Good gay books - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

nisomer · 5th Sep 2005, 07:04 PM

What are some good gay books? fictional and non-fictional. I have not read any in the past (even though i very much wanted to) because I felt weird going up to the register of like borders buying a book from the gay and lesbian section.

JonB321 · 5th Sep 2005, 07:57 PM

Clay's Way, by Blair Mastbaum is one of my favorites. It's short, and really fun to read. David Sederas (I forget how to spell his name) writes a decent amount of short stories that have to do with being gay. There's also the Rainbow Boys, and geography club. I heard that Dancer from the Dance is supposed to be really good, I haven't read it yet. Home at the End of the World is good. Umm... the Christopher Rice books are a lot of fun, they're like gay thrillers. Oh, and the Tragedy of Miss Geneva Flowers is good so far, I haven't finished it yet.

But, as a side note, reading a work of gay fiction can be a lot of fun sometimes, but besides Clay's Way, which I thought was excellent, I think a good piece of regular non-fiction is better than anything in the gay lit section. Of course, people may disagree, but I think you get a lot more out Dickens than Dicks in general (sorry, I know how corny that was, but I had to throw it in!).

Micah · 6th Sep 2005, 05:28 AM

I heard that Geography Club is supposed to be really good. I've read one of the chapters and I must admit it sounded like a cool book.

Eligh · 6th Sep 2005, 02:39 PM

Okay, I absolutely love to read. I am a subscriber to ISO, and it has some of the greatest book line-ups in the world. If you arent subscribed to that thing, then you best sign up, personaly, I loved Geography Club, its sequel Order of the Poison Oak, Beyond the Wind, Trouble Boy, Luna, and Looking for it. I own all of the books, and they all have my appraisal. I highly recommend them to anybody that would like to sink into a book and loose themselves in the pages.

goratrix · 6th Sep 2005, 05:44 PM

I don't know about gay books... I don't read THAT much any more. However if you want to understand society a little better I could recomend you Isaac Assimov's Foundation saga (from The Robots of Dawn up to Foundation and Earth). It's a social study disguised in a fantastic novel.

A friend just gave me Maurice... she told me she really liked it, so I'll give it a try. She gave me the movie as well... XD but I'll watch that AFTER I read the book...

I'll tell you in a couple of days...

joeyconnick · 7th Sep 2005, 12:29 AM

There really are so many.

First off, nearly anything by Ethan Mordden, but especially "How Long Has This Been Going On?" It's an amazing epic about gay life in America over the course of about 40 years.

Another good "gay epic" is "Like People In History" by Felice Picano.

I used to think I would never say this but Christopher Rice actually has something more going for him than an extremely famous mother and the fact that he's hot: he's a really good writer. I haven't read his latest (third) book but his first two are really good. I liked the first one best ("A Density of Souls") but "The Snow Garden" was good too. I read both of these this summer.

The one gay book that wowed me more than any others was... okay, there were two: "The World of Normal Boys" by KM Soehnlein and "Becoming A Man: Half A Life Story" by Paul Monette. Soehnlein's much-anticipated second novel just came out ("You Can Say You Knew Me When") and if you're in a major city in the US northwest you can go to one of his readings/signings. I haven't read it but I'm chomping at the bit to. http://www.kmsoehnlein.com/

Monette's most famous book is probably "Borrowed Time: An AIDS Memoir" but I really preferred "Becoming A Man." He also has a book of essays called "Last Watch of the Night"... you can't really go wrong with him.

Fantasy/sci-fi-wise, you have to read Mercedes Lackey's trilogy "Books of the Last Herald-Mage," which comprises "Magic's Pawn," "Magic's Promise," and "Magic's Price." They're exceptionally relevant if you're coming out.

Non-fiction, everyone should have to read Randy Shilts' "And The Band Played On." You wouldn't think an account of the early days of the AIDS crisis could be so gripping but I was pretty much crying all the way through it. Similarly moving is a collection called "A Promise To Remember," which are letters about the NAMES Project quilt.

My friend Mary Gray edited a book called "In Your Face: Stories from the Lives of Queer Youth," which is a collection of first-person accounts about being young and gay. So go find it! It's really amazing.

Dramatically, read the two Angels In America volumes: "Millenium Approaches" and "Perestroika." Then rent the DVD of HBO's 6-hour miniseries of it. It's full of top-notch acting talent.

