YA LGBT Books discussion

Tell us about the book that most influenced your life...

Two... Lord of The Rings... and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe... my dad would take me to the library and sneak me into the grown up section for Tolkein... ROFL

The Lord of the Rings goes on my list too - I read it every year from the time I was ten until I went away to college, sitting in my tree house at the lake usually.

The other is a little-known kids' series called Swallows and Amazons. I haven't looked at them in decades, but it was my father's favorite series -the first book came out when he was about twelve. It was the one thing he would drop anything else to read to us anytime we asked. I can still hear the story in my Dad's clear voice.

Kaje wrote: "The Lord of the Rings goes on my list too - I read it every year from the time I was ten until I went away to college, sitting in my tree house at the lake usually.

The other is a little-known kid..."

OMG--Kaje--how do you know this book--the kids in the boats--one in the boat Swallows, on in the boat Amazon...remember they start off not liking each other--enemies and then become friends! I had no idea anyone else knew this book-do you have a copy--cause I do--2 of them!! I sense a package in the making!!

LOTR, The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and the classics. I read The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Miserables, and A Tale of Two Cities when I was in high school, and I never looked back. Things snowballed from there. I blame those books for getting me into historical fiction, and I blame Tolkien's books for making me fall in love with speculative fiction.

Hayden wrote: "LOTR, The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and the classics. I read The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Miserables, and A Tale of Two Cities when I was in high school, and I never looked back. Things snowbal..."

well then--thank god they did--get you into historical fiction--posting a bi thank you to the Tolkien foundation and the Dickens & Hugo societies right now!!

Sammy2006 wrote: "well then--thank god they did--get you into historical fiction--posting a bi thank you to the Tolkien foundation and the Dickens & Hugo societies right now!! "

They were traumatic reading, I must admit. XD XD XD Emotionally draining, and I was a sobbing mess at the end of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

RJ wrote: "Two... Lord of The Rings... and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe... my dad would take me to the library and sneak me into the grown up section for Tolkein... ROFL"

my fav books evr /ok not in the library my grandparent had those at home

Kaje wrote: "The other is a little-known kids' series called Swallows and Amazons. I haven't looked at them in decades, but it was my father's favorite series -the first book came out when he was about twelve."

I have to smile at the little-known, I don't think that there are many children in the UK who haven't heard of or probably read at least the first in the series (it's also a film, been televised and is currently a musical)... Personally speaking I love them, and Winter Holiday is one of my annual Christmas reads.

Ok, leaving aside those already mentioned, some other books that influenced my life...

The first are a couple children's books - A Taste of Blackberries by Doris Buchanan Smith, and one of my all time favourites which is The Chalet School in Exile by Elinor M Brent-Dyer

As teenager I discovered the books by Robin McKinley, and more importantly found that Heroine did not equal damsel in distress/wannabe princess.... in particular, though not strictly aimed at Young Adults is Sunshine which I adore.

Adult book wise, American Gods by Neil Gaiman and more recently The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

"The Call of the Wild" by Jack London....that story just floored me. My emotions were all over the place and since I was just a kid at the time it was quite a cry-fest. Here it is many moons later and I still remember Buck and all his trials as if it were yesterday.

Susan65 wrote: ""The Call of the Wild" by Jack London....that story just floored me. My emotions were all over the place and since I was just a kid at the time it was quite a cry-fest. Here it is many moons later ..."

LOVED that book--found a old copy of it in an Antique shop --bought it on the spot.

RJ wrote: "Two... Lord of The Rings... and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe... my dad would take me to the library and sneak me into the grown up section for Tolkein... ROFL"

Ooh, did you know that the authors of those books were like, best friends and they decided to write those books at the same time as a sort of contest? And both books are based off of some concept of God

Kit wrote: "RJ wrote: "Two... Lord of The Rings... and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe... my dad would take me to the library and sneak me into the grown up section for Tolkein... ROFL"

Ooh, did you know..."
yea i know , cool right

You're gonna think i am weird...never read or watched The Lord of the Rings....no idea what its even about.

