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Just finished this collection of short stories tenuous woven together with the tenuous thread of interpersonal connection and the untamed women at the heart of these tales. I think that if you have a good understanding of classic Japanese ghost stories you will find this anthology easy to connect with as characters become quickly recognizable in their new adaptations. If you aren't, you not only get a great modernized introduction but the book also has a little section in the back that explains the basic tales upon which the stories are based.
Without giving away too much of the plot I do want to call out the fact that these stories are, undeniably, about the strength of women and our need to embrace freedom by engaging our true selves. Some of the vignette like stories may be only a few pages at the start, and yet in their brevity can provide a real gut punch. What may first seem like an echo of the stereotypical sexist rhetoric is adroitly flipped by the author at different points, which is always a pleasant surprise.
I deeply enjoyed this little collection and on a personal note reminded me to reread some of the timeless Japanese folk tales and ghost stories that I haven't taken time to read in over a decade. I believe it's a good jumping off point into Japanese classic literature and can provide a new viewpoint in its adaptations to those who are familiar with the tropes and milieu of characters.
You said you're fit, so if you can get into the team sports crowd in your area that is a place that there are always lesbians and often of all ages, including your age. Softball, soccer, hockey, volleyball, all seem to always have lesbians. Even if you don't meet anyone while participating, I bet they also have friends that might fit your fancy. Go make friends and connections. Meeting women this way has the added perk of expanding your friend circle, too.
At this point I think the internet is one of the last places for meeting women. It's too much under the control of men and handmaidens. Real life seems to be where it's at, and sports are a huge draw for the lesbian community in my experience.
Not a bad idea! I suck at sports, but the local women's soccer scene was pretty gay until COVID hit. I'll have to see if they've started up again, though I might have missed my window for this summer.
I'm in the same boat, but more for finding lesbian friendships. Everything is TIM or "non binary" catering, and it's insane
I'm going to a lesbian event tomorrow night, so we'll see if I can conjure up anyone IRL who's not nonbinary or right out of college. The event stressed that it was "inclusive", so I might be in my personal hell, but I've already deleted HER off my phone and I'm ignoring Bumble altogether.
Just chiming in with another vote for women's sports. Great way to make friends and meet other lesbians. A woman I dated was involved in casual local women's sports teams and she had quite the network. Great way to get sunshine and exercise, too. I want to try my hand at it again. I had a lot of fun with her.
I wish I was the least bit good at sports! I'm also a femme looking for another femme, so I might be barking up the wrong tree with sports honestly, but there is something really appealing about a sporty lady with long pretty hair lol. I looked into what sports I have locally available, and there's men's softball and coed softball. Women's softball is mentioned, but seems to have been swallowed by the coed softball category. Hm, I wonder why that would be.......
I feel you on the sports thing. I’m very short and skinny with some physical issues so I wouldn’t be able to go that route to find and connect with other lesbians.
I'm also a femme looking for another femme
Same for me as well, mostly.
I would've said that you should try roller derby tournaments, but those have been infiltrated by TIMs, gender specials and beer-guzzling straight men wanting to see women in booty shorts (at least where I am).
Yes, the local roller derby is entirely captured. One of my neighbors participates. Her house is covered in rainbow flags, but she's in a long term heterosexual marriage. Maybe she's bisexual, but her house is still gayer than mine has ever been. The other women I know in roller derby are similarly paired up with men or are very on board with the gender manifesto.
I was gonna reach out and recommend the MichFest reunion if you hadn't already posted about it. Def recommend it for meeting other lesbians. If anyone reading this wants more info on it, pm me! I went last year.
MichFest is doing a reunion?
In my area, every lesbian I know is involved in team sports (no matter how casual), animal rescue, or both.
Forget apps, forget anything advertised as being for lesbians or "LGBTQ" - both will be crawling with men at this point.
Good luck and have fun!
I have been involved with animal rescue, but at least here, it seems to skew much older than me. Lots of retirees, though! I'm also involved in local environmental groups, which I have met lesbians there but no one I clicked with. It sounds like team sports is my last safe haven, then!