Finally, a guy named Peter McGehee wrote two extremely funny books called "Boys Like Us" and "Sweetheart."

And yes, I read a lot. It's not like we get taught queer studies in high school!

BlackCherryBLN · 19th Sep 2005, 12:01 PM

My favourite classic: The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood...We all know it as "Cabaret"...

popboy · 13th Oct 2005, 03:42 PM

In my humble opinion, Maurice by E.M. Forster is a great book, I bought it and read it after Goratrix told me about it (...as far as I know, he hasn't read a single page of it so far!).
Right now I'm reading (well, devouring actually) Equal Affections by David Leavitt. I am really enjoying this book, it's highly commendable. I'm reading it in Spanish and unfortunately the translation isn't good, but still I love it. I decided to buy it after reading the first three pages in print.google.com! (...in English, obviously!).

azn_david6491 · 15th Dec 2005, 04:00 PM

try Rainbow Boys. Its a good trilogy by Alex Sanchez.

imad · 9th Jan 2006, 10:33 PM

The Book of Salt- Monique Truong

This is an amazing book... It takes place in 1920's-1930's France, and the main character is a poor Vietnamese cook (he's also gay

). It's one of those stories where it's better not to give too much description (don't read the synopsis if you decide to check it out).

It has a lot of between-the-lines stuff, and the author writes wonderfully. It would be slightly easier to understand for those who speak French, but I recommend it for everyone.

Miss Bubbles · 3rd Feb 2010, 10:30 AM

I read the first two of a series by Christopher Hart (I think thats his last name). They are called "Geography club" and "The order of the Poison Oak". They are the funniest and most enthralling books our school library has lol. My freind Damion is reading one called somethign like "Hiding you" or something like that. I wanna read it too.

tylerzane69 · 3rd Feb 2010, 10:35 AM

through it came bright colors is a great book.... and the tragedy of miss geneva flowers

Holmes · 12th Feb 2010, 04:20 PM

I'd also recommend Maurice. I read that a few years ago now. Or The City and the Pillar, written in 1948 by Gore Vidal. They're both coming out type books.

But for something more modern, The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst, set in 1980s Thatcher London. I really enjoyed both the book and the BBC adaptation. Nick in that is fairly much out at the beginning, it deals with the AIDS epidemic and general British politics at the time. The politics is probably why I loved it so.

Or you could read Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. Nothing explicitly gay in it, but clearly written by a gay man with gay characters in it. It was enough to be used as evidence against him in court.

Oh, all of these are ones that should be in the main literature/fiction section of a bookshop.

RaeofLite · 12th Feb 2010, 05:51 PM

"Heroes" by Perry Moore (protagonist is gay)
"Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult (has gay characters and feelings in it)
"The Last Vampire" by Whitley Strieber (lesbians/bisexuals in it)
Anne Rice's Vampire Series are supposed to have gay/bi characters in it. I have yet to read them though.

Paper Heart · 12th Feb 2010, 06:48 PM

"Leave Myself Behind" by Bart Yates. Very real, yet also has a suspenseful subplot.

GhostDog · 12th Feb 2010, 07:01 PM

Also, not all the books with LGBT themes are going to be in the gay/lesbian section! I found "Rubyfruit Jungle" by Rita Mae Brown (which is a lesbian coming of age story), and several books by Sarah Waters in the fiction section. The gay/lesbian section largely had nonfiction books, and "Best Gay Erotica!" stuff in it. =P At least at the bookstores I've been to.

On that note, most of the LGBT books I've read have lesbian (rather than gay male) themes, so maybe most of the fellas won't be so interested, but here are the good ones I've read -

"Ash" by Malinda Lo, which is sort of a twist on the Cinderella story (and it's more than just 'oh it's cinderella but she falls in love with a chick'). It's delightful!

"Tipping the Velvet" and "Fingersmith" by Sarah Waters. OH MY GOD. SO GOOD. Also, Victorian-era lesbians, you guys.

Rubyfruit Jungle is good if you like coming of age stories. ;p Not my favorite genre but it was a good read.

13th Feb 2010, 04:38 PM

12 days in August was a good one
Info on the book is here: http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Days-Au.../dp/0380723530

if i had a dime · 13th Feb 2010, 04:48 PM

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
its an beautiful love story and one of mu favorite books ever.

