Queereaders discussion

Share here what you're reading in November 2017.

I finished HG Wells War of the Worlds. My Review

An re-started its sequel Massacre of Man

Just finished Helen Oyeyemi's White is for Witching.

It's an amazing novel about haunted houses, eating disorders and awakening sexuality, with some very vivid and effective prose, though the plot's a little inconclusive.

(The last's not a negative for me as I feel it suits the general mood of the book, but it might annoy some people)

Am reading Ta-Nehisi Coates's We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy.

Alex wrote: "Am reading Ta-Nehisi Coates's We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy."

That looks good Alex - eager to see what you think of it!

I'm just starting Triads by Poppy Z. Brite.


I'm not familiar with the title or author, but while browsing in the library his name caught my eye. His bio & the book description convinced me I had to read it. Luckily for me, if it's worthwhile, there are other works available by the same writer.

Bill wrote: "I'm just starting Triads by Poppy Z. Brite.


I'm not familiar with the title or author, but while browsing in the library his name caught my eye. His bio & the book description convin..."

I read his Exquisite Corpse, a grotesque psychological horror which got 3* from me. I wasn't greatly impressed for reasons I gave in my review. I've a couple of others awaiting reading.

I'm reading the very entertaining but light Just One Damned Thing After Another - more than halfway through. Next up will be the (I expect heavy) The Master and Margarita.

Hey everyone - only 10 hours left in the group read poll - get in your final votes!

Bill wrote: "I'm just starting Triads by Poppy Z. Brite.

I'm not familiar with the title or author, but while browsing in the library his name caught my eye. His bio & the book description convin..."

I've been reading Brite's work since before his transition (I've his Drawing Blood). He's already garnered a reputation as a must-read for slash readers who like horror. I'm glad he's still writing.

I’m really looking forward to tomorrow when the new translation of the Odyssey by Emily Wilson comes out—apparently it’s the first female translator for the Odyssey. The preview (and reviews) of the book really left me gasping.

Mickey wrote: "I’m really looking forward to tomorrow when the new translation of the Odyssey by Emily Wilson comes out—apparently it’s the first female translator for the Odyssey. The preview (and reviews) of th..."

Thanks for the heads up, Mickey. I've been wanting to re-read The Odyssey. This sounds like a good choice.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. A sweet and amusing book.

I started Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke a 50's SciFi.

I'm reading Alias Grace before the TV series can spoil it for me

Mickey wrote: "I’m really looking forward to tomorrow when the new translation of the Odyssey by Emily Wilson comes out—apparently it’s the first female translator for the Odyssey. The preview (and reviews) of th..."

Sounds great Mickey! I'd love to read another translation!

Bill wrote: "I started Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke a 50's SciFi."

I just read Rendezvous with Rama recently Bill. Enjoy!

Benjamin wrote: "I'm reading Alias Grace before the TV series can spoil it for me"

Atwood is having a big tv resurgence Ben with this and the successful Handmaid's Tale!

Our two group reads for November and December 2017 have been chosen:

1. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

2. Meanwhile, Elsewhere: Science Fiction and Fantasy from Transgender Writers by Cat Fitzpatrick

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Please join the discussions when you can!

Greg wrote: "Bill wrote: "I started Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke a 50's SciFi."

I just read Rendezvous with Rama recently Bill. Enjoy!"

I really like RwR and Clarke in general (except for 2001). Earthlight is excellent. I finished Earthlight last night and guess I'll start They Both Die at the End tonight.

I'm in for at least one group read, hopefully both. Just need to track down copies.

Benjamin wrote: "I'm in for at least one group read, hopefully both. Just need to track down copies."

Great Ben! :)

I read The Dark Prophecy and just finished it and tonight will start They Both Die at the End

Natasha (Diarist) wrote: "Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. A sweet and amusing book."

that is my favorite classic. the series is just too amazing and interesting that I didn't know it was a classic until 2 months ago

Aida wrote: "that is my favorite classic. the series is just too amazing and interesting that I didn't know it was a classic until 2 months ago"

And superbly written, too.

I'm reading Would You Rather?: Growing Up, Coming Out, and (Occasionally) Getting It Right

I did something I've not done in a long time: started and finished a book at one setting, not that it was too difficult. It is Eight Seconds by Jean Ferris.

It is an engaging coming out (to himself) story involving modern cowboys in Texas learning to be bull-riders. I do recommend highly!

My Review

Im almost done with The Fireman by Joe Hill

Bill wrote: "I did something I've not done in a long time: started and finished a book at one setting, not that it was too difficult. It is Eight Seconds by Jean Ferris.

It is an ..."

Sounds good Bill!

Greg wrote: "Alex wrote: "Am reading Ta-Nehisi Coates's We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy."

That looks good Alex - eager to see what you think of it!"

My review is here.

