Pride: Some Suggested Reading
As pride month has just about wrapped up, I’ve been thinking a little about a few fiction books which feature representation of the LGBTQ+ community. As you know, I’ve always got my head in a book, so of course there are lots of novels sitting on my bookshelves right now that fit into this category. I definitely feel that some work better than others, so for now I’m only including a select few that I have enjoyed, and believe have really good representation.
As pride month has just about wrapped up, I’ve been thinking a little about a few fiction books which feature representation of the LGBTQ+ community. As you know, I’ve always got my head in a book, so of course there are lots of novels sitting on my bookshelves right now that fit into this category. I definitely feel that some work better than others, so for now I’m only including a select few that I have enjoyed, and believe have really good representation.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
This is the story of the fall of Troy, focusing heavily on the tale of Achilles and Patroclus, and their relationship. The story has such a wonderful ambience. The novel is set in ancient Greece and told through the narrative of a quiet, conflicted main character, Patroclus. Based on Greek mythology we follow the lives and connection between two famous names. I thought the childhood years of Patroclus and Achilles growing up side-by-side and being trained together were beautifully presented, and Miller’s writing in the first half of the book is fantastic in developing the characters so vividly. I loved reading about these early years of the boys, and the friendship and romance that blossomed between them. It’s a great coming of age tale along with Achilles and Patroclus falling for each other and the tragic tale of love between them. It gets pretty emotional and offers a different perspective on the Trojan war which I found intriguing.
This is the story of the fall of Troy, focusing heavily on the tale of Achilles and Patroclus, and their relationship. The story has such a wonderful ambience. The novel is set in ancient Greece and told through the narrative of a quiet, conflicted main character, Patroclus. Based on Greek mythology we follow the lives and connection between two famous names. I thought the childhood years of Patroclus and Achilles growing up side-by-side and being trained together were beautifully presented, and Miller’s writing in the first half of the book is fantastic in developing the characters so vividly. I loved reading about these early years of the boys, and the friendship and romance that blossomed between them. It’s a great coming of age tale along with Achilles and Patroclus falling for each other and the tragic tale of love between them. It gets pretty emotional and offers a different perspective on the Trojan war which I found intriguing.
Simon vs. Homo Sapiens Agenda: by Becky Albertalli
I read this book about 18 months ago, but I think I’m still in a happy daze over it! This book is wonderful and justso entertaining from start to finish.
The characters are great, and Simon is that perfect mix of perfectly weird and totally normal - he makes us laugh and roll our eyes, but we secretly recognize many of the things he thinks.This book genuinely made me happy. It doesn't hesitate to portray the reality of homophobia in a high school in the South, but overall it's such an uplifting story about friendship, family and a really sweet romance.
This is a very readable, cute, happy and fun book for a fast read with a smile on your face. As well as being really entertaining, I can clearly see why it's such an acclaimed novel for LGBT+ rep in the book community. There’s also a film adaptation that’s definitely worth checking out for a fun rom-com. Very funny and heart-warming.
I read this book about 18 months ago, but I think I’m still in a happy daze over it! This book is wonderful and justso entertaining from start to finish.
The characters are great, and Simon is that perfect mix of perfectly weird and totally normal - he makes us laugh and roll our eyes, but we secretly recognize many of the things he thinks.This book genuinely made me happy. It doesn't hesitate to portray the reality of homophobia in a high school in the South, but overall it's such an uplifting story about friendship, family and a really sweet romance.
This is a very readable, cute, happy and fun book for a fast read with a smile on your face. As well as being really entertaining, I can clearly see why it's such an acclaimed novel for LGBT+ rep in the book community. There’s also a film adaptation that’s definitely worth checking out for a fun rom-com. Very funny and heart-warming.
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
Less is the story of a 49-year-old writer, Arthur Less. As Arthur approaches his fiftieth birthday, he begins to really contemplate where he is in his life right now. Arthur is struggling to write a second novel, and this leaves him beginning to feel more and more helpless and miserable. He then learns that his ex-boyfriend (and love of his life) is about to marry someone else. Arthur simply just cannot face the idea of actually having to attend the wedding, and so he embarks on a trip around the world to occupy his time instead.
Honestly I was surprised in finding the novel so moving. The prose is somewhat philosophical, poignant, funny and wise, and is filled with unexpected turns and engaging characters. Greer has managed to create a wise and witty novel, and I think all in all I would describe Less as a kind of bittersweet comedy romance. This is a great choice if you’re looking to read something heart-warming and entertaining, with interesting quirky characters.
