ON BOOKSHELVES

SEX FOR AMERICA: Politically Inspired Erotica

Edited by Stephen Elliott
(Harper Perennial, $13.95, Trade Paperback Original)
***

Sex like politics makes for strange bedfellows as this sprightly, unpredictable collection of 24 tales reveals. The stories — surreal, sardonic, farcical, apocalyptic, or even coolly vicious — span the sexual and political spectrums from strictly straight, conservative to very bent, liberal and all points in between. Many of the angriest and most entertaining, like Michelle Lee’s “Music from Earth,” wherein a lesbian sends a good old boy off to war with an unexpected roll in the hay, play riffs on the war in Iraq, the gangsters in the White House, or gay rights. And who could resist an opening line like “I didn’t mean to sodomize Dick Cheney” (“Li’l Dickens” by Jerry Stahl)? Honorable mentions to Alison Tyler, James Frey (yes, Oprah’s whipping boy), Daphne Gottlieb, and Tsaurah Litzky. Even the occasional one-joke anecdote propels this mix of the ridiculous and the tragic—rather as sex and politics often do, come to think of it. —HARRY EUGENE BALDWIN

STRAIGHT ACTING:Gay Men, Masculinity, and Finding True love

Angelo Pezzote
(Kensington Books, $15, Trade Paperback)
***

Angelo Pezzote, a psychotherapist and online advice columnist, argues here about how gay men in their search for loving relationships can scuttle their chances by adhering to the M.O. of butch is always better. Buying the notion of a “real” man—masculine or muscular or “straight acting,” (whatever that is—even heterosexual men can turn homophobic when threatened about it) in the author’s view can interfere with finding out and presenting our true natures to other presumably self-aware men, no matter where we fall on the gender-identity chart. It’s a complex issue (who knows what truly attracts people to love others?) but Pezzote makes a worthy effort to clarify his case. The latter part of the book offers some self-help tips and lists on how to make a happy homosexual, and is not all that original or deeply relevant to his original premise. But it could serve as a follow up to those seriously seeking change. —H.E.B.

LIMITED RUN

An Evening with Anne Lamott and Elizabeth Gilbert

Join these two best-selling authors for an intimate evening as they discuss unconventional spiritual exploration and personal restoration. Partake in the thought-provoking readings and commentaries. Royce Hall, UCLA. Fri., March 28. 8 p.m. $24-48. www.uclalive.org.

Small Press Month Event

Skylight Books in Silver Lake presents the 12th annual Small Press Month Event to celebrate experimental writing and independent publishers. This year's slogan is “Celebrate Good Writing,” so come out and support your indie brethren's creativity and spirit! Skylight Books. Sun., March 30. 5 p.m. www.skylightbooks.com.

Tori Spelling's sTORI Telling

So much has happened since Aaron Spelling's daughter was involved with the West Beverly antics on 90210. Listen to her discuss growing up as Hollywood royalty, the gossip behind the scenes of the top teen soap of the '90s, and her life as a “poor little rich girl.” Book Soup. Mon., March 31. 7 p.m. www.booksoup.com.

Homo Must

Gina Daggett, Kathy Belge's Lipstick's and Dipstick's Essential Guide to Lesbian Relationships

This charming Sapphic duo, each representing opposite sides of the butch/femme spectrum, offers sagely relationship advice for lesbian couples. Ranging from sexual dilemmas to dealing with her bitchy ex, be sure to also catch the list of top ten signs that your relationship just will not work. A Different Light. Mon., April 7. 7:30 p.m. www.adlbooks.com.