Books on the Nightstand discussion

Hello friends of BOTNS,

Excuse the cross-posting, I am asking the same thing on "The Readers" page, so if you listen/subscribe to both podcasts I apologise for the doubling of messages.

I belong to a "genre book club" meaning that every month, a member gets to pick some kind of literary genre (anything, including sub-genres) and then provide a short-list of 3 books for the other members to vote on.

My turn is coming up, and I've decided to go with LGBT fiction, but now I need some solid recommendations for my shortlist of three. So far, I've picked two books, but I can easily ditch them if you guys come up with strong reccies for me.

In One Person by John Irving
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters

I am not really interested whether the author qualifies as LGBT or not, but I would like there to be LGBT based themes or issues tackled in the book.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Kats in Zurich

I know this is YA, but The Perks of Being a Wallflower is excellent.

Also Middlesex, which is amazing.

Thanks, Callie! We've had a few YA books over the last year, so I'll try and go with GU (grown-up!) fiction.... also hoping that it will rattle some of the more conservative readers' cages if there is more explicit stuff going on, so books with naughty scenes are very welcome. LOL

But I'll add Middlesex to the list - a book that has been on my TBR for....ever?! Thanks so much! x

I just saw the movie, Perks of Being A Wallflower, and loved it so much that I was thinking of reading the book.

You are dead on about Middlesex being a great read and having LGBT themes and issues. And, they are addressed with a lot of authenticity, I think.


Callie wrote: "I know this is YA, but The Perks of Being a Wallflower is excellent.

Also Middlesex, which is amazing."

Kandice wrote: "You are dead on about Middlesex being a great read and having LGBT themes and issues..."

Okay, second vote for Middlesex. Excellent! Thanks, Kandice.

Okay, second vote for Middlesex. Excellent! Thanks, Kandice."

You cannot go wrong with either Middlesex or Tipping the Velvet. Both are sooo good.

Anytime! Let me know what you think.

Elizabeth wrote: "Okay, second vote for Middlesex. Excellent! Thanks, Kandice."

You cannot go wrong with either Middlesex or Tipping the Velvet. Both are sooo good."

Good to know - thanks, Elizabeth!

I need THREE books for my shortlist to propose to the book club, so unless I get some other great recommendations I will go with those two plus the John Irving one that I really enjoyed (but won't tell my BC that I've already read it....).

Ok, so I'm chiming in and have a question for you all. I was looking at the stack of books I've read and started thinking, are LBGT books defined by the author, subject, or both? Would something by Alan Hollinghurst or Truman Capote fit into this category, or would it be more like "The Tales of the City" series? Not a question for debate, I'm just curious because now I'm doubting what I myself have always defined at this genre! :-)

I have a feeling that others might disagree, but my personal definition has absolutely nothing to do with the author but all to do with the subject matter / storyline of the book when it comes to categorising LGBT fiction.

Honestly, I couldn't care less if authors are black, white, male, female, fat, thin, hetero- or homosexual or whatever. This is why I also don't see the need for prizes where only certain people qualify (women, homosexuals, former Commonwealth citizens etc). I don't believe in exclusivity or positive discrimination (obviously not in negative discrimination, either), but perhaps I live in my little overly liberal bubble and there is a need for these prizes for a good (or rather 'bad') reason.

At this point I can hear Earle say... "Gee, why don't you tell us what you REALLY think!" LOL

Kats wrote: "I have a feeling that others might disagree, but my personal definition has absolutely nothing to do with the author but all to do with the subject matter / storyline of the book when it comes to c..."

Agreed! But I also understand if others have a different opinion.

An interesting question Chris. Most LGBT books seem to be written by the LGBT community, but I think it is the themes/subjects covered that define that genre for me.

Kats, another one to consider is the graphic memoir Fun Home by Alison Bechdel - so much to discuss with this one.

Also, here is a best of 2012 list: http://bandofthebes.typepad.com/bando...

Elizabeth wrote: "An interesting question Chris. Most LGBT books seem to be written by the LGBT community, but I think it is the themes/subjects covered that define that genre for me.

Kats, another one to consider ..."

What a great link, Elizabeth - thanks SO much! Exactly what will help me!
Funnily enough, I did think of Fun Home as I read it only last year and really enjoyed it. But I want to narrow it down to LGBT Fiction and not include memoirs, as otherwise I'd definitely have to include Why be happy when you can be normal? which was one of my mother's all time favourite books.