Johnnieguy · 13th Feb 2010, 10:02 PM

"The Full Spectrum" is a good one:
http://www.amazon.com/Full-Spectrum-.../dp/0375832904

So is "My First Time: Gay men describe their first same-sex experience."
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...+first+gay+sex
(this one is more or less porn without pictures, but its pretty enjoyable to read)

Alex19 · 16th Feb 2010, 08:52 AM

geography club was amazing. its like, 6th grade reading level but w/e its cute.

5th Sep 2005, 07:04 PM	#1
nisomer Da Jedi Masta Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: All but a few Location: MN Age: 23 Posts: 581 Join Date: Mar 2005	Good gay books What are some good gay books? fictional and non-fictional. I have not read any in the past (even though i very much wanted to) because I felt weird going up to the register of like borders buying a book from the gay and lesbian section.

6th Sep 2005, 05:28 AM	#3
Micah ^_^ Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to All Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 23 Posts: 2,532 Join Date: Feb 2005	I heard that Geography Club is supposed to be really good. I've read one of the chapters and I must admit it sounded like a cool book. __________________ 　／l、（ﾟ､｡７　l、 ~ヽ　じしf_, )ノ

6th Sep 2005, 02:39 PM	#4
Eligh Member Regular Member Location: I live in North-East Oklahoma Age: 21 Posts: 37 Join Date: Jun 2005	I love to read!! Okay, I absolutely love to read. I am a subscriber to ISO, and it has some of the greatest book line-ups in the world. If you arent subscribed to that thing, then you best sign up, personaly, I loved Geography Club, its sequel Order of the Poison Oak, Beyond the Wind, Trouble Boy, Luna, and Looking for it. I own all of the books, and they all have my appraisal. I highly recommend them to anybody that would like to sink into a book and loose themselves in the pages.

6th Sep 2005, 05:44 PM	#5
goratrix EC Addict Full Member Age: 25 Posts: 570 Join Date: Apr 2005	I don't know about gay books... I don't read THAT much any more. However if you want to understand society a little better I could recomend you Isaac Assimov's Foundation saga (from The Robots of Dawn up to Foundation and Earth). It's a social study disguised in a fantastic novel. A friend just gave me Maurice... she told me she really liked it, so I'll give it a try. She gave me the movie as well... XD but I'll watch that AFTER I read the book... I'll tell you in a couple of days... __________________ Cicciux Back from beyond. A different dog.

19th Sep 2005, 12:01 PM	#7
BlackCherryBLN Member Regular Member Location: Berlin - Germany Age: 37 Posts: 17 Join Date: Sep 2005	Classic My favourite classic: The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood...We all know it as "Cabaret"...

5th Sep 2005, 07:57 PM	#2
JonB321 Member Regular Member Location: Long Island, NY Age: 28 Posts: 74 Join Date: Jul 2005	Clay's Way, by Blair Mastbaum is one of my favorites. It's short, and really fun to read. David Sederas (I forget how to spell his name) writes a decent amount of short stories that have to do with being gay. There's also the Rainbow Boys, and geography club. I heard that Dancer from the Dance is supposed to be really good, I haven't read it yet. Home at the End of the World is good. Umm... the Christopher Rice books are a lot of fun, they're like gay thrillers. Oh, and the Tragedy of Miss Geneva Flowers is good so far, I haven't finished it yet. But, as a side note, reading a work of gay fiction can be a lot of fun sometimes, but besides Clay's Way, which I thought was excellent, I think a good piece of regular non-fiction is better than anything in the gay lit section. Of course, people may disagree, but I think you get a lot more out Dickens than Dicks in general (sorry, I know how corny that was, but I had to throw it in!).

