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Post by Lightness on Nov 1, 2011 8:16:41 GMT -5
Mabybe because i'm not exactly a fan of romantic books, i didn't like this that much, even when Aciman writes really well. I loved the line of beauty I don't think you need to be a fan of romantic books, because I'm not. Tastes differ.
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Post by jjose712 on Nov 25, 2011 15:11:06 GMT -5
I'm reading Father of Frankenstein by Christopher Bran (Gods and monsters is based on this novel) and it's really good
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Post by locololo on Nov 28, 2011 8:22:48 GMT -5
I was wondering what everyone's favorite gay books were, or if you read anything (gay related) at all. I myself haven't read too many gay-themed books, mostly because I have higher standards when it comes to books than I have for movies and it's so hard to know what is good. My favorite book so far is "Die Mitte der Welt" by Andreas Steinhöfel. It's written in German but it has been translated into English as well (by Steinhöfel himself if I'm not mistaken). It's a story about a 17-year-old boy who comes from a messed-up family and falls in love with a new student at his school. I know that sounds all very clichéd but it's really beautifully written and it's not a coming-out story. A. Steinhöfel's writing style has often been compared to John Irving but I can't comment on that because I've never actually read anything by Irving. Anyway, if you're interested in finding out more about this book, you can find the German version here and the English version here. I've read a few that involve a gay person, i my opinion the best would the series of city of bones, city of ashes, city of glass, and city of fallen angels. They have some gay romance in them, but i'm not saying anything because of spoilers .
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Post by jjose712 on Dec 30, 2011 14:15:09 GMT -5
I'm reading now the indian clerg by David Leavitt, and i'm really liking it (even i hate maths, the book is about two mathematicians, H G Hardy and Srmivasa Ramanujan, Hardy was gay)
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Post by syione on Mar 28, 2012 7:27:15 GMT -5
Suzanne Brockmanns new book "Born into Darkness" or something along those lines is shaping out to be a interesting read. It does have a gay almost couple, Elliot and Stephan.
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Post by syione on Jun 18, 2012 6:17:18 GMT -5
Just finished reading some of this authors work and he's pretty funny. Ethan Day his characters are pretty interesting, and I love how he rebranded Target as Tar-Gay. Finished Suzanne Brockmann short(really short) ebook "Begininngs and Ends" which focuses on Jules and Robin, she even wrote them a sex scene(blow-job) nothing overtly graphic but it was there. I'm also reading "Casket of Souls" 5th book in the Nightrunner series and going to start reading Wataru(sp) by Storm Constine.
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Post by jjose712 on Jul 27, 2012 14:51:26 GMT -5
Someday this pain will be useful to you by Peter Cameron, is funny and sad at the same time, with a memorable main character.
As a note i have to say there's no romance in the book and no sex
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Post by syione on Jan 18, 2013 8:57:10 GMT -5
For those of you who have an ereader get Ann Sommerville's Darshans Tales. The first book is 2221 pages and the couple don't get together until page 1509, but it's so engrossing you don't even realize it. Very interesting character development. I started reading Diane Duanes Door into Fire and withing the first few pages I was laughing(but I'm a silly person). Both books are fantasy so if you're into magic and stuff. The last book is Richard K Morgans A Steel Remains( A Land Fit for Heroes) one of the main characters is gay and it's brutal, some of the characters have no problem being homophobic and there is a rape scene. Wasn't really thrilled about it,but that's because it's not my cup of tea,but it is a good book.
