Apologies to the people who want movies and movies only, but I’ve been reading more than watching movies lately so I thought I’d share regardless. (Also reading is fun!)
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Warnings/Notes: 😢 ☠
Summary: Achilles, “the best of all the Greeks,” son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods’ wrath.
Recommend?: Yes
Why: Everyone has probably heard of this one already, and as sad and tragic as the ending is, I personally think the softness and (very latent) growth that the characters undergo is beautiful. I think the empathy afforded to them and the entire situation of the Trojan War is really well done, and it offers us a better version of events that aren’t so violent against women for no reason (homer sux pass it on). If you’re into Greek mythology, Miller knows her stuff and this will be a fun, quick read.
Lie With Me by Philippe Besson
Warnings/Notes: 😢 ☠ 🏳️🌈
Summary: The award-winning, bestselling French novel by Philippe Besson about an affair between two teenage boys in 1984 France, translated with subtle beauty and haunting lyricism by the iconic and internationally acclaimed actress/writer Molly Ringwald.
Recommend?: Yes
Why: As much as I dislike tragic endings in gay books (in fact usually I rage about it bc it’s so boring and stupid) this one really got me. First of all it’s heavily implied by the author that the story is autobiographical, so it’s hard to get mad at a real series of events. Second, the tragedy is treated with deeper empathy than I’ve ever seen it. Even when the protagonists do things to hurt the other or make bad decisions, it’s so clear why they’re doing it, and all you feel is what they’re feeling. Short and well written.
The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg
Warnings/Notes: 👊🏼 🏳️🌈
Summary: Over the course of one summer, two boys will have to face their biggest fears and decide what they’re willing to risk – to get the thing they want the most.
Recommend?: Yes
Why: I was challenging myself to read more YA this year and I think I finished this book in a single sitting. I usually find a lot of queer YA problematic but this one was really good! It avoided a lot of romance tropes which I greatly appreciated. It breaks the mold of what you’d expect from these character archetypes and handles heavy issues like parental neglect/abuse and sexual assault with surprising empathy and also without a heaviness that would drag the narrative down. There were times the dialogue made me gag but it’s for kids and overall a fun read.
Warnings/Notes: 🚫🏳️🌈
Summary: Stories of a young man finding his place among family and community in Houston, from a powerful, emerging American voice.
Recommend?: Sort of?
Why: This is a collection of short stories surrounding characters in a particular neighborhood of Houston, with one character who is revisited every other chapter. The prose is solid and the voices are engaging, if not repetitive. I found it to be a little bit of a slog to get through considering how short it is, mostly because the characters never seem to grow and all have very similar perspectives. It’s all very ~vibey. However, a lot of people like vibey so if you do, then this is for you!
We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra
Warnings/Notes: 👊🏼 🚫
Summary: Jonathan Hopkirk and Adam “Kurl” Kurlansky are partnered in English class, writing letters to one another in a weekly pen pal assignment. With each letter, the two begin to develop a friendship that eventually grows into love. But with homophobia, bullying, and devastating family secrets, Jonathan and Kurl struggle to overcome their conflicts and hold onto their relationship…and each other.
Recommend?: No
Why: This is one of those problematic YA books I talked about earlier. It’s a little on the longer side but I also read it in one sitting. To begin with, there’s a large-ish age difference between the main characters for seemingly no reason, pairing a 19-year-old with a 15 year old (which in high school is a large inequity). I found the voices a little unbearable and the epistolary format felt extremely contrived throughout. There’s a lot of completely unnecessary conflicts and leans in to unhealthy romance tropes rather than putting anything fresh on it. At times I flat out didn’t want the characters to get together because their whole dynamic was so unsettling. Also, the shoe-horned family drama side-plot was unengaging and forced. Also I think the author is straight so I’m not that surprised lmao.
Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story by Jacob Tobia
Warnings/Notes: ⓣ 🚫 🏳️🌈
Summary: A heart-wrenching, eye-opening, and giggle-inducing memoir about what it’s like to grow up not sure if you’re (a) a boy, (b) a girl, © something in between, or (d) all of the above.
Recommend?: Yes (with conditions)
Why: This book is a memoir written by a 27 (?) year-old, so that’s something to keep in mind. It’s fairly long considering how short of a time period is covered, but overall this book would be a great tool for young readers. The prose is written a lot like a twitter thread too, which younger audiences will find more palatable than I. You ’ll probably be left with more questions than you started with if you’re a complete newbie to non-binary identities and trans people, but it’s a good place to start.
Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry by Imani Perry
Warnings/Notes: ☠
Summary: Lorraine Hansberry, who died at thirty-four, was by all accounts a force of nature. Although best-known for her work A Raisin in the Sun, her short life was full of extraordinary experiences and achievements, and she had an unflinching commitment to social justice, which brought her under FBI surveillance when she was barely in her twenties. While her close friends and contemporaries, like James Baldwin and Nina Simone, have been rightly celebrated, her story has been diminished and relegated to one work—until now.
Recommend?: No
Why: To be honest, I couldn’t finish this book. It’s not long at all but it felt like it was written in another language, so, it reads very slow. Lorraine Hansberry herself is very interesting and I would love to read a biography about her, but not one that focuses just as much on the biographer as the subject. Also, if you don’t have an in-depth college-level knowledge of american literary history you’ll likely have a hard time keeping up with the cast of characters.
Anyway that’s it! Happy queer reading!
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