Less is the story of a 49-year-old writer, Arthur Less. As Arthur approaches his fiftieth birthday, he begins to really contemplate where he is in his life right now. Arthur is struggling to write a second novel, and this leaves him beginning to feel more and more helpless and miserable. He then learns that his ex-boyfriend (and love of his life) is about to marry someone else. Arthur simply just cannot face the idea of actually having to attend the wedding, and so he embarks on a trip around the world to occupy his time instead.
Honestly I was surprised in finding the novel so moving. The prose is somewhat philosophical, poignant, funny and wise, and is filled with unexpected turns and engaging characters. Greer has managed to create a wise and witty novel, and I think all in all I would describe Less as a kind of bittersweet comedy romance. This is a great choice if you’re looking to read something heart-warming and entertaining, with interesting quirky characters.
A Love Story for Bewildered Girls by Emma Morgan
I came across this by chance while walking around in a bookshop with no idea of what I wanted to get. I picked this up even though it was one I’d never heard of, and ended up really enjoying it.
A Love Story for Bewildered Girls is a book that centres on three women: Annie, Violet and Grace, three real and delightfully flawed women exploring how love and relationships don’t always turn out the way you want them to.
This is a quirky story about three women’s intersecting lives and loves with a mix of sexualities and much confusion about life choices. It is a story of first loves and romance, but it’s also one about the strength of female friendship, the importance of family, and knowing who you are and what you really want in life. The individual stories of each of the women were interesting, but I engaged with the book much more once the three story strands eventually intersected about halfway through the novel. I found this to be a funny and engaging book, with some tender and honest moments too. The way the author normalised lesbian relationships was really refreshing; but it is truly the friendshipsbetween women that are the heart of this book. The book beautifully presents friendships, families and relationships that are able to endure despite the difficulties in life. It is a beautiful, tender and quirky novel that is both happy and, at times, heartbreakingly sad.
This is a gentle book that slowly unfolds itself as you read, and I mostly thought the characters felt really authentic. They were intriguing and fun to read about. The ending was satisfying and sweet, and I found this to be a cute, girly read that is definitely worth checking out, but perhaps not one that will particularly linger in my mind for too long. Astep up from chick-lit but not weighty enough for literary fiction.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post: by Emily M. Danforth
Danforth’s coming-of-age novel is about main character, Cameron Post, who loses her parents at the beginning of the story and spends a long time coming to terms with her sexuality, whilst growing up in rural Montana. The setting felt perfect for the plot, and the author paints a beautiful picture of rural Montana and Cameron’s childhood there. The whole book has a really 90’s teen vibe and the writing is immersive and absorbing.
The characters are undoubtedly the strongest element of the book. Firstly, they are all very diverse, offering varying backgrounds and interesting backstories. In particular, the other ‘disciples’ Cameron interacts with at God’s Promise Christian school each have very compelling and unique personalities.
I was immersed from start to finish and found this to be another really enjoyable read. The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a wonderful and thought-provoking literary debut about discovering who you are and finding the courage to live life according to your own rules. I also feel that friendship is a really key theme throughout the story. It is a book that captures the innocence of childhood, the despair of grief and the heartbreak of first love.
The Gloaming: by Kirsty Logan
The Gloaming is a wonderful tale of love, self-discovery and grief, and the gap between fairy tales and real life. It’s a gentle, dreamy sort of read, but there was also a mysterious darker undercurrent, which kept me intrigued from beginning to end.
Depending on how the individual reader perceives the writing is key to understanding Pearl, who indeed may or may not in fact be an actual real mermaid. Like all good magical realism books, there is of course a hint of darkness underneath everything, and I felt that with Pearl in particular. She is enigmatic, puzzling and secretive. Personally, her character left me with the sense that she was definitely hiding something, but the individual reader must decide whether or not this is actually the case. This is furthered by the clever handling of the ending, which takes an ambiguous approach that is both original and perfectly pitched for a tale of this kind. After all, perhaps the best stories, just like fairy tales, never really end…
From start to finish, the narrative focuses on the issues of identity, what it is to be a woman, loss, grief and love. This is as an enchanting coming-of-age novel that flows with bewitching imagination, beautiful language, along with imaginative twisted fairy tales.
Have you read any of these? Any others you would recommend? Let me know! I’d love to hear from you.