Sammy2006 wrote: "OMG--Kaje--how do you know this book--the kids in the boats--one in the boat Swallows, on in the boat Amazon...remember they start off not liking each other--enemies and then become friends! I had no idea anyone else knew this book-do you have a copy--cause I do--2 of them!! I sense a package in the making!! ..."

I have the whole series, Sammy. How could I not :) I'm glad (but in your case not surprised) that you know it too.

Had no idea it was still current in the UK, but that makes sense as it is a British book. I'm glad to know it has fans elsewhere - here no one recognizes the title (well, except Sammy who must know every kid's book in existence.)

Susan65 wrote: "You're gonna think i am weird...never read or watched The Lord of the Rings....no idea what its even about."

*Gasp*!!!!!! Lord of the Rings is amazing!!!! You should totally watch the movies. They're the best movies ever!!!!

Kit wrote: "Susan65 wrote: "You're gonna think i am weird...never read or watched The Lord of the Rings....no idea what its even about."

*Gasp*!!!!!! Lord of the Rings is amazing!!!! You should totally watch..."

they shure r

For several years when my kids were younger teens, I had the release dates for each new Fruits Basket story on the calendar.

Kaje wrote: "For several years when my kids were younger teens, I had the release dates for each new Fruits Basket story on the calendar."

Now--I know hard to believe--but this is a new one to me!!

Susan65 wrote: "You're gonna think i am weird...never read or watched The Lord of the Rings....no idea what its even about."

I can not believe my eyes, there exists someone who has not read/ watched it. Believe when I say, you have to watch and read it. One of the best adaptations of a book I have come across (this is coming from someone who despises book adaptations).

Ahlaam wrote: "Susan65 wrote: "You're gonna think i am weird...never read or watched The Lord of the Rings....no idea what its even about."

I can not believe my eyes, there exists someone who has not read/ watc..."

new2me 2

If you like classic fantasy it is a must read; if you are not fond of the category, the movies are an excellent adaptation and shorter, but still carry the flavor of the books.

Harry Potter, a series I have a love/hate relationship with. It's riddled with a lot of great messages that I live my life by and it's taught me to be open-minded. Perhaps without that series, I might have been an ignorant fool.

Ahlaam wrote: "Harry Potter, a series I have a love/hate relationship with. It's riddled with a lot of great messages that I live my life by and it's taught me to be open-minded. Perhaps without that series, I mi..."

I actually enjoyed that series--I read them aloud to my kids--made it fun and silly by doing really bad english accents, etc. we read them all--even though they were much older by the time the last one had come out. It is actually something we do as a a family--read books aloud to each other--I read mostly children's books aloud--so funny--even my husband sits down on the sofa to listen.

Sammy2006 wrote: "Ahlaam wrote: "Harry Potter, a series I have a love/hate relationship with. It's riddled with a lot of great messages that I live my life by and it's taught me to be open-minded. Perhaps without th..."

The series is enjoyable as long as you're looking at the surface but once you start delving into it, it's dysfuntional and contradictive in nature. Lol at the bad english accents (the idea of it cracks me up), me and my friends like to attempt american accents.

I don't feel like I've read a book unless I read the text for myself but it's cute to imagine you lot sitting as a family with your bad british accents.

Ahlaam wrote: "Sammy2006 wrote: "Ahlaam wrote: "Harry Potter, a series I have a love/hate relationship with. It's riddled with a lot of great messages that I live my life by and it's taught me to be open-minded. ..."


It is not a series that should go without conversation attached to it--I think that is why I read aloud to my children--it gave us the opportunity to discuss novels--their value, their themes, their strengths and weaknesses!! And--my kids would laugh right along with you at my very bad accents=:)

How could anyone go without watching Viggo? I watched the movies over and over. *Sigh*

For me, I think the book that most influenced my life was Look Away Silence by Edward C. Patterson.

I think this was one of the first books that shocked me into the realization that love could never be placed in a box and asked to conform. Love should be giving freely to everyone.

