So many books, so little time.
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Let’s talk about something we all love: books.
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. But I’d like to say that the written word has a power of it’s own. I mean it’s a rare book that doesn’t make you feel anything (even if you hate a book you steel feel something for it). Books can make you laugh until your stomach hurts, make you cry like a baby. They can make you rave like a lunatic and smile like a fool. Books can change your world. So now we’d like to know how you feel, what books means for you.
💙 Do you remember the first LGBTQ book you ever read?
💙 Has reading LGBTQ books changed anything for you?
💙 Do you have books you can read over and over without tire of?
💙 What’s the best thing about reading LGBTQ books?
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The first book I remember is actually a manga – Kizuna by Kazuma Kodaka. At that time I wasn’t really aware there was a book market for LGBTQ+ literature. I thought the m/m manga were sth. unique to Japan. I was young and uneducated back then, the internet wasn’t really a thing and I went to a Catholic school, where things like that weren’t discussed. So, forgive my ignorance.
As for books, my first concious read was probably Shopping and Fucking by Mark Ravenhill. Have to admit that I didn’t really like it.
Books from the LGBTQ+ spectrum have changed a lot for me. Made me more open-minded and understanding of other people and the way they live/are. Also, when I was around 32 I finally figured out that I was not strange and different. There was a word (well two words) for people like me – aro ace – and despite what some people and family members might say I’m normal enough. I’m not sure whether I’d be at this point without the variety of books I’ve read over the years.
I’m especially fond of mystery and action series. Books I can read over and over again are, e.g., The art of Murder and All’s Fair by Josh Lanyon, PsyCop by Jordan Castillo Price or Cut and Run by Abigail Roux.
I don’t know what makes LGBTQ+ books special for me. Maybe it’s the additional accent on sexuality and/or gender that’s not as prominent in other books. Maybe it’s the fact that there are so many people out there, all of them not alike and still they face similar problems in their lives. So, the books show me that while we are all different somehow, we are also pretty alike, no matter what individual people may tell us. And that’s something I need to see once in a while to stay overall positive. (Not sure whether I make sense here.)
I have read so many LGBTQ books that I don’t remember the first one I read. Reading these books have opened my eyes to so many different lifestyles and fantasies. i have read about things that I have never really thought about and found that I see different viewpoints on life.
The first one I read was Josh Lanyon’s Adrien English series. I really liked their interactions. My daughter is gay and it has made me more accepting. I would never deny my daughter based on who she loves. It does u p set me that so many do. I do have some I reread especially The Marshall series by Mary Calmes and books by Josh Lanyon. I love these books as they show people finding love and acceptance through a journey much harder than it should be.
My first was The Cut and Run series, but I did not fall for the genre until I read The Adrien English series. I don’t think it is changed anything, but it has opened my eyes to some kinds of kinks I did not know of… There are several books I’ve read and read and never get tired of, for example Muscling Through by JL Merrow. As for the best of reading LGBTQ books is the stories… They are all beautiful
I can’t remember the first one (a library book), but the one that opened me up to the MM world was Jacob Z. Flores’s Spell Bound. I found Dreamspinner through this book and realized that I really needed to get an ereader.
The first MM I read was “Maurice” by EM Forster it was wonderful it was the first LGBTQ I’d ever read. It wasn’t until about 2000’s when I got a computer that I read MM again and it was Willa Okati “Forty Two Day” and I found Torquere press then Dreamspinner press and I’ve been reading MM ever since. I have many books I re-read over and over “If I Must” and “Do-Over” by Amy Lane are my favourites but I have got into reading MM Sci Fi which I love and Mel Keegans “Hellgate” books are so good I think I’ve read them four or five time this year! The best thing about reading LGBTQ are the diverse stories, characters and places and the impact they have on your life to me you become more open and accepting of people, they can be what ever they wish to be as we are all human aren’t we?
My first book into LGBTQ fiction was Change of Heart by Mary Calmes before that I had spent many many years just reading manga and yaoi. Specifically changing between the two didn’t really do anything to change me. I think reading yaoi cracked my eyes open and LGBTQ just opened my eyes to possibilities and become more liberal.
I have plenty of books that I like to read over and over and won’t get tired of in the M/M fiction genre and just in romance in particular. In fact once a year (sometimes more than once) I’ll go back and reread the entire or just sections of my favorite books.
I love that love is just love and it’s there and persists when times gets tough. It’s not always pretty and it can be scary.
The first LGBTQ book I ever read was either MY WORST DATE by David Leddick, or a book called TRICKS by an author I can’t recall. Neither was really a romance…the first was a coming-of-age story without an HEA, while the second was about a sex worker and his seventeen clients (I remember thinking seventeen was overkill). Then I read a lot of hockey and music fanfic, and I think BETWEEN SINNERS AND SAINTS by Marie Sexton was my first official m/m. I think reading LGBTQ fiction has taught me more empathy and openness at times. I can read Damon Suede’s HOT HEAD, Eden Winters’ DIVERSION, and Clare London’s SAY A LITTLE PRAYER repeatedly in particular! I like the greater range of male personalities in m/m romance compared to m/f!
Although I had read a couple of books that brushed against gay characters my first chosen LGBTQ book was Try by Ella Frank and from that moment I was hooked. I have become a lot more accepting of the community and do my best to promote that Love is Love.
I re-read many books, my favourites are Metahuman Files and the Soubound series by Hailey Turner, Tameness of the Wolf series by Kendall McKenna, Cut and Run by Abigail Roux, Temptation series by Ella Frank, Beautiful Monsters series by Jex Lane and Flesh Cartel series by Heidi Belleau and Rachael Haimowitz….an eclectic bunch!
I love how 2 (or more) people express their love. It doesn’t matter if it’s men or women or a combination…love is love.
The Made Marian series were one of the first MM books I’ve read and it got me hooked and never looked back to reading MF books. I’ve always been a supporter of the LGBTQ community so it wasn’t hard for me to be a fan of Mm books. My favorite author is Sloane Kennedy, I’ve read all her books so many times over. There’s something about gay romance that makes it more interesting and the love stories sweeter compared to MF books.
The first m/m paperback i read was The Lost Language of Cranes by David Leavit, this was in the 80,s of the last century. The first m/m ebook i bought was The Christmas Throwaway or The Heart of Texas both by RJ Scott. I bought them at the same day i jut don’t know wich one i bought first 😉
First Book; My Fair Captain by JL Langley. SO good! I haven’t stopped reading M/M since. They make more sense to me than M/F romance. I can reread Tere Michaels’ Forever books and Rhys Ford’s Miki & Kane and Jae and Cole at any time.
LGBTQ+ are not (usually) frustrating to the reader. They make me happy and bring enjoyment to my reading life.
My first M/M book was Try by Ella Frank, loved it!!! I can read books by TJ Klune & Mary Calmes multiple times, love them 🙂
When I first came out (early 2000’s), friends recommended “Tales of the City.” That other gay reads have helped get a sense of the culture, and great seeing my orientation represented in so many ways, including in genres I loved before – SF, mystery, westerns, historicals, and more. Which also answers the last question. And what’s great is that now there are so many good books out there I want to read, I don’t feel I have time to re-read.