Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

It's kind of odd that they say "on the ace spectrum" isn't it? Why not just say: A Character Who Is Ace?

If you like zombies, and you haven't yet read Justina Ireland's duology: Dread Nation and/or Deathless Divide, this is the perfect opportunity!!

I'll probably pick up Let's Talk About Love for this.



Listopia is here

Nadine wrote: "It's kind of odd that they say "on the ace spectrum" isn't it? Why not just say: A Character Who Is Ace?

If you like zombies, and you haven't yet read Justina Ireland's duology: [..."

They say "ace spectrum" because they want to include demisexuality (for example, the heroine from The Love Hypothesis).

"on the ace spectrum" is the proper way to say it, because a lot of different sexualities fall along the spectrum of asexuality/aromanticism, just like a lot of different sexualities fall along the LGBTQ+ spectrum.

I think I’ll do The Deathless Divide.

Highly recommend Every Heart a Doorway, Loveless and Elatsoe which all feature Ace main characters!

I think I'll read Sawkill Girls or Let's Talk About Love for this prompt.

Also, recommend Elatsoe and her second book A Snake Falls to Earth

Okay I guess I learned something about how things are presented today. I never considered demisexual, for example, to be a subset of asexuality, but today I learned it is often thought of that way.

Your friendly demi here to provide some resources to learn more about the ace spectrum!

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/reso...

(Number 5) https://www.bloodandmilk.com/9-things...

http://www.oulgbtq.org/acearo-spectru...

Nadine wrote: "Okay I guess I learned something about how things are presented today. I never considered demisexual, for example, to be a subset of asexuality, but today I learned it is often thought of that way."


It can be confusing even for those of us that are demi or grey-ace! I thought for a long time I was asexual or just sex repulsed/frigid until I met the right people (in my case men) that I had a chance to get to know well enough that I clicked with them.

I'm probably going to read The Love Hypothesis for this prompt. It's been on my TBR for a while.

My recommendation is That Kind of Guy by Talia Hibbert Zach is demi, but he's faked "being normal" for so long, he has a reputation as a bad boy.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Or, if you like PNR, Talia Hibbert also wrote an ace/demi coded werewolf (at least, that's how I read him) in Mating the Huntress.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

eta: sorry, I don't know why the direct links aren't working...

All Systems Red is on the Listopia. As I must be one of the few people who hasn't read it, can someone confirm that it fits?

Rachel wrote: "All Systems Red is on the Listopia. As I must be one of the few people who hasn't read it, can someone confirm that it fits?"

Yes! Murderbot is very much ace, so that whole series would work! It's also delightful.

Fingers crossed we get a new Murderbot in 2022.

Alex wrote: "Rachel wrote: "All Systems Red is on the Listopia. As I must be one of the few people who hasn't read it, can someone confirm that it fits?"

Yes! Murderbot is very much ace, so tha..."

Thanks!

Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex was one of my favorite books this past year.
It's non-fiction, there are a LOT of characters on the ace spectrum in the book (obvs) ... and you'll learn a lot about, well, the spectrum.
I loved so many of these real people - I wanted to hang out with so many of them.

I would include A Prayer for Owen Meany on this list.

Fantasy: This was the first book I ever saw my sexuality represented and it holds a very special place in my heart.

YA Romance:

Nonfiction:

This is so very interesting to me. I am a sexual person (is that how you would say it?) and asexuality is really hard for me to understand, since intimate touch is very important to my wellbeing and feeling of connection. I have a friend, who doesnt use the term, but am pretty sure is ace, so I have tried to imagine feeling like her, and failed.
On the other hand, I read the Love Hypothesis earlier this year, and I found nothing odd or different about the mc’s attraction/ love life. Huh.
I can find people attractive/ unattractive from first encounters, but if they show themselves as dispicable humans, or I become fond of them, the feeling of attraction changes.

Long post just to say, I am happy for the chance to be enlightened.

Rachel wrote: "Alex wrote: "Rachel wrote: "All Systems Red is on the Listopia. As I must be one of the few people who hasn't read it, can someone confirm that it fits?"

Yes! Murderbot is very muc..."

I knew there was a reason I was not racing to finish that series though tempted to do so!

Johanne wrote: "This is so very interesting to me. I am a sexual person (is that how you would say it?) and asexuality is really hard for me to understand, since intimate touch is very important to my wellbeing an..."

It is always good to learn new things :D and since you ask the word "allosexual" can be used.

Louise wrote: "Johanne wrote: "This is so very interesting to me. I am a sexual person (is that how you would say it?) and asexuality is really hard for me to understand, since intimate touch is very important to..."

Thanks :)

Marie wrote: "Fantasy: This was the first book I ever saw my sexuality represented and it holds a very special place in my heart.

YA Romance: as I've heard it's excellent.

I found a google spreadsheet with verified Ace representation

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate has seven MCs, one of whom is ace (and another one is pansexual).

Oh my god it finally happened. My ace self is delighted by this prompt! Don't forget that Victor Vale is asexual if you're wanting to read/reread Vicious or Vengeful!

Can someone tell me how One Piece, Volume 1: Romance Dawn fits here... I see it on the listopia. Thanks!

I think A Scottish Boy by Alex de Campi fulfils this prompt.

And Dread Nation by Justina Ireland.