I grew up watching Stone and Robin on General Hospital, so I knew what AIDS was and knew about the quilt. I was in the 5th grade when Stone died of AIDS. While he was character, it was the first time I was able to see this horrible disease. Like in the book, it took so much away, but the men going through never allowed something so ugly to touch their love.

Look Away Silence changed me. It changed how I felt and looked at the world. I was floored and appalled how narrow-minded I was.

Summer wrote: "

How could anyone go without watching Viggo? I watched the movies over and over. *Sigh*"

For me it's all about Orlando Bloom (what an eye-candy) and to some extent Sir Ian McKellen (I hope I don't sound creepy).

Summer wrote: "

How could anyone go without watching Viggo? I watched the movies over and over. *Sigh*"

with you on that one honey!!!

Summer wrote: "For me, I think the book that most influenced my life was Look Away Silence by Edward C. Patterson.

I think this was one of the first books that shocked me into the..."

Summer,

I had a dear, dear friend die from AIDs--he was 49 years old--almost 50. It was the saddest moment of my life...sadder still, and that which makes me angry to this day almost 2 years later is that some people felt he deserved it--that his lifestyle demanded it...so very, very sad. When we shut ourselves off from loving others because of their sexuality, their life choices...so very very sad.

Nancy wrote: "

As a child and teen, I never quite fit with any group.
..."

I've only seen the film adaptation, and it shook me up when I was a teenager. I can only imagine the book to be a lot more powerful.

Nancy wrote: "

As a child and teen, I never quite fit with any group.

My family was too poor and under-educated for me to fit in with the college-bound kids even though I had ..."

Nancy, thank you so much for sharing that bit of you---I think you will find you have much in common with many of us--folks who have always felt just a step or two out of time with the rest of the world...but how lovely that those experiences made you the person you are today--we are the richer for it!

The Outsiders. Read it about 10 times when I was younger. Most tattered book I had - along with Watership Down, which I know was about Rabbits - but it was also about friendship and loyalty and strength of character and not giving up :)

Rach. wrote: "The Outsiders. Read it about 10 times when I was younger. Most tattered book I had - along with Watership Down, which I know was about Rabbits - but it was also about friendship and loyalty and str..."

Just loved watership down--my kids and i watched the video until we broke it1

Yeah, watched the vid a couple of times, but you couldn't beat the book - literally loved it to death - TWICE (two copies!) :D

Nancy wrote: "

As a child and teen, I never quite fit with any group.

My family was too poor and under-educated for me to fit in with the college-bound kids even though I had ..."


Loved this book so much, even though I never had to face what you and Ponyboy did in the way of poverty. But I think it speaks to outsiders of all kinds, including shy, unattractive, intellectual geeks.

Watership Down too, with the messages of friendship and of stretching to become more than you thought you could be, when someone you love needs that from you.

Summer wrote: "For me, I think the book that most influenced my life was Look Away Silence by Edward C. Patterson.

I think this was one of the first books that shocked me into the..."

related 2 robert patterson?

I don't know Rogier, I never looked into it, lol. Could be for all I know.

Nancy wrote: "Watership Down was required reading in high school. I enjoyed it at the time but have not revisited it, while I've read The Outsiders several times. I've not seen the movie adaptations for either book.
..."

I tend to avoid movie adaptations if I loved the book (LOTR turned out good though.)

I think being assigned a book in high-school is a good way to kill it, at least for me. My daughter had to read To Kill a Mockingbird one chapter a week and discuss with fellow tenth-graders and she said only an amazing book would survive that process. (She had already read TKAM several times, so it wasn't quite so bad. But one of her classmates took a month and four chapters to realize Scout was a girl, which suggests the discussion was less than meaningful.)

If I watch a movie before reading the book 9/10 times I won't go back and read the book. It bugs the tar out of me to know something is from a book once I watch the movie.

Kaje wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Watership Down was required reading in high school. I enjoyed it at the time but have not revisited it, while I've read The Outsiders several times. I've not seen the movie adaptation..."

ah Mockingbird---my favorite!

