What Are the Best LGBTQ Novels and Have I Read Them?

[@egapnala65]

"City Of Nights" by John Rechy from the 1960's which was the first book to cover the gay hustling scene. AIDS literature should not be missed either a whole generation of writers was pretty much wiped out David Rees "The Wrong Apple" and David Feinberg's "Eighty Sixed" and the two books that followed it spring to mind immediatly. They both went out screaming. Also there's the "Boys Like Us" trilogy by Peter Megehee (?) the last volume of which was completed posthumously by his partner who then also died from AIDS.

[@caleba9648]

I spat out my tea when you said you haven't read dorian grey yet. It's a truly fascinating book in so many ways, and fairly short too! I think it would be a fun late summer/early fall read. Aside from that, I own almost every book on this list but I've only read about 40% of them so far.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Wow, you've done well with this list! I have a copy of Dorian Gray. It's just finding the time to fit it in.

[@geraldparker8125]

Yeah, I add a voice to that surprise and to the sheer wonder at the quality and originality of The Picture of Dorian Gray. If you can find one, try to get an edition that has the original text of the novel, which is much more sexually explicity than the final version. Anyway, any of the versions that the author left is wonderful on its own terms.

[@shawnbreathesbooks]

Loving the red cleavage on your Haring tee! 🌈😂 Given you’ve read Giovanni’s Room twice (once more than I have) I highly recommend last year’s Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski. I had Zami on my shelf for years and years, and I’m pretty sure I did actually read it at one point but so long ago that I remember nothing at all about it. I am willing to predict Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit will be a Greg book! Remind me to tell you someday what it was like meeting Larry Kramer and observing him at a literary festival decades ago.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Okay I definitely need to hear that Kramer story. Swimming in the Dark is on Scribd so I might get to it this month (assuming Scribd doesn't wild out on me again). I'm intrigued by Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit but I'm nervous about it as well since I had been similarly intrigued by Lighthousekeeping.

[@RememberedReads]

As a side point on Middlesex and dated language, I think it's worth pointing out that the the main character actually does use the term intersex at one point (and mentions the Intersex Society of NA - a real organization that had switched its own terminology just a few years prior - and incidentally has since disbanded due to the newer divide over "intersex" versus "DSD" terminology). At least as I remember it, the character's use of "hermaphrodite" had as much to do with them getting in touch with their Greek roots as it did with having 5-alpha reductase, so it's somewhat more complicated/specific in that context.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's very interesting--when I first read it (immediately upon its release) I wasn't really thinking about representation so it would be interesting to go have this experience the second time around.

[@PhillipOliver]

A favorite of mine that is not on the list is David Leavitt's "The Lost Language of Cranes. I am currently reading" City on Night" and finding much of it to be a struggle.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I have yet to read David Leavitt and really need to fix that.

[@ksloan1]

Interesting list. There were a lot I hadn’t heard of actually. I’m not sure how old the list is but I’m surprised not to see The Heart’s Invisible Furies on there. I just finished it the other day and loved it!

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's a great book. I did not check the date of the article.

[@StephanieJCohen]

I’ve read some of these and have some on my TBR. Need to read more. Thanks for the list and your mini discussions of them

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you for watching!

[@hedgiecc]

Happy Pride! 😊 A very good list, I think. The Kramer book is absolutely worth reading, it kind of surmounts any normal literary criticism by virtue of its context. He’s critical of the gay scene, which makes it more contentious but also thought provoking. But it certainly wasn’t written to be a ‘classic’ - it’s more of a quick bright spark he shot off. The Well of Loneliness has a major position in U.K. LGBT lit because it was put on trial at the time - I think both EM Forster and Virginia Woolf were involved in efforts to defend it (although EMF privately thought it was a bad novel, which has put me off reading it!) Orlando is one of my all-time favourites. The Hours connects of course with Mrs Dalloway. Mrs D itself has a strong lgbt theme, which doesn’t get enough attention IMO.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That’s very interesting! And that sounds very E.M Forster for sure. Thank you for the story and for the feedback on the Kramer book!

' The Well of Loneliness ' is not badly written, and Hall dares to describe the gay male scene in the Paris section.

[@CourtneyFerriter]

I've only read 8 of the books on this list, and two of them (Under the Udala Trees and Zami) just this year! Oh my gosh, The Picture of Dorian Gray is AMAZING! It's so dramatic and homoerotic and Lord Henry might be the best, most iconic villain ever. His best line, in my opinion, is "To get back my youth, I would do anything in the world except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable." 🤣🤣🤣

[@SupposedlyFun]

Okay I might need to read Dorian Gray now!

[@vomittux]

I just started A Little Life. I’m a slow reader so I’m sure it’s the only book I’ll be able to finish this month. Can’t wait to see if I love or hate it!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I hope you enjoy it! It’s a long book to dislike. Good luck!

