I'm heading off to the Canary Islands next week and would like to take with me 3-4 good short-to-medium-length novels (probably as audiobooks, so I can listen to them while sipping my cuba libres and lying in the sun).
I'm looking for some American or British authors, 20th century or late 19th century, of the likes of W. Burroughs, Palahniuk, Vonnegut etc. (I haven't read many books by them either, so if you can recommend good books by them feel free - chances are I haven't read them yet). I like "weird" stories and queer/gay themes are an extra plus.
So far I am considering taking the Naked Lunch by Burroughs (I've read his "Queer" before) and possibly "Fight Club" but it feels like a school curriculum so far so feel free to recommend something less mainstread.
You would love James Morrow's Towing Jehovah.
Middlesex.
Quote from: Martinus on March 10, 2009, 07:21:49 AM
I like "weird" stories and queer/gay themes are an extra plus.
If this is the case, anything by Christopher Rice.
I'm going to the Canaries in a couple of weeks as well. The biggest one of them. And speaking of Vonnegut, is Slaughterhouse Five a good start if you haven't really read sci-fi before? :P
Quote from: Liep on March 10, 2009, 04:17:19 PM
I'm going to the Canaries in a couple of weeks as well. The biggest one of them. And speaking of Vonnegut, is Slaughterhouse Five a good start if you haven't really read sci-fi before? :P
It's excellent, but not very sci-fi. Asimov is a good start. Latest good scifi I read is the Ender series. Get
Ender's Game and
Speaker for the dead and you should be allright. The author is Orson Scott Card.
Martinus: Have you read
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell?
Moby Dick. Seriously.
A Soldier of the Great War is fabulous on tape. Helprin's writing style works well when just spoken. It is very very long, though, so might not be what you are looking for.
Thanks for the suggestions, everybody.
I actually ended up with some of the books suggested here by an independent research, so hope you guys weren't joking (I'm looking at you, garbo). :p
My holiday list includes:
- Naked Lunch by William Burroughs
- The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde (I've read that one before but just got it for good measure)
- Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
- Light Before Day by Christopher Rice
- Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin, and
- Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
those might have just enough gayness for you, just barely though. :p
Quote from: Martinus on March 10, 2009, 07:03:11 PM
I actually ended up with some of the books suggested here by an independent research, so hope you guys weren't joking (I'm looking at you, garbo). :p
Hey, you said "weird" with gay themes. Mme. Rice's son definitely fits the bill. :D
And actually, I own three of his four books. :P
Oh, they also had other books by Christopher Rice on the website. Which one would you recommend the most? :P
Quote from: katmai on March 10, 2009, 07:07:10 PM
those might have just enough gayness for you, just barely though. :p
Maupin is pretty gay, I'm led to believe. :p
Quote from: Martinus on March 10, 2009, 07:10:23 PM
Quote from: katmai on March 10, 2009, 07:07:10 PM
those might have just enough gayness for you, just barely though. :p
Maupin is pretty gay, I'm led to believe. :p
It's a good book actually.
Quote from: Martinus on March 10, 2009, 07:09:55 PM
Oh, they also had other books by Christopher Rice on the website. Which one would you recommend the most? :P
Well A Density of Souls takes place in New Orleans and features stuff about highschool.
The Snow Garden takes place somewhere on the east coast and features stuff about college.
Light Before Day takes place in California and features drugs, alcoholism, and many Grallonesque characters.
All of them are about the same in terms of quality. Depends on what you want. Don't know what the 4th book is about.
Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham - it's not gay, but it's very good.
The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst - a terrific book.
Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood - what Cabaret's based on.
The Man With Night Sweats by Thom Gunn - one of the best poets of post-war era.
Thanks Sheilbh. Audible.com has no. 1 and no. 3 from your suggestions, and a different book by Alan Hollinghurst (Swimming Pool Library). Gonna check them out. :)
P.S. Goodbye to Berlin is read by Michael York. ;)
Quote from: Barrister on March 10, 2009, 05:06:47 PM
Moby Dick. Seriously.
