characters, aware of their own shortcomings, willing to embrace those humorous weaknesses and idiosyncrasies. Take for example these two passages from the story 'What You See' where none of the characters have traditional names, but instead are referred to as an Intelligent Woman or Macho Man, for example:
"The Aggressive Woman may also be referred to as: the Smoking Woman, the Skinny Woman, the Foul-Mouthed Skank, the Special-Education Teacher, the Adopted Daughter, the World Traveler, and the Survivor of Childhood Hodgkin's Disease."
And later:
"The Heavyset Man may also be referred to as: the Theater Major, Grisly Adams, Nature Boy, the Heavy Drinker, the Red-Faced Man, Sensitive Man, and Man-Suffering-from-Impotence-in-Times-of-Stress."
Even in these funny moments, there is an underlying layer of failure, a sting to her wit.
Running us through the emotional wringer, Frangello opens her stories with intrigue, teaches us many things, makes us laugh, and then breaks our heart. As any good story should. From 'Slut Lullabies', speaking about her dying mother:
"With an intensity so rough it doubled me over, I missed the long-past squeaking of my mother's bed, the muffled, complicit adult laughter that excluded me, that rhythmic pounding on the wall our bedrooms shared--the lullaby of my youth."
And in 'Waves' in response to her boyfriend getting ready to shoot her up with heroin:
"I don't know how to explain that isn't what I want, so I stop talking; watch him finish, showing me how. I imagine how gently he will slide the needle into my arm someday, like a father. I can trust him not to give up or give in to his conscience--he is the type to keep trying to scrape his way inside, until I can be certain there will be nothing left of me."
And finally, from 'Stalking God' speaking about her long gone suicidal father:
"The incense here still lingers from Mass this afternoon. But Jayne prefers the Nag Champa she burns in her own apartment, the kind Blaine introduced her to--a smell so different from his smell, one that belongs to her even though he has gone away. She will not stay here long. But once, her father sat in this church, perhaps in this very pew with his teenage bride, both young and shiny and full of stupid, beautiful hope. She will remain just a little while, try to believe that she can feel him."
In this collection of short stories, Gina Frangello holds nothing back. When you spend time with her and listen to these misadventures from her fictional youth, or broken adulthood, it is as if you are sitting with a close friend, at times horrified, backing away from her, and at other times, leaning in closer, to hold her hand, and tell her everything will be okay. Even when you know, deep inside, that what you say is not the truth. The intimacy that is created in these fearless stories is unique, an unexpected warmth, being allowed to know these secret lives, these failures buried under layers of shame, these dreams that lie fallow, no harvest in sight. But there is hope in here too, wisdom learned from falling, making ourselves stronger, and laughter at having gone through similar things, an understanding of how these things happen, how we all destroy our love at times, jump into bed with sultry strangers, and vow not to turn into our parents. Slut Lullabies is a powerful collection of fiction, a microcosm in the palm of your hands, the Alpha and the Omega.