Gay Novels?- Page 3

[VeraCharles3]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 9:01am

Thank you henrik.

I was aware they get a mention - it doesn't sound very complimentary though!!

I find Shakespeare very hard to understand.

Also some myths have Achilles behead Troilus because he wouldn't let Achilles have his way with him.

I am being very selective with my reading, so that it doesn't taint my view of the love story I have just read. Which I am aware makes me sound ridiculous.

[VeraCharles3]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 9:56am

Not trying to highjack this thread, honest!

Has anyone read any Mary Renault novels? If yes, would you recommend them?

I would like to read more gay historical fiction and have been wondering who to read.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/9/13 at 12:59pm

The main board reminded me of one of my most favorite books of any stripe to be released in the last few years: Alison Bechdel's "Fun Home." It is a perfect art object.

[silversurfer2]

Posted: 8/9/13 at 3:36pm

VeraCharles3- Renault is one of my favorite author's.
I would highly recommend all of her books.
My Fave's: The Persian Boy, Fire from Heaven and The Charioteer.
Thanks for the recommendation for SONG OF ACHILLES.
I picked it up.

Updated On: 8/9/13 at 03:36 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 8/9/13 at 3:49pm

First one I ever read was Patricia Nell Warren's The Front Runner.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 8/9/13 at 7:29pm

I read The Front Runner. I get why the book was (apparently) something of a phenomenon, and it's too bar the long rumoured movie from Paul Newman, I believe never happened. I thought it was an enjoyable read--but too clichéd to really be one of my favorites--however, I think if I had read it as a teen and hadn't heard so much about it I probably would have liked it better. Haven't gotten around to reading the sequels yet...

Only read Renault's The Charioteer, but it seems a pretty easy recommendation for anyone looking for well written gay historical romance. There was an interesting piece in the New Yorker a bit back from a writer who began a longterm personal correspondence with her because her novels meant so much to him http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/01/07/130107fa_fact_mendelsohn

And yes, Fun Home is *wonderful*. Bechdel's follow up, Are You My Mother? was a bit harder for me to get as quickly into, but is worth reading, as well.

As far as autobiographical graphic novels go, Howard Cruse's Stuck Rubber Baby, which ties the gay rights movement into the 60s civil rights movement and issues of racism is pretty terrific, although it took me a while to get used to the art.

[VeraCharles3]

Posted: 8/12/13 at 8:18am

Gosh Eric, you're well read.

silversurfer2 - thank you for the recommendation. I shall pick up one of Mary Renault's books this week.

If you can, let me know what you think of Song of Achilles. I hope you enjoy it.

As Eric and yourself both mention The Charioteer, I think I will start with that one.

Thanks again.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 11:14am

Finally read "Giovanni's Room" by James Baldwin last year. A must read, in my opinion.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 11:16am

Have recently discovered the novels of James Purdy.  Currently in the middle of Malcolm (which was on Broadway briefly in an Albee adaptation) and looking forward to his "gayer" novel, Eustace.

Updated On: 7/14/16 at 11:16 AM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 7/15/16 at 2:51am

Uncage--funny, I just re-read Giovanni's Room for the first time in 20 (! scary thought) years--I saw a cheap copy at a used bookstore when I was visiting my sister.  Absolutely devastating--I forgot how strong Baldwin's writing is.

And funny again--Henrik I just got into Purdy this year as well.  I know recently he's sorta becoming re-appraised or talked about more again (I mean Frazen lists him as one of his fave authors every chance he can) so I guess that's why I became aware of him...  I've read three books so far--my fave (and the "gayest" of the ones I read) is Narrow Rooms--plenty bizarre too.  A lot of his stuff still seems to be out of print, but can easily be found used online.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/15/16 at 1:09pm

Cool, Eric, yes, I've been getting my Purdy through Amazon.