Quote.
As I sat there at my ease, cross-legged on the deck; after the bitter exertion at the windlass; under a blue tranquil sky; the ship under indolent sail, and gliding so serenely along; as I bathed my hands among those soft, gentle globules of infiltrated tissues, wove almost within the hour; as they richly broke to my fingers, and discharged all their opulence, like fully ripe grapes their wine; as. I snuffed up that uncontaminated aroma,- literally and truly, like the smell of spring violets; I declare to you, that for the time I lived as in a musky meadow; I forgot all about our horrible oath; in that inexpressible sperm, I washed my hands and my heart of it; I almost began to credit the old Paracelsan superstition that sperm is of rare virtue in allaying the heat of anger; while bathing in that bath, I felt divinely free from all ill-will, or petulance, or malice, of any sort whatsoever.
Squeeze! squeeze! squeeze! all the morning long; I squeezed that sperm till I myself almost melted into it; I squeezed that sperm till a strange sort of insanity came over me; and I found myself unwittingly squeezing my co-laborers' hands in it, mistaking their hands for the gentle globules. Such an abounding, affectionate, friendly, loving feeling did this avocation beget; that at last I was continually squeezing their hands, and looking up into their eyes sentimentally; as much as to say,- Oh! my dear fellow beings, why should we longer cherish any social acerbities, or know the slightest ill-humor or envy! Come; let us squeeze hands all round; nay, let us all squeeze ourselves into each other; let us squeeze ourselves universally into the very milk and sperm of kindness.
Yep. That or Middlesex.
Quote from: Queequeg on March 13, 2009, 10:26:04 AM
Quote from: Barrister on March 10, 2009, 05:06:47 PM
Moby Dick. Seriously.
Quote.
As I sat there at my ease, cross-legged on the deck; after the bitter exertion at the windlass; under a blue tranquil sky; the ship under indolent sail, and gliding so serenely along; as I bathed my hands among those soft, gentle globules of infiltrated tissues, wove almost within the hour; as they richly broke to my fingers, and discharged all their opulence, like fully ripe grapes their wine; as. I snuffed up that uncontaminated aroma,- literally and truly, like the smell of spring violets; I declare to you, that for the time I lived as in a musky meadow; I forgot all about our horrible oath; in that inexpressible sperm, I washed my hands and my heart of it; I almost began to credit the old Paracelsan superstition that sperm is of rare virtue in allaying the heat of anger; while bathing in that bath, I felt divinely free from all ill-will, or petulance, or malice, of any sort whatsoever.
Squeeze! squeeze! squeeze! all the morning long; I squeezed that sperm till I myself almost melted into it; I squeezed that sperm till a strange sort of insanity came over me; and I found myself unwittingly squeezing my co-laborers' hands in it, mistaking their hands for the gentle globules. Such an abounding, affectionate, friendly, loving feeling did this avocation beget; that at last I was continually squeezing their hands, and looking up into their eyes sentimentally; as much as to say,- Oh! my dear fellow beings, why should we longer cherish any social acerbities, or know the slightest ill-humor or envy! Come; let us squeeze hands all round; nay, let us all squeeze ourselves into each other; let us squeeze ourselves universally into the very milk and sperm of kindness.
Yep. That or Middlesex.
I love that passage. :D
IT by Stephen King had a gay character. So did the Stand.
Quote from: Martinus on March 13, 2009, 06:57:36 AM
Thanks Sheilbh. Audible.com has no. 1 and no. 3 from your suggestions, and a different book by Alan Hollinghurst (Swimming Pool Library). Gonna check them out. :)
P.S. Goodbye to Berlin is read by Michael York. ;)
The Swimming Pool Library's good. Not as good in my opinion but still worth reading/listening to.
Burrough's Cities of the Red Night has anarchistic gay pirates, that's probably good enuff. as a way of reference, I found it unreadable.
