BITESIZED BOOK BOOK BITESIZED
RECOMMENDATION BLITZ By Julie Dory
Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
It is one you have all mostly likely already heard of, a good place to start! But we can’t discuss this book without addressing the elephant in the room which is the controversy surrounding Elio (17) and Oliver’s (24) love affair. It has been a source of many a debate among avid bookworms, critics, and occasional readers. However, I URGE you (strongly!) to give this book a shot and make your own independent judgment. A lot of people who I hold in high regard in terms of literary recommendations will disagree with me
(sorry pals, but I have got to do what I have got to do) but I am of the opinion that this is one of the finest written pieces of queer literature I have come across so far (as a standalone! I do not think much of the sequel at all). Aciman’s description of the summer Italian Riviera villa life conjures up the most serene atmosphere, explored through the contrasting eyes of love that ventures into unknown and emotionally cautious territory. Insightful characters, exquisite vibes.
Hood by Emma Donoghue
You may have heard of Emma Donoghue following the success of her 2010 novel ‘Room’ (or indeed its film adaptation!). Donoghue is a self-identifying lesbian and her novel Hood is a beautiful, unglamorous portrayal of the hidden grief that the LGBTQ+ community were faced with in 1990s Ireland. Set in 1992 - right before the legalisation
of homosexuality in Ireland - this story follows Penelope O’Grady and her partner Cara Wall from their shared time in a Dublin convent school in the 1970s right up until after Cara’s death. Hood explores the complicated nature of our relationship with the dead and the amplifications of grief when it is experienced hidden away in the closet.
The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
This completely underrated young adult novel speaks volumes in terms of representation that I think is very necessary. Not only is it one of the few books I have read that has focused on the relationship between a child and a queer parent, but it also does so without the parent’s sexuality being central to the plot, character development or the growth of this father-son relationship. It was refreshing to see this representation, sans unrealistic romanticising
or bizarre fetishisation. Protagonist Sal’s father is not diminished to being extraordinary because of his sexual orientation, but rather because of his profound wisdom, patience, and kind heart. Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s sagacity comes to a head through elements of found family in this fantastic tale of love, loss, and personal growth. A favourite quote? “Solo te haces menos. It’s not other people who make you feel like you’re alone. You do it to yourself.”
