Task 5: A Book By or About Someone Who Identifies as LGBTQ

[Robin P]

I'm listening to Farthing because I've enjoyed everything I've read by this author but didn't think it fit any of the categories. However, it soon became apparent that more than one character qualifies it for this category, and it's a salient issue.

[Katherine]

I read by Roxane Gay late last year. I am counting it for task #5 because I chose it for a "book of the month" program at my library - and the month is March! Also, the book is profound, putting you into the mind of Mireille as she experiences the pain caused by her kidnappers, her parents, and her husband.

[Ellie]

Jeimy wrote: "Joana wrote: "Thinking of reading The Danish Girl for this task. Any opinions on this one?"

A few years ago there was a rumor that Nicole Kidman had been courted for the role and I decided to rea..."

I've tried reading this and couldn't get on with it. Just saw in The Guardian (UK paper) that Eddie Redmayne with be playing the lead role - they showed a pic of him as a woman. Wow. What a transformation. You can find it by Googling Redmayne Guardian Danish Girl.

[Katia]

Read the miniaturist and really liked it! The characters are very well described and the society of Amsterdam in the 17th century

[Soscha]

I just finished Scott Heim's "Mysterious Skin" tonight. It's a powerful read, a look into a world that isn't usually visible, and some parts of it you'd probably prefer not to. Highly recommended.

[Danielle]

I just completed this task with "Will Grayson, Will Grayson." This book has been sitting in my TBR pile for years, and I had no idea that it dealt with LGBTQ issues/characters. You wouldn't know it from the back cover info! Great YA book.

[Nikki]

A interesting resource.
http://www.thelesbianreview.com/10-be...

[Linda]

"when everything feels like the movies" by raziel reid. It is also one of the Canada reads selections

[Samantha]

I read Will Grayson, Will Grayson for this challenge. I am a huge John Green fan and am starting to become a fan of David Levithan. I loved the alternating voices from each, as their respective Will Graysons'. I have yet to read a John Green that didn't bring me to tears. At least in this book, no teenagers died. But the themes of friendship and loyalty, discovering and accepting who you are really got to me. This book probably rounds out my top three favorite John Green novels.

I will probably read another one fir this category,as well. This is a book I would have read without the challenge. I am thinking something by Sarah Waters.

[Tatiana]

For this task I read La soberbia juventud by Pablo Simonetti (no idea what the English title is, I don't think it's been translated).

[Denise]

My first five star read of the year. A Little Life. Heartwrenching and beautiful.

[Melissa]

Was looking over a list of diverse books for teens and came across Sparks: The Epic, Completely True Blue, (Almost) Holy Quest of Debbie. Fits the challenge though there are other YA titles that address the topic of coming out and are better written IMO.

[Janet]

I just finished The Miseducation of Cameron Post. It is the story of a Montana girl, her sexuality, and the destructive things done to her and others in the name of normalcy.

[Sophie]

I read both The Night Watch and The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. In just a few months she quickly became one of my favorite authors!

[Elizabeth]

I am going to read The Sealed Letterby Emma Donoghue.

[Lynda]

Anything by J H Trumble. I especially recommend: "Where You Are."

[Sophie]

Kirin wrote: "Sophie wrote: "I read both The Night Watch and The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. In just a few months she quickly became one of my favorite authors!"
..."

Night Watch is more like her later work, like The Paying Guests. Her happiest books are definitely Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet.

[Jennifer]

I chose to put Frog Music by Emma Donoghue into this category, though it is admittedly a bit of a stretch to do so. Tell you why it is a stretch would be a spoiler, so I won't. I liked this book, though not because of the completely unlikable main character. I love stories set in early America, though. And, I loved the music. And, I loved Jenny. And, I loved that it is based on a true story. :)

[Karen]

I just joined this group and I love this idea of tasks to tackle over the year.

While the subject matter certainly isn't LGBTQ, the author is -- "In Cold Blood," by Truman Capote. I'd read it years ago and decided after catching the movie on TCM a couple of months ago to read it again. I forgot what an absolute page-turner it is.

[Richard]

I did something a little different for this challenge and read 'In the Shelter' by Padraig O'Tuama written from an LGBTQ/Christian perspective

[Ana-Maria]

Richard wrote: "I did something a little different for this challenge and read 'In the Shelter' by Padraig O'Tuama written from an LGBTQ/Christian perspective"

That looks like it might be an interesting book, Richard! Unfortunately, there aren't any reviews on the page :( Could you please tell us a bit more of what it's about, other than the vague synopsis given?

[Linda]

I am going to read "When everything feels like the movies" by Raziel Green. It was one of the selections for Canada Reads.

[Diane]

I just finished Fingersmith and really enjoyed it.

[O]

I read Fingersmith a couple of months back. Waters really knows how to ratchet up the tension, even though I felt it dragged at places. What I enjoyed most is how Dickensian it was - the characters, the descriptions and the places really immersed me into the time period.

[Anushree]

Reading The Devourers by Indra Das for this challenge. It is speculative fiction from India set in the 17th century and has werewolves! Couldn't get any better!

[Mel]

I'm currently reading The Drowning Girl as it has a Trans character and author. It's not the main focus (that I know of).

