The Bright List

Kate on Audio! -- Jewish Lesbian Tattooed Tranny, with a Titanium Knee & Scientologist Past

 

A Queer and Pleasant Danger: The true story of a nice Jewish boy who joins the Church of Scientology and leaves twelve years later to become the lovely lady she is today, by Kate Bornstein

Kate Bornstein writes books condemned by Pope Benedict. She's a self-identified jewish lesbian tattooed masochist tranny, with a titanium knee. She's the definition of an outlaw! So how did she get this way? 

A Queer and Pleasant Danger is Kate's memoir, broken into three parts: growing up a Jewish boy in New Jersey,  joining Scientology as an adult (and leaving 12 years later), and finally, transitioning into a woman, coming out as a lesbian, and joining the BDSM culture. Who says getting old is a drag?

Kate's story is a deliciously matter-of-fact narrative, narrated by Alice Rosengard. Alice, coincidentally, went to college with Kate when she was known as "Al." They were friends!  She called Kate up and they collaborated on the narration process— an unusual and delightful reunion. 

-Aretha Bright

 

 

 

The Funniest, Meanest, Little Deaf Queer Out There - On Audio!

Mean Little Deaf Queer: A Memoir, Terry Galloway

Terry Galloway is, despite her title, a complete charmer.  Her memoir is like an indie movie that has everyone in stitches and simultaneously weeping at Sundance. 

Terry grew up in the 1950s. Her mother had been given an experimental antibiotic while pregnant, which had adverse effects on her fetal nervous system. When Terry was nine, she began to lose her hearing.  But being deaf wasn't going to stop Terry from having her big personality! Even though she was named the "child freak" of her town and faced the worst kind of prejudice, she managed to get back at everyone by faking her own drowning at summer camp. Now that takes balls. 

I listened to Terry's coming out, mental breakdowns, all the colorful characters in her life, and kept thinking, "What's next?" She never disappointed. 

Narrated by Elizabeth Hess.

--Aretha Bright

Trumpet Great Clark Terry Gives Us a Living History of Jazz

Clark: The Autobiography of Clark Terry

The outstanding memoir by jazz great Clark Terry.

Terry is one of the most beloved and recorded jazz trumpeters of all time, and he writes like a veteran yarn-teller— humor, real story guts, great behind the scenes. Clark  takes you right into the heart and soul of the jazz scene and all its players: Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Doc Severinsen, Diane Reeves, and more. 

Clark has been raved about by everyone— from Snoop Dogg to Thelonious Monk III, Aretha Franklin to Clint Eastwood-- too many to name!

Clark Terry is responsible as an educator for the spread of Jazz beyond the pool halls and concert halls bringing it to high schools and conervatories across the nation. He brought young people into the fold, and created America's classical music and contribution to world culture.

Ever active, at ninety years old, Clark Terry still has students that call him from around the world for lessons. Now that's an act hard to follow. 

-Aretha Bright