Queereaders discussion

I am currently reading Edinburgh by Alexander Chee

I finished Minions of the Moon by Bowes, Richard. Both of these books concern uglier parts of Gay life.

Currently on Salt: A World History. Also rereading Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman Vol. 1

I'm reading Caitlin Kiernan's urban-fantasy-satire Blood Oranges

Hey everyone, life was again extremely overwhelming with a job change, incredibly demanding work projects, and some classes as well as a family illness. I feel badly that I dropped the ball with the group reads, but as things are, if I start things up this will eventually happen again as I start new classes or projects.

I sent out a message a while ago about maybe adding some new moderators. With Mel and Nancy almost completely inactive, Bill & I could really use sone help!

Anyone who is interested in joining us, please message me. What you would do is fairly simple:

1. Help set up bi-monthly (every 2 months) polls and set up discussion threads.
2. Help in greeting new members on the welcome threads.
3. Join in on group reads where possible to keep the discussion going.

I'd really like to get this group going again with the group reads, but we won't be able to do that until we have some more backup to make things consistent.

Thanks in advance! :)

I haven"t read a single non-technical book since February because of all the madness, but last week I finally was able to do that!

I started three books (two story collections and one novel):

Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (re-read) by Ken Kesey
My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

I'm enjoying all of them in different ways. It's so good to be able to read again!!

Hearts Invisible Furies

Rick 🏳️‍🌈📱📚 wrote: "Hearts Invisible Furies"

I've heard good things about that one Rick - it's definitely on my to-read list!

Greg wrote: "Hey everyone, life was again extremely overwhelming with a job change, incredibly demanding work projects, and some classes as well as a family illness. I feel badly that I dropped the ball with th..."

It's great to see you again, Greg. I hope things settle down a bit for you.

I finished Edinburgh a rather disturbing novel novel about pedophilia with a surprise ending. It is weirdly written, but readable.

I started Christodora by Tim Murphy

I hope you enjoy "Christadora" as much as I did. I thought it beautifully captured a time & place I lived through. I read it some time ago, and have to say it's one of the best things I've read in the last few years.

I've had "Edinburgh" on my list for awhile, but am still not sure I want to delve into the subject material. Your short blurb makes me lean more toward finally picking it up to read.

I’m reading Margaret Drabble’sl The Dark Flood rises and am quite liking it. The novel seems primarily straight but some of the most interesting lesser characters are gay. I would recommend it although I’m only 85% through

Sean wrote: "I’m reading Margaret Drabble’sl The Dark Flood rises and am quite liking it. The novel seems primarily straight but some of the most interesting lesser characters are gay. I would recommend it alth..."

I like Drabble, but I haven't read that one yet Sean. Thanks for the recommendation!

Bill wrote: "I hope you enjoy "Christadora" as much as I did. I thought it beautifully captured a time & place I lived through. I read it some time ago, and have to say it's one of the best things I've read in ..."

I am quite liking it! I've been google earth-ing places in NYC as they come up and discovered there is a real Christodora House on Tompkins square.

Last year I started a read/re-read of Michael Moorcock's books, which may take me some time. I am currently reading Gloriana, Or, the Unfulfill'd Queen. Michael Moorcock. I am finding it okay but I feel that I am missing out on some of the references to The Faerie Queene and Gormenghast as I have not read these and Moorcock has cited them both as being infuences on Gloriana.

The first two Gormenghast books are essential reading - some of the greats.

I have a copy of The Illustrated Gormenghast Trilogy sitting on my physical bookshelves. I know that it is one of the books I really should read but I never seem to get around to it. I should really give it a higher priority.

Benjamin wrote: "The first two Gormenghast books are essential reading - some of the greats."

Good to know Benjamin! I read a number of Moorcock's books when I was younger and enjoyed them very much, but I don't think I read that series yet. I read the Dorian Hawkmoon series, a chunk of the Elric series, and perhaps some others.

I finished Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro. I liked the tone of the stories, the quiet depth of feeling, though some touched me more than others. Much in them of aging, missed opportunities and loss. My favorite stories were the quirky first story, "Crooner," and the poignant final story, "Cellists". I didn't love this book the same way I loved The Remains of the Day, Never Let Me Go, or The Buried Giant though.

Now I'm reading One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse.

The Giver is interesting - I feel like the same core ideas (individual conscience and freedom vs responsibility for the collective) were dealt with in a much more sophisticated fashion in other books such as The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin. Despite that, it's an enjoyable read so far, though it's really too early to know my full reaction as I've only finished a quarter of the book!

