Back Talk

by Saxon Bennett

Book Overview

Anne Counterman is a successful talk show host who is suffering from a mid-life crisis. She is looking for something or someone to rekindle the spark in her life. Hilton Withers is the lesbian lesbian... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1594930287
• ISBN13: 9781594930287
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Bella Books
• Length: 191 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Good Read with Interesting Characters

This is the story of Hilton, an heiress and computer geek, and Anne, a radio talk host. One is a lesbian and the other straight. Hilton is quirky with strange friends while Anne is pretty much a straight-arrow with a wonderfully quirky sense of humor. As the book progresses, the reader watches as Hilton matures in spite of herself. Bennett has created some interesting and likable characters, including the secondary characters. Bennett also provides the reader with some laugh-out-loud scenes such as the all-out search for the kidnapped teddy bear. Plus who can forget Shannon, the Great Pyrenese and constant companion to Hilton, who has an extraordinary vocabulary and a fondness for ham bones. All in all a good read, albeit a little light.

"WKRP" comes out with some queerly quirky fun!

Intelligent, witty, and classy -- not to mention beautiful -- Anne Counterman, a successful talk show host in Seattle, is facing her 40th birthday with trepidation. Over a year ago, her husband Gerald left her for a man, an event that still hurts and haunts her. Further and more currently troublesome, Anne has become bored with her radio work. In an effort to improve her show and rekindle her own interest in work, Anne finds a new web wizard to revamp her website. Enter Hilton Withers. Hilton Withers is also at a turning point. Reared by her grandmother after the death of her mother when she was six, Hilton is "Senator Percy Withers' estranged lesbian ... daughter." (15) For the last few years Hilton has been trying to decide what she'll do with her life. Her grandmother's death has made her heiress to a pickle company fortune and she has fulfilled the estate requirement that she graduate college. Currently Hilton lives in a small garden cottage behind the Victorian house she shared with her grandmother. She moved there because of the perpetual parties hosted by her two roommates and her girlfriend, Nat. Natalie was Hilton's first love, but it is a rocky, complicated, and increasingly disconnected relationship. In truth it's time they broke up but confronting issues is not Hilton's best skill. However, at the radio station Hilton finds that she enjoys her work, begins to think of herself as more accomplished and "adult" and finds that she cares about her coworkers, one in particular. Add to this possible romance a group of quirky characters like: Veronica, the control freak show's producer who, it turns out, could give Martha Stewart a run for her homemaker money and is a "fourth-generation lesbian" (143); Lillian, the show's septuagenarian, hard-of-hearing, call-screener; Hilton's lesbian roommates, Jessie the "irresponsible" one who is looking for her future; and Liz the grad student who is dating a woman who carries around a teddy bear named Amelia Bearhart; and Shannon, Hilton's Great Pyrenees dog, who accompanies her everywhere and is remarkably clear at expressing her opinions. (She's been known to pee on people who are upsetting Hilton.) BACK TALK is an example of what Saxon Bennett does best; She gives readers a fast-paced, funny novel that is delightful to read. She creates the lesbian-centered sit-com that you WISH were on TV, a queer WKRP if you will. Her characterization, especially early in the story, is a little weak and can make differentiating some women confusing. However, the dialogue is quick and witty. The situations range from the outrageous and bawdy -- as when Shannon acquires a large purple silicon pleasure item as a chew toy -- to the touching -- as Amelia Bearhart gets lost (of course), found, and a woman grows as a result. Add a charming romance with some satisfyingly heated exchanges and you too will want to tune in to BACK TALK.

Colorful Cast of Characters... Bennett's Best Yet!

This latest book from Saxon Bennett is probably her best yet. The author tends to deliver books with multiple characters, making the stories hard to follow. However, in 'Back Talk' the sheer number of characters is exactly what makes the book work. Start with Anne Counterman, a seemingly straight, upper class woman whose husband left her for another man. Anne dresses well, lives the good life, and has a successful radio talk show. When she decides to redesign her show's website, she hires heiress and web designer Hilton Withers for the job. One note: Although (as is mentioned on the back cover) Hilton is the estranged daughter of a Senator, this does not impact the story at all. Hilton lives the life of a college student. One of her roomates is a gay man who likes to imbibe. Her other roommate is a conservative, straight woman who considers the others family. Hilton's (ex)girlfriend openly cheats on her, so Hilton has a one-night fling with their flashy new neighbor. It's not until Hilton gives her girlfriend the boot that she realizes how much she wants Anne. Little does she know that Anne is learning new things about herself as well. All this, and I haven't even touched on the colorful characters in Anne's life! Bennett has outdone herself with this one. The story is easy to follow, but is complicated as well. The characters are likable and get into some very interesting situations. It's certainly one of the best new books of lesbian fiction released this year. Read it, you'll be glad you did...