Margins
Pissing in a River book cover
Pissing in a River
2014
First Published
3.52
Average Rating
256
Number of Pages

“An honest and genuine DIY punk-rock lesbian love story.” — Kirkus Reviews Amanda moves to London with nothing but her guitar and her collection of punk music as the soundtrack to her every move. With the company of a few friendly voices in her head, she looks for—and finds—a best friend and new lover. She forms a band, Lesbian Raincoat, and completely rewrites the story of her life. In this irreverently funny yet profound novel, Amanda risks deportation, recalls the fervor of AIDS activism in the United States, connects to the class struggle of punk, and finds redemption in love. But she also must confront her own mental illness, her lover’s rape, and the violence of post-9/11 politics. Pissing in a River captures the glee and turbulence of surviving the cacophony of modern life. “A love letter to the obsessions that captivated an outcast punk, politics, passion, and provocation.” —Maria Raha, author of Cinderella’s Big Women of the Punk and Indie Underground

Avg Rating
3.52
Number of Ratings
61
5 STARS
21%
4 STARS
26%
3 STARS
38%
2 STARS
13%
1 STARS
2%
goodreads

Author

Lorrie Sprecher
Lorrie Sprecher
Author · 3 books
Lorrie Sprecher is the author of Pissing in a River, Sister Safety Pin and Anxiety Attack. She was a member of ACT UP/DC, has a PhD in English and American literature, and resides with her dog Kurt in Syracuse, New York. The punk song “It’s a Heteronormative World, No!” recorded by her band Sugar Rat appears on a compilation put out by Riot Grrrl Berlin.
548 Market St PMB 65688, San Francisco California 94104-5401 USA
© 2025 Paratext Inc. All rights reserved