Hey Shawn! I've seen you around a bit, and you've read some pretty interesting books. I hope you enjoy this group and if you're interested in YA books with GLBT themes, lemme know I may be able to recommend some for you. :D

Sorry, "Shawn." Typing has never really agreed with me!

hello Nicole - i found the LGBT community through books first too. Anything in particular you like to read?

Becko-- Hi! c: Do you mean what do I read in general, or just LGBT? For LGBT, I've read Luna by Julie Anne Peters, Toward Amnesia by Sarah Van Arsdale, Absolute Brightness by James Lecesne... I think that's about it.

In general, I like just about anything. c: Mystery and thriller are my favourite genres.

Hi All, I'm Tom aka BeachcomberT in Daytona, semi-retired newspaper guy who operates an online bookstore, KingChamp Books. Gay guy lucky to have a partner for 27 years. Recent LGBT books I've read: "Maurice" by E.M. Forster, "Running with Scissors" by Augusten Burroughs and "Stone Butch Blues" by Leslie Feinberg. For those of you who like to follow the politics of your authors, check Bilerico Project blog for posts by Patricia Nell Warren. She always has lively comments.

Hey Tom! Welcome to the group.:D I'd love to open a bookstore myself. Is it fun?

Do you guys mind if I share my story? It is kind of long.

Give it a shot, lil Jean.

Okay. I warned you!


I am 27 years old and I am a lesbian

Boy that feels good to say!

Five years ago I realized I was bi. Well, I guess I more or less realized that I liked girls. I had always had more fun with them; kissing them, dancing with them, touching them. It was five years ago that I decided to stop repressing these feelings and just admit to myself and the world that I was bi. I dated a couple girls loosely. We had fun, but nothing ever went any further than kissing. I mean for the most part, all the girls I was seeing at the time lived so far away that it made things difficult.

About six months after this epiphany, I met a couple; boy and girl that were dating. I had a lot of fun hanging out with these two. The girl was really nice. I liked spending time with her more than him. She was obviously straight; however, I started hanging out with them regularly. Eventually, she started drifting away from him and our trio turned into two and not the two I had hoped for. Once again finding myself back in a familiar place, I gave into the heterosexual world of dating. I mean this is "what is supposed to happen" right? Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, everyone's happy.

It took me a total of maybe a little more than a year to realize that this wasn't the case. I had made the ultimate decision. I was going to leave him. As much as we were best friends, lovers we would never fully be. It was on that day that I realized we weren't meant to be, I found out I was pregnant with my first child.

Hormonal, scared, and wanting nothing more than to offer my child a healthy home, I stayed. I once again started lying to myself and to those around me. I made it taboo to look at girls. I tried telling myself it was indecent and obscene to think such things. Not that I thought it was inappropriate for anyone else. There was no hating. I was just trying to tell myself it wasn't for me. I was meant to be with this guy who I didn't love and raise my child as such.

Nine months later, I was a mom. I loved every second of being a mother to my child. My now fiancé was for the most part a good father. I respected him for that and my feelings for him grew but not in a romantic way as they should have. I continued to be unhappy, smiling when necessary to put on an act that I justified as being for my child. Nothing helped. I was dying inside and blamed my partner. He wasn't doing this or that to make me happy.

Nine months after the birth of my first child, we found out we were pregnant with another. I really wanted to have two kids close in age. I thought this would make things better. My picture perfect family. Shortly after I got the news of the new baby, I left my fiancé. I knew nothing was going to ever change. I physically and emotionally checked out. I stayed away for the remainder of my pregnancy trying to maintain a platonic relationship with the father of my children.

I later decided that in order for him to bond with the new baby that I should move back in with him. I knew this time that we would never be romantically involved. I think he had other thoughts, but I proceeded. I moved back and gave birth to our second child. Things were rocky at first, but it was nice to see him with his child as he was with the first child we had together. We lived together for close to another six months. I bought a home and allowed him to move with us. We didn't sleep in the same bed. We weren't sexually involved. We were very distant and we fought often due to the fact that he had feelings for me that were not reciprocated.