I moderate a group called "newest literary fiction" and it's a bit wild over there with many people avidly reading the most recently published fiction in great gulps (and frequently reading it before it's published). So I often find I don't have time for older books. But a couple of days ago I started Pig Earth by John Berger, and it's magnificent. I mean, I should say I'm new here and have little sense yet about what people would like, and who knows if anyone else would love it, because it's a detailed look at peasant life including cow slaughter and calving and planting things. But it has swept me up. I'm thinking a lot about how a human mind will fill itself up with interesting things even if the mind belongs to a person who doesn't read and has never used a computer or an elevator for that matter.

Lark wrote: "I moderate a group called "newest literary fiction" and it's a bit wild over there with many people avidly reading the most recently published fiction in great gulps (and frequently reading it befo..."

That one sounds really good Lark! My grandparents were farmers in Poland as kids; so I think I would connect with it.

Greg wrote: "Lark wrote: "I moderate a group called "newest literary fiction" and it's a bit wild over there with many people avidly reading the most recently published fiction in great gulps (and frequently re..."

You should really read it. Somehow it makes very repetitive chores riveting and beautiful.

Lark wrote: "Greg wrote: "Lark wrote: "I moderate a group called "newest literary fiction" and it's a bit wild over there with many people avidly reading the most recently published fiction in great gulps (and ..."

Thanks! I'll definitely add it to my to-read list!

Greg wrote: "...The Giver is interesting - I feel like the same core ideas (individual conscience and freedom vs responsibility for the collective) were dealt with in a much more sophisticated fashion in other books such as The Dispossessed"

I enjoyed The Giver books, but they are definitely YA, even young YA. The Dispossessed is so much better. What did you think about The Giver movie?

Benjamin wrote: "The first two Gormenghast books are essential reading - some of the greats."

Agreed. I read these in the early 80s and found them difficult going, though some images stick with me still— Steerpike climbing among the roofs, eg. I felt they'd require several readings to get my mind around the world and its inhabitants.

Lark wrote: "I moderate a group called "newest literary fiction" and it's a bit wild over there with many people avidly reading the most recently published fiction in great gulps (and frequently reading it befo..."

This IS interesting. I am curious how your group defines 'literary fiction'? The last decades or so I've read a lot of modern 'serious' fiction, but now find myself wanting to read older books and classics I've missed and to re-read my favorites. I am wondering how much time I have left to read what I want and need to read.

Bill wrote: " I am curious how your group defines 'literary fiction'? ..."

Very loosely! We do include genre fiction for instance but it tends to be a bit crossover where it might be shelved in the general fiction section at the bookstore rather than "mystery" or "scifi"--like (Borne (scifi) and Fever Dream (horror) and Cult X (mystery/thriller). It's usually something newly published & outside of the expected, something where you could say "I haven't read anything like that before." We're interested in books where the writer pays attention to new ways of telling a story. We seem to read a lot of books in translation.

I moved in the opposite direction from you--I spent a few years devoted to a GR group that reads classical mostly-Western literary greats and then I got interested in the new.

I'm reading The Ritual by Adam Nevill. It's a horror story about four friends from college who reunite and go hiking in a remote Swedish forest.

Bill wrote: "I'm reading The Ritual by Adam Nevill. It's a horror story about four friends from college who reunite and go hiking in a remote Swedish forest."

I have seen the film that was based on the novel which I quite enjoyed. How are you finding the book?

Andrew wrote: "Bill wrote: "I'm reading The Ritual by Adam Nevill. It's a horror story about four friends from college who reunite and go hiking in a remote Swedish forest."

I have seen the film ..."

I'm less an quarter of the way in, and I am loving it so far. It reminds me a bit of the film "The Blair Witch Project" in its creepiness factor. I knew a film had been made, but haven't seen it

I've just finished Naomi Novik's incredible Spinning Silver

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

I just barreled through Tom King's run on Vision and I'm still flailing about it. This is some top-notch storytelling right here, and the art is fantastic.

I'm starting The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing

I just finished Mysterious Skin by Scott Heim a disturbing novel about child abuse among gay men.

Bill wrote: "I'm starting The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing

I just finished Mysterious Skin by Scott Heim a disturbing novel about child abuse among gay..."