Kats wrote: "...otherwise I'd definitely have to include Why be happy when you can be normal? which was one of my mother's all time favourite books. "

NONSENSE! Her favourite one was Oranges are not the only fruit. Well, at least I got the author right. ;-)

This just seems like too much of a coincidence for me not to post it.

I was reading this thread on my lunch hour and then hopped over to FB for a minute. On one of my running related pages I see a plea from a runner for us to download an excerpt from his friend's book that is a finalist in Amazon's breakthrough novel contest.

When I read the blurb it seems to fit this genre so I'm posting the link even if it won't help with your book club problem.

I didn't even know that such a contest existed!

Silver excerpt by S. Cairns
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00B9N3...

It's set in 1911 and seems to surround a shocking revelation about a older man "born in the wrong body".

Helen wrote: "It's set in 1911 and seems to surround a shocking revelation about a older man "born in the wrong body". "

I suppose being born an older man (as opposed to a baby) would be pretty shocking.

Thanks for all your thoughts. You are all thinking what I was, but when I looked at my "read" pile, I came up with the question. I still am suffering from a Booktopia hangover, because I was doubting myself!

But along those lines, Kats, even though you don't think books should be given to certain writers (I tend to agree myself), the Green Carnation prize is one list to check out. I also heard good things about the book, "Annabelle," but of course, haven't read it--yet! And on that list that Elizabeth posted, "The Stranger's Child" is at the top! That would be my pick, but then it was one of my top 2011 books. Sadly the two people I recommended it to didn't like it. But Hollinghurst is a fantastic writer!

Part of me wants to offer a list of books with LGBT characters or themes, or to name off a list of authors who have identified themselves as LGBT.

But the other part says, "Why place these books or authors in a narrow category?" As if they're only of interest to LGBT folks.

That having been said, I'll throw "Song of Achilles" into the mix.

Eric wrote: "Why place these books or authors in a narrow category?" As if they're only of interest to LGBT folks. "

Well, they are *not* "only of interest to LGBT folks" which is why I am picking that genre to be read by my book club which AFAIK doesn't have any LGBT members. Yet.

It's just another genre label, just like "cosy crime", "chick lit" or "literary" which also gets people up in arms. You know it, Eric. :-)

Confessions of a Mask by Yukio Mishima.

Myra Breckinridge by Gore Vidal.

Chris wrote: "I also heard good things about the book, "Annabelle," but of course, haven't read it--yet! And on that list that Elizabeth posted, "The Stranger's Child" is at the top!"

I really enjoyed Annabelle but IMO that only contained the "T" of the LGBT genre label.
However, the John Irving hits every letter. And then some....

Apparently,
At Swim, Two Boys would fit into my category, though.... and as it's endorsed by the wonderful Will Schwalbe, that may just make my shortlist! :-)

Eric wrote: "I'll throw "Song of Achilles" into the mix. Confessions of a Mask by Yukio Mishima. Myra Breckinridge by Gore Vidal."

Interesting suggestions, Eric. Thank you!

At Swim, Two Boys will definitely rattle your more conservative readers. Well written, has stayed with me for many years.

Albert Nobbs

And a science fiction one nobody will think of:

Kats wrote: "Hello friends of BOTNS,

Excuse the cross-posting, I am asking the same thing on "The Readers" page, so if you listen/subscribe to both podcasts I apologise for the doubling of messages.

I belon..."

I also enjoyed Middlesex quite a bit. Another one to throw out there is Trans-Sister Radio by Chris Bohjalian. A women meets a man, they date, and he goes through a sex-change operation... this is the story of their relationship through it all.

Though I REALLY want to read the John Irving one, so if it was my book club that is what I would pick :)

Kats wrote: "I have a feeling that others might disagree, but my personal definition has absolutely nothing to do with the author but all to do with the subject matter / storyline of the book when it comes to c..."

This is more or less my opinion as well as to what qualifies for the genre.

I second Song of Achilles and Middlesex was very good also. I listened to The Perks of Being a Wallflower on audio and was surprised at just how much I loved it.

