I want to read more books regarding queer people, can be fictional or not, but would rather start with fiction. I’m not looking for simple gay romance, or young adult books like Heartstopper or things like that. I want books were the characters talk about being queer (whether it’s gay, being trans or whatever) in a meaningful and deep way. Whether they are closeted, struggling with it, they aren’t living the life they want, their family is not accepting, etc.
I want to see myself in these books. I want to relate to them. I want to read sentences and have the need to put the book down because that is exactly how I feel.
Nothing is off limits, and whether it’s a happy ending or not I don’t care. I’m currently reading Fellow Travelers (after having watched the show) and it’s not quite what I expected but it has its moments here and there.
by Humanarmour
3 Comments
“Swimming In The Dark” by Tomasz Jedrowski might be a good choice. It’s a short book about a very specific time in history in 1980s Poland and talks about a relationship between two gay men and the culture and ideas about being gay in Poland during that tumultuous time period. It’s quite interesting.
The Monk and Robot duology by Becky Chambers may work for you. The main character is non-binary and the author writes about them being naked and even fucking without any mention of body parts. While the main character isn’t struggling with their gender and/or sexuality the plot revolves around how they are lost and not content with their life. The author writes the most warm and cozy sci-fi that I’ve ever come across. All of her stuff is worth a read and while it’s not overtly queer; her worlds are full of acceptance and outside of the binary.
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo. Old Hollywood magical realism. Main character is a queer Chinese woman trying to achieve cultural immortality (and maybe literal immortality?) through stardom while combatting racism, misogyny, and homophobia in a system that is part 1930s movie studio and part malevolent fae court. One of those books that’s hard to describe in the best way.