WAITING FOR CORDELIA

by Herbert Gold ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 23, 1977

Here's giddy Gold again, jogging hard to keep ahead of trends in that trendiest of cities, San Francisco, with that trendiest of mayoral candidates, anti-sexist Marietta Kirwin, and that trendiest of labor leaders, mad madam Cordelia of WOO, the Whore's Union. As narrator Al Dooley--ex-bankrobber, now sociology, prof at Berkeley--takes notes, Marietta threatens and begs Cordelia (""As a sister"") to cease her public agitation on behalf of hookerkind. Cordelia demurs, being idealistic (""How can I protect the nice buUdyke hookers if they don't know how to live with finesse?"") and work-loving enough to accommodate a whole black basketbaU team that arrives on horseback. Her supporters include her johns, her girls (Rose Ann's on furlough from Sarah Lawrence), aging painter Cody (a hopeless heterosexual determined to branch out), lawyer Luigi (no longer wed to a sexchange pro blocking guard), and record producer Sam (no longer wed to all three of The Epitomes). By the time that WOO goes on the march, Gold has in fact come up with as many knowingly funny lines as pages--mantras, snuff movies, Valium, landmark preservation--but with no preparation for Al's pseudo-tragic farewell to Cordelia (""This sadness. This loneliness. This loss""). Like bisexual barkeep Lester says to Al, ""You alive? You more like doing a survey, man.

Pub Date: May 23, 1977

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Arbor House

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1977

Categories: FICTION