What a drag that your obsession with your sexuality dominates your life to such a degree that you have to filter your choice of entertainment through a is it gay enough? lens.
Quote from: Berkut on March 13, 2009, 12:24:00 PM
What a drag that your obsession with your sexuality dominates your life to such a degree that you have to filter your choice of entertainment through a is it gay enough? lens.
While I sort of agree with your sentiment, I would say that it is sometimes nice to read about characters that share your cultural traits. And as much as one might deny it, there is really quite a bit to this Western subculture. If that's all that Marty feels like indulging in on his vacation, what's the problem?
Who says there is a problem?
It's not like Marty's fixation on his homosexuality has only come out in reference to his vacation and reading material.
Whatever makes him happy - but I think he does himself a disservice by defining himself so thoroughly by his sexuality that it affects his ability to enjoy things because they are not gay enough - especially things that have nothing to do with sexuality.
Quote from: Berkut on March 13, 2009, 12:40:22 PM
Who says there is a problem?
It's not like Marty's fixation on his homosexuality has only come out in reference to his vacation and reading material.
Whatever makes him happy - but I think he does himself a disservice by defining himself so thoroughly by his sexuality that it affects his ability to enjoy things because they are not gay enough - especially things that have nothing to do with sexuality.
Well "drag" isn't usually used as a positive term.
Yeah, but that is just my opinion - apparently Marty is perfectly content finding his entire world revolving around gayosity.
Quote from: Berkut on March 13, 2009, 12:40:22 PM
Whatever makes him happy - but I think he does himself a disservice by defining himself so thoroughly by his sexuality that it affects his ability to enjoy things because they are not gay enough - especially things that have nothing to do with sexuality.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bu.edu%2Fmih%2Fimages%2FFreud.jpg&hash=248818e686bce33252f31612cf8cd3535b181ffd)
Everything's to do with sexuality.
Edit: Although I do find it interesting looking for a common theme in my favourite books. Marty's faves, from what I can tell, tend to be dark, ironic and a little bit gay. Mine are a bit of a mish-mash, which is frustrating.
Quote from: Berkut on March 13, 2009, 12:49:38 PM
Yeah, but that is just my opinion - apparently Marty is perfectly content finding his entire world revolving around gayosity.
Well I suppose he has two decades or so to make up for.
Wow, Berkut, you really have an axe to grind, don't you? I said I want dark and ironic books, preferably (but not exclusively) with some gay theme and you make out of it some sort of gay obsession. Why don't you find something to do with your life, rather than just bitch and moan constantly - you haven't offered any helpful recommendation in a thread asking for some, so why bother to open it and/or post in it at all?
I want books that are easy and relaxing to read. Such books usually feature some sort of romance or sexual theme, even if it is in the background. I prefer such themes, if present, not to involve the kind of sexual behaviour that I find sick, repugnant and disgusting - i.e. straight sex.
Marty, let the anger go - I WAS offering a helpful suggestion, but you are blinded by your rage, so you cannot see it.
You really do need that gaycation.
Does that apply to your choice of wine to drink as well?
"Sorry waiter, but that red is not nearly fruity enough for me, and it reminds me of repugnant man-woman sex. Can I get a puke bucket and a nice bubbly wine cooler please?"
Quote from: Martinus on March 13, 2009, 01:23:30 PM
I want books that are easy and relaxing to read. Such books usually feature some sort of romance or sexual theme, even if it is in the background. I prefer such themes, if present, not to involve the kind of sexual behaviour that I find sick, repugnant and disgusting - i.e. straight sex.
:D
Quote from: fahdiz on March 13, 2009, 01:29:07 PM
Quote from: Martinus on March 13, 2009, 01:23:30 PM
I want books that are easy and relaxing to read. Such books usually feature some sort of romance or sexual theme, even if it is in the background. I prefer such themes, if present, not to involve the kind of sexual behaviour that I find sick, repugnant and disgusting - i.e. straight sex.
:D
But don't you dare find steamy man-man-sex sick, repugnant and disgusting - it'll make you a narrowminded faghater who's uncomfortable with his sexuality.