[@HananBuhadana]

I can't believe Mark Merlis's ''An Arrow's Flight'' wasn't mentioned on the list. It's such a masterpiece!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I'm not familiar with that one--thanks for the recommendation.

[@user-iu4ws6vh5s]

So many books I want to read or re-read here. Surprised The Charioteer was not listed.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I haven't read that one!

[@1book1review]

Intersting point about Middlesex and how it has aged. I read and studied it ages ago when my friend wrote her final thesis on it, never reread after we finished uni in 2005 though.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Yes, I feel like a reread all these years later would be fascinating.

[@neorich59]

I read the Larry Kramer book _way_ back in the 70's. It's a look at the "gay life,"in the States pre AIDs and is pretty heavy and disturbing. But, so much of it rings true, it's fascinating. The Maupin books are great. I started reading them after watching the T.V. Series of the 1st book, which, IMO, is essential viewing. However, I tried watching the 2nd Series, but gave up on it, as some of the main characters were replaced, especially Mouse and Mona and it didn't appeal to me. I read several of the early books. They're great to read, as the chapters are pretty short and easy to get through. I'm currently working my way through the books again, hoping to finish them all, this time round. One glaring omission from the list is Patricia' Neal Warren's The Front Runner. Maybe not a "classic," but to those of us who came out in the 70's it was kind of iconic. I've lost count as to how many times I've read it! 😉😉 Another favourite is Marion (Zimmer) Bradley's The Catch Trap. Set in the 30's it tells the story of two Trapeze Artists in the Circus falling for each other and takes place over a number of years detailing their relationship and the issues they had to deal with at the time. Being a massive fan of Bradley's The Mists of Avalon, (which I've also read any number of times) this was another of hers that I really enjoyed and which is sitting on my Kindle for a re-read!

[@BobTheBookerer]

This is a really decent list, thank you for sharing! And I’m with you on Middlesex- I remember loving it, but I haven’t read it for ages, so I’m worried it might not hold up! And the BBC adaptation of The Line of Beauty is so good!

[@SupposedlyFun]

The BBC adaptation really was good!

[@MsReadsAlot]

I have read 7 of these 😍 more than I expected. Really want to read Giovanni’s Room and Maurice. Thanks for the list! So many to add to my TBR.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Maurice is soooooo good.

[@AnaMoShoshin]

I just found a copy of the women of brewster place in a little free library and plan to read it in June. I only learned of this book from your videos! Thanks!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I hope you love it!

[@MsDee255]

Tipping The Velvet is another one I bought because of the cover (I do that a lot, lol) and it sat on my shelf for a couple of years before I finally got around to it, and I loved it. It was made into a mini series with Keeley Hawes which is also really good. (Fingersmith is great too.)

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’ve heard good things about the miniseries but want to read the book first.

[@CezzL]

Is that a Keith Haring tshirt? 😁❤ This list sure showed me - boy do I have a ton of reading to do haha. I've only read 9 but Rubyfruit Jungle and Zami are two of my all-time favourites. I'm quite surprised the Advocate put Middlesex on there. I know it's meant to be up there as a great book (that I would actually like to read) but it's the only one on the list that's not an #OwnVoices.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It is a little surprising--I need to revisit that book anyway. And I need to get to Rubyfruit Jungle and Zami!

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

I’ve read 9 on your list . My TBR for LGBTQI June is The Prettiest Star The Intoxicating Mr Lavelle Cantoras My Policeman Moonstone Swimming in the Dark

[@ksloan1]

Swimming In The Dark is a beautiful novel. I hope you like it 🙂

[@SupposedlyFun]

Great list! I really hope you enjoy The Prettiest Star. I'm looking forward to Cantoras and Swimming in the Dark.

[@lindseyreads5450]

I've read 10 of these. Woohoo! I have Death in Venice on my shelves. Adding it to my June tbr.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I hope you enjoy it!

[@geraldparker8125]

"A Boy's Own Story" is a wonderful autobiographical novel, but the sequels to it become so nauseatingly lewd that they are unbearable to read. This first of the novels, though, is a real literary and gay masterpiece and a really memorable read.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I haven’t heard great things about the sequels, but I’m excited to read Boy’s Own Story at some point.

