Task #11: Read a debut novel by a queer author

[Book Riot]

Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the 11th Read Harder task.

[Tanu]

Heat and Light

[Karen]

Ammonite by Nicola Griffith or

Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters.

[Bonnie G.]

Ash or A Home at the End of the World

[Tiffany]

I'm going with The Sleepwalker's Guide to Dancing. In her memoir titled Good Talk, she includes her sexual relations with both men and women.

[Rachael]

I am going for Ash by Malinda Lo. It has a Cinderella sound to it, so would probably also work for the retelling of a fairytale prompt, as she is Chinese

[Amy J.]

I'm going with Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett.

[Stephen]

I'm not sure what I'll read because I've read a number of books that would have fit recently. A few recommendations:

Dreadnought Danny Tozer is a closeted trans woman at the start of this novel. When she gets superpowers gifted by a dying hero, she not only has to deal with being a hero, but also also having her gender identity outed as the powers have transformed her body. It's brilliant, but be warned that the author is struggling to come out with book 3.
Gideon the Ninth - Lesbian Necromancers! Absolutely Brilliant!
Magic for Liars Not the author's first book (they previously published novellas), but their first novel. A hardboiled detective story set at a school for magic.
The Outside A space opera mixed with cosmic horror with a queer and autistic main character. (This might also work for indie horror, depending on what their definition of indie is)

[Madeline]

I'm reading The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis!

[Amelia]

A Memory Called Empire is on my bookclub’s list for next year, so I think that will fill this slot.

[Veronica]

Going with Guapa by Saleem Haddad. I think the Kindle book is still on sale, too.

[Knobby]

It's coming out in 2020, but I'm looking forward to Something to Talk About by Meryl Wisner

[Cynthia]

London Undone

[BookWormBen]

I've had The Picture of Dorian Gray on my shelf forever. Maybe this is my chance to finally read it!

[em]

I haven't decided on what I want to read yet myself BUT I will recommend:
The Fever King and The Seep which is going to be released in Jan 2020!

[Ann]

I've got quite a list going:
Broken People by Sam Lansky
Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

[Amadei]

Stephen wrote: "I'm not sure what I'll read because I've read a number of books that would have fit recently. A few recommendations:"

Magic for Liars is already on my hold list, so I guess as I was gonna read it anyway...lol

[Eliza]

Ann wrote: "I've got quite a list going:
Broken People by Sam Lansky
Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Red, White & Roya..."</i>

Perfect excuse for me to read [book:Red, White & Royal Blue - thanks!

[Lindsey]

ooh, Magic for Liars sounds fun.

[Theresa]

I think I'll go with Here Comes the Sun. I've had it on my shelf since it was released 3 or 4 years ago.

[Dani]

Burial Rites this book was amazing.

[Dani]

Oh also Lily and the Octopus would work for this

[Jessie]

I'm going with Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl

[Tony]

ProfBen10 wrote: "I've had The Picture of Dorian Gray on my shelf forever. Maybe this is my chance to finally read it!"

Great suggestion! That's been on my want to read list for a long time.

[Book Riot]

Hello book people! Our rec post for this task is now live. https://bookriot.com/2019/12/18/read-...

[Bonnie G.]

Book Riot wrote: "Hello book people! Our rec post for this task is now live. https://bookriot.com/2019/12/18/read-..."

I don't want to tell Book Riot how to do its job, but, How We Fight For Our Lives is a memoir, not a novel, and so does not fit this task. Also, I don't think Alyssa Cole identifies as queer, but I could be wrong about that. (Never mind on Alyssa Cole -- she is married to a man but identifies as bi so that one works.)

[Beth]

I might have to re-read one of my all-time favorite books: Jeanette Winterson's Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. Or maybe read something new for the task, and re-read Oranges anyway.

[Ava]

Knobby wrote: "It's coming out in 2020, but I'm looking forward to Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner"

This is my pick for this task too. I know Meryl from online fandom & her fanfic is great, so I'm sure this will be too.