7th Sep 2005, 12:29 AM	#6
joeyconnick sine qua non Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 3,332 Join Date: Apr 2005	There really are so many. First off, nearly anything by Ethan Mordden, but especially "How Long Has This Been Going On?" It's an amazing epic about gay life in America over the course of about 40 years. Another good "gay epic" is "Like People In History" by Felice Picano. I used to think I would never say this but Christopher Rice actually has something more going for him than an extremely famous mother and the fact that he's hot: he's a really good writer. I haven't read his latest (third) book but his first two are really good. I liked the first one best ("A Density of Souls") but "The Snow Garden" was good too. I read both of these this summer. The one gay book that wowed me more than any others was... okay, there were two: "The World of Normal Boys" by KM Soehnlein and "Becoming A Man: Half A Life Story" by Paul Monette. Soehnlein's much-anticipated second novel just came out ("You Can Say You Knew Me When") and if you're in a major city in the US northwest you can go to one of his readings/signings. I haven't read it but I'm chomping at the bit to. http://www.kmsoehnlein.com/ Monette's most famous book is probably "Borrowed Time: An AIDS Memoir" but I really preferred "Becoming A Man." He also has a book of essays called "Last Watch of the Night"... you can't really go wrong with him. Fantasy/sci-fi-wise, you have to read Mercedes Lackey's trilogy "Books of the Last Herald-Mage," which comprises "Magic's Pawn," "Magic's Promise," and "Magic's Price." They're exceptionally relevant if you're coming out. Non-fiction, everyone should have to read Randy Shilts' "And The Band Played On." You wouldn't think an account of the early days of the AIDS crisis could be so gripping but I was pretty much crying all the way through it. Similarly moving is a collection called "A Promise To Remember," which are letters about the NAMES Project quilt. My friend Mary Gray edited a book called "In Your Face: Stories from the Lives of Queer Youth," which is a collection of first-person accounts about being young and gay. So go find it! It's really amazing. Dramatically, read the two Angels In America volumes: "Millenium Approaches" and "Perestroika." Then rent the DVD of HBO's 6-hour miniseries of it. It's full of top-notch acting talent. Finally, a guy named Peter McGehee wrote two extremely funny books called "Boys Like Us" and "Sweetheart." And yes, I read a lot. It's not like we get taught queer studies in high school!

13th Oct 2005, 03:42 PM	#8
popboy Member Regular Member Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina Posts: 53 Join Date: Apr 2005	Re: Good gay books In my humble opinion, Maurice by E.M. Forster is a great book, I bought it and read it after Goratrix told me about it (...as far as I know, he hasn't read a single page of it so far!). Right now I'm reading (well, devouring actually) Equal Affections by David Leavitt. I am really enjoying this book, it's highly commendable. I'm reading it in Spanish and unfortunately the translation isn't good, but still I love it. I decided to buy it after reading the first three pages in print.google.com! (...in English, obviously!).

15th Dec 2005, 04:00 PM	#9
azn_david6491 Newbie Regular Member Location: Tampa, Fl Age: 20 Posts: 2 Join Date: Dec 2005	Re: Good gay books try Rainbow Boys. Its a good trilogy by Alex Sanchez.

9th Jan 2006, 10:33 PM	#10
imad Member Regular Member Gender: Male Posts: 71 Join Date: Nov 2005	Re: Good gay books The Book of Salt- Monique Truong This is an amazing book... It takes place in 1920's-1930's France, and the main character is a poor Vietnamese cook (he's also gay ). It's one of those stories where it's better not to give too much description (don't read the synopsis if you decide to check it out). It has a lot of between-the-lines stuff, and the author writes wonderfully. It would be slightly easier to understand for those who speak French, but I recommend it for everyone.

3rd Feb 2010, 10:30 AM	#11
Miss Bubbles EC Addict Full Member Gender: confused on some levels Orientation: of the homosexual persuation. Out Status: So out im in Location: Indiana Age: 19 Posts: 1,037 Join Date: Nov 2009	Re: Good gay books I read the first two of a series by Christopher Hart (I think thats his last name). They are called "Geography club" and "The order of the Poison Oak". They are the funniest and most enthralling books our school library has lol. My freind Damion is reading one called somethign like "Hiding you" or something like that. I wanna read it too. __________________ A Dialogue my besty made up in first period: Oh this reminds me of the time joan rivers made that fatal mistake: Oh apples how I hunger for youuuuu. "Joan Don't Touch those!" -bite- -hiss- 'Joan you and adam are cast out of heaven!!!!'-- Ashley D.