[@geraldparker8125]

Well, I suppose that one's reaction to the variously titled sequels varies from one person to the next, but each of those books is more vile and sexually and psychologically depraved than the one before it. The quality of the prose is, of course, magnificent, but what each book recounts becomes increasingly vomit-inducing. At some point the author's beautiful style just cannot compensate for the sickeningly weird and perverse happenings in the books. @@SupposedlyFun

[@Unpotted]

It would be very interesting to see an update video discussing which books you got around to reading. No need to wait for Pride Month. 😊🙃 Like you, I read a wide variety of titles, but my favorite genre is science fiction. LGBTQ+ books are also on my tbr, so I try to alternate those two often intense types of stories. Happy reading and happy holidays! 😺✌️

[@jaynelewis372]

The Passion by Jeanette Winterson is fabulous.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[@baddnerves3321]

Would be interested in seeing list of your favorite sapphic/lesbian books. (and fav short story collections, but that's unrelated to the subject of this video)

[@TrishLee]

Thank you for this!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you for watching!

[@TrishLee]

@@SupposedlyFun You are always welcome!❤

[@BookishTexan]

I think I’ve only read five of those. I’ve got a lot of reading to do.

[@SupposedlyFun]

You and me both!

[@LarryHasOpinions]

i didnt like oranges are the only fruit that much tbh, i enjoyed frankissstein a lot more

[@SupposedlyFun]

I didn't get on well with Frankissstein so maybe I'm just doomed.

[@LarryHasOpinions]

@@SupposedlyFun haha who knows :-)

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@LarryHasOpinions We'll find out!

[@geraldjones4530]

Wow, I have a lot of work to do on this list! I have read Giovanni's Room and the Tales of the City. That's all! Sad. I do own and really want to read A Single Man, A Boy's Own Story, and F*****s. I really need to get Maurice. I guess most of my gay reading has been more contemporary.

[@rss19909]

I am currently reading A Little Life. I am about 25% through and have mixed feelings as of now.

[@SupposedlyFun]

If you're having mixed feelings now, buckle up is all I can say.

[@joaoalmeida9993]

I read The City and The Pillar earlier this year and did not get why it is held in such high regard. Capote's Other Voices, Other Rooms came out around the same time and it deals with gay themes in ways that is a lot more interesting. For one thing, no character is punished by death for being gay. 🙂

[@SupposedlyFun]

I need to read Other Voices, Other Rooms. I've only read In Cold Blood and need to do more Capote.

In Gore Vidal's revised ' The City and the Pillar ' no one is punished by death. Ironically you do not mention that in ' Giovanni's Room ' Giovanni has his head cut off by the Guillotine. I read a lot of literature with unhappy endings - Gay novels, but this novel beats them all in nastiness.

[@shiningyoonie]

I’m very perplexed by my feelings about Giovanni’s Room. On one hand, I think James Baldwin’s writing is absolutely beautiful, his stories and characters are so thought-provoking. But on the other hand, I can’t seem to connect to David or Giovanni at all :( I can’t quite put my finger on what it was but I gave the book a very middle of the road 3,25 stars :( I hope my second read will give me a better connection to the book.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Here's hoping! I think the book deliberately keeps the reader at arm's length but that isn't always an easy reading experience.

Probably you noticed that Giovanni gets his head cut off by the Guillotine. Personally I loathe the book.

I am not politically correct, and I like so-called transgressive novels, such as ' Frisk ' by Dennis Cooper. I doubt by your dislikes that you may not like it. You have totally not mentioned literature from Europe ( sadly the UK left the European Union, ) and can I give you and your readers several gay male writers ? Herve Guibert ' To The Friend Who Did Not Save My Life ' and Yves Navarre ' The Little Rogue in our Flesh ' and of course Jean Genet ' Funeral Rites, ' plus his four other novels. From Italy Pier Vittorio Tondelli ' Separate Rooms. ' and Alberto Arbasino ' The Lost Boy ' ( hard to find but worth the search. ) Poland Tomasz Jedrowski ' Swimming In The Dark ' and Michal Witkowski ' LOVETOWN '

[@jamesholder13]

I'm surprised City of Night and Dancer from the Dance aren't on the list.

[@SupposedlyFun]

City of Night is on the list but Dancer from the Dance was not.

No mention of ' Dancer from the Dance ' or the authors other fine books such as ' Grief. '

[@myreadinglife8816]

Yikes! I have only read five of these. I join you in your dislike of A Little Life.

[@BroadwayBabyyy744]

Rainbow high by alex sanchez

[@BroadwayBabyyy744]

Jr trumble is good too

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you for both of the recommendations!

[@rainbowskygayandproud5507]

who ever wrote that description of death in Venice that you read Greg did a horrible job because they are misrepresenting death in Venice and Thomas Mann intentions Juan from bookies islander has a review of death in Venice that I recommend you watch and you should talk to Steve about death in Venice because he will tell you what death in Venice is and isn’t and he can tell you which translation of death in Venice is the best one

[@SupposedlyFun]

Interesting--thanks for the feedback on the description.

[@KingMercury]

Anything by Paul Monette. Especially becoming a man. Or borrowed time.

[@sanfordpress8943]

Mann was in love with his son, apparently