Valencia (Live Girls)

I have purchased this book last year, I have been trying to borrow it from a public library for a few years now so this is why I had decided to buy it.I have read "Rose of No Man's Land" by Michelle Tea several years ago, and I enjoyed it.Now with "Valencia", I say it is more of a fictional like memoir if this makes sense. It is very fantastic in its story, which can be so absurd that it comes off as hilarious. I was cracking up laughing out loud at parts that were meant to be funny as well as not.Author Michelle Tea is entertaining as a fictional writer but for a memoir, no. Even if the things written in "Valencia" are all facts, it still comes off as a wild and in your face, "I did this, you did not" prove it antics; actually a little similar to former television show with Johnny Knoxville called Jackass. My opinion: this is fun for the first hour but as it continues it becomes highly ridiculous and losses my attention quickly so I had to put the book down, then read it the next day or two.This book definitely provides the reader an escape from their daily routine and go into a "world" unknown (unless you have had similar experiences as Michelle Tea) however after this, you go right back to your day to day life. While I had finished reading the book, I would say I was slightly inspired to give myself time to write my own experiences for the pleasure of it then I gave up that idea; the ending of this book is confusion which may be why I did not care to write my story. My opinion: I feel life is much more than 15 minutes of fun and exaggeration, it involves all things from boredom to sadness to excitement. Anyways I enjoy writing short stories for fun for myself so I will stick with that. Oh, I do love the front cover especially the photograph of the woman!My overall rating for book "Valencia" is out of ten stars, I give five. For an escape (and/or while traveling) I suggest reading this book, it does have exaggerated stories and characters and a few quirky moments here and there to make you laugh.

Valencia is a fast-paced if slightly meandering memoir of 20-something Michelle Tea's substance-fueled adventures in the 90s San Francisco lesbian scene. The story follows Michelle through a series of friendships, jobs, drunken hook-ups, and, of course, girlfriends--especially her doomed relationship with socially conscious Southern girl, Iris. Tea's language is elastic--by turns spartan and poetic--creating a mobile, richly textured narrative with a voice that sucks you in and propels you forward through the story. The author comes through as fearless and eager, blindingly enthusiastic, in love with love and with the city, by turns casual and obsessive, self-absorbed yet self-aware, and always unapologetic. She makes a compelling narrator, and not always a completely sympathetic one.Tea doesn't dwell on the inner lives of her characters or on the significance the events that befall them, and that can make Valencia seem shallow. (That, and lines like this: "I could never come up with a good reason not to have a beer, so I completely understood. Plus she looked good with a beer in her hand." Or this: "But I wondered about being with someone who tried to stop me from drinking coffee.") The truth is, unlike most memoirs (or most books, for that mater), the trajectory of the plot and the emotional weight of events doesn't seem to be the point of this story. Valencia is, more than anything else, a tribute: to youth, to the particular culture represented by the eclectic cast of characters, and most of all to the city of San Francisco. It's a world Tea brings to life with clarity and honesty and a certain amount of wistfulness. "But back to when it was thick and glistening and alive. I mean life, never knowing what was going to happen."Valencia is a fast, fun read, skillfully narrated and dotted with moments of surprising humor. It might not change your life, but it can definitely brighten your day.

This raw, honest, funny, sad book is a must-read for all! Tea captures the 1990s in San Francisco for queer people in brilliant detail. Very readable. Get to it everyone!

I couldn't read it in one session. The stream of consciousness style is not easy on the reader nor is the life of Michelle Tea in that time of her life. I became interested in Tea's work after reading an interview by Ariel Gore in her book. She talked about her then new book Valencia. I ended up reading her newer book- How to grow up. It was great. So, I bought Valencia. The book is revealing about Tea's life in San Francisco. She drinks, and is obsessed about her girlfriend Iris. The book is about that. But, luckily for the reader, the book shows Tea's soul, which despite alcohol and love addiction is a good one. My daughter is a lesbian and I wanted to know more about the lifestyle of a young woman finding herself and looking for love. I like Michelle Tea. Her writing is better now, but stay with this book as it shows a woman who will do always anything in her quest to be loved. And that need has no gender

Michelle Tea is one of my favorite authors. Her writing style is completely unconventional and her stories engaging and entertaining.I have very much enjoyed every one of her books and I recommend her work to anyone who needs a page turning book.

Entire book can be summed up at the bottom of page 182, "Everyone was horny and bored and drinking too much."

astounding writing! michelle tea's book of girlhood in SF is diabolically wonderful! this was the perfect book for me. it was seedy and beautiful and ecstasy and all those wonderful things. its amazing that she did all those things. i would never have the nerve and its great that she wrote them all down so that we could read about them

The second copy I have bought, so I could share this author with a friend and still keep her for myself!! I LOVE MT's writing and bought all her books I could find after reading Black Wave.

Not sure why I wanted to read a book about SF's lesbian community but glad I did. Excellent writer and interesting book. Bit too much man-hating at one point but I can ignore that. Enjoyable tale.

Michelle Tea's self-indulgent, fast-paced, over-the-top memoirs of her time in the queer lesbian community in San Francisco is sure to stir the waters with its unashamed and unapologetic attitude. There are a great many little giggles, fine observations and good writing along the way, but not so much substance and I must admit that I was surprised to learn towards the end that she was 25 at the time of the book - her behaviour was probably more fitting for somebody in their late teens and I'm sure I would have read the book differently had I known beforehand.Don't expect anything deep or even particularly coherent, but if you want to be entertained by the quite funny ramblings of an imature "I want to try everything at least once - and get bored easily" punk, then this book will not let you down. 3.5 stars

Fast frenetic insight into another world for most. A confirmation for others. An enjoyable read without judgement or preaching that takes the reader on a ride through SF lesbian scene.

Fantastic !