The World According to Garp

one of the most moving and powerful books I have read about growing up in a violent and macho culture (and trying to survive if you are not violent and macho) is:
Torres, Justin, We the Animals
The theme is growing up Puerto Rican and finding your voice.....not for the faint of heart, but worth it.

I think all of these have been mentioned but here are my ideas:

1. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
2. Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
3. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith are two of my favorites. I also recommend The Absolutist by John Boyne.

Oldie but goodie:

Stone Butch Blues is an excellent book but very intense. It is an emotionally charged read, but perhaps more so for people who are closer to the transgender experience.

Lettuce, guacamole, bacon, and tomato. I love me them LGBT sandwiches!

Goodness gracious, that does sound delicious. Now I have the midnight munchies, and I'll blame Eric for the additional 10'000 steps I have to do in the middle of the night to work off that LGBT sandwich!

Hi Kats. I highly recommend Michael Lowenthal's The Paternity Test. It's LGBT but also about family, surrogacy, masculinity, IVF, and fear of commitment, among other things. Plus, it's a really fun read and a page-turner. More info here: http://www.indiebound.org/hybrid?filt.... Hope the book club meeting goes great!

Tracy wrote: "Hi Kats. I highly recommend Michael Lowenthal's The Paternity Test. It's LGBT but also about family, surrogacy, masculinity, IVF, and fear of commitment, among other things. Plus, it's a really fun..."

Thank you, Tracy, that sounds like a great book club book for a lively discussion. Unfortunately, here in Europe it's only out in Hardback, and this particular book club has "rules" about the format of books:
1) must be available in paperback
2) ideally should be available in Kindle (I know....)
3) shouldn't have more than 500 pages (yep.)

And this sort of disqualifies The Paternity Test and also Rubyfruit Jungle, but I think I'll add both to my own TBR as they sound very interesting. Thank you!!

The World Unseen sounds like it would compliment the shortlist, though, and it's available in paperback/Kindle for an affordable price, too (I hate to admit it but these things tend to affect why some of the book club members would/not vote for a book!).

Also, someone mailed me another suggestion:


Pages for You Pages for you by Sylvia Brownrigg. Has anyone read this?

Thanks again everyone for your input - it's been an amazing and helpful response!

I have read most of the LGBT books suggested and there are some great suggestions there. And you don't need to be LGBT to like these books - Mary Renault is one of my mother's all-time favorite authors.
Here is a fun suggestion for those who enjoy entertaining fantasy: Daughters of a Coral Dawn. This is a well-thought-out adventure by Katherine Forrest in which gifted human women leave Earth and start a new civilization on another planet. Unlike so many of the YA dystopian fantasies that are so popular right now, this is a utopian fantasy in which every woman is able to work at a job she enjoys while living in an aesthetically beautiful world that is unpolluted and barely populated AND each woman is able to find a talented and appropriate partner. (a woman, of course, this is a lesbian fantasy) I have often re-read this somewhat silly book and thought how nice it would be to live in this world.

Oh.... The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin.

I definitely concur with the following recommendations:
1.) Left Hand of Darkness
2.) Tipping the Velvet
3.) Song of Achilles

Wanda wrote: "one of the most moving and powerful books I have read about growing up in a violent and macho culture (and trying to survive if you are not violent and macho) is:
Torres, Justin, We the Animals
..."

Yes Wanda - absolutely agree "We the Animals" is an excellent choice.

I haven't read it, but this would qualify as well:
. I haven't read any Sarah Waters yet either, but I will.

The Song of Achilles is the one that I have read and can't recommend highly enough. I just loved it.

What a timely topic for your book group. Nice!

Not sure if you've decided, but Jana reminded me of an old favorite, "Brideshead Revisited." Unless everyone has read it already?

Sad to report that Fingersmith didn't get a single vote from my book club peeps. They thought the title was icky (I suspect they've got dirty minds), and sounded like "Charles Dickens for lesbians" (direct quote from an email). Oh well, I ended up putting four books on the shortlist as I couldn't decide, and the most votes by far were for the Irving one; In One Person which happens to be the only one I've already read.... so I'll read Middlesex instead then, a big gap in my reading history anyway.

Thank you again, everyone, for your excellent suggestions - this group is fantastic!!

The audible of Midddlesex is very well done too. Great book. Enjoy!

I'd suggest any of Sarah Water's books - but for something filthy, funny and very, very silly try Julian Clary!