:D
Quote from: Berkut on March 13, 2009, 01:26:34 PM
Marty, let the anger go - I WAS offering a helpful suggestion, but you are blinded by your rage, so you cannot see it.
You really do need that gaycation.
Yeah I can totally see how "What a drag that your obsession with your sexuality dominates your life to such a degree that you have to filter your choice of entertainment through a is it gay enough? lens." is a helpful suggestion. ::)
Quote from: Syt on March 13, 2009, 01:32:08 PM
But don't you dare find steamy man-man-sex sick, repugnant and disgusting - it'll make you a narrowminded faghater who's uncomfortable with his sexuality.
:D
Consider that Marty's post was for rhetorical flourish. :P
Quote from: garbon on March 13, 2009, 01:35:52 PM
Yeah I can totally see how "What a drag that your obsession with your sexuality dominates your life to such a degree that you have to filter your choice of entertainment through a is it gay enough? lens." is a helpful suggestion. ::)
It is.
I wonder if there would be a market for re-writing best sellers to be gay-friendly?
Quote from: Berkut on March 13, 2009, 12:24:00 PM
What a drag that your obsession with your sexuality dominates your life to such a degree that you have to filter your choice of entertainment through a is it gay enough? lens.
Wanna know what's sad? Me, reading a
lawyer-themed book. :'(
Quote from: garbon on March 13, 2009, 01:36:42 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 13, 2009, 01:32:08 PM
But don't you dare find steamy man-man-sex sick, repugnant and disgusting - it'll make you a narrowminded faghater who's uncomfortable with his sexuality.
:D
Consider that Marty's post was for rhetorical flourish. :P
You think? ???
Quote from: garbon on March 13, 2009, 01:36:42 PM
Consider that Marty's post was for rhetorical flourish. :P
That's precisely why I laughed - he couldn't possibly be meat-headed enough to get as bent out of shape as he does about gay issues and then mean such a thing seriously. :)
Quote from: Berkut on March 13, 2009, 01:37:05 PM
It is.
I wonder if there would be a market for re-writing best sellers to be gay-friendly?
No it isn't.
Although I like the idea that all of my posts were helpful advice. :D
Quote from: Syt on March 13, 2009, 01:38:43 PM
You think? ???
Your post wasn't funny. :blurgh:
Quote from: garbon on March 13, 2009, 01:39:50 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 13, 2009, 01:38:43 PM
You think? ???
Your post wasn't funny. :blurgh:
I garnished it with 100% German funny bone.
As for Mart, I honestly don't know when he's joking and when he isn't, beause he's very tetchy on the whole issue. Best I just ignore his posts for a while to avoid any misunderstandings. :)
Quote from: Martinus on March 13, 2009, 01:23:30 PM
I want books that are easy and relaxing to read. Such books usually feature some sort of romance or sexual theme, even if it is in the background. I prefer such themes, if present, not to involve the kind of sexual behaviour that I find sick, repugnant and disgusting - i.e. straight sex.
I found just what you are looking for.
http://www.amazon.com/Girls-Cooties-Katie-Kazoo-Switcheroo/dp/0448427052/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236969157&sr=1-2 (http://www.amazon.com/Girls-Cooties-Katie-Kazoo-Switcheroo/dp/0448427052/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236969157&sr=1-2)
Quote from: Syt on March 13, 2009, 01:40:18 PM
I garnished it with 100% German funny bone.
My german teacher tries to make jokes. We just look at her blankly until she tells us that we were supposed to laugh.
Quote from: garbon on March 13, 2009, 01:36:42 PM
Consider that Marty's post was for rhetorical flourish. :P
Quote from: garbon on March 13, 2009, 01:39:14 PM
Quote from: Berkut on March 13, 2009, 01:37:05 PM
It is.
I wonder if there would be a market for re-writing best sellers to be gay-friendly?
No it isn't.
Yes it is.
