Queereaders discussion

Tell us what you're reading this month.

Scarlet and the White Wolf trilogy, and I still have to re-read Maurice (or watch the movie) again. Beyond that is uncertain.

I'm currently reading The Devil Kissed Her: The Story of Mary Lamb, like Kernos I am looking for some time to read our December Queereaders group-read Maurice whilst also fitting in my Feminist Readers' Discussion Group Book of the Month, which I hope will be the title on the December shortlist I most want to read within a group context The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women. The way the votes were coming in last time I checked it seemed quite hopeful. However, much to my annoyance the library has just informed me this book is no longer stocked in multiple copies of 10 for reading groups, so it seems that I will need to put on my best smile and call upon some charity/second-hand booksellers for assistance...

I just finished On Beauty which started out gangbusters, but felt a bit truncated to me in the end. It's her "riff" on another Forster book and one of my all time faves, "Howard's End."

I'm in the middle of No Great Mischief which I don't think is very good but will be setting that aside for Mary Ann in Autumn (thanks again Paul!). Maybe I'll be able to fit in "Maurice" for the group read - it's been years since I've read it.

Tom wrote: "I just finished On Beauty which started out gangbusters, but felt a bit truncated to me in the end. It's her "riff" on another Forster book and one of my all time faves, "Howard's End..."

Are you saying that Howard's End, a great book and one of Merchant/Ivory's best movies, forms a background upon which the author makes her arguments? I've not read On Beauty, but have read about it. I'm compelled to ask how it relates to Howard's End.

Kernos wrote: "Are you saying that Howard's End, a great book and one of Merchant/Ivory's best movies, forms a background upon which the author makes her arguments? I've not read On Beauty, but have read about it. I'm compelled to ask how it relates to Howard's End. , "..."

That's what I'm saying.

I don't know that she makes any arguments, but does an early 21st century "spin" on the book. The plots and some characters are similar...not identical. It was fun recognizing the similarities, though I ended up looking for more than was there. It was certainly well-written and an easy read. As I said, I was just a bit disappointed in the ending which felt a bit rushed. But I'd certainly recommend it.

I think I am having seasonal depression. I can't seem to finish anything that I start... I am about a third of the way through about four different books at the moment but have no energy. I hate the dark times.

On the plus side, I have a new kitten currently sitting on my lap! (Named Moriarty, for all you Holmseans!)

Doug wrote: "I think I am having seasonal depression. I can't seem to finish anything that I start... I am about a third of the way through about four different books at the moment but have no energy. I hate ..."

Hang in there Doug! I don't usually start minding winter until February/March...and it's not until late May before full on spring hits up here! The length of the winters have taken some getting used to - from Philly originally.

Kittens DEFINITELY help!

Doug wrote: "I think I am having seasonal depression. I can't seem to finish anything that I start... I am about a third of the way through about four different books at the moment but have no energy. I hate ..."

Me too, Doug. I go through it nearly every year starting around November. Right now I'm taking way too long to read The Pines.

Tom, I don't envy your long winters at all. It was snowing in Montreal when I was there last week to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Kittens make me sneeze.

I started reading Hero. I just started reading it and I think it's a book that I could recommend.

Thanks for the encouragement! I am not unhappy depressed, just more sluggish, and can't seem to get motivated, though I DID watch a French Film last night.

Hopefully, I can get some reading done when I visit my mom the first week of January. There are so many things I want to read!

I liked the pines when I read it! I still have to get the sequel read.

Hero looks interesting, Todd!

I just started Letters to Montgomery Clift and I have a feeling it's going to make me cry.

Beautiful writing so far.

Don't need anything to make me cry!

I am at work today, looking at Amazon and my friend asked me what I was looking for. I said "I am trying to find literary psychological suspense or mystery novels, not too literary, authors I haven't heard of, slightly quirky and possibly from the UK or Europe. " How is that for a narrow description of what I like?

I am reading The Art of Losing and it seems to fit in, about a woman in 2007 who is plotting revenge against a man who apparently had something to do with her mother's death back in 1983. The story is told in two points of view, the daughter in 2007, and the man in 1983. Good so far. Interested to see how it will all turn out.

Though, I am starting to get a headache.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is my first read this month and it's great.

Reading the Coda Books series by Marie Sexton. So far they are really good!

Well, I finished Scarlet and the White Wolf. It turned out to be a really decent fantasy, even though it should have been 1 volume and not 3. For fantasy lovers, I recommend the trilogy.

I'm now reading the 3rd book in the omnibus The Audran Sequence—The Exile Kiss

For reviewing purposes, I'm reading: Protector of the Realm, Shadow of the Knife, and Wolfsbane Winter, all lesbian fantasy and sci-fi books.

