Book Review: Amazon Girls Handbook
Amazon Girls Handbook by Becky Thacker
Lesbian Book Reviews/Non-fiction
TITLE: Amazon Girls Handbook AUTHOR: Becky Thacker
ISBN: 0-89733-508-2 PUBLISHER: Wicker Park Press
Think ladies' garden clubs. Think hiking clubs. Think bird watchers. Think competent women in sensible shoes. Think about the Amazon Girl oath, which says, "As an Amazon Girl I promise to always try to be out and proud, to be kind to the beasts, the children, the very old, to live the goof life, and never sweat the small stuff."
Becoming an Amazon Girl is a process. Novice Amazon Girls are known as Tomboys when they learn the oath, the ideals, and the motto: "We're prepared for a few things." When a Tomboy stomps up to Amazon Girl she will begin to earn badges and to select a path (Warrior or Mistress). Supremely dedicated Amazon Girls may aspire to the ranks of Matriarch or even Goddess.
For the less organizationally inclined, the handbook supplies suggestions for activities to build character (or not!), organize outings, improve home life, think about spirituality, support community, learn new skills or have fun, inexpensively.
With humor, Thacker has written a manual for grown-ups who wanted more out of scouts or for those who want to build a community of friends for exploring new things. The book is geared toward lesbians, but with an adjustment of the language anyone can explore the principles in this manual. The categories are Your Home and Family, You and Your Community, The World Around You, and Living Well. She gives exercises the reader can follow to earn badges within these categories, such as picnics, party organizing, camping, hiking, sports, reading, cooking, and tool usage.
Her humor is delightful throughout, but the information is useful for building a bond with new friends or old buddies taking it to the next level, which she calls tribes. Her description of a Warrior reminded me of a lot of butches I have known over the years. "A warrior is an Amazon Girl who is frequently called "sir" by unseeing clerks and waitpersons. She knows that "packing" means more than just filling a suitcase."
Some of her suggestions are just for fun, such as "Mistresses: If you have a sweetie or admirer, find out what outfits or type of outfits she likes you to wear. Wear whatever you feel sexy in; she'll just have to cope." Okay, so maybe this is useful for the Mistress wanting to open up communication with her sweetie, but it allows her to still exert her power over her choices.
Others are useful in exploring something new, so the reader can broaden her horizons. "Research and report on one historical figure from another culture. Share this new information with your family or your tribe, preferably over dinner." Another example is "Visit an art museum or gallery."
There is something in here for everyone, the homebody to the jock. On her website, the reader can buy the badges they earn for the various activities described in the book. I highly recommend this for the humor and for the activities it encourages the reader to try. A lot of the suggestions are geared to get the reader to try new things, including things outside of her comfort zone.
Grab this manual, build a tribe, and learn new things about the world around you.
Review by Ellen Tevault
Reprinted from Rainbow Reviews
Lesbian Book Reviews/Non-fiction
TITLE: Amazon Girls Handbook AUTHOR: Becky Thacker
ISBN: 0-89733-508-2 PUBLISHER: Wicker Park Press
Think ladies' garden clubs. Think hiking clubs. Think bird watchers. Think competent women in sensible shoes. Think about the Amazon Girl oath, which says, "As an Amazon Girl I promise to always try to be out and proud, to be kind to the beasts, the children, the very old, to live the goof life, and never sweat the small stuff."
Becoming an Amazon Girl is a process. Novice Amazon Girls are known as Tomboys when they learn the oath, the ideals, and the motto: "We're prepared for a few things." When a Tomboy stomps up to Amazon Girl she will begin to earn badges and to select a path (Warrior or Mistress). Supremely dedicated Amazon Girls may aspire to the ranks of Matriarch or even Goddess.
For the less organizationally inclined, the handbook supplies suggestions for activities to build character (or not!), organize outings, improve home life, think about spirituality, support community, learn new skills or have fun, inexpensively.
With humor, Thacker has written a manual for grown-ups who wanted more out of scouts or for those who want to build a community of friends for exploring new things. The book is geared toward lesbians, but with an adjustment of the language anyone can explore the principles in this manual. The categories are Your Home and Family, You and Your Community, The World Around You, and Living Well. She gives exercises the reader can follow to earn badges within these categories, such as picnics, party organizing, camping, hiking, sports, reading, cooking, and tool usage.
Her humor is delightful throughout, but the information is useful for building a bond with new friends or old buddies taking it to the next level, which she calls tribes. Her description of a Warrior reminded me of a lot of butches I have known over the years. "A warrior is an Amazon Girl who is frequently called "sir" by unseeing clerks and waitpersons. She knows that "packing" means more than just filling a suitcase."
Some of her suggestions are just for fun, such as "Mistresses: If you have a sweetie or admirer, find out what outfits or type of outfits she likes you to wear. Wear whatever you feel sexy in; she'll just have to cope." Okay, so maybe this is useful for the Mistress wanting to open up communication with her sweetie, but it allows her to still exert her power over her choices.
Others are useful in exploring something new, so the reader can broaden her horizons. "Research and report on one historical figure from another culture. Share this new information with your family or your tribe, preferably over dinner." Another example is "Visit an art museum or gallery."
There is something in here for everyone, the homebody to the jock. On her website, the reader can buy the badges they earn for the various activities described in the book. I highly recommend this for the humor and for the activities it encourages the reader to try. A lot of the suggestions are geared to get the reader to try new things, including things outside of her comfort zone.
Grab this manual, build a tribe, and learn new things about the world around you.
Review by Ellen Tevault
Reprinted from Rainbow Reviews
posted by Erotically Ellen at 10:41 PM
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