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6 reasons you should be jealous you weren't at Bear Bergman's Brooklyn reading last Sunday...
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..but how you can make yourself feel better by reading Bear's new book
1.Bear called the crowd “attractive” not once, but twice.
2.The crowd was attractive. As well as cool, but not too cool to be chatty. Bonus!
3.Mini-cheesecakes.
4.The reading was at this kick-ass little performance space in Williamsburg called Collect Pond. And it turns out Tom Leger who is I dunno, Co- King of the Space, named it after hearing Bowery Boys Podcast of the same name. A performance space started by queer NYC history geeks? Super double bonus!
5. Oh technically,I suppose, I should mention the reading. It totally rocked, which is not really surprising, because Bear is a performer as well as an author. The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You is a collection of personal essays but some of them do have a bit of an academic bent. Bear could have read the more gendertheoryish pieces and then we would have been reminded how smart Bear is. Instead, the pieces Bear chose to read were straight up heartfelt stories about homophobic encounters with potential airline seatmates, conversations at the fertility clinic, midwestern tourists assisting with queer romance in San Francisco, and my favorite, visiting grandparents.
6.Speaking of visiting grandparents, Bear's piece “Dutiful Grandchild” made people cry. But you know, in the good way. And I know I'm always beating the “start a revolution, stop hating your family” drum, but when the Awards for Creative Expression About Positive Queer Encounters With Family of Origin are finally started (PFLAG, this is all you) “Dutiful Grandchild” should be the first nominee.
7.I loved the way Bear handled the question of Why Are Oppressed People Often So Hellbent on Being Helpful. You'll have to read the book yourself if you want to know Bear's take. Bluestockings has copies in stock or you can order it directly from the publisher.
