What do you think?
Rate this book
The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name: Short Stories
The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name by Fiza Pathan is a collection of twenty-one original short stories, each centered on some aspect of the social, cultural, psychological, and emotional issues facing the LGBTQIA community in the world today. False prejudice has blighted much of society's sensitivity to what is necessarily a human rights issue. Ignorance has compounded it. What if you, as a parent or a family member, are faced with this "coming out" issue? Are you aware what each term in the acronym LGBTQIA really means? Are you aware of the emotional and psychological damage you do to a loved one when you fail to understand, and/or reject, their perspective of love, sex, and acceptance?
Understanding the implications of the above, the author after months of research has crafted these stories based on actual conditions existing in different countries of the world. You will meet Rocky in "(A)sexual Story," the psychiatrist Dr. Timothy in "Fix It," and Jasmine and Randy in "Human Work of Art." You will learn about DSD--Dysfunction Sexual Disorder--in "Isher" and why Bangkok is called the "Kathoey Paradise." You will shudder at the public repression of gays by ISIS in Raqqa, and learn about the dichotomy that exists in Iran. You will revel at the miracle you witness in "Topanga," cry for Sameera in "The Girls' Bathroom," and be educated by "The Gay Truth."
And in all these stories and many more, you will learn that every human being suffers like you do and rejoices as you do, and deserves the right to choose how he or she should live their life, however different we perceive them to be.
Understanding the implications of the above, the author after months of research has crafted these stories based on actual conditions existing in different countries of the world. You will meet Rocky in "(A)sexual Story," the psychiatrist Dr. Timothy in "Fix It," and Jasmine and Randy in "Human Work of Art." You will learn about DSD--Dysfunction Sexual Disorder--in "Isher" and why Bangkok is called the "Kathoey Paradise." You will shudder at the public repression of gays by ISIS in Raqqa, and learn about the dichotomy that exists in Iran. You will revel at the miracle you witness in "Topanga," cry for Sameera in "The Girls' Bathroom," and be educated by "The Gay Truth."
And in all these stories and many more, you will learn that every human being suffers like you do and rejoices as you do, and deserves the right to choose how he or she should live their life, however different we perceive them to be.
430 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 30, 2017
4 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Fiza Pathan
41 books323 followersFiza Pathan is a Roman Catholic born on the 19th of March 1989 and is from Mumbai, India.
Fiza has written and published seventeen award-winning books and short stories, which reflect her interest in furthering the cause of education and in championing social issues. In over seventy literary competitions, she has placed either as winner or finalist, chief among them being: 2020 DBW Awards; 2020 Writer's Digest Self-Published E-Book Awards; 2018 DBW Awards; Killer Nashville 2018 Silver Falchion Award; 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards; 2018 Book Viral Millennium Book Awards; Readers’ Favorite Book Awards; Reader Views Literary Awards; Eric Hoffer Book Award; Foreword Reviews Indie Fab Book Awards; Mom’s Choice Awards; Literary Classics Book Awards; and Dan Poynter’s Global E-Book Awards. She established her own niche publishing company called Fiza Pathan Publishing OPC Private Limited where she publishes Rare Classics for younger readers.
She has been contributing articles, book reviews, parabolic stories, and theological essays to various Catholic Magazines for the past 16 years. She has been associated with ‘The Examiner’ which is a reputed Catholic newsweekly of India for the past 16 years. In recognition of her various literary achievements as a young Catholic writer, she has recently received the first ever Bronze Pen Award from The Examiner at its 175th anniversary celebrations in the year 2024.
She also contributes theological articles and book reviews respectively to the ICM (Indian Catholic Matters) online magazine as well as ‘The Teenager Today’ which is run by the Catholic congregation of St. Pauls. She also contributed articles to ‘The Vision & Venture’ and ‘Word Power’ as a youth, both of which are Catholic monthlies.
Fiza Pathan is currently pursuing her Masters in Theological Studies from Pontifex University Atlanta, Georgia asynchronously. She also pursues additional theological courses at the Institute of Catholic Culture in Virginia through its online platform to improve her knowledge of authentic Catholic theology, philosophy, and literature. She is currently in the process of becoming a Consecrated Virgin for Christ.
She is also pursuing her Post Graduate Certificate In International Teacher Education (PGCITE) at Podar International School, Santacruz. She is being trained to teach grades 1 to 12 in the IGCSE & IB curriculum. Her specializations will be in English Language, English Literature, Global Perspectives (GP) & Humanities. This is a Cambridge & IB Accredited Post Graduate Course.
She taught English Literature and History for a year at an ICSE school called Lilavati Bai Podar High School, Mumbai (2011-2012).
Fiza Pathan has a bachelor’s degree in arts from the University of Mumbai, where she majored in History and Sociology with a first class. She also has a bachelor’s degree in education, again with a first class, her special subjects being English and History.