One day in the midst of a fight it donned on me. I looked him in the eyes and stopped lying to both of us by saying, "I don't love you. I don't know why you are in my home, but I will never love you. I have never loved you. I want you out of my home." Thirty days later he was gone.

Having now convinced myself that I was straight and whatever feelings I had for women were just plain and simply imaginary, I started meeting boys. It wasn't until New Year's Day three months later that I realized that these feelings for women were real and I couldn't keep lying to myself.

Her name was Megan*. She had the most gorgeous eyes I had ever seen. It really was love at first site. I watched her all night as she danced. I was scared at first at the thought of once again liking yet another girl. My sister eventually caught wind of this and convinced the girl to talk to me. It was extremely awkward for the both of us, but funny all the same looking back. Over the course of the following weeks and months we became good friends. This story doesn't have one of an easy happy ending. I struggled to tell her my true feelings and eventually she found love in another girl.

But I do have Megan* to thank for helping me realize that I need to be true to myself. The time we have together I still value, but all the same, it was her that showed me that I can love and that love has no gender. It isn't meant to be this or meant to be that. It's just meant to be.

Although, I find myself struggling here and there to meet people and still have a jaded view on dating, I now know who I am and refuse to lie to myself or those around me.

This is my story and I love women.

*Just so you know, I actually changed the name.

Hi everyone-I am a 41 year old straight woman, but I have a 14 year old gay son. I joined this group to find some good literature for him, hopefully so he can get some positive influence and not feel so alone. He loves the Alex Sanchez books, and I am trying to find some more books that will be appropriate for his age. Hope you all don't mind me lurking around!

Susan, you're not lurking at all. It's wonderful that your helping your son find some self-affirming books.

I'd recommend Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

The World Of Normal Boys: A Novel by K.M. Soehnlein

Reflections of a Rock Lobster: A Story about Growing Up Gay by Aaron Fricke (an oldie but goodie)

Geography Club by Brent Hartinger

You may also want to check out the gay-young-adult section of our Bookshelf.

best, Ted

(sorry, I finally got the links fixed for this post!)

Welcome to the group, Susan. I was living in RI when Aaron Fricke dared to invite a guy as his date for a high school prom, triggering a federal court case that received national publicity. I think your son would enjoy "Reflections of a Rock Lobster." It shows how even a teenager can make a difference by standing up for his or her convictions.

Thanks for the recommendations. He has already read Geography Club and I think he has Boy Meets Boy. I will check out the others!

I thought William might enjoy "The World of Normal Boys" for it's a little more sophisticated than some others and very well-written. And it portrays a unique relationship between a boy and his Mom.

Susan, you may also find Pinkbooks useful, at http://www.pinkbooks.com They provide thumbnail descriptions of a range of novels appropriate for young gay people.

Tip: If you click on "Site map" you can see a list of all the titles at once.

Hey All,
New to this site. Recently divorced and out lesbian. Have a lot more time for reading now so why not some good glbt books. I'm up for any suggestions.

Hi, all! I usually read what friends recommend and since all my friends have stopped reading new gay lit, by and large, I need new sources of information.

I am also an author here at GoodReads. Here's my short bio:

Dale Lazarov is the writer/editor of STICKY (drawn by Steve MacIsaac), MANLY (drawn by Amy Colburn), and NIGHTLIFE (drawn by Bastian Jonsson, out November 2009), collections of gay erotic comics that Gay Vox, among others, have called “the best gay erotica comics ever”. Dale's collaboration with erotic artist Drubskin, "The Welcome Back Fuck", was featured in Best Gay Erotica 2007 (Cleis Press). He’s currently collaborating on FANCY with Delic Van Loond, CHUMS with Foxy Andy and POWER POP BOYS with Mioki. Dale currently lives and works in Chicago.

