Queereaders discussion

Tell us what you are reading this month.

Right now I am being very ADD since I am reading 4 books at once:
The Last of the Wine (almost done)
Hollow Earth (half way through)
Doctor Who: The Dalek Handbook (half way through)
The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution (just finished first chapter)

Just got a copy of Something Like Autumn and hadn't read the first two yet so I'm doing a Jay Bell marathon. Really liked the first one, Something Like Summer, and the second one, Something Like Winter, was even better. It added some depth and made the whole thing a richer story. Now it's on to Something Like Autumn. I understand it's from Jace's point of view. That's great in that he was such a great guy and I felt he was a bit cheated in the first book.

I'm reading

Phyllida and The Brotherhood of Philander
Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander

and The Beauty Myth
The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty are Used Against Women

The Dawning of Power (World of Godsland #1-3)

Now reading Bronx Noir

Currently reading rsp. re-reading

, , and

Its bee awhile since I've been on Goodreads. I've been hanging out on twitter and am trying to figure out why? Let's see, I've read

Inferno by Dan Brown which was better than his usual. Still it seems like it was written for a movie. Fun though and included moral ambiguity.

Earth by David Brin which I really liked.

CJ Cherryh's book #14 in her Foreigner series Protector

And continuing with Brin, I am reading his newest existence

Next up will be Something Like Autumn by Jay Bell the 3rd in a series and just published.

Nancy wrote: "Now reading Bronx Noir

"

That sounds like required reading for you, Nancy ;-)

Continuing with the classics and reading by D.H. Lawrence.

Still going through the articles collected in Hunter S. Thompson's which is turning out to be a really unique way to bone up on U.S. history of the time.

Just finished Something Like Autumn and really enjoyed it. In many ways it made up for the "convenient plot twist" that folks criticized in Something Like Summer.

Here's a link to my full review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Kernos wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Now reading Bronx Noir

"

That sounds like required reading for you, Nancy ;-)"

Yes, it is. :) When I'm done, I'm going to pick out the quotes that express my feelings about the Bronx and why I never want to go back there. It's actually a pretty good collection of stories so far. Some are dark enough to border on horror.

I'm starting to read

I took a break from reading

to read an erotic short story by Dru Ashby


I loved it!

Just finished the biography and coming out story of retired SEAL Kristin Beck

Warrior Princess is one of the most interesting biographies I've read in a long while. Her life experiences would have been fascinating even without the transgender aspect.

George R.R. Martin - A Dance with Dragons. I'm on about page 290 of like 1050-ish. After this book I may turn back up the Sookie Stackhouse Novels (book 12), or start other single books & series such as Paris: The Novel, Constellations of Vital Phenomenon, or The secrets of Immortal Nicholas Flamel.

I have a ton of books on my "to-read" list to get through. I've also set a challenge goal to read at least 20 books by years end (not including textbooks!).

I'm reading "Diary of a Provincial Lesbian" by V.G. Lee. I read another book by her, "The Comedienne", years ago and loved it. So far, so good on this one.

Just finished The Two Hotel Francforts: A Novel by David Leavitt (which I wasn't crazy about) and now I'm reading Proxy by Alex London.

I'm trying to get through

Tim wrote: "Just finished the biography and coming out story of retired SEAL Kristin Beck

Warrior Princess is one of the most interesting biographies I've read in a lon..."

I saw part of Anderson Cooper's interview with Kristin Beck on Saturday. It was fascinating and I'm definitely interested in reading her biography. She was a handsome man and is a beautiful woman.

I am currently reading the rest of the the re-issued sailor Moon series as well as Out of the Past: Gay and Lesbian History from 1869 to the Present

Currently reading Falls Chance Ranch and deeply, viscerally shocked.

Just read Arnold Bennett's "The Card" - no gay interest but really enjoy working out where places are in and around the five(!) towns. It's amazing how much hasn't changed in sunny Stoke.

Anyway on the gay side just finished "Between now and then" by Adam Fitzroy. I wasn't sure how it was going to work or where it was heading, but a good read over all.

Currently half way through "Holy Rollers" by Rob Byrnes which is ace! (Leastways so far). A good light hearted read and I love the characters.

Well that's my two-penneth worth. Aren't holidays great!