Anyway, I started reading Ben Aaronovitch's The Furthest Station.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. 9% through. Excellent so far.

Joe Hill's Strange Weather, while I try and track down copies of the monthly group reads.

I finished Something Like Hail. I love Jay Bell's Something Like series and his other novels. They are PG m/m romance with great characters.

I started Jay's The Cat in the Cradle a Gay fantasy.

Angela Carter's The Magic Toyshop, after which I too will be reading They Both Die at the End

Amy wrote: "I am currently reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman and it is wonderful! I am just about halfway done with it and I will be on vacation next week, so hopefully I wi..."

I love this book (and almost everything by Gaiman). I just got season 1 of the TV series on DVD, but have not watched it yet. Do others like the series? How does it compare to the book?

Bill wrote: "I love this book (and almost everything by Gaiman). I just got season 1 of the TV series on DVD, but have not watched it yet. Do others like the series? How does it compare to the book?"

The series is much slower moving - I think it'll take them 2-3 seasons at least to cover the full book at this rate - but it's very well done, and fleshes out some of the supporting cast in far more detail than the book, especially Laura.

I'm reading Armistead Maupin's The Days of Anna Madrigal, number 9 and the last volume in his "Tales of the City" series.

CC wrote: "I finished A Canticle for Leibowitz and I just started Fall of Giants. It will take me a while to finish it... This is a fat book, but I like it so far."

How did you like A Canticle for Leibowitz ? It is one of my favorite Sci-Fi's.

Bill wrote: "I'm reading Armistead Maupin's The Days of Anna Madrigal, number 9 and the last volume in his "Tales of the City" series."

I read that when it first came out. I'm glad everything got wrapped up. How far in are you?

CC wrote: "I finished A Canticle for Leibowitz and I just started Fall of Giants. It will take me a while to finish it... This is a fat book, but I like it so far."

I read Canticle a couple of years ago, but can't remember much about it. I did remember that it, like a lot of science fiction of that era, focused on a post-apopcalyptic Earth.

Bill wrote: "I'm reading Armistead Maupin's The Days of Anna Madrigal, number 9 and the last volume in his "Tales of the City" series."

I loved the "Tales of the City" series and I thought that The Days of Anna Madrigal was a good ending to the series. Yesterday I started to read his Logical Family: A Memoir. So far I am really enjoying it.

I started War Against the Animals by Paul Russell

Alex wrote: "Bill wrote: "I'm reading Armistead Maupin's The Days of Anna Madrigal, number 9 and the last volume in his "Tales of the City" series."

I read that when it first came out. I'm glad..."

I'm only about 30 pages or so in. I intend to take my time with this book, knowing it's the last in the series.

Andrew wrote: "Bill wrote: "I'm reading Armistead Maupin's The Days of Anna Madrigal, number 9 and the last volume in his "Tales of the City" series."

I loved the "Tales of the City" series and I..."

I've added Logical Family: A Memoir to my "To read" shelf. I imagine it may have been the basis for the documentary "Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin" which I saw at a film festival earlier this year. Among others it features authors Neil Gaiman & Amy Tan as well as Sir Ian McKellan and several cast members from the television series of Tales.

i just started The Pants Project, which is a cute middle-grade fiction about a trans boy. i'll be done with it pretty quick, so i think i'm going to read They Both Die at the End after.

CC wrote: "

So yes, I liked it, but I liked Margaret Atwood's The MaddAddam Trilogy: Oryx and Crake; The Year of the Flood; MaddAddam way more. This trilogy deals with the end of mankind, by other means... "

I really enjoyed that trilogy as well! Very vivid, imaginative work - probably my favourite thing she's done.

I too enjoyed MaddAddam and liked Oryx and Crake the best. It introduced me to Atwood, IIRC. I think I liked The Handmaid's Tale a bit more. I'm gearing up to read The Penelopiad, if I can find it.

I'm reading Watchmen and also listening to the audiobook for The House of the Spirits. They're very different but it's good, like having two unique flavors in a meal. I'm also reading Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy because I'm writing a novel where someone gets pregnant, and it's something I know nothing about. TBH reading this book makes pregnancy sound utterly terrifying. (My apologies to any of you who might be pregnant!)

Sarah wrote: "I'm reading Watchmen and also listening to the audiobook for The House of the Spirits. They're very different but it's good, like having two unique flavors in a meal. I'm ..."

Despite being a comic book nerd, I've never read Watchmen. It seems a little too dark and grisly for my tastes--what do you think of it?

I'm rereading Crisis on Infinite Earths this month. I almost don't care how good the story is--Perez's artwork is just so darn pretty I could stare at it all day.

I finished a very gross, not-for-the-squeamish novel The Troop It will make you itch and crawl with formication. Beware!

And I started Boulevard by Jim Grimsley a Gay coming of age story in New Orleans