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Post by jjose712 on Apr 1, 2013 14:09:06 GMT -5
Hotel de Dream by Edmund White is a very good novel. It's the story of the last days of Stephen Crane, an XIX century writer famous for his novel the red badge of courage, who tells to his wife the story of a teen prostitute and the old banker who is obsessed with him
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Hoong
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Post by Hoong on Sept 5, 2013 6:08:42 GMT -5
The catch in the Rye ( l'attrape-coeurs in french, it means The catch-hearts ) - JD Salinger, is the only story who talk to everyone. JDS write it in 1951, but it talk to everyone... If you feel lonely in any way , this book is a good friend. You're gay, or lonely, or not good looking, or whatever, JD Salinger talk to you, he understand you the way nobody can. The first time I read this book, I don't want to live anymore, and now, it's help me to remember how difficult the life is for younger. I think that all western government must oblige (?? I don't know if it's the good word) every student and especially every parents to read this book : suicide rate must shut down. I have heard about this when I was in high school studying American Literature as Salinger was one of the classic American authors. I never read it until recently when curiosity got the better of me. (To me), the book was complex and the language used by the protagonist is not what a teacher would endorse for his pupils to read, so I now understand why it was not in the required reading list in senior high school (where I attended). I did sneak to read a D.H. Lawrence novel that my French teacher lent me, but that pales in comparison to this particular novel. If my student asks me for a recommendation similar to this novel, I'd suggest him to read a Jean Paul Satre novel as it will more or less relay a similar message.
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Hoong
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Post by Hoong on Oct 31, 2013 23:14:24 GMT -5
Call me by your name by Andre Aciman. I borrowed from a literary (straight) friend, and was very impressed by Professor Aciman's prose. He could be the 'next' William C. Faulkner. (FYI, those who attend university in the USA will likely have to read some short stories or novels by this author, assuming they are in the intensive writing /advance English 101 sections). Needless to say, Aciman's writing is not exactly intended for light reading.
Brent Hartinger is a good Young Adults gay novelist. His books are Geography Club (2003) The Order of the Poison Oak (2005) Double Feature: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies (2007) The Elephant of Surprise (2013)
He was involved in a gay teens support organization in Tacoma, WA. His first novel is coming out as a movie.
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Post by jjose712 on Nov 1, 2013 16:07:32 GMT -5
I must be the only gay male who don't like Call me by your name. It has everything to be liked by me because Aciman is really a good writer, but i couldn't connect with the characters at all. I read a lot of praise of the type "it's fantastic how he really connect with gay sensibility for a straight writer" but i couldn't feel that at all. In fact i really disliked the famous sex scene. At the end i didn't really know if the characters are gay or not. I probably will read other Aciman's novels because i really like his prose, but the story, not that much
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Hoong
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Post by Hoong on Nov 3, 2013 0:49:02 GMT -5
Regarding Aciman's "Call me by your Name", I concluded that Elio is definitely gay and misplaces his desire/lust onto Oliver, who is likely to be bi or mostly straight. The readers, unlikely teenagers, will be shown Elio's angst. But I'd prefer to read from the perspective of the older character, Oliver. Maybe that is what put many adult readers off as this is not a YA novel. What do you think, jjose712?
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Post by jjose712 on Nov 3, 2013 8:52:43 GMT -5
Well, i have serious problems to connect with both characters. In my opinion there's a clear change in Oliver by the middle of the book. At the beginning Aciman show him almost like an intelectual free spirit but by the end of the novel it's pretty clear he is unable to assume his feelings for Elio, wich end in his marriage (wich is not surprising at all). Elio is a character difficult to love, his intelectuality makes him look self entittled, and yes, i think he is gay, even when absolutely nothing in the novel really states that, because he spends half the novel having sex with his girlfriend (poor girl is used all the time), and at the end, nothing tell us that he came out (even when that's the logical deduction). The novel has a lot of positive things, because as i say, i really love Aciman's prose, but i was unable to connect with nobody in the book.
The young adult perspective is not a problem for me, i don't mind young adult novels (i really like the perks of being a wallflower), of course Call me by your name is not a young adult novel, but you can say the same about Someday this pain will be useful to you, and as weird as he is, i find a lot less trouble to connect with his main character.