So lil Jean what about the father of your children???
Does he still see the kids??? How did he take it that , you did not love him???? I hope you are he are friends still. Good luck!!! It is good to be yourself!!! It does not get easier but you are happier!!

Hej, I'm Muhsin,22, residing in Holland for my study but from Indonesia. Currently I'm reading Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin.

Welcome, Widyoseno!

Widyoseno wrote: "Hej, I'm Muhsin,22, residing in Holland for my study but from Indonesia. Currently I'm reading Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin. "
Hello Widyoseno!!!

Hello everyone. My name is Wayne, and I read books.

I recently moved to the Los Angeles, CA, area, and am looking for a book club where I can learn about interesting books and have interesting conversations with people about books.

A few years ago, I participated in a book club that met at the local gay and lesbian community center ( http://www.mglcc.org ) and that was a lot of fun.

I've known about Good Reads for a while, but this is my first attempt at joining an online group with the intention of being involved and committed. (Yikes, I wrote the "c" word.)

My tastes are kind of eclectic, though I have a weakness for coming of age stories -- a guilty pleasure.

I go through spurts of entering and rating books I've read into my My Books here on Good Reads -- so far 108 rated.

Wayne wrote: "Hello everyone. My name is Wayne, and I read books.

Welcome, Wayne! IF you like coming-of-age stories, check out our bookshelf (underneath "group home" on the top right) and click on gay-young-adult.

Ted

Wayne -- Welcome, indeed, especially since I see you've read (and liked) one of my own novels, THINKING STRAIGHT! ;-) Hope you enjoy the group.

Susan -- Sorry it's taken me a while to reply to you; busy times. Anyway, I also am a straight woman. I don't have a gay son, but I write novels for them, just the same. Check out my page for the two that are available now; more coming soon. (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/441...)
I'm glad your son is reading Alex Sanchez. His books and mine have a very similar goal: proving that the only thing wrong with being gay is how some people treat you when they find out.
Please lurk!

Hi, I'm Alaina! I'm 18, I've been out for about 3 years. I'm a musical theatre and LGBT Studies major. I love anything by Tony Kushner, and I enjoy gay literature. I haven't found much, but I'm hoping joining this group will open doors to new reads. I also really enjoy biographies. I read anything off of a reccomendation!

Hey, Alaina - you'd love Marc Acito's How I Paid for College and its sequel!

Hi I'm Chrissie! I’m 27 years old from Louisville, Kentucky where I am a Library Specialist at a local community college. I enjoy writing flash fiction, photography, reading, singing, playing tennis, and spending time with my family. I am forever in love with my girlfriend, Carrie, and am a proud mommy to two wonderful fur babies, Licorice (a 6 year old black lab mix) and Nahla (a 2 year old American Eskitz).

I look forward to becoming involved in this group. Thanks for letting me join.

Chrissie wrote: "Hi I'm Chrissie! I’m 27 years old from Louisville, Kentucky where I am a Library Specialist at a local community college. I enjoy writing flash fiction, photography, reading, singing, playing tenni..."

Welcome aboard, Chrissie, and thanks for introducing yourself. I hope you'll enjoy the group!

Ted

Ted wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Hi I'm Chrissie! I’m 27 years old from Louisville, Kentucky where I am a Library Specialist at a local community college. I enjoy writing flash fiction, photography, reading, singi..."
Thanks Ted! I really look forward to it!

I'm Ivan, late 40s, California boy now living in Tallahassee (which is in the southern most part of Georgia, so south that Flroida claims it as their capital city) home of Florida Sports University.

Like Ted I came out when I was 19. No regrets.

I'm pretty easy going; don't like lots of "real life" drama. I'm rather sedentary and tend to isolate (though I'm not agoraphobic). I have a tight circle of friends I love to socialize and travel with. I adore meeting the group for brunch, or getting together for birthdays. I'm a bleeding heart liberal, Christian Socialist, Unitarian - and proud of it!