Thanks Don for the heads up on the new one by Rob Byrnes; I shall keep an eye out for that one. To stay on topic, just nearing the end of C. J. Sansom's "Dissolution" ( just getting to the exciting bit, I think) which was recommended to me by a colleague and surprisingly does have some gay interest (well monks will be monks!).
I was a bit wary of it at first, particularly as it was an historical novel and not least as it's set in a period of history about which I know very little - my historical education following the path: Romans, Normans (I can talk about wattle and daub for hours), Elizabethans, the industrial revolution, the First World War, the rise of Fascism and the 2nd world war. A few gaps in there I think!

Anyway, it's very well written and had me captivated. The question is... ...what to read next?

Just in the process of finishing Thinking Straight. Don't want to give anything away for those who haven't read it...
... However, I'm having difficulty in believing that places as described actually exist.

Nevertheless, it's a good read anyway

In reference to Rob's last comment on believing these places (deprogramming camps) actually exist as described. I am unable to speak to that specifically, but I voluntarily - more or less - allowed myself to go to an adult reprogramming group later in life. Personally, I felt I was surrounded by a group of people in denial about who they really are....
The general thinking at this particular organization was that we were messed up by some childhood event in our lives, primarily some sort of abuse. To the point that they had you searching for skeletons that didn't even exist.
That I survived my short stint in this program still surprises me. I almost ended my life over the damage done to me there.

An Ex-Gay group recently shut down.

While it recently made the PBS newshour, many prime-time network news programs seemed to skip the story.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles...

Rob wrote: "Just in the process of finishing Thinking Straight. Don't want to give anything away for those who haven't read it...
... However, I'm having difficulty in believing that places as described ac..."

If reading of the place in Thinking Straight doesn't scare you enough, try reading A Better Place. The place in that book is perhaps the worst of its type I've encountered in literature.

In reference to Rob's last comment on believing these places (deprogramming camps) actually exist as described. I am unable to speak to that specifically, but I voluntarily - more or less - allowed myself to go to an adult reprogramming group later in life.

Personally, I felt I was surrounded by a group of people in denial about who they really are....

The general thinking at this particular organization was that we were damaged by some childhood event in our lives, primarily some sort of abuse. To the point that they had you searching for skeletons that didn't even exist.

That I survived my short stint in this program still surprises me. I almost ended my life over the damage done to me there.

I'm completely gobsmacked!

In part by Kelly's brave comment, I guessed the book was based to some extent on reality but wasn't sure to what extent it was embellished. Clearly these places exist in various guises and clearly they can do great harm, as Kelly.

I know there were Christian (or other for that matter)schools who clearly wouldn't be terribly impressed by finding two lads at it in the changing rooms (as per Another Country); but trying to turn them straight? Really?

Perhaps what bothered me more was the fact that the article mentioned by Stephen suggested that California was banning them for under 18s. Obviously I'm relieved that California has banned them for under 18s, but I 'm somewhat distressed that other states presumably still allow it; surely not in the 21st century and surely there must be some sort of human rights issue (or do teenagers under 18 volunteer for such schemes).

Sorry for the wander off topic a little, but I am truly shocked.

And Kelly, I hope everything is back on track and that you have managed to repair some of the damage inflicted.

Oops, I accidentally posted that twice, I see.

Thanks for the heartfelt concern, Rob. I have healed. It took years, but I am completely at peace with who I am. I do have no doubt that there are parents out there that would gladly ship their children off to these camps in hopes of "fixing" something that doesn't need fixed, but embraced and accepted.

I'll have to check out both these books. Another book along the same lines is

Thanks Stephen for pointing out this other book!

Kelly

Just finished The Boy from Brighton by Geoffrey Knight It's about a seven year old British lad who's on the cusp of discovering his gay feelings. It's sweet and upbeat and a really great story. I just wish that there were more of it.

You can see my full review here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

btw... this book is pretty chaste (as one would expect) a couple of innocent kisses is about as far as it goes.

Actually reading two novels with major gay characters right now: "Trouble and Her Friends," which so far follows a group of queer hackers/crackers in a cyberpunk/sci-fi setting. And it's heavily implied they're not all white, yay!

Other one is "The Yiddish Policemen's Union," which has no living gay characters but is one of my favorite books nonetheless.

Wow. This is one of the best books I've ever read. Heart wrenching.

Here is my 5 star review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

This is a must read!