I read this book two years ago, and i was reading the line of beauty at the same time, and i find ironic that on paper Call me by your name was more my type of book, but i ended liking Hollinhurst's novel way more.
Even when i end being a little annoyed by the constant praising of how a straight man like Aciman could connect with gay sensibilities, it's quite interesting that a straight writer decides to publish a story like this as his first novel (the second one deal with coupling problems in a heterosexual relationship).
Of course i'm not the only one who didn't like the book, i remember reading a blog that describe Call me by your name as the closet cases novel, but the truth is it was almost unanimously praised
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Hoong
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Post by Hoong on Nov 4, 2013 21:33:35 GMT -5
Jjose712, I agree with you in a different context. Reading for personal pleasure and reading to improve one's college readiness are two completely different situations. For personal enjoyment, away from the prying eyes of possibly homophobic people (as I am an educator), I would prefer "The Road Home" by Michael Thomas Ford, in which the plot is quite similar but well-defined. But, I praise "Call me by Your Name" for being a teenage angst novel written in prose that will likely impress the many homophobic straight guardians of teenagers. It is a sexual orientation 'exploration' novel that is not filled with crass language, but it is in an atypical style that wouldn't appeal to many teenagers. I'd endorse it as reading material for many senior high school pupils who will take standardized university examinations.
I think that most forum posters here are commenting on the types of movies or novels that they personally enjoy in private or among close friends. Usually, I take a different perspective when I choose movies or literary work to watch or read. If the movies or books can reduce homophobia in 'questioning' high school teenagers (and their ever vigilant mothers), they become fodder material to be shared with them in the future for educational purposes.
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Hoong
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Post by Hoong on Nov 4, 2013 21:45:27 GMT -5
I am currently reading 'The Elephant of Surprise' by Brent Hartinger during my commuting. It's light, quite entertaining, and educational. I won't spoil it, so you'll have to read it to find out the 'educational' aspects of this YA novel.
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Post by jjose712 on Nov 7, 2013 13:30:20 GMT -5
I'm going to read A house at the end of the world by Michael Cunningham. Hopefully i will enjoy it as much i enjoyed The Hours
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dalia
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Max & Iago Forever
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Post by dalia on Jan 11, 2014 0:09:07 GMT -5
I just finished Something Like Summer by Jay Bell in about 10 hours, since I could not put it down. (It is also being made into a movie by the makers of Judas Kiss)
Anyone else read it? I'm looking into getting the follow up books Something Like Winter and Something Like Autumn, which are not sequels but in the same world. (Something Like Spring is forthcoming)
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Hoong
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Post by Hoong on Jan 12, 2014 0:44:55 GMT -5
Wow, that's a surprise, but a wise move for the producers of the Judas Kiss.
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Post by jjose712 on May 2, 2014 14:33:52 GMT -5
I red A house at the end of the world a couple of months ago and it is really good. I love how Cunninham writes. It's a less intellectual and more emotional novel than The Hours
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Post by alohaTHOR on Dec 20, 2014 4:51:53 GMT -5
I just finished Something Like Summer by Jay Bell in about 10 hours, since I could not put it down. (It is also being made into a movie by the makers of Judas Kiss) Anyone else read it? I'm looking into getting the follow up books Something Like Winter and Something Like Autumn, which are not sequels but in the same world. ( Something Like Spring is forthcoming) I finished Something Like Summer a few days ago and immediately ordered Something Like Winter and Something Like Autumn. I'm not sure about Something Like Spring because I fell in love with the characters of the other books and it seems that they are only minor characters in the SLS. Anyway, I absolutely love these books (am almost done with SLA and waiting for SLW to arrive)! Something Like Summer is also being adapted into a film. I believe it has a kickstarter somewhere (bleh sorry too lazy to look for it! )
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dalia
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Post by dalia on Dec 20, 2014 7:05:15 GMT -5
It was an indiegogo campaign and it ended on Dec. 14th. For backers, the author Jay Bell is writing a new Ben focus book which he has titled Something Like Fall. I've read all the books now(currently re-reading Something Like Winter) including Something Like Spring and his latest, Something Like Lightning. I recommend you check out Something Like Spring too...though Tim and Ben are not the stars, they are important supporting characters in it. website for the movie: somethinglikesummer.com/
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dalia
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Post by dalia on Dec 21, 2014 2:14:43 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm totally obsessed as well when I heard it was being turned into a movie. I literally screamed. At first I was a Tim fan but then I read Something Like Autumn and totally fell in love with Jace's character (haha, it feels strange to say something like that). Well, hopefully after reading Something Like Winter you will return to being a Tim fan Alot of people seemed to be moved by Autumn. For me, it just let me like Jace since I kind of didn't like him in Summer. He was too perfect and also was the big road block between my OTP Tim and Ben reuniting.
