Bitesized Book Recommendation Blitz

BITESIZED BOOK BITESIZED BOOK BLITZ RECOMMENDATION BLITZ RECOMMENDATION

By Julie Dory Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman

It is one you have all mostly likely al(sorry pals, but I have got to do what ready heard of, a good place to start! I have got to do) but I am of the opin

But we can’t discuss this book without ion that this is one of the finest writaddressing the elephant in the room ten pieces of queer literature I have which is the controversy surrounding come across so far (as a standalone!

Elio (17) and Oliver’s (24) love affair. I do not think much of the sequel at

It has been a source of many a debate all). Aciman’s description of the sumamong avid bookworms, critics, and mer Italian Riviera villa life conjures occasional readers. However, I URGE up the most serene atmosphere, exyou (strongly!) to give this book a shot plored through the contrasting eyes and make your own independent judgof love that ventures into unknown ment. A lot of people who I hold in and emotionally cautious territory. high regard in terms of literary recInsightful characters, exquisite vibes. ommendations will disagree with me

Hood by Emma Donoghue

You may have heard of Emma Donoof homosexuality in Ireland - this stoghue following the success of her 2010 ry follows Penelope O’Grady and her novel ‘Room’ (or indeed its film adappartner Cara Wall from their shared tation!). Donoghue is a self-identifying time in a Dublin convent school in the lesbian and her novel Hood is a beauti1970s right up until after Cara’s death. ful, unglamorous portrayal of the hidHood explores the complicated nature den grief that the LGBTQ+ community of our relationship with the dead and were faced with in 1990s Ireland. Set the amplifications of grief when it is in 1992 - right before the legalisation experienced hidden away in the closet.

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

This completely underrated young or bizarre fetishisation. Protagonist adult novel speaks volumes in terms Sal’s father is not diminished to being of representation that I think is very extraordinary because of his sexual necessary. Not only is it one of the few orientation, but rather because of his books I have read that has focused on profound wisdom, patience, and kind the relationship between a child and a heart. Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s sagacqueer parent, but it also does so without ity comes to a head through elements the parent’s sexuality being central to of found family in this fantastic tale of the plot, character development or the love, loss, and personal growth. A fagrowth of this father-son relationship. vourite quote? “Solo te haces menos. It was refreshing to see this represenIt’s not other people who make you feel tation, sans unrealistic romanticising like you’re alone. You do it to yourself.”

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid A completely compulsive work of fichensive interview with young journaltion that is easy to read without lack ist Monique Grant. At first seeming of stimulation or intrigue. If you are a slightly shallow but progressively capfan of unexpected endings, let me tell tivating, the story of Evelyn Hugo and you; you are in for a treat! Evelyn Hugo her seven husbands is undeniably huis an Old Hollywood star who, at the man and deals fantastically with the age of 79, decides to defy her lifelong issue of bi-erasure and queer life in mystique and give one final compreOld Hollywood and the 20th century.

The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith

You may have heard of The Price of Salt married Carol Aird as they fall in love before under a different name followand road trip it across the States only ing its film adaptation. Does the name to be followed by a hired private invesCarol ring a bell? It has been a frighttigator who later blackmails Carol into fully long time since I have read The choosing between staying with Therese Price of Salt, but what sticks with me and keeping custody of her daughter as the most is the surge of emotion (and she tries to divorce her husband. A rarwanting to throw the book as soon as ity of a novel, this story of two women it ended as a result). This story is set falling in love does not end in tragedy in the 1900s and follows young stage or death. It is gorgeous. Please, give designer Therese Belivet and an older, it a go (and do watch the film, too)!

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The Color Purple is set predominantly ity. “She say, Miss Celie, You better in the U.S.A.’s rural South (in Georhush. God might hear you. / Let ‘im gia) and is written in the format of hear me, I say. If he ever listened to letters from the protagonist, Celie, to poor colored* women the world would God, and then from Celie to her long be a different place, I can tell you.” lost sister, Nettie, and finally from Nettie to Celie. This book captures *This book was written in 1982 by Black so beautifully and authentically the American writer Alice Walker from the voice of Black African American womperspective of a Black woman. The word en as they are confronted with racism, their reflections on white privilege, colonisation, the cognisant realisation of their race as well as sexual ‘colo(u)red’ is no longer acceptable or in use without horrific connotation or offense. I would like to make it clear that this is a direct quote and I, as the writer of this recommendation, am not using this word. abuse, sexism, misogyny, and sexual

Eileen Gray: A House Under the Sun by Charlotte Malterre Barthes & Zosia Dzierżawska I have been fascinated by the life of omit Gray’s queer identity and focuses architect Eileen Gray for quite some on her erasure from the architectural years now. Unfortunately, however, scene. My favourite part? It features many of the sources covering her life miniature biographies of figures who and works can be quite costly – uphad an influence in Gray’s life and a ward of twenty euros, going to forty bibliography for further reading (if or sixty (in other words, not very comthat is something you would enjoy)! patible with student life)! Published “A house is not a machine to live in! in 2019, this gorgeously illustrated It’s an extension of the inhabitant biographical graphic novel does not – their release, their emanation.”

