However, it’s refreshing to see a positive male character (Charlie) in a lesbian novel, a rare sighting among the lesbian novels we have read so far. Who sabotages Emily’s double stitching of bra? What happens to Emily in the end? How come the perspectives in the novel shift suddenly? These are some of the narrative weaknesses in the novel. The character development of Laura is one of the many plot holes we found in the novel. But Bannon circumvented the censorship law by creating a strong and independent character in Laura, although how Laura grows out of her moroseness and morbidity is not clearly shown. I found Ann Bannons Odd Girl Out the year it was published, 1957, in Detroit. We also talked about the circumstances of portraying a lesbian in the 50s: it was prohibited to have a happy ending for LGBTQ. Regarding Laura: We questioned about the stereotypes of a possessive, jealous lesbian. Although she is a “leader,” she is not a good friend to Emily, not advising her to stay away from Budd.

She is portrayed as a butch, attractive to both men and women, but she refuses to make any decisions about her life until the end. (Actually what is her ending? we pondered.)īeth is sexually ambiguous.

We discussed about the significance of the title, and how the three women, Emily, Beth, and Laura, are “odd” in their own ways.Įmily is a strong, loyal, independent friend who doesn’t deserve her ending. Zoe, Raj, and Aaron discussed Ann Bannon’s Odd Girl Out, which is the second bestselling paperback in 1957.

Odd Girl Out by Ann Bannon