Jae's Perfect Rhythm satisfies this prompt for anyone interested in reading a sapphic romance. This is the first book I read that included an asexual main character. It's very low on the angst meter, which is a bonus for me.

TJ Klune's delightful How to Be a Normal Person, and its follow up How to Be a Movie Star both qualify.

They might work for duology as well, since at least for now, there's only 2 of them.

And definitely cosign The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy.

I can't recommend Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex enough. it is so interesting and engaging, and helped me figure out my own place in the ace spectrum. I loved Elatsoe so much too!
I've got The Rat-Catcher's Daughter on my e-reader, so was planning to read that. but there's so many great books listed above that now I'm not sure. It feels amazing to have so many options for representation!

Ed wrote: "Can someone tell me how One Piece, Volume 1: Romance Dawn fits here... I see it on the listopia. Thanks!"

It's, I believe, word of god that Luffy is Asexual.

One of my favorite books of the year, Have you seen Luis Valez, has a main character that is ace. It is a wonderful book and works for found family too.

That's Not What Happened IIRC the main character is ace.

Kim wrote: "One of my favorite books of the year, Have you seen Luis Valez, has a main character that is ace. It is a wonderful book and works for found family too."

I absolutely love that book!

I'm going to read Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman:D

Anne of Green Gables maybe?

Mairéad wrote: "Highly recommend Every Heart a Doorway, Loveless and Elatsoe which all feature Ace main characters!

I think I'll read Sawkill Girls ..."

Someone else has also recommended Loveless by Alice Oseman to me - thanks.

Thomas wrote: "Anne of Green Gables maybe?"

Because of Marilla and Matthew? That's an interesting idea. It's been +20 years since I read it so I don't really remember if they're living together (as brother and sister) because they were both widowed or unlucky in love or if they just weren't interested.

I really liked the book Vicious and recommend it for this prompt (though I don't remember him being specifically asexual).

I'm going to read How to Be a Normal Person since it sounds pretty awesome.

Denise Cameron wrote: "I really liked the book Vicious and recommend it for this prompt (though I don't remember him being specifically asexual).

Well, remember that ACE is a spectrum condition, which offers a wide choice IMHO. For a book to be considered for this tag, does the book have to address that a character is ACE? For example, in the novel Foundryside, Sancia Grado is a thief. However, her sexuality or lack of sexuality is never addressed. I would like to read the second in this series. Would I be safe to include the sequel for this tag?

John wrote: "Denise Cameron wrote: "I really liked the book Vicious and recommend it for this prompt (though I don't remember him being specifically asexual).

Well, remember that ACE is a spec..."

It's hard to say. For Vicious, anyway, I thought I remembered that both main characters had a seemingly sexual interest in a woman, BUT it's been a few years since I read it.

Denise Cameron wrote: "I really liked the book Vicious and recommend it for this prompt (though I don't remember him being specifically asexual).

Victor is confirmed as ace on page in Vengeful

John wrote: "For example, in the novel Foundryside, Sancia Grado is a thief. However, her sexuality or lack of sexuality is never addressed. I would like to read the second in this series. Would I be safe to include the sequel for this tag?."

I just read that book and I think the MC is very much interested in women.

Denise Cameron wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Anne of Green Gables maybe?"

Because of Marilla and Matthew? That's an interesting idea. It's been +20 years since I read it so I don't really remember if they're living..."

Marilla had a sweetheart when she was younger, but they quarreled and never made up. Matthew was scared of women. I'm not sure he was asexual (by today's meaning of the word) so much as painfully shy. But since he didn't need a romantic relationship, interpret that how you want.

i'll be reading City of Strife by claudie arsenault, which is described as "epic fantasy with an all-queer cast inspired by dungeons & dragons" which was truly all i needed to hear to be 100% on board for this book.

if you double-up on prompts, keri hulme's The Bone People works for this prompt and #15 "a book by a pacific islander author"

Do you think Ancillary Justice would fit this prompt? It's been on my TBR and I just found a copy at a used book sale.

Marianne wrote: "Do you think Ancillary Justice would fit this prompt? It's been on my TBR and I just found a copy at a used book sale."


Yes. Breq is both asexual and androgynous. And the books are awesome!!

I would probably put The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang here for anyone interested in fantasy. I don't think Rin was ever canonically asexual, but she doesn't have a romance at all, and doesn't seem particularly interested in one -- in a war ravaged country who has the time?! But in a interview (here: http://fantasy-faction.com/2018/r-f-k...) Kuang did identify Kitay as being asexual and aromantic, so that counts! Will I read it for the third year in a row for Pop Sugar?! Probably.

Jo's character in So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix is implied to be ace!

John wrote: "For example, in the novel Foundryside, Sancia Grado is a thief. However, her sexuality or lack of sexuality is never addressed. I would like to read the second in this series. Would I be safe to include the sequel for this tag?"

Lexi wrote: "I just read that book and I think the MC is very much interested in women."

I'm in the middle of Foundryside and I would agree that the MC definitely seems interested in women.

More broadly, I don't think that something counts as ace rep just because there's no on-page romance. Maybe the main character is preoccupied with other things in their life; maybe they just didn't find anyone they clicked with romantically within the timeframe of the book; maybe the author wanted to focus on friendship and other platonic relations. But you can't assume someone's sexuality from a lack of relationship.