"Olivia" is the story of a teenage girl away at boarding school, and her intense feelings for one of the two women who run it. In some (good) ways, this reminds me of Nevada Barr's "Bittersweet" and Sylvia Brownrigg's "Pages For You", which are both favorites of mine, and both concern girls whose first loves are (somewhat) older women.
First love is gorgeous and awful and all-consuming and unforgettable; Olivia finds all that out first hand. Don't be misled...there is no sex and very little physical contact in this story, but the emotions burn red hot. It has the feel of a classic tragedy, and also of a really good YA novel of today.
The story is loosely based on Marie Souvestre's Allenswood Academy, attended by both the author and Eleanor Roosevelt, among many other notables of the first half of the 20th century. But this is not about anyone, really, except Olivia and Mlle. Julie. There were times when I had to set it down and just let a scene wash over me. It's very smoothly written, full of heart, joy and sadness; it simply blew me away. Highly recommended.
Thievery comes naturally to you; you like it-- don't imagine I missed that smirk. Yes, you better turn tail and run! (or will those charms always work?) Rotten rat-- always grin and tease like that-- Young one, so adorable and sneaky smart. You won me over, you little bandit-- puppy love from the start. _______
for Flash 55 at Real Toads. I took on the added form challenge as well. This poem is for my little wild girl Skittles, who cannot read, but what the heck. She's a puppy!
Neptune sold his time share. Now he runs a riding stable in upstate New York. Venus can't pull off those young fashions anymore without looking a little desperate, and Janus got a gig as a doorman in Miami-- he can scan both sides of the street for a cab. Diana and Egeria are lavender girls, if you know what I mean; best friends, my ass. Survey says, Vulcan and Vesta can't keep burning it up forever, but somebody's got to make up for Minerva, always studying for another Master's. Remember when we used to chant: Boys go to Jupiter to get more stupider; girls go to Mars to get more candy bars. Ceres is knocked up again. I guess going vegan didn't slow her down a bit. And Apollo, wellll, Apollo.... who knew he could lie like that? He had us all fooled and now he'll do a dime up at Jackson.
I bought Neptune's time share from the silly fucks who got it from him. Now I get my two weeks, but it won't be like it was when your skin was dark and shining.
The lake is frozen, you spun some shit about having to work, and so what do I do now-- now that I know that even an off-season goddess is just another dumb girl after all? ________
for Hannah's challenge at Real Toads. "Lavender girls" (and "twilight girls") was pulp novel code for lesbians, back in the day.
I was old when I fell in love. You should have seen the local teenagers-- so respectful as they removed my heavy groceries, my shoulder bag and my house keys.
My blood had gone sluggish in my veins, like the biddy who holds up the drug store line, blindly picking ancient coins from a tiny purse. Is that a penny or a dime? Systolic or diastolic? How much was it, again?
Oh go ahead, laugh. I was old when I fell in love, like the bird that goes bright after blundering into a window-- red as a June rose, sliding slowly down the pane, as elegant as a silent-era diva expiring in the fourth reel.
And my beloved? She bakes, and goes up in the trees searching the branches all morning long. In late afternoon when I begin to nod, she tells me there is a future for everyone. Then she offers me cake, fluff filled with holes, made to rise with crossed fingers, oil, and eggs. _______
Hi, I'm Skittles. I've been dognapped by a crazy poet lady and held here for months now! I only have a few dozen toys, and sometimes she even stops petting me. Now today I heard her talking on the phone about a trip to see the doggy doctor. Someone save me! Put my picture on a milk carton! Helllppp!
Olivia: A Novel by Dorothy Strachey