3rd Feb 2010, 10:35 AM	#12
tylerzane69 having the time of my life!!! Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Sault Ste Marie, MI Age: 28 Posts: 238 Join Date: Nov 2008	Re: Good gay books through it came bright colors is a great book.... and the tragedy of miss geneva flowers __________________ "I dont sleep with boys who sleep with boys" My best lady friend resa!!!! Tyler

12th Feb 2010, 04:20 PM	#13
Holmes EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out Location: Ireland Age: 25 Posts: 609 Join Date: Aug 2009	Re: Good gay books I'd also recommend Maurice. I read that a few years ago now. Or The City and the Pillar, written in 1948 by Gore Vidal. They're both coming out type books. But for something more modern, The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst, set in 1980s Thatcher London. I really enjoyed both the book and the BBC adaptation. Nick in that is fairly much out at the beginning, it deals with the AIDS epidemic and general British politics at the time. The politics is probably why I loved it so. Or you could read Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. Nothing explicitly gay in it, but clearly written by a gay man with gay characters in it. It was enough to be used as evidence against him in court. Oh, all of these are ones that should be in the main literature/fiction section of a bookshop.

12th Feb 2010, 05:51 PM	#14
RaeofLite I've got the moves like Jagger Full Member Gender: ♀ Orientation: Sapphicly inclined Out Status: My closet is for clothes! Location: BC, Canada Age: 23 Posts: 3,111 Join Date: Apr 2009	Re: Good gay books "Heroes" by Perry Moore (protagonist is gay) "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult (has gay characters and feelings in it) "The Last Vampire" by Whitley Strieber (lesbians/bisexuals in it) Anne Rice's Vampire Series are supposed to have gay/bi characters in it. I have yet to read them though. __________________ People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -Bonnie Jean Wasmund (and the lesbians)

12th Feb 2010, 06:48 PM	#15
Paper Heart The Fool Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out and About =D Location: The tiny red dot in Massachusetts. Age: 19 Posts: 500 Join Date: Nov 2009	Re: Good gay books "Leave Myself Behind" by Bart Yates. Very real, yet also has a suspenseful subplot.

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12th Feb 2010, 07:01 PM	#16
GhostDog is Spartacus. Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: MAGICAL. Out Status: The hiiills are aliiive with the sound of muuusic! Location: DFW area, Texas Age: 24 Posts: 2,503 Join Date: Apr 2009	Re: Good gay books Also, not all the books with LGBT themes are going to be in the gay/lesbian section! I found "Rubyfruit Jungle" by Rita Mae Brown (which is a lesbian coming of age story), and several books by Sarah Waters in the fiction section. The gay/lesbian section largely had nonfiction books, and "Best Gay Erotica!" stuff in it. =P At least at the bookstores I've been to. On that note, most of the LGBT books I've read have lesbian (rather than gay male) themes, so maybe most of the fellas won't be so interested, but here are the good ones I've read - "Ash" by Malinda Lo, which is sort of a twist on the Cinderella story (and it's more than just 'oh it's cinderella but she falls in love with a chick'). It's delightful! "Tipping the Velvet" and "Fingersmith" by Sarah Waters. OH MY GOD. SO GOOD. Also, Victorian-era lesbians, you guys. Rubyfruit Jungle is good if you like coming of age stories. ;p Not my favorite genre but it was a good read. __________________ <3 Kirah, who may or may not be made of delicious candy (and the lesbians)

13th Feb 2010, 04:38 PM	#17
Fargo Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Good gay books 12 days in August was a good one Info on the book is here: http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Days-Au.../dp/0380723530

13th Feb 2010, 04:48 PM	#18
if i had a dime I'm alive I'm alive I am sooo alive Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Im gay :) Out Status: slowly opening the door Location: Ohio Age: 18 Posts: 167 Join Date: Jul 2009	Re: Good gay books Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden its an beautiful love story and one of mu favorite books ever. __________________ "Let me assure you, that if you're getting bullied and feeling like you're on the outskirts, it gets better. Stand tall and be proud of who you are"~Nph

13th Feb 2010, 10:02 PM	#19
Johnnieguy EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Twin Cities, MN Age: 25 Posts: 510 Join Date: Jan 2010	Re: Good gay books "The Full Spectrum" is a good one: http://www.amazon.com/Full-Spectrum-.../dp/0375832904 So is "My First Time: Gay men describe their first same-sex experience." http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...+first+gay+sex (this one is more or less porn without pictures, but its pretty enjoyable to read) __________________ Minnesota Vikings: 2010 de facto Super Bowl Champions!

16th Feb 2010, 08:52 AM	#20
Alex19 who else but me? Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: homo Out Status: I think everyone knows by now Location: New York Age: 21 Posts: 1,301 Join Date: Feb 2009	Re: Good gay books geography club was amazing. its like, 6th grade reading level but w/e its cute. __________________ "It's always darkest before dawn."