I write a monthly column on the arts for Branching Out (the newsletter of The Family Tree - Tallahassee's LGBT Community Center), and facilitate a reading group. I'm a member of AA (19+ years sober). I enjoy spending time with friends. I love "quality" theatre (especially musicals, especially Sondheim), film, music and reading, reading, reading. I'm writing a short novel (which I like, but needs lots of work).

Welcome Ivan. Have been enjoying your comments in "What is LGBT fiction?" Hope you'll continue to be an active contributor to the group!

Funny you should mention Sondheim, Ivan - I actually liked his non-musical murder mystery, though it got not-so-hot reviews.

It's wonderful that we have some other Sondheim lovers. My favorites are A Little Night Music, Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, and Company. What a master!

Sondheim is a passion; it's very difficult to single out any one of his shows as a favorite. He has at least six or seven shows I claim as his greatest while I'm listening to them - Company, Follies, Night Music, Sweeney, Sunday, Passion. I saw a production of Pacific Overtures at The Alliance in Atlanta that was one of the great theatre going experiences of my entire life.
John - I've heard of his murder mystery, but have not read or seen it.

David wrote: All of Armistead Maupin's writing, Dan Savage's writings, and the Christopher Rice novels among others. I tend to read more books that have gay themes and placed within the regular literature section then what is found in the gay/lesbian sections.

Me too.

I liked Savage's Skipping Towards Gomorrah, which wasn't particularly "gay".

Hey, I'm Elizabeth, an 18 year old bisexual. I live in Maine, and currently attend UMF where I'm active in the college's GSA. I love reading GLBT themed books, some of my favorite authors are Lynn Flewelling, Julia Anne Peters, Brent Hartinger, Alex Sanchez, and J. L. Langley.

Welcome Elizabth! Check out our bookshelf, and add your own faves, too!

Ted

Hello. I'm Doug. I live in Iowa where I work as a computer operator and part time as a sex educator. I just finished my AA degree in Criminal Justice and starting this spring on my BA in Communitcaitons with A Public Relations focus. Found this group while trying to find gay authors and books. I have a couple favorites: Michael Craft, John Morgan Wilson, and Grant Michaels.

Hi Douglas -

I like Michael Craft as well. You might like Anthony Bidulka's books featuring Saskatchewan
P I Russell Quant as a mystery series.

John

Hey! My name Jenna and I'm a lesbian from Tennessee. I'm 17 and just came to terms with the fact that I'm a lesbian so I really don't know of that many books to read yet. I read Keeping you a Secret by Julie Anne Peters and it really helped me a lot. Do you know of any other good books that could help me?

Hi, I'm Dylan, I'm 22 and I am a pre-op and pre-hormones pansexual ftm. Boy that's a mouthful, I think it would have been easier to say I'm queer.
I like to read all sorts of queer fiction, I can't say that I have a favorite type of fiction...although I do usually prefer fiction to non-fiction. The non-fiction queer stories I read are usually coming out stories or true erotica.

Hi, I am Lenna and I like girls. I love to read books and I enjoy reading a book about homosexuality.

Hi Lenna, I'm new here too!

Hi, I have been on goodreads for more than a year. However it never crossed my mind that there would be a group for gays on goodreads. Now i am in the group i I will have great conversations :P Merry CHristmas!!

Hello, I am 15 year old girl from Utah. For now I dont know what sexuality i am. But like most teen i am confused and unsure. But i support GLBT people, and i volenteer down at a GLBT center, i am a huge advocite for GLBT teens as well. I love to read homosexual novels, and if you have any suggestions about a book, tell me, i am bound to read it, reading is truly the only thing i love to do.

hi sara, ever kissed with a girl? or at least liked a girl?

Hi, all! I'm the author of the teen LGBTQ book, Down to the Bone.

Sara, You should read Keeping You a Secret by Julie Peters or Empress of the World by Sara Ryan. They are great books!!!