[Candace]

I'm going to read How We Fight For Our Lives for task. I've been following Saeed since his Black Twitter days and have loved watching move into the spot light.

[Marie]

Edinburgh by Alexander Chee is my pick.

[Clay]

Considering John Crow's Devil, but if it's too dark for me, I may go for Magic for Liars...

[Bonnie]

I'm really looking forward to reading Ocean Vuong's debut novel, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, for this one.

[Katrisa]

Bonnie wrote: "I'm really looking forward to reading Ocean Vuong's debut novel, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, for this one."

This was my favorite book of 2019!

[Mya]

I was hunting possibilities for a different challenge and discovered
Last Night in Nuuk by Niviaq Korneliussen.

(That appears to be the american title. The original title is HOMO sapienne.)

Here’s a piece about it from The New Yorker. Apparently it’s THE book to read if you live in greenland or denmark.

https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-...

[Mya]

Mya wrote: "I was hunting possibilities for a different challenge and discovered
Last Night in Nuuk by Niviaq Korneliussen."

The author looks like she might have indigenous heritage, quite possible in Greenland, but I haven’t found anything yet to confirm that.

[Anna]

Does anyone know if Disoriental by Négar Djavadi works here?

It won a Lambda award; the main character is bi. But I'm not sure about the author herself.

[Audra]

Candace wrote: "I'm going to read How We Fight For Our Lives for task. I've been following Saeed since his Black Twitter days and have loved watching move into the spot light."

This is on my TBR, glad I can read it for this!

[Sarah]

Does anyone know if Pretend I'm Dead by Jen Beagin would count for this? I can't find much info. about the author online.

[Elizabeth]

^^

Bret Easton Ellis IS gay, for any folks in general who were unsure about his identity and were considering him for this task (or for any challenge that calls for an LGBTQ+ author). He used to talk a long time ago about not being completely straight but not wanting to define his sexuality, but he came out as gay about a decade ago.

His debut novel is Less Than Zero for those looking for the letter-of-the-law book for this task.

Probably the wrong person to confirm this though, because I don't care for him as a person or a writer. But I understand the urge to knock his books off the TBR, particularly given the cultural impact his work has had.

[Jenny]

I'm wondering about The Last True Poets Of The Sea but can't see any confirmation that Julia Drake is queer... it has a bisexual romance in it and the author is described as having a 'partner' with no mention of gender. Anyone know any more from interviews or anything?

[Jo]

I'm planning to read Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin. I love Giovanni’s Room and have been meaning to read more by him for ages.

[Cheryl]

I listened to Texts from Jane Eyre by Daniel Mallory Ortberg on Overdrive today. It's short, about 2 1/2 hours, but very hilarious. I think I'm going to buy a print copy at some point.

[Carmen]

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab or Vicious by V.E. Schwab. Technically they are the same person but she writes middle grade under Victoria and adult under V.E. It may be cheating a little bit but I am going to read Vicious.

[Amanda]

I just read (in less than 24 hours) On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous and highly recommend it. Lovely and devastating.

[Emerging]

Does anyone know if The Summer We Got Free by Mia McKenzie is a fit for this prompt?

[Bonnie G.]

Amanda wrote: "I just read (in less than 24 hours) On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous and highly recommend it. Lovely and devastating."

Next up on my pile! Thanks for the recommendation. I think also it fits for a book by a refugee, but I am not 100% certain.

[Bonnie G.]

Emerging wrote: "Does anyone know if The Summer We Got Free by Mia McKenzie is a fit for this prompt?"

I don't see why not.

[Emerging]

Bonnie G. wrote: "I don't see why not."
Thanks, Bonnie! I appreciate it. :)

[Em]

Coming out May this year, Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner. Berkley's first f/f romance!

[Alexis]

Ann wrote: "I've got quite a list going:
Broken People by Sam Lansky
Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Red, White & Roya..."</i>


I was not at all aware that Gideon the Ninth was a debut. I was going to do [book:Go Tell It on the Mountain , but now I'm debating.