Strange Sisters: The Art of Lesbian Pulp Fiction 1949-1969

Amazon.com

Do you walk alone, a twilight lover? Odd one out? Warped? Troubled? Twisted? Jaye Zimet, a Brooklyn book designer and collector, has filled Strange Sisters with over 200 sleazily appealing book covers from the boom years of the lesbian pulp novel, arranging them in groups from "Positive Portraits" and more ambitious "Cliterature" to "Psycho-Babble" and an entire section devoted to cleavage. Although large numbers of their original readers in the '50s and '60s were lesbians or protolesbians hoping for a glimpse of themselves or for some tenuous connection to an almost mythical community of "unnatural lovers," the covers of these books were clearly targeted to a primary audience of furtive young men. Scantily clad, buxom blondes simper under the gaze of older, "experienced" brunettes sometimes wearing trousers or short hair but never without lipstick. To the eye of Ann Bannon and her contemporaries, these women seemed as "straight as a pine tree." But "despite the almost comical distance between the covers and the contents," Bannon concludes in her foreword, "the books found both their intended audiences.... If there was a solitary woman on the cover, provocatively dressed, and the title conveyed her rejection by society or her self-loathing, it was a lesbian book." --Regina Marler

Book Description

A vivid, sexy, and titillating journey into the steamy underworld of the dime novel.

In the scandalous world of pulp fiction in the 1950s and into the 60s, detectives, gangsters, and mad doctors were joined on the racks by bad girls, dissolute youths, drug-crazed beatniks, and other assorted miscreants and misfits. Where romance met with soft porn there was also a surprisingly large population of butch brunettes pursuing and seducing blond femmes. This was an alternate universe of erotic pulp fiction where gals and dolls were exploring the illicit pleasures of lesbian love--much to the delight of a largely male, heterosexual readership. Before the sexual revolution of the 1960s, these books offered a thrilling peek into the deviant underworld of wild passion and scandalous sex.

Strange Sisters is a collection of the cover art of these wildly wicked novels. The women who writhe across the covers of books such as Strange Lust ("She Wanted a Woman--Then She Met Another Woman Obsessed by the Same Burning Hunger") and Women's Barracks ("The Frank Autobiography of a French Girl Soldier") sizzle with sexual energy and freedom--in a high-camp defiance of the prudish, conservative 1950s. Bold, kitschy-colorful, and fraught with sexual tension, the covers of Strange Sisters are a siren call to the retro-groovin' man, or woman, in your life.

Customer Reviews:

no matter what your persuasion..........2004-07-02

As a straight male and a pulp/paperback enthusiast, I approached this book curiously, wondering if I was really its "intended audience." I didn't know whether the book had some hidden agenda. After a look, I see that it's a real gem and no political manifesto. This is a great exposition of the illustrators who (at least then) toiled in anonimity, creating this wonderfully evocative art. The art reproductions are excellent, with interesting text. I recommend.

Cool Covers.......2003-01-09

I got this for a friend of mine who likes old pulp covers. They loved it. I checked it out and liked it too. The covers are great. I wish there was more commentary to go along with the covers. Maybe even a little excerpt from a few of the book to see what they were like. Other than that shortcoming I loved the covers. So did my friend.

A marvelous collection of scandalous cover art.......2002-08-25

I was really intrigued by "Strange Sisters: The Art of Lesbian Pulp Fiction 1949-1969," by Jaye Zimet. The book also features a foreword by writer Ann Bannon. The book is basically a collection of full color reproductions of the cover art of lesbian-themed books.

Pictured is the art from books with titles like "Women's Barracks," "Women in Prison," "Reform School Girls," "Warped Women," and "By Love Depraved." There is a gallery of art from Bannon's historically significant books, as well as a gallery of covers from different editions of "The Well of Loneliness" (the mother of all lesbian novels). The cover art is often titillating, often outrageous; there are occasional hints of violence and some really poignant images. A fascinating historical collection of images of lesbianism in popular culture.

