A to Z of me - B

Here's another instalment of the A to Z of me. I missed last month because I'm an idiot, but here I am with B!

An author I love:

Judy Blume - I was obsessed with her books when I was younger, and I still think Forever is an excellent portrayal of a teenaged sexual relationship.

Simone de Beauvoir - I haven't read any of her stuff in ages but she was very formative in my early feminism. 

A band I love:

Babyshambles - I've loved the Libertines for a long time, and Peter's other band too. 

Blur - Blur was the first ever gig I saw, at Leeds Town & Country Club in February 1997. I don't listen to them much now but they meant a lot when I was a teenager.

The Beatles - yes it's obvious but my dad liked them. I'm not keen on much of their stuff but I do LOVE Sgt Pepper. I can listen to it from start to finish and feel comforted. 

Billie Holiday - I did a project on her song Strange Fruit at 6th form and still love to listen to her. 

Bob Dylan - I only got into Bob a few years ago but I especially love Desolation Row and Tangled Up in Blue.

Something I love:

Bees! Lovely black and yellow bees! 

Lee and a couple of my friends call me Bee, as a shortening of Rebecca, so I have lots of gifts from them with bees on them. 

A film I love:

Beautiful Thing - this film, about two boys falling in love during a heatwave in the mid 90s, is one of my favourite LGBTQ films. I love how gentle it is. I recommend it!

Somewhere I have been:

Brussels - Lee and I went the February after I turned 18 in 2002. I'd like to go back now we're older, but I was very proud of how we managed to get there on the Eurostar and get around. I had such confidence then!

Somewhere I would like to go:

Barcelona - I have actually been - we went to the 1992 Olympics when I was 8, but I don't remember much of it. I'd love to see it as an adult.

Someone I know:

My friend Bettie who did an excellent job organising Sheffield Zine Fest again! 

A to Z of me: A

I've decided to do a new thing every month where I talk about things I like related to each letter of the alphabet. I like the idea that this will take me over two years to complete! I will post on the 19th of each month. If anyone would like to join in, please do!

An author I love:
Margaret Atwood: I first read The Handmaid's Tale when I was around 15. I regularly reread it (when rereading is something I don't do as a rule) and get more out of it each time. I've also read Cat's Eye and Alias Grace. She's amazing.

A band I love:
Ash: I got into Ash when I was around 13 in 1997 and their album 1977 was one of my favourites of the Britpop era. My favourite song is probably Oh Yeah.
Arctic Monkeys: My friend Laura told me in 2005 about this band who were about to be massive. I really loved the demo tracks I downloaded, like A Certain Romance, Fake Tales of San Francisco, and Mardy Bum. I'd never heard anyone sing in an accent like mine! Laura and I saw them in Fibbers in York, which is TINY. I loved them, but I didn't like the second album. Still, I'm glad I saw them when I did
Amy Winehouse: I'm still not over the fact she's dead. I loved her voice and her look and how she just did what she wanted to do. I was in Matlock Bath with Lee's band on the day she died, and was so shocked. I love Back to Black best, and also her cover of Sam Cooke's Cupid
Alice Cooper: I was a huge Alice fan in my teens and saw him aged 16 when I'd just left school.

Something I love:
Adding up - well I'm not sure I love it, but I sure do do enough of it in my bookkeeping jobs!

A film I love:
About Time: this, starring Domhnall Gleeson as a time traveller and Rachel McAdams as his wife, was really underrated, in my opinion. I really enjoyed it. I love Rachel McAdams though. I'd watch her reading out loud the phone book.

Somewhere I have been:
Lake Annecy in France. Lee and I went with my parents in 2004. It's so beautiful, really pretty. We had a great time, including a storm overnight which nearly wrecked the caravan awning, but which I saw from safely inside the caravan...!

Somewhere I would like to go:
Australia to see my friend Mellissa and her family. I've known Melly online since the late 90s and would love to meet her in person. 

Someone I know:
Amy: I met my friend Amy on one of my first days at 6th form college in September 2000 and we've been friends ever since. She's so full of life and funny and creative and passionate. She got me into camping! I adore her. 

What's in your As?