Little Blue Encyclopedia (for Vivian)

256 pages

English language

Published Nov. 13, 2019 by Metonymy Press.

ISBN:: 9780994047199

(1 review)

The playful and poignant novel LITTLE BLUE ENCYCLOPEDIA (FOR VIVIAN) sifts through a queer trans woman's unrequited love for her straight trans friend who died. A queer love letter steeped in desire, grief, and delight, the story is interspersed with encyclopedia entries about a fictional TV show set on an isolated island. The experimental form functions at once as a manual for how pop culture can help soothe and mend us and as an exploration of oft-overlooked sources of pleasure, including karaoke, birding, and butt toys. Ultimately, LITTLE BLUE ENCYCLOPEDIA (FOR VIVIAN) reveals with glorious detail and emotional nuance the woman the narrator loved, why she loved her, and the depths of what she has lost.

1 edition

Goblin reviewed Little Blue Encyclopedia (for Vivian) by Hazel Plante

so good!

5 stars

What writing! How can a book about grieving so be so much fun? How can the author make passages about buttplugs feel so poignant?

The book is not just about coping with grief. The book also beautifully paints a portrait of trans femme friendships and relationships.

The book is full of references to other media, many of them real and many of them fictional. It's worthwhile to follow the real references, the author has good taste.

A note on how to read the book. It's written in the form of an encyclopedia about a fictional TV show. Everyone I've talked to read the book in order. I didn't. I tried to go linearly at first, but only got as far as "B" and then chose a chaotic journey through the encyclopedia following references or just reading what looked good to me. I still saved "Z" for the end. I have …

What writing! How can a book about grieving so be so much fun? How can the author make passages about buttplugs feel so poignant?

The book is not just about coping with grief. The book also beautifully paints a portrait of trans femme friendships and relationships.

The book is full of references to other media, many of them real and many of them fictional. It's worthwhile to follow the real references, the author has good taste.

A note on how to read the book. It's written in the form of an encyclopedia about a fictional TV show. Everyone I've talked to read the book in order. I didn't. I tried to go linearly at first, but only got as far as "B" and then chose a chaotic journey through the encyclopedia following references or just reading what looked good to me. I still saved "Z" for the end. I have no regrets about my choice, but I am told the book is also good to read in ABC order if that's your thing.