The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a 6’ 4”, African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama’s Boy, Dad, And Stand-Up Comedian by W. Kamau Bell

read by the author

I was on a non-fiction kick but needed something not-tragic after Just Kids. Not exactly light reading--Mr. Bell never lets the reader get quite that comfortable--but he is definitely funny. (Plus I didn’t keep wondering who was going to die of AIDS or an overdose next.) Mr. Bell first came to my attention because of the incident at the Elmwood Cafe, and I’d been curious about him ever since, so this memoir seemed like a good way to satisfy my curiosity. As expected, he is funny and smart and doesn’t hold back and he made me question myself and wish we could go out for beers. A very enjoyable book and now I want to watch United Shades of America. When I can find time between episodes of Star Trek: Discovery and The Good Place.

The Big Book of Bisexual Trials and Errors

by Elizabeth Beier

My partner gave me this graphic novel for Christmas and I started reading it on New Year’s Eve. It’s very specific and awkward and hyperlocal and quite wonderful. It’s an autobiographical account of the author’s adventures as she moves to Berkeley and becomes actively (as opposed to merely hypothetically) bisexual. She also spends quite a bit of the book waxing lyrical about the last days of the Lexington. Vividly drawn and highly relatable, even though I’m not of her generation and reading this book *seriously* made me feel that.