If you’ve ever lived in Vermont, this book will make you want to move back! It’s sweet, hopeful, full of seriously funny lines, as in “you will laugh out loud, baby!”, and, ok, get this: the only romance is a very sweet one between two extremely most excellent lesbians! Tex and I read this on the heels of pH by Nancy Lord, and between the two of them, we are both feeling a lot more space and hope and creativity about dealing with the massive horror and overwhelm. A sense of humor, of whimsy, belief in human ingenuity – not the “gee, what will happen if we split the atom” kind, either; the positive kind! – kindness, art, community, lesbian love… These are the things that will get us through; these are the things that will show us what “through” might look like!
Deep gratitude to Bill for loving this fable onto the page, and for all the other millions of generous and loving stuff he does for us all!
A book that’s also the beginning of a movement, Bill McKibben’s debut novel Radio Free Vermont follows a band of Vermont patriots who decide that their state might be better off as its own republic.
As the host of Radio Free Vermont-“underground, underpowered, and underfoot”-seventy-two-year-old Vern Barclay is currently broadcasting from an “undisclosed and double-secret location.” With the help of a young computer prodigy named Perry Alterson, Vern uses his radio show to advocate for a simple yet radical idea: an independent Vermont, one where the state secedes from the United States and operates under a free local economy. But for now, he and his radio show must remain untraceable, because in addition to being a lifelong Vermonter and concerned citizen, Vern Barclay is also a fugitive from the law.
In Radio Free Vermont, Bill McKibben entertains and expands upon an idea that’s become more popular than ever-seceding from the United States. Along with Vern and Perry, McKibben imagines an eccentric group of activists who carry out their own version of guerilla warfare, which includes dismissing local middle school children early in honor of ‘Ethan Allen Day’ and hijacking a Coors Light truck and replacing the stock with local brew. Witty, biting, and terrifyingly timely, Radio Free Vermont is Bill McKibben’s fictional response to the burgeoning resistance movement. (from Bill’s website)
Every Friday, I showcase a queer femme goddess. I want to feature you! Write to me at thetotalfemme@gmail.com and let me shine a spotlight on your beautiful, unique, femme story! New Femme Friday feature starting fall 2018: Books from which queer femmes can draw inspiration. What are your trusted sources of light and love? Please share!
At the Total Femme, my intention is to post three times a week: Meditations for Queer Femmes on Monday, Pingy-Dingy Wednesday on Wednesday and Femme Friday on Friday. Rather than play catch-up in a stressful fashion on those weeks when life prevents posting, I have decided to just move gaily forward: if I miss a Monday, the next post will be on Wednesday, and so on. Thank you, little bottle of antibiotics for inspiring me in this! (“…if it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Don’t take a double dose to make up for a missed one.”)
The Total Femme 