1965 Lesbian Pulp Book Review: The Other Side of Desire by Paula Christian

Lesbian sex!

A typical lesbian pulp cover 

Okay, now that I've got your attention... Let me introduce you to the first in what I hope will become a series of book review videos.

For the record, I actually do have some cred when it comes to doing book reviews. My Bachelor's degree is in Communications, English, and Women's Studies, and my Master's degree is in English literature and language. I taught college English courses for many years, until my disability became too severe and I was forced to retire. I also wrote many book reviews and interviewed many authors when I was a journalist. 

Me at 19

I even have extra cred when it comes to doing a review of a lesbian pulp novel: I came out in 1989 at 18 years old, I wrote for gay and lesbian newspapers through the 90s and early 2000s, and I focused a lot on lesbian history in both my undergraduate and graduate degrees.

But mostly I just thought it would be fun to talk about the books I'm reading these days. Because: books! 

I even wore a 60s inspired outfit to review ...

... the 1965, lesbian pulp novel, The Other Side of Desire, by Paula Christian.

What was lesbian pulp? Where could people get it? Who read it? Was any of it any good? What was it like to be a lesbian in the mid 1960s? Why does lesbian pulp have such loopy covers? Is there as much sex in lesbian pulp novels as their covers would suggest? What was a New York city gay bar like in 1965?

Whatever happened to the author, Paula Christian, herself? 

And, most importantly, is The Other Side of Desire worth reading? 

The answer to these and many other questions can be found in my hot off the presses book review on my handy dandy Youtube channel, Charlotte Issyvoo's Sublime Mercies. So come on over, and see what's new. It's where all the cool kids are these days.