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Post by alohaTHOR on Dec 21, 2014 7:54:59 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm totally obsessed as well when I heard it was being turned into a movie. I literally screamed. At first I was a Tim fan but then I read Something Like Autumn and totally fell in love with Jace's character (haha, it feels strange to say something like that). Well, hopefully after reading Something Like Winter you will return to being a Tim fan Alot of people seemed to be moved by Autumn. For me, it just let me like Jace since I kind of didn't like him in Summer. He was too perfect and also was the big road block between my OTP Tim and Ben reuniting. I'll be writing in white now, don't want to spoil it for anyone else thinking about picking up the series.Sorry in advanced because I'm not so good with words. SPOILER ALERT: So, throughout the first part of the book when Ben was still in high school, I obviously was rooting for Tim. Mostly because he was the only serious love interest for Ben. He was just that guy, a fantasy. You sort of expect them to end up together. But then when Ben met Jace I was so happy. Yeah, he seemed perfect in Summer but I believe that was only because we didn't get his side of the story. Even so, I felt that he really loved Ben and that's why he forgave him for everything he did. SLS was definitely geared more towards Ben and Tim, you barely learn anything about Jace at all and maybe that's why so many people have the perception that he was too perfect because all the things we learn about him were through actions that we had no idea what motivated them. Reading Autumn, you really get to see why Jace is how he is, as expected from a prequel-sequel. All the things Jace went through with Victor and Adrien made him strive for more, something real, that thing he had wanted from the very beginning of the book: happiness, commitment, marriage, a future.
All the insecurities Jace had when Tim showed up in their lives was shown in Autumn. He wanted to be caring and understanding so that Ben could see he really loved him and trusted him even when at times he didn't feel so. It's a strange desperation to keep hold of something so dear to you. If I recall correctly, almost immediately after meeting Ben, Jace had a conversation with Greg that he thought Ben could be the one. It was so cute of him to believe in them so early on. You could definitely say that my OTP was Jace/Ben.
The end really teared me up. Even though I knew what was coming, the end was just too much... the last sentence of SLA... Gosh Jay Bell, just kill me now (obviously not before I read the other books, haha).
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dalia
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Post by dalia on Dec 21, 2014 17:45:56 GMT -5
SPOILERS for Something Like Summer:
Well Tim was my favorite from the moment he showed up. i never let go ofthat favoritism. Even when he did what he did to Ben, he was still my favorite. Like you saw Jace's side of the story in Autumn, you also saw Tim's in Winter. In some ways, I think Ben was wrong in the beginning as well. You can't really push someone out of the closet if they're not ready.
Jace is a good guy, and he made a perfect boyfriend/husband for Ben. He was probably just what Ben needed in his life. I just could not stop rooting for Tim nd Ben to be together again. I feel like Jay Bell spent so much time developing that relatonship in Summer(pretty much 100 pages, and the relationship between Ben and Jace was about 50 pages.) it was really hard for me to let go...and I didn't.
I would talk about Winter to back up my unwavering Love for Tim, but I don't want to spoil it for you.
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