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara chusetts college right through to their is a book that will stay with me for a successes and hardships in New York very (very) long time. Poignant and City. Tested by difference, jealousy, devastating, Yanagihara weaves the and pride, their one binding factor is a complex intricacies and inner workbroken and scarred Jude. A Little Life ings of friendship and found family deals with heavy and traumatic subin the lifelong wake of severe trauma. ject matter and could be emotionally This book is a big one at a hefty 720 taxing for some people. There are quite pages, but please do not let the page a few lists of trigger warnings that count deter you. These 720 pages folyou can find on the Internet if you feel low the lives of Malcolm, Willem, Jude that you may need one before headand JB from their time in a Massaing into this stunning piece of work.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Quickly becoming a young classic on on this list, this is another shining the scene of queer young adult literaexample of the absolutely stunning ture (in my humble opinion), the book writing that can capture such drathat tells the story of two loners Ari matic mood and tone. Like others on and Dante is not so much plot driven, this list, I have little memory of the but rather an exploration of teenage actual happenings in this book, but I melancholy and the extent to which recall and still carry the distinct feelfriendship can be a mirror of the self ing that I walked away from this story to incite self-growth. The second (and with… And for me at least, that is the only other that I’ve read) book by Alitrue telling of a fantastic work of art. re Sáenz that I am recommending

Bloom by Kevin Panetta

A graphic novel set in a family bakery, this one is for all of you out there who want something warming and wholesome. Ari is desperate to move away to the big city to be a part of the spotlight with his band. However, with funds running low, his parents want him to stay behind and continue the family work in the bakery. All is dreary and all hope is lost… Until, while looking for someone to be his replacement in the bakery, he meets Hector. Sharing their love and passion for baking and family, their relationship progresses, and Ari rediscovers his family values and realises who he is truly supposed to be surrounded by and what he is supposed to do.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue & The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

This historical young adult fiction Monty as he flirts his way through his duo really hits all the spots in terms European Grand Tour. In the midst of of adventure, character dynamics and peril, his friendship with Percy bloshumour. These are incredibly easy to soms into something more than “just read or listen to in audiobook format friends”. The Lady’s Guide on the other (I did a mixture of both) and are perhand follows Monty’s sister, Felicity, in fect for when you want something that her ambitions to pursue a medical eddoesn’t require too much brain power ucation and avoid a seemingly inevitawithout sacrificing the content quality ble marriage with a Scottish suitor as of a great plot or characters! The Genan ace young woman in 1700s Europe. tleman’s Guide follows a mischievous

The Truly Devious trilogy (Truly Devious #1, The Vanishing

Stair #2, The Hand on the Wall #3) by Maureen Johnson

Founded and situated in remote Verday Ellingham Academy post Almont by wealthy tycoon and puzbert’s death and Stevie Bell is a stuzle fanatic Albert Ellingham in the dent entering her first year with a 1930s, Ellingham Academy is an elite passion for crime and the ambitious high school for innovators, thinkers, goal to solve the Truly Devious case of and artists alike where each student the Ellingham disappearances. Fast is admitted to a specialised curricupaced with a diverse range of characlum and timetable centring around ters, if you are a fan of mystery but their passion. Soon after its opening, have no time for overly complicated however, Albert’s wife and daughter plots or gore, this trilogy is worth a disappear in what appears to have shot and might be the one for you! been a ransom case. Cut to modern

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren Do you ever find yourself drowning ther and really quite pleasant. I dedin dull and difficult prose or dragicated Autoboyography to my slot of ging yourself through a book that just contemporary nighttime audiobook seems to go on forever? Although it and was happy to follow Tanner and is no piece of highbrow literature or Sebastian’s love story in an almost comparable to other works that I have entirely Mormon area in Provo, Utah. recommended on this list, I am here This book places heavy emphasis on to tell you that it is OKAY to read coming to terms with sexuality in an something quick and easy, something unaccepting household and commuto cleanse the palate if you will! Not nity where ‘coming out’ is certainly insanely memorable, but not awful einot seen through rose-tinted lenses.

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

Sick and tired of unnecessary romances Janvier. Rooted in strength and creand the friends-to-lovers trope? A diativity, this friendship is pushed to its rect quote, “I think the world’s had limit when the trust between Aled and enough of those, to be honest.” This Francis is shattered. “You probably one just might be for you! Although I think Aled Last and I are going to fall cannot say that it blew my mind, Rain love because he is a boy and I am a dio Silence centres itself around the girl. I just wanted to say. We don’t.” friendship of Aled Last and Francis