She lives with her maternal family & her cat Lopez, and writes essays, book reviews, sketches, novels, and short stories in most genres. You may follow her on Twitter @FizaPathan and visit her blog insaneowl.com.
Fiza has written and published seventeen award-winning books and short stories, which reflect her interest in furthering the cause of education and in championing social issues. In over seventy literary competitions, she has placed either as winner or finalist, chief among them being: 2020 DBW Awards; 2020 Writer's Digest Self-Published E-Book Awards; 2018 DBW Awards; Killer Nashville 2018 Silver Falchion Award; 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards; 2018 Book Viral Millennium Book Awards; Readers’ Favorite Book Awards; Reader Views Literary Awards; Eric Hoffer Book Award; Foreword Reviews Indie Fab Book Awards; Mom’s Choice Awards; Literary Classics Book Awards; and Dan Poynter’s Global E-Book Awards. She established her own niche publishing company called Fiza Pathan Publishing OPC Private Limited where she publishes Rare Classics for younger readers.
She has been contributing articles, book reviews, parabolic stories, and theological essays to various Catholic Magazines for the past 16 years. She has been associated with ‘The Examiner’ which is a reputed Catholic newsweekly of India for the past 16 years. In recognition of her various literary achievements as a young Catholic writer, she has recently received the first ever Bronze Pen Award from The Examiner at its 175th anniversary celebrations in the year 2024.
She also contributes theological articles and book reviews respectively to the ICM (Indian Catholic Matters) online magazine as well as ‘The Teenager Today’ which is run by the Catholic congregation of St. Pauls. She also contributed articles to ‘The Vision & Venture’ and ‘Word Power’ as a youth, both of which are Catholic monthlies.
Fiza Pathan is currently pursuing her Masters in Theological Studies from Pontifex University Atlanta, Georgia asynchronously. She also pursues additional theological courses at the Institute of Catholic Culture in Virginia through its online platform to improve her knowledge of authentic Catholic theology, philosophy, and literature. She is currently in the process of becoming a Consecrated Virgin for Christ.
She is also pursuing her Post Graduate Certificate In International Teacher Education (PGCITE) at Podar International School, Santacruz. She is being trained to teach grades 1 to 12 in the IGCSE & IB curriculum. Her specializations will be in English Language, English Literature, Global Perspectives (GP) & Humanities. This is a Cambridge & IB Accredited Post Graduate Course.
She taught English Literature and History for a year at an ICSE school called Lilavati Bai Podar High School, Mumbai (2011-2012).
Fiza Pathan has a bachelor’s degree in arts from the University of Mumbai, where she majored in History and Sociology with a first class. She also has a bachelor’s degree in education, again with a first class, her special subjects being English and History.
She lives with her maternal family & her cat Lopez, and writes essays, book reviews, sketches, novels, and short stories in most genres. You may follow her on Twitter @FizaPathan and visit her blog insaneowl.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 1, 2020
“The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name” is a collection of extremely well-written short stories by Fiza Pathan. The theme of Pathan’s fiction collection centers around LBQT issues in today’s world. The stories discuss global, cultural and societal issues and atrocities LBQT individuals and their families and loved ones must endure under different climates of political and religious attitudes and laws.
Ms. Pathan translates the heart-breaking truth with beautiful writing and outstanding stories. Each story is unique, and it is so very powerful that the stories vary from Iran to India to the USA and other locales. Through the global backdrop, Pathan translates the courage, shaming, shunning, terror and violence LBQT individuals face. The exploration of consequences in these short stories is truthful and so very important to be read.
My wish is that books such as Ms. Pathan’s will one day soon be part of regular school curriculum. I highly recommend this book.
Ms. Pathan translates the heart-breaking truth with beautiful writing and outstanding stories. Each story is unique, and it is so very powerful that the stories vary from Iran to India to the USA and other locales. Through the global backdrop, Pathan translates the courage, shaming, shunning, terror and violence LBQT individuals face. The exploration of consequences in these short stories is truthful and so very important to be read.
My wish is that books such as Ms. Pathan’s will one day soon be part of regular school curriculum. I highly recommend this book.
April 11, 2019
The collection of short stories in this book from India-born author Fiza Pithan deals with a most delicate subject matter. Not only does it encompass stories of transgender people, but lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and asexual people. Two things about these stories struck me. #1 is that this author writes so well in a language that is not her native tongue. I commend her for the well-written stories. I did not spot even one typo throughout the book. The second thing I want to commend her for is the honesty and eye-opening reality of how people are tormented, tortured, ostracized and even killed in Mid-Eastern countries for their sexual preferences and/or differences. Reading these stories makes me truly glad I live in America. If you are looking for stories that, although are fiction, shed a light of truth on these issues, you will enjoy each of these!
March 19, 2021
A collection of 21 short stories, each one centred around the social, psychological, cultural, and political issues faced by the LGBTQIA community. It's informative and heart breaking. Some stories were just too brutal to digest but it must be read in order to educate yourself on the Queer Issues.