Otherwise for reviews, I am reading "Lost and Found" by Rhonda Parrish.

For my own personal reading pleasure! :-) I don't have anything on the list. I have tons of books though. I am a crazily avid collector and also have a book store so I keep hoarding. One day I'll have more time to read only for myself.

P.S. Well, I am also periodically re-reading The Soul of the Indian.

Matthew wrote: "...I'm reading my second Cormac McCarthy novel, Blood Meridian..."

Goood God, Matt!!!! Man you're very ambitious!

I just have two things to say to your choice: (1) Do you know what you're getting into?? (2) Good for you that you're going to find out!

I'm a huge McCarthy fan and Blood Meridian is my favorite. Of all this books, I think it's his magnum opus. I'm planning my third read after the first of the year. I'd be very interested in your review afterwards.

The Judge still haunts my dreams though! I don't think my wishing you "sweet dreams" will be much protection.

I'm being much less ambitious, reading some short SciFi's that I've accumulated. Chris says my TBR shelf beside our bed is going to fall over and crush me :-Q

I just finished Hugo award winning The Word for World is Forest, one of the great Ursula K. LeGuin's Hainish Cycle novels and just started The Witches of Karres by James H. Schmitz another older SF.

Then I think I'm going to read some Alex Sanchez novels that have interesting covers to take me back.

I have The Road on order, but have not read any Cormac McCarthy, just one crater in my literary landscape. Like airports, I don't do westerns. How does one get around avoiding good/great books from lack of interest in the subject matter? Faulkner is like this for me.

I just finished reading "Numbers" by John Rechy. This novel first published in 1967 captures the period in which it was written. Though the compulsive cruising of the Johnny Rio, the novel’s main character, still goes on today, this novel came out of a repressive time – before Stonewall and gay liberation, when a main outlet for sexual contact between many gay men was a quick blow job in a park. The park in the novel is Los Angeles’ sprawling Griffith Park. It is a character in the novel, alternately bucolic and ominous. Johnny Rio is obsessed with the park and in racking up numbers, tricks, to verify to himself that he is still physically desirable. He is not interested in affection or performing sexual acts on other men. He just wants to be desired and to have things done to him. It is a novel in which physical attraction is the only attraction – nothing below the surface is desirable. Johnny is a sad, delusional but an involving character. He lives in a world where he thinks he can only be desired for his body and his looks and when he is not desired for those attributes he is devastated. This novel is a sexy read and filled with hotly described sex.

John Rechy is a pioneer gay writer who knows how to tell a sexy, perceptive, and entertaining story. I highly recommend this novel.

I've just received a photo of the first pre-publication copy of my book "Finally Out." I feel like I've just given birth after a very long pregnancy.

Congradulations.

I jus finished A Demon Inside by Rick R. Reed. I didn't really enjoy the read. I was expecting something better from the "Gay Stephen King".

I am starting a massive series by Janny Wurts, The Wars of Light and Shadow. Book 1 Curse of the Mistwraith came today, so I can start it tonight. I am excited about this series!

Loren wrote: "I've just received a photo of the first pre-publication copy of my book "Finally Out." I feel like I've just given birth after a very long pregnancy."

Congratulations, Loren. Please let us know when it available. I searched Amazon, but no pre-order came up.

Loren, I would like to know when it is available too.

Claude,

Someone asked me about Sandman Slim at the library and it looks pretty good. You have to let me know. I haven't gotten any further in any of my books, but I have about twelve to take to my mom's next week for vacation!

Finally Out is available 3/10. If you'd like an advance copy you can register for my give away.

Loren

I forgot. The Amazon pre-order should be up by mid January.

Congratulations on the birth of your baby...umm book, Loren. :)

I'm now reading Diego by Angel Martinez. While I was in Poland I read When Gravity Fails by George Alec Effinger which was a lot of fun and Small Change by Elizabeth Hay, a fairly enjoyable collection of short stories about friendships.

Now it's a little like presenting the newborn to friends and family and hoping they field your new offspring is as beautiful as you think it is.

Let me know what you think of Audran, Nancy.

Actively (is the operative word for me since I've so many books to review in my queue right now) reading, Yurth Burden and The Lost Executioner: A Story of the Khmer Rouge for my personal education.

Just published which is a gay allegorical tale based on a dream.

Kernos wrote: "Let me know what you think of Audran, Nancy."

I really enjoyed When Gravity Fails. Effinger created a rich, diverse world and fascinating culture. It was a very satisfying crime story and thought-provoking science fiction with lots of great ideas about personality modification, knowledge enhancement and ease of changing genders that could be a very real possibility in our future.

I loved Marid Audran's fierce independence and honesty, though I fear that now he is under Friedlander Bey's control the things I like about him will change dramatically in the next book.

I also loved his transgendered girlfriend.