Cleavage! Cleavage! Cleavage!.......2001-02-09

The 50s and 60s strapped women into undergear that created cleavage only since surpassed by Xena. This collection features covers from lesbian pulp fiction of that era and the cleavage is eye-popping! It's delightful to thumb through, a real blast from the past to read.

Aside from the cover art is the copy from the covers. Phrases like "The Savage Novel of a Lesbian on the Loose" and "Blunt revelations of what happens when deviate women seek advancement in the business world" and "His new girl-wife was a vibrant, virgin beauty...and a sensual, shrewd, licentious lesbian!"

Then there's the pure trash ... titles like "Satan was a lesbian" and "Man Hater" with covers so campy they made me laugh. All in all, this a really fun book and quite a conversation piece!

A Must Have For Paperback Book Collector.......2000-07-07

This is an excellent reference book for collectors of lesbiana, general paperback collectors, and book dealers. Practically every lesbian pb printed in the 50s and 60s is shown. The only problem: if you are a collector you may die of envy, since the author owns all the titles!

Strange Sisters : The Art of Lesbian Pulp Fiction 1949-1969

Average customer rating:

Strange Sisters : The Art of Lesbian Pulp Fiction 1949-1969
Zimet; Jayne
Manufacturer: Viking Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KK2HLA

Average customer rating:

Strange Sisters, The Art of Lesbian Pulp Fiction 1949-1969
Jaye Zimet
Manufacturer: Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OIZIBO

Average customer rating:

Strange Sisters, The Art of Lesbian Pulp Fiction 1949-1969
Jaye Zimet
Manufacturer: Viking Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000P8HVRC

Book Description

The twenty essays in this volume fall into four sections. Part I (History) includes studies of the Khitat of Maqrizi and family affairs and waqfs at the Mamluk court, while Part II (Architecture and Urban History) presents essays on subjects such as graffiti and Mamluk religious and domestic architecture. Part III (Decorative Arts) examines Mamluk pottery and enameled glass, and Part IV (Preservation of the Urban and Architectural Heritage) discusses the economic implications of urban preservation and the present situation of the historical city of Cairo.

Contributors: Khaled Asfour, Doris Behrens-Abouseif, Sylvie Denoix, Leonor Fernandes, Finbarr Flood, Jean-Claude Garcin, Oleg Grabar, Howyda al-Harithy, Husam Ismail, Sabri Jarrar, Chahinda Karim, Bernard O'Kane, Nasser Rabbat, André Raymond, John Rodenbeck, J.M. Rogers, Ismail Serageldin, Tarek Swelim, François Vigier, Abd al-Ra'uf Ali Yusuf.

Book Description

Photographs by Nic Nicosia.

Customer Reviews:

QUIRKY PHOTOGRAPHY, QUIRKY IDEAS..........2001-05-21

Nicosia's work remains to be diverse yet striking. Throughout the book the reader can see the versatility and changes the photographer has made to his work. His early work depicts images of distress (hurricanes, violence) in almost a cartoon-like manner, and initially there is a very 80s look to this work. Nicosia attempts an array of subject matter, and it is the fact that some work is suggestive that insists on its very emphasis and power. Themes like sex and paedophilia are hinted at, yet not blatantly suggested. Context and scenario are major concepts for Nicosia, and the video stills towards the end of the novel are very much reminiscent of American Beauty. A very good photographer, and a very good photography book.

Book Description

At the center of this epic tale of Heaven and Hell and forbidden love is high-school student Setsuna Mudo. He's no angel - he's completely tactless around girls, has an unpredictable temper, and can become extremely violent. That he comes from a broken home and is in love with his sister Sara just makes matters worse. Add teenage hormones and major issues with his mother, and you've got the recipe for one troubled kid. And then Setuna's reality becomes seriously twisted when his past life as an angel comes to plague the present and threatens to destroy the future...

Average customer rating:

Keeps the story rolling

Angel Sanctuary Series

Angel Sanctuary

Angel Sanctuary: Angels, Demons, and Sinners

its like the lord of the rings. only better.

