by Jennifer Matos

Remember the dread you felt when, as a high school student, you were handed a summer reading list?  There are two books related to the L Word that you should consider taking a look at.

The first is the book that L Word.com reported on during its release, Welcome to Our Planet.  The book is marketed as a companion to the Showtime series.  Written by Kera Bolonik with an introduction by Ilene Chaiken, Welcome to Our Planet is a must-have for the dedicated and die-hard L Word fan.

The book will not help any reader who wants a glimpse into what happens in Season Four.  It does not give any hints as to what becomes of Shane and Carmen, what Bette does while traveling with baby Angelica, or any other scraps that one would like to have fall from the L Word table.  It does recap Season Three, however, at the end of the book.

What it happens to be is a beautiful 242 page collection of unknown facts and never before seen photos.  Beginning with Alice’s famed “Chart”, one can easily get lost pouring over the publication, one can read about how the actresses feel about their characters, what their favorite sets are, read through a list of songs for each episode, enjoy interviews with straight actresses shooting lesbian love scenes and so much more.  Most noticeably, however, is the fact that the photos are so bold and colorful that this book practically jumps off the shelf.

Another book to consider tossing in your beach bag this summer is Reading the L Word: Outing Contemporary Television, edited by Kim Akass and Janet McCabe with an introduction by Sarah Warn.  Reading the L Word is a series of 20 contributions about what the L Word has to say about lesbians and what lesbians have to say about the L Word.  The book is as interesting read as it delves into the benefits of showcasing lesbian characters when there is hardly a venue for such representation, and offering some insights into queer politics. 

The 280 page book discusses everything from music, feminism, sex, race, and so much more.  Guinevere Turner, writer for the L Word, is also featured in the book and offers more of a family tree rather than a “Chart” with a crystal ball thrown in for good measure.  She discusses how the characters developed and hints at what will become of them.

Needles to say, these two books are great companions to the series and an interesting way to fill the void while Season 4 is in production.

You will find yourselves running toward your bookstore (rather than away from it) to get these books.