November 9, 2018
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name
Author: Fiza Pathan
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 19
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 5/10
Of the 19 readers:
17 would read another book by this author.
9 thought the cover was good or excellent.
19 felt it was easy to follow.
17 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
11 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
13 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
17 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘A very interesting collection of shorts. I enjoyed them very much. I liked the theme of ‘change’ in many of them.’ Male reader, aged 42
‘A book of this nature is so important for the LGBT community, and for helping people to understand the prejudice they can face.’ Male reader, aged 54
‘Excellent writing. Very evocative.’ Female reader, aged 51
‘This is excellent in many ways, but mostly it sends the message that everybody has the right to be what they want to be and that we must try to accept that.’ Female reader, aged 59
‘There is much diversity in the LGBTQ community across the world. This looks at this and helps to promote awareness of the battle may people must face.’ Female reader, aged 65
To Sum It Up:
‘Not only fascinating, but a very important book with a very important message. A Red Ribbon winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name
Author: Fiza Pathan
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 19
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 5/10
Of the 19 readers:
17 would read another book by this author.
9 thought the cover was good or excellent.
19 felt it was easy to follow.
17 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
11 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
13 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
17 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘A very interesting collection of shorts. I enjoyed them very much. I liked the theme of ‘change’ in many of them.’ Male reader, aged 42
‘A book of this nature is so important for the LGBT community, and for helping people to understand the prejudice they can face.’ Male reader, aged 54
‘Excellent writing. Very evocative.’ Female reader, aged 51
‘This is excellent in many ways, but mostly it sends the message that everybody has the right to be what they want to be and that we must try to accept that.’ Female reader, aged 59
‘There is much diversity in the LGBTQ community across the world. This looks at this and helps to promote awareness of the battle may people must face.’ Female reader, aged 65
To Sum It Up:
‘Not only fascinating, but a very important book with a very important message. A Red Ribbon winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
November 11, 2019
The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name by Fiza Pathan highlights the plight of those human beings who are born different and are mocked at, bullied, shunned and brutally murdered just because of their gender identities and sexual orientation. Each story in this collection makes an appeal to the society to stop judging the LGBTQ community and let them live the way they want to. Some of the stories are brilliantly written while some drag on endlessly, harping on the same issue of discrimination and intimidation but an emotional touch is marred by Fiza’s dramatic presentation.
There are some discrepancies in the description of American culture in some stories like “mea culpa” and “murder during revolution.” Setting and backdrop, which play an important role in developing an effective story is hazy in many stories, as they focus on main theme of prejudices against LGBTQ. Character development gets a backseat. Most of the stories trudge through dark corridors, offering no hope. The only change that I could discern was that in the 50s, Sreekanth accepts the decision of his father with mute reconciliation but a few decades later, Rajesh is bold enough to leave his home and finds freedom from the compulsions and expectations of his family and society. A ray of light also shimmers in the last ten pages of the book.
This book needs to be read by everybody to understand gender disparities and emotional upheavals that this community has to face due to the apathetic attitude of people in schools, families and work places.
There are some discrepancies in the description of American culture in some stories like “mea culpa” and “murder during revolution.” Setting and backdrop, which play an important role in developing an effective story is hazy in many stories, as they focus on main theme of prejudices against LGBTQ. Character development gets a backseat. Most of the stories trudge through dark corridors, offering no hope. The only change that I could discern was that in the 50s, Sreekanth accepts the decision of his father with mute reconciliation but a few decades later, Rajesh is bold enough to leave his home and finds freedom from the compulsions and expectations of his family and society. A ray of light also shimmers in the last ten pages of the book.
This book needs to be read by everybody to understand gender disparities and emotional upheavals that this community has to face due to the apathetic attitude of people in schools, families and work places.
January 29, 2020
The subject matter of each story is about sexual preferences including lesbianism, transgender, bisexuality, homosexuality to name a few. For many people, these subjects are taboo or sinful. Other people are trying to understand and accept. There is some repetition of the subject matter in the twenty-one chapters; most of the stories take place in India; and the author incorporates political, religious, or cultural aspects to each story. In a couple of stories, they read as if the author had to fill in more words or pages. Therefore those stories did not keep my attention.
I admire the fact that Ms. Pathan brought attention to the subject of sexual preferences.
I admire the fact that Ms. Pathan brought attention to the subject of sexual preferences.
July 21, 2024
Love the title even though it is poignant.
These stories bring home what it's like to be different in a world that accepts only binary realities. It is cruel and such rigid belief impinges on the human rights of people. Thankfully, while many stories mimic reality, a few end optimistically.
These stories bring home what it's like to be different in a world that accepts only binary realities. It is cruel and such rigid belief impinges on the human rights of people. Thankfully, while many stories mimic reality, a few end optimistically.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews