Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

To kick off Pride Month in the United States, we will be reading a book featuring an LGBTQIA+ character or written by an LGBTQIA+ author.

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Suggestions:

LGBTQIA+ Books Recommended by LGBTQIA+ Authors
25 Queer Authors You Should Read
100 Must Read Books by Queer Authors
12 Essential LGBTQ Nonfiction Books
Books to Read During Pride Month
30 Best LGBT+ YA Books
21 Books for Transgender Awareness (Sorted by Age Level)
Best Books with Lesbian Characters
Best LGBTQ Books of 2019
Buzzfeed's Lesser Known Queer Books of 2019
Most Anticipated LGBTQIA+ Releases of 2020

ATY Group Listopia

And, if you don't mind doing a bit more of your own research:

BookRiot's LGBTQ Tagged Articles
Goodread's LGBT Tagged Listopias
LGBTQ Reads Blog

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Optional Questions:
1. What are you reading for this category?
2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors?

My plan for this prompt is to do Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey.

A Little Life is the most likely possibility. Other options are Sugar Run, The Binding or Meredith Russo’s The Birthday.

I think I am going to read George for this one.

I meant to read This is How It Always Is in 2019 and won't get to it, so I plan on it for this prompt.

Oh Dana, that was one of my favorite books of the year. So. Good!

Dana wrote: "I meant to read This is How It Always Is in 2019 and won't get to it, so I plan on it for this prompt."

I read it last year and loved it! I would definitely recommend!

I can't read this myself since I'm not doing any re-reads, but if anyone would like to read a true classic by E. M. Forster, the author of A Room With a View, Passage to India and Howards End, check out his same-sex romance novel Maurice, which also has a beautiful movie adaptation.

This book was way ahead of its time and one of the fore-runners of LGBTQ+ fiction, and I've always really liked it.

[Spoiler: Forster was very conscious of the fact that people - if they read a same-sex romance at all - would expect it to end badly and in misery, but he chose to let love triumph in the end and gave his lovers the happy ending and freedom he never got in his own life.]

If anyone is looking for a good option, I can recommend Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love by Jonathan Van Ness (from Queer Eye). The audiobook is read by JVN, and it's fab.

I really thought I'd have more on my physical/Kindle TBR shelves to choose from, but I've just got these
Binge
Courtney Love: The Real Story
Less
Sexing the Cherry
The Great Believers
Where Angels Fear to Tread

The 23 Best LGBTQ Books of 2019

https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainmen...

Saw this on Buzzfeed: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/...

Thanks Steve and dalex! I've added those lists to the first post in the thread.

1. What are you reading for this category?
I just finished ! I am using it for this prompt. I highly recommend this book! Excellent look at the experience of a transgender kid written by a transgender author.

2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors?
I haven't read as many as I would like but have several planned this year. I am so glad that the LQBTQIA+ community is becoming more represented in literature.

1. What are you reading for this category?
Leah Nash Mysteries, Books 3-4 by Susan Hunter

2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors?
It isn't something that I intentionally seek out but I think I've read many books that do have LGBTQIA+ characters.

What are you reading for this category?
I read Ashenden by W. Somerset Maugham

Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors?
I read some, but I do not actively seek them out.

I read Jam on the Vine, which features a romantic/sexual relationship between two women, for the prompt.

I don't intentionally seek out LGBT+ characters or authors, but I've definitely read some in the past.

I read Red, White & Royal Blue for this and LOVED it. And I don’t usually like romance.

1. What are you reading for this category?
Every Heart a Doorway
2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors?
I do make an attempt to read a lot of different diverse books throughout the year. I don't necessarily search out LGBTQIA+ books. I am enjoying this book a lot and like that the MC is asexual. I feel like I do not regularly come across asexual characters, even background characters, in my reading.

1. What are you reading for this category?

I read Boy Erased: A Memoir by Garrard Conley

2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors?

Yes, I try to read books featuring diverse characters. I read based on what I find interesting, though.

1. What are you reading for this category? I read Becoming Eve by Abby Chava Stein
2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors? This is the first book that I specifically read for that reason.

1. What are you reading for this category?
A Queer History of the United States

I picked a NF and this book specifically because of the personal connection it has to my uncle during the 70, 80, and 90s.

2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors?
How do I answer this? I don't typically seek out books with characters or authors who identify in the community, but I also do not avoid them or pass them over either. I'll read any book that sounds good regardless of the orientation of the characters or author.

I read Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love for this category!

I don't seek out LGBTQIA themed books and really enjoyed this prompt!

I read Cat’s Eyewitness #13 A Mrs Murphy Mystery by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown.

1.What are you reading for this category?


2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors?
I don't seek LGBTQIA+ books or authors, but will try to read more books.

1. What are you reading for this category?

Take Nothing With You 26/02/2020

2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors?

I don't think you have much choice in today's publishing market LGBT characters are everywhere not always appropriately. I don't mind this genre but i think some authors throw the angle in for good measure

1. What are you reading for this category?
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors?
I neither seek them out nor avoid them.

For this challenge, I read When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris.

I listened to An Unseen Attraction, which is historical. I think it's unrealistically upbeat about the chances of this kind of relationship working out in the 19th century, but probably not more unrealistic than the heterosexual historical romances where the characters take a lot of baths and have progressive views.

I don't seek out or avoid these stories. It's interesting when they appear somewhat unexpectedly, for instance there is an element in The Starless Sea. In this day and age, there aren't many heterosexual forbidden partners in most societies, but there wouldn't be a book without some difficulties, so a relationship like Red, White & Royal Blue is perfect.

I noticed that many modern romances with 2 male characters are written by women. Years ago, when Brokeback Mountain was a new movie, a columnist wrote that it was interesting for her as a woman to see how a relationship would go when there wasn't a woman involved to "do the emotional heavy lifting". Maybe women like to see men express feelings even if it's not directed at us.

I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. A great book. It was on my to-read list and I ended up using it for this prompt. I did not have to go looking for a book to fit this category, it just happened naturally. And now, one of my book clubs is reading this book for our March meeting.

I counted The Jane Austen Book Club for this because one of the six MCs is a lesbian. This book had been on my TBR forever, so I finally got to it.

I read Dorothy Dunnett, Pawn in Frankincense, the fourth Lymond Chronicle, an important character in which is Bisexual.

Swipe Right for Murderby Derek Milman was the book I selected for this prompt.
I don't specifically seek out books with LGBTQ characters or authors, but I don't have any reason to avoid them either. Once I started paying attention due to this prompt, I noted I have read at least 5 books this year with a diversity of characters that includes this group.

https://titlesurfingwithtraci.blogspo...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...

What are you reading for this category?
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Wicked Bestiary, by David Sedaris


Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors?
I don’t base my reading choices on the sexual orientation, race, gender or religion of the author or characters. If a book sounds intriguing, I’ll read it.

1. What are you reading for this category? The City in the Middle of the Night It was good. Not great, but an interesting concept with interesting characters
2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors? I have a strong weakness for YA contemporary sci-fi which has a tendency to at a minimum have a side LGBTQIA+ romance plot, so yes without trying.

1. What are you reading for this category? Red, White & Royal Blue
2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors? It's not something I do consciously, but I'll read any writer who is good regardless of what category they fall in. Not that I put the book I read here as great literature- I'm reading lots of fluff during this pandemic and this definitely goes in that category and was a fun read.

eta- I'm also reading On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous for a different category but I do put that under great literature and would fall into this category if anyone is looking for a book.

I read this one:

23. A Book Featuring an LGBTQIA+ character or by an LGBTQIA+ author: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I was really excited to read this over the hype from last year and it lived up to my expectations!!

For this week, I'm reading Junk by Tommy Pico. Hypersensitive, provocative and timely, it's the tale of a breakup presented in long poem format.

Like it is with most genres, I read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors if the story moves me.

I read Maurice by E.M. Forster for this week. This book was written in 1913-1914 but not published until after the author's death in 1971. I highly recommend this book.

1. What are you reading for this category? A Gentleman Never Keeps Score by Cat Sebastian
2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors? I have been reading more books with LGTQIA+ characters, but they are still a minority of the books I read.

1. What are you reading for this category?
I read In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors?
I don't seek out these books but, more and more, I find LGBTQIA+ characters in things I am reading for a completely different reason. Recently I have read and recommend The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, How to Be Both, and The Great Believers.

1. What are you reading for this category? Once You Go This Far
2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors? I read a lot of mystery's, thriller and suspense and it seems like most of the ones that get a lot of hype don't fall into this category. The Roxane Weary books by Kristen Lepionka are some of my favorite and would highly recomend The Last Place You Look to any mystery lover.

1. What are you reading for this category?
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors?
I wouldn't say I read a lot of books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors, but I also don't avoid them. Some books that I've read in the past that would fit this category include The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, and What If It's Us. I'm also anticipating reading Only Mostly Devastated, Girl Made of Stars, and Red, White & Royal Blue.

3.5 stars. I thought the Leteo Institute was an interesting concept to base a book around, but I also found a few elements of the book to be problematic. Still would recommend Adam Silvera's writing though.

I read The Flight Portfolio for this prompt, which was not on my plan. I chose this book from Book of the Month last year, but had no idea it featured an LGBTQ+ protagonist! I really, really enjoyed this book... you don't see many queer characters in WWII historical fiction.

I read a lot of LGBTQ+ books.. I make an effort to read at least one a month.

I just finished reading All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders for this one. She's an LGBTQ+ author, and there's also a minor character whose preferred pronoun is "they". I gave this book 4 stars! It's a mix of sci-fi and fantasy, weird and fun. This can also be used for the witch prompt.

At first I chose An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green for this where the main character is bisexual, but I really didn't enjoy it. I gave this 1.5 stars.

I am almost done with The Prettiest Star, Carter Sickels. Just published in May of 2020. Wow! Breathtaking. Takes place in the 80's and is a story about a gay young man that leaves Appalachia for New York, contracts AIDS, and returns home to die. The book has not been broadly marketed but it's stunning. Add this one to your to read list!

1. What are you reading for this category? Down Among the Sticks and Bones - I was wondering how this was completely fitting in this category. The girls seem to struggle with their identities but I wouldn't say it was a straight LGBTQIA book. But then I realized the author counts for the prompt so I feel better about leaving it in this category.
2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors? I don't intentionally seek them out unless it is for a prompt. Looking through the booklists I've read a lot. I really enjoyed Love Simon: Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda, Middlesex and This Is How It Always Is. Basically I read a book based on whether I think the writing is good and if I'll get lost in the story.

A couple fun M/M romance books are The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue and One Giant Leap. Also I read The Priory of the Orange Tree which can count for fantasy or a book with witches, but it also has both male and female same sex romance.

Tales of the City is a classic now and still very funny on audio. The series starts in the golden time when it was possible to be openly gay in a few places like San Francisco yet before AIDS.

I read as the main character is a lesbian.

I have read some LGBTQIA authors and books but I need to make an effort to pick up more.

1. What are you reading for this category?
I am reading The Color Purple by Alice Walker

2. Do you typically read books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or by LGBTQIA+ authors?
Admittedly, I don't. I don't actively avoid it, but I don't seek it out either.