Funny I started this thread but am struggling with posting due to trying to bring it down to 1 or 2 choices. LOL!

However, I must say that perhaps the most influential books on my life were Mary Renault's and
by Harper Lee.

These books opened my very young eyes (I read them both when I was 15) to a world I did not know existed. One where boys loved boys with a simple adoration that exceeded any kind of love I had ever experienced and one where people could hate another person simply because of the color of their skin.

To say, that up until then I had lived an idyllic life would be an understatement. My father worked in Baltimore and predominantly with black men--they came to our home on sunday afternoons for sunday dinner, I played with their children--never did it occur to me that there were NO black families in our town---never did it occur to me that the sidelong glances my Father was receiving in the grocery stores were indicative of hateful small town mentality. NO, my father shielded us all from that. And then, at the age of 17 when my very best friend in the world declared himself gay--and wept in my arms as he cried tears of relief that I had not turned my back on him---well, never was a novel more real to me than in that moment--I was best friends with the Persian Boy and we were so young...and so afraid.

I have often remarked about books here at goodreads, often reviewed them. I have developed a sweet friendship with an author here--one that I cherish. But I think I have never really spoken aloud how very important the written word is--how it can both edify and destroy...influence and shape our thinking. I am grateful for a forum like this--where I can hear about how others lives were touched by the magic that is the written word.

How lovely, Sammy. And a life lived with books is so much richer. My mother did what I know you are doing - accumulated books for her grandchildren before they were even born. And they (as I had before them) found a wider world in those pages.

I read Watership Down, but it paled in comparison to Redwall by Brian Jacques.

Thankfully, when my library couldn't come up with suitable YA material, the librarian pointed me toward The Hobbit. But that and Lord of the Rings was all they could give me as a teen.

A lot of books have influenced me over the years, though Mossflower (the prequel to Redwall) will always be one of my all time faves... and I'm still mad that I never could work up the courage to ask him to sign my copy. I had it with me and everything.

Oh, perhaps the biggest influencer was (and still is) Alphabears by Michael and Kathleen Hague. My Dad used to read that to me before bed until he had it memorized. lol. Alphabears: An ABC Book

Though, I just finished reading The Last Herald-Mage by Mercedes Lackey and I can't stop talking about it. It was out when I was a teen, it's just that nobody put that book in my hands. I have a feeling things would have turned out slightly different, or things would have moved faster toward me writing M/M if I'd read this as a teen. I really wish I'd gotten that chance. It kills me to know I didn't. But... it was still well worth the wait.

Jordan wrote: "I read Watership Down, but it paled in comparison to Redwall by Brian Jacques.

Thankfully, when my library couldn't come up with suitable YA material, the librarian pointed me toward The Hobbit..."

Are you me? Lol! My father used to read me Alphabears too! The illustrations in it are just so beautiful. I'm also in love with the Last Herald-Mage trilogy.

As for the Watership Down love I'm seeing in this thread, has anyone seen the movie? I grew up on the (rather dark for a little kid) animated movie. LOVED it. I read the book as soon as I got my hands on it. It's got some of the same voice actors as there are in the cheesy 1970s animated Lord of the Rings (also one of my childhood favs).

Wow, that's creepily weird, but so cool at the same time!

I saw that animated LOTR, and tried to introduce my Dad to LOTR with that. Major fail. I so couldn't get into that movie and I know he didn't. Well, fantasy isn't my thing anyway.

Oh hey, did you know, Michael Hague illustrated The Hobbit? It's beautiful! And soooo makes the book that much better too.

I think we should all have a private viewing of The Hobbit. We can all geek out and collapse in spasmodic fits as a group.

Hayden wrote: "I think we should all have a private viewing of The Hobbit. We can all geek out and collapse in spasmodic fits as a group."

I've never seen it. Loved the book - I had a wonderful audio version and played it on a five hour car trip with the kids and there was peace the whole way.

Kaje wrote: "I've never seen it. Loved the book - I had a wonderful a..."

You have to see the trailer! Hot Thorin Oakenshield alert!