Angel Sanctuary Vol. 17 (Tenshi Kinryoku) (in Japanese)
Kaori Yuki
Manufacturer: Hakusen Sha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

Shojo (Girls) | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
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Angel Sanctuary, Volume 17 (Angel Sanctuary)

ASIN: 4592176677

Book Description

When Sara¹s classmate, Ruri, received a computer disk from a strange man, Setsuna shows up to whisk her away from him. After lecturing Ruri about talking to weirdos, Setsuna comments she¹s much cuter without glasses, which she dropped in the confusion. Unfortunately, neither of them have been watching the news which reports of mysterious deaths occurring in connection with the CD-ROM "Digital Angels." The disk Ruri received is this same "Digital Angels" disk, and without knowing the danger, Setsuna lets her keep it. As soon as Ruri uses the program, her personality starts to change, and strange things begin to happen as Evils and angels seek the Setsuna¹s soul for their own mysterious motives....

Customer Reviews:

Keeps the story rolling.......2007-07-16

The series is still strong. If you have gotten this far you'll buy this manga.

Angel Sanctuary Series.......2007-01-21

I was turned onto this series just by it's beautiful artwork. The syle is truely unique and angelic...no wounder it's about angels.

The story starts off as a young teenage boy soon finds out that he is in love with is sister! As if that could be strange wait till you here this. The boy, Setsuna, is the re-incarnation of one of the most powerful angel's in history; and now people all over heaven and hell want him.

What will it take to convince Setsuna, that he is greatly needed by humanity...

I hope you thought this useful...

Hypnotic~

Angel Sanctuary.......2006-10-20

This book is mainly focused around Setsuna Mudo and his forbidden love with his little sister Sara. Things get complicated almost immediatly (as it has a plot, a subplot and lots of extras), angels, evils, monsters, evil cd-roms that kill you and craziness insue.

Basically Setsuna is the reincarnation of the Organic Fallen angel Alexial, who has three wings, incredible power and a physchotic twin brother, Rosiel who she 'failed' to kill in the great battle. His best friend is Kira, who seems to be guiding Setsuna, and has been following Alexial through her multiple rebirths. Sara, Setsuna's sister and lover seems like just a normal girl, but is she? Many other seemingly 'background' characters come into role and the whole story starts rolling.

The drawing is so beautiful, I've been turned into a complete Kaori Yuki worshipper. I own her artbook and have read lots of her other works (I recommend Godchild). The characters are so gorgeous, you'll fall in love with them.

The plot is very very twisted and intricate. You have to read the volumes in order, otherwise it will make no sense. I have reread the first few volumes many times to understand (the first volume especially, as the first few pages don't focus on Setsuna) I first read this when I was about 12, so it was desperatly confusing, but it gets easier to read as thigns start falling into place. It's one of those things where all of a sudden a lightbulb lights up and you totally understand everything that happened.

It's such a great manga, it's so gorgeous and has a gorgeous story to go a long with it, what more could you want?

Angel Sanctuary: Angels, Demons, and Sinners.......2006-04-19

Book:

Setsuna is a confused teenager, that girls would die to have, he is somewhat of a player but he only loves one person...his sister Sara. He knows that it isn't right and so he tries to avoid her but in the proccess he gets mixed up with a bunch of demons that say he is the reincarnation of a really powerful angel.

Does Sara love him...

You find out...

-----
My Opinion:

I enjoyed this book in fact I love the series and the art work. I find it funny and at the same time it has that element of seriousness...now I'm not one to encourege insestious relationships but this book didn't bother me to much about it...