Quote from: garbon on March 13, 2009, 01:42:24 PM
My german teacher tries to make jokes. We just look at her blankly until she tells us that we were supposed to laugh.
I think that's more teacher based, though. I never had a funny teacher before college/uni.
Anyway, onto a serious recommendation - I read this book relatively recently, and it was very well written and entertaining, somewhat dark, *and* centred on a gay love story:
http://www.amazon.com/Persian-Boy-Mary-Renault/dp/0394751019
Recommended.
Heck, I'd read it on the beach.
Naked Lunch isn't exactly "beach-reading"... You should read "3 Day Road" by Joseph Boyden. Best Great War novel since the Regeneration trilogy.
Quote from: Syt on March 13, 2009, 01:44:12 PM
I think that's more teacher based, though. I never had a funny teacher before college/uni.
Should have said professor. After all, I'm talking about my current german class.
Here you go Marty:
http://www.amazon.com/Great-Gay-Books/lm/R2XEG5EKG9Q7MT
it is a smorgasbord of homo-fiction. Nothing puke worthy to be seen, I am sure.
Quote from: Berkut on March 13, 2009, 01:51:36 PM
Here you go Marty:
http://www.amazon.com/Great-Gay-Books/lm/R2XEG5EKG9Q7MT
it is a smorgasbord of homo-fiction. Nothing puke worthy to be seen, I am sure.
That's a good list Mart. Any book by Alan Hollinghurst is awesome.
Quote from: fahdiz on March 13, 2009, 01:38:56 PM
Quote from: garbon on March 13, 2009, 01:36:42 PM
Consider that Marty's post was for rhetorical flourish. :P
That's precisely why I laughed - he couldn't possibly be meat-headed enough to get as bent out of shape as he does about gay issues and then mean such a thing seriously. :)
Yeah, but I naturally like characters who I can relate to more than those I can't. Sexuality is one of the important traits of one's identity. :)
Quote from: Berkut on March 13, 2009, 01:51:36 PM
Here you go Marty:
http://www.amazon.com/Great-Gay-Books/lm/R2XEG5EKG9Q7MT
it is a smorgasbord of homo-fiction. Nothing puke worthy to be seen, I am sure.
Thanks. :)
Quote from: Martinus on March 13, 2009, 02:29:48 PM
Thanks. :)
Only negative is that the list was just made by a random amazon user.
"City of Night" by John Rechy is a book I enjoyed a lot, covering gay life/male hustling life in the US (NY, LA, Chicago, New Orleans) in the early 60's. It's not that "weird" per se but it's a good read.
Any of the classic Genet novels are great -- "Our Lady of Flowers," "Miracle of the Rose," "Querelle of Brest" -- as are the plays, if you feel like reading drama.
And really, what could possibly be wrong with a gay man wanting to read books relating to gay male life? If wanting to read things that relate to your own experiences is wrong, someone needs to take on Updike, Cheever, the entire genres of street lit and Harlequin romance, etc. as soon as possible.
Quote from: Berkut on March 13, 2009, 01:26:34 PM
Marty, let the anger go - I WAS offering a helpful suggestion, but you are blinded by your rage, so you cannot see it.
You really do need that gaycation.
You "help" is rarely helpful.
Quote from: Razgovory on March 14, 2009, 01:54:49 AM
Quote from: Berkut on March 13, 2009, 01:26:34 PM
Marty, let the anger go - I WAS offering a helpful suggestion, but you are blinded by your rage, so you cannot see it.
You really do need that gaycation.
You "help" is rarely helpful.
... to you. I generally find it quite helpful, because I can understand it.
do you like my help
Quote from: The Brain on March 16, 2009, 12:25:39 PM
do you like my help
Only if you pick my strawberry crop.
Ok, I'm half-way through The Swimming Pool Library by Alan Hollinghurst, so far. Thanks for recommending him. Absolutely delightful. And so British. The only thing that could improve the audiobook would be Sheilbh reading it with his sexy voice (the narrator is 25 so it fits). ;)