Let's Talk Queer Lit!

[nos4a2no9]

F-list, I need some help. I've been reading a lot of contemporary literary fiction lately, and while I've found a couple of queer lit gems in the bunch, I'd certainly like to read more. I'm looking more for literary fiction more than queer genre romance or gay erotica. I know that's a fine distinction, and it's definitely an arbitrary one, but I

Comments

[mrsronweasley]

OMG, Nos, have I not waxed poetic to you about "At Swim"? It's my favorite book of all time. Of all time. It's incredible. Just be prepared to carve out time for it - it's not something you can rush. It's gorgeous, and perfect, and so smart, and interesting, and just just just - it's STUNNING. I've pimped HUNDREDS of people into thsi bok, no joke. There was a point in 2002-2003 where I would talk to anyone and EVERYONE about it. Seriously, no joke. You are in for SUCH an amazing treat. *gushes*

And I love "The Charioteer". It's another beloved book of mine. I think she has such a beautiful way with words, I just love her language. And the story itself, and just - I remember reading it for the first time and just falling in love with it. *happy sigh* It's another book I think about often, just randomly. I love Laurie so much! Oh Spud! ♥

This post just made very happy. :D

[nos4a2no9]

Yay! Thank you for the rec - the book came up on a random Amazon search and it does sound terrific. I can't wait to dive in! And I will definitely email you afterward so we can talk about it.

I also have much love for Laurie. ♥ him. He's so beautiful and broken and torn! You're totally right about Renault's languague: it's beautifully written, and right from the first page (that terrific description of a child alone in the dark) it just grabs you. I hope more people will check it out; I think its publication date might make some folks hesitant, but they've just put out a beautiful new editions of Renault's novels and they're all available. No more tracking down super-expensive copies through Amazon ;-)

[nos4a2no9]

I just realized I said "beautiful" about six times in that reply. I CAN'T HELP IT - I'M EXCITED!

[mrsronweasley]

Oh, yay! I look forward to talking about it! :D :D :D

And, oh god, I know! He is just such a wonderful character - thoughtful, introspective, and beautiful. (Never enough use of that word when it comes to this book! ♥) And yes! That's so exciting! I really, really love her work. I should check out the new editions, yay! (And just to tie everything together: Jamie O'Neill is actually a big fan of her work. Ta-da!)

[luzula]

Huh. Maybe I should check out "The Charioteer". "Ready to..." sounds interesting as well.

Also, there's a Finnish book that I found really absorbing and interesting, which has gay themes. Also magical realism themes. Hmm, I think I might need to send it to you in the mail... *g*

[nos4a2no9]

I think you'd like them both very much, L! "The Charioteer" in particular seems like something you'd enjoy.

Your Finnish book sounds good! I mean, seriously, how could you go wrong with "gay themes" AND "magical realism"? If you send me the title I can have a look around and see if a translation is available, too. I think I still owe you a package of Can Lit. (So many packages, and I fail so badly at getting to the post office).

[luzula]

Okay, I bought a copy in English that I'm going to send to you. Umm, I may or may not have started to reread it first... *fails at parting with books*

Anyway, it's Johanna Sinisalo's "Not Before Sundown". (It's also got a cheesier title that they gave it for publication in the US: "Troll: A Love Story".) But don't buy it--I am totally sending it to you, I promise.

It's interesting to read the English translation instead of the Swedish one, though. I prefer the Swedish one, I think, if only because it seems weird to read about Scandinavian places in English.

[kill_claudio]

Ooh, book recs! \o/ These are going straight on my Amazon wishlist. *♥ you*

I can't really think of many books I've read which have gay protagonists, which is really sad. /o\ I would highly recommend Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson, which is about a young girl living in a deeply religious community who realises she's gay. The book is sort of about her changing relationships with her mother and with God. One of the best things I've ever read, certainly.

I'm also reading Stephen Fry's autobiography at the moment, and some of his comments on growing up gay are interesting. Although, to be honest, most of the book is about his early childhood rather than his sexuality. If I find any really useful bits I might transcribe them. :-)

[nos4a2no9]

Thank you so much for the rec, KC! I have heard good things about "Oranges" and it sounds like a fabulous read. I'll definitely check it out. And the Stephen Fry one sounds good, too - I tend not to read a lot of autobiographies, but that one seems like it might be interesting. Hmmm.

[darthhellokitty]

He's got several novels as well, all of them really good.

[sapote3]

Do you read Sarah Waters at all? I've only read Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet, but Fingersmith was, to me, a spot-on gothic romance (in the classic sense) turned inside out, and Tipping the Velvet is a classic bawdy novel with some meta-hilarity in it. Waters was a professor of literature before she started writing it. She's kind of all-lesbians all-the-time, though.

[nos4a2no9]

I have read Sarah Waters! Her work was assigned in a university class I took on gothic and contemporary fiction, and I really did like "Fingersmith." I was reading that in conjunction with "The Woman in White" and it really was a perfect compliment to the gothic romance. I haven't read "Tipping the Velvet" yet - it's about a stage performer in Victorian England, right?

She's kind of all-lesbians all-the-time, though

*g* Who isn't? Actually, I feel bad that my recs above didn't include any lesbian novels. I'll have to add "Fingersmith" to the list.

[mrsronweasley]

I definitely recommend "Tipping the Velvet", but beware of her "Affinity" - it made me...well, really unhappy, and I can't say why without spoiling it. So, beware of it. But TtV is lovely and, imo, much better than the movie - which was enjoyable in its own right!

[kkglinka]

*suddenly remembers the movie and flails around, laughing* But I couldn't watch Fingersmith. It was... *mewls in terror* Which is weird, because it was a good book with an ideal mystery/action/romance plot perfect for a movie. *shrugs*

[ruthless1]

Oh what a fun post. I also would like to rec both Oranges aren't the only fruit and Sarah Waters. Her novel Tipping the Velvet was just amazing. They also did a little mini-series of it in Britain that was okay. She's very lush and lovely. I haven't read her latest but I want to give it a go.
Nancy Kay Shapiro also does fanfic here on LJ. I would be happy to send your her comm name privately if you want. She's in the Buffy verse and does very long complex stories both het and gay. I didn't ever get through her novel - it was a bit melodramatic for my taste but I've enjoyed her fanfic over the years.
Not in the 'literary' category but great reads anyway - the nightrunner series by Lynn Flewelling. Her gay characters - the main guy in fact, are seamless. And they are fun reads.

[nos4a2no9]

Ha! I knew it! I'd love to read some of her fanfic - there was something deliciously indulgent about "What Love Means..." and it's pretty impressive stuff for a fanfic author gone mainstream, I think. And YES, god, it's melodramatic but I kind of loved it for that (or despite it) :-)

And thanks for the "Nightrunner" recommendation! I'll have to check that series out.

[ruthless1]

ooh I just thought of two more titles
Minions of the Moon by Richard Bowes and The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox. Both are fantastical tales that are beautifully written. I also just finished an anthology titled So Fey that is out of print but you can find it used for a reasonable price. Not on Amazon though - it's something like $60 there and I found it used for 17.95 elsewhere.
I also couldn't get into Two Boys at Swim and I SO desperately wanted to. I might try it again sometime.

[malnpudl]

I'll second the rec for the Nightrunner series. Excellent job of worldbuilding, as well as the m/m relationship that takes a long, slow, and thoroughly satisfying slow journey from first acquaintance through friendship to eventual romantic and sexual love over the course of the three books. Nothing explicit, but the relationship itself is very rewarding.