[Bonnie G.]

one of my very favorite books of the year, and perhaps ever, was Brown Girl Dreaming. Earns every accolade it received. The author, Jacqueline Woodson is a lesbian, though her orientation is not a theme in the book.

[Bonnie G.]

Adriana wrote: "Nikki wrote: "Someone who was giving away books gave me Middlesex, so I'm reading that one right now."

I am also reading it right now, loving it so far :)"

One of my favorite books ever.

[Bianca]

I've just read 'breakfast at Tiffany's 'by Truman Capote.He was gay and that's also an ongoing theme in his work. I did see the movie a while ago and I have to say; the book was better...again

[Bonnie G.]

Bianca wrote: "I've just read 'breakfast at Tiffany's 'by Truman Capote.He was gay and that's also an ongoing theme in his work. I did see the movie a while ago and I have to say; the book was better...again"

Agreed. I loved the movie, but the novella was amazing.

[Atara]

Over April school vacation I read Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin. Great book by a great writer.

[Jen]

For this task, I read The Fair Fight by Anna Freeman. One of the three narrators, George, is bisexual and his gay lover is an important secondary character. This was a good book but not really to my taste.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lisa]

I'm going to be reading Finding Bluefield by Elan Barnehama for this one. I have been wanting to read this for a while as it takes place partially in the tiny small town where I grew up in Southwest Virginia. Since it fits in this challenge as well it is the perfect time to give it a try.

[DaisyDoesBooks]

I'm almost finished Tipping the Velvet - I can't put it down! I never thought I would enjoy it so much, I'm so glad I'm doing this challenge or I never would have discovered this amazing book! The sex scenes are such a tiny part of the story - Nancy is an intriguing character and the descriptions of Victorian London make me feel like I'm walking the cobbles with them. Can't recommend highly enough I'm not even finished it yet!!

[Sha'ron]

Borderlands/La Frontera by Gloria Anzaldua is about the physically and spiritually confusion/splitting of space and culture. She identifies as queer but it is not the main focus of the book. Does it still count under this challenge?

[Sha'ron]

Borderlands/La Frontera by Gloria Anzaldua is about the physically and spiritually confusion/splitting of space and culture. She identifies as queer but it is not the main focus of the book. Does it still count under this challenge?

[Book Riot]

Sha'ron wrote: "Borderlands/La Frontera by Gloria Anzaldua is about the physically and spiritually confusion/splitting of space and culture. She identifies as queer but it is not the main focus of the book. Does i..."

You can definitely count it, since it's books by or about someone who identifies as LGBTQIA.

[Miss Jones]

For this task I have just completed "Zami: A New Spelling of My Name" by Audre Lorde. The one question I asked myself, before my question was answered in Chapter 26 was how lonely did she feel. To be black and female in the 1950s was hard enough given the constant racism and limited job opportunities but to be a homosexual on top of all of that and actually survive during that particular time is extraordinary and probably lonesome I would imagine. Overall I thought this was a very good read and I was able to learn about a different side of the black experience that I had never known before.

[Karri]

I just stumbled across this challenge (it's June) so I am going back through what I've read this year - hopefully that's not cheating! Anyway, as part of another reading challenge I read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde so I'm using that as my #5.

[Katie]

So, I originally put Every Day by David Leviathon here, but I'm not sure that it really qualifies. The main character's sexual preference is rather ambiguous, but I read it as a LGBT.

Right after that, I also read Will Grayson, Will Grayson which obviously qualifies here and is, in my opinion, a MUCH better book!

[Glenn]

James Merrill: Life and Art. Langdon Hammer's new biography of the poet. http://www.imcpl.org/readersconnectio...

[Jesi]

I'm doing The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun Hutchinson and Christine Larsen

[Jayne]

I read Fun Home by Alison Bechdel, which I highly recommend.

[Sam]

I also read Fun Home by Alison Bechdel. Really great. Also been made into a really good musical that just won the Tony award.

[Elizabeth]

I read Blue Is The Warmest Colour and it was definitely worth reading.

[Sarah]

I've just finished The Little Stranger and it was bloody brilliant, albeit terrifying.The story itself didn't deal with LGBTQ issues, but the author identifies as such.I can't believe I've never read anything by Sarah Waters before-I've been missing out!

[Krista]

My selection for this task was:



Definitely not something I would have picked up without having this challenge push me to read outside my comfort zone.

[Nancy]

I read Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote. My library copy contains several short stories as well, which I read, but the reason for checking it out was for the novella. I initially didn't intend it for this item on the challenge. I'm also doing another challenge, and I planned to use this book for the category of a book I could finish in a day. It also would work on my "book bingo" row for Books on the Nightstand as a book written before 1970. But after reading the book and checking out some commentary and analysis, I was reminded that Capote was gay, and several characters were as well, so I decided to put it in this category. It will be easy enough to find different titles for the other lists/Bingo.

[Wellington]

I chose to read None of The Above by I.W. Gregorio for this task. It was very eye-opening and a beautiful story.

[Alexandra]

My favorites:
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson
Anything by David Sedaris or Augusten Burroughs is also good