Bill, I liked that one by Lessing - I found it gripping. Several by Lessing are good, but they're all so different from each other. It's hard to imagine that The Fifth Child and The Grass is Singing were written by the same person!

Greg wrote: ",,,Bill, I liked that one by Lessing - I found it gripping. Several by Lessing are good, but they're all so different from each other. ..."

I finished last night and liked it a lot. It's about more than a weird kid. It is the first Lessing I've read.

I started Father of Frankenstein last night by Christopher Bram and read a couple of chapters. They are so far an excellent Gay memoir about the director of the movie, James Whale.

Bill wrote: "
I finished last night and liked it a lot. It's about more than a weird kid. It is the first Lessing I've read. ..."

Definitely! It asks many social and philosophical questions.

On the repeated urging of a family member I have begun reading The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith; a pen name for J.K. Rowling. I'm not a big mystery reader, but am told this one is quite good.

I am currently reading A Very English Scandal: Sex, Lies, and a Murder Plot at the Heart of the Establishment which is about the events leading up to, and the trial of Jeremy Thorpe for conspiracy to murder a former gay lover. The BBC recently aired a three part dramatisation of the book starring Hugh Grant and Ben Wishaw which was well received. However, I wanted to read the book before watching it.

Bill wrote: "On the repeated urging of a family member I have begun reading The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith; a pen name for J.K. Rowling. I'm not a big mystery reader, but am told this ..."

I was thinking about reading that series at some point Bill. I saw the three episode adaption of that book on TV and the adaption was pretty good.

Banished: Surviving My Years in the Westboro Baptist Church by Lauren Drain. Yikes. ...

Bill wrote: "

I just finished Mysterious Skin by Scott Heim a disturbing novel about child abuse among gay..."

One of my favorites. Great movie too!


I just started reading Better Nate Than Ever today.

Torsten wrote: "Bill wrote: "

I just finished Mysterious Skin by Scott Heim a disturbing novel about child abuse among gay..."

One of my favorites. Great movie too!


I just started..."

I've had "Better Nate Than Ever" on my To Read list for a long time but keep passing over it thinking it might be too much of a children's book. Are you finding that to be the case?

Bill wrote: "I've had "Better Nate Than Ever" on my To Read list for a long time but keep passing over it thinking it might be too much of a children's book. Are you finding that to be the case? "

So far I would say that it's a book for all ages.

Autobiography of Red

Sounds extremely promising. I can't wait to get started on it this vacation!

Aphelion wrote: "Autobiography of Red

Sounds extremely promising. I can't wait to get started on it this vacation!"

I really like the description of this Aphelion, and I see that some friends I often agree with have given it 5 stars. Eager to hear what you think of it!!

I started a late Roman Historical Fiction The Boat of Fate and am presently living in Gaul, 405 CE...

I finished Father of Frankenstein as fascinating fictional biography of James Whale, the Director of the 1932 movie Frankenstein. Recommended.

Bill wrote: "I started a late Roman Historical Fiction The Boat of Fate and am presently living in Gaul, 405 CE...

I finished Father of Frankenstein as fascinating fictional biograp..."

The film "Gods and Monsters" starring Ian McKellen as Whale, is based on this book. The film received several Oscar nominations including for McKellen, and won the award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Though I loved Ian's acting as Gandalf, and his performance in "Bent"; I think I like this performance of his best.

Bill wrote: "Bill wrote: "I started a late Roman Historical Fiction The Boat of Fate and am presently living in Gaul, 405 CE...

I finished Father of Frankenstein as fascinating fict..."

How interesting Bill and Bill - I don't remember the movie well, but I remember it being affecting. Now I am curious to read it as well.

Aphelion wrote: "Autobiography of Red

Sounds extremely promising. I can't wait to get started on it this vacation!"

Aphelion, the more I look at this book the more I am certain it is right up my alley. Are you interested in a buddy read where we read at the same time and discuss it? If so, let me know. I plan to read it either way.

I'm reading Daisy Johnson's Everything Under, which so far seems to be about a young trans man fleeing his adopted parents.

I just started reading Dark City.

I've just started (Dark Victorian: Risen) and am hugely enjoying it.

Bill wrote: "The film "Gods and Monsters" starring Ian McKellen as Whale, is based on this book. ..."

I was wondering about that after I finished the book. I quite liked that movie and have not seen it in a long time. That will be corrected soon!

I'm reading Redefining Realness by Janet Mock and the Wandering Son series by Takako Shimura.