I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

its like the lord of the rings. only better. .......2006-04-16

many reviews say angel sanctuary is not for beginers. to many plot lines, is the major complaint. however, if youve ever read series of novels such as 'a song of ice and fire' or 'wheel of time', then i think you could pick this up easy. as long as you start from the begining.
that said, on to the actuall review.

first of all, the artwork. in a word, brilliant. kaori yuki is one of my favorite manga artists for this work alone. stylish without being to over the top, angel sanctuary is beautiful. also, pick up the art book that goes with the series.

the story of angel sanctuary is one of the best ive ever read. the main charactar, setsuna, is a 15 year old kid who has a few problems. his parents are divorced, he gets beat up, and apparently he is the reincarnation of a (female) angel who, a long time ago, rebelled against god. as if that werent enough, he is in love with his sister sara. some might say, "oh, thats disgusting!", but really, thats one of the parts that makes this story so interesting. its a true love story.
later on in the series, it gets very violent, and the incest theme is intensified, so the strictly religios or weak of heart, stay far away. as for age limits, i read it last year when i was 14, and i was hooked. (it was also my first manga.) still, i dont know to many 14 year olds who read as much as i do.

for my closing, this (along with the demon ororon) is the best manga i have ever read. the artwork is bliss, the story is (at 20 volumes) extremly well done. with tons of violence, exteremly good charactars, and a love story at the core, you cant get much better then angel sanctuary.

Average customer rating:

Angel Sanctuary 17
Kaori Yuki
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Good book but I've seen it's type before

King Kong Cometh
Paul A. Woods
Manufacturer: Plexus Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
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King Kong Cometh pays homage to the colossal gorilla who has wreaked havoc on the silver screen since 1933. This vividly illustrated compendium traces the evolution of King Kong, from his predecessors in the jungle-movie travelogues of the 1920s and 1930s to B-movies and American and Japanese spin-offs of the legendary motion picture. Highlights include the infamous faked "mondo movie" Ingagi, the influence of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World, Edgar Wallace's original story, Kong animator Ray Harryhausen, scream queen Fay Wray, the impact of Kong on monster mags of the fifties, sixties, and seventies, Dino de Laurentis's remake of King Kong in 1976, and finally, the cinematic event of 2005 — Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson's multimillion dollar remake of King Kong. Offering the best new and vintage writings on King Kong, his forebears, and his descendants, King Kong Cometh provides monster coverage to satiate the avid King Kong fan. Includes 100 black-and-white photos.

Customer Reviews:

Good book but I've seen it's type before.......2006-01-16

Much of the material is familiar to me as I recall reading a book about King Kong back in the 90's that was a lot like this one. I do not recall the other book's title but I feel certain this book deliberately draws heavily from it. This book goes back and forth between the different Kong films a little too much (it would have been better to keep the descriptions of the films in more sequential order) but it is very imformative just the same.

Average customer rating:

King Kong Cometh

Manufacturer: PLEXUS PUBLISHING
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GRE5NA

Book Description

his comprehensive text by Anthony Maiello on the art of conducting is designed to be hands-on, user-friendly, playable by any instrumentation, step-by-step approach to baton technique, great for use with a wind, string or voice conducting class, and excellent as a refresher course for all conductors at all levels of ability. The 232-page book covers a variety of conducting issues, included CD contains all the musical exercises in the book (there are more than 100), and the video enhances various topics covered in the book.

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The New York Times Crosswords for a Weekend Getaway: 200 Easy, Breezy Puzzles
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The New York Times Crosswords for a Weekend Getaway: 200 Easy, Breezy Puzzles

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The New York Times Crosswords for a Weekend Getaway: 200 Easy, Breezy Puzzles
Will Shortz The New York Times
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Barbara McRae Interviewed by Randy Gilbert on The Inside Success Show : Barbara McRae, founder of "Teen Frontier International", talks about her book Coaching Your Teen to Success
Barbara McRae , and Randy Gilbert
Manufacturer: The Inside Success Show Interviews
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
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Book Description

Randy Gilbert was privileged to interview Barbara McRae on The Inside Success Show.

The topic for this interview is "Coaching Teens to Success" and before you dismiss this show as not for you let me just say that I believe any adult who works with or even knows any teens that could use their help should pay close attention.

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She also says advanced communication skills are imperative with you teens, no matter if you're a single parent, a step-parent, a married couple or a concerned aunt or uncle.

If you desire a better future and want to help this next generation to be more accountable, respectful, and contributing adults - then I highly recommend you set aside 60 minutes and get something to take notes so you can get started right away.

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