LGBTQ+ authors you should read this Pride
Fiction, non-fiction and poetry recommendations from queer writers you might not know yet.
Inspired by Elizabeth’s amazing list of books you should read this Pride, championing LGBTQ+ books that don’t get enough love on social media, I made a little list of my own. Here are my best recommendations of books from LGBTQ+ writers you might not know yet — and I’ve included fiction, non fiction, and poetry, so hopefully there’s something that’ll grab you.
YOUR SILENCE WILL NOT PROTECT YOU, by Audre Lorde. Lorde described herself as a ‘Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,’ and believed passionately in language as a power of and for transformation. This edition from Silver Press published Lorde’s poetry, speeches and essays all together for — incredibly — the first time. If you’ve heard the phrases “poetry is not a luxury,” or “I am not free while any woman is unfree,” Audre Lorde’s writing is where they come from.
Speaking of the power of language, Eley Williams’ ATTRIB. AND OTHER STORIES is a collection of short fiction which will leave you in awe of what a writer can do within the confines of a short story.
Andrea Lawlor’s PAUL TAKES THE FORM OF A MORTAL GIRL, is still one of my favourite novels. Set in 1993, it sees protagonist Paul Polydoris working in a student bar, making zines, and shapeshifting. With the ability to change gender and body type at will, Paul is able to experience the world in an infinite number of ways. I love the nods to Virginia Woolf’s ORLANDO, as well as to mythology and science fiction.
From a novel (partly) about ACT UP, to one of its activists: David Wojnarowicz’s incredible memoir, CLOSE TO THE KNIVES: A MEMOIR OF DISINTEGRATION, is part-autobiography and part-essay collection, written mostly in a breathless, stream-of-consciousness style. Wojnarowicz died from AIDS-related complications in 1992, aged 37. His ashes were scattered on the White House lawn.
I promised poetry, so I have to include Kae Tempest’s HOLD YOUR OWN. I’ve seen Kae speak at a couple of things, and I am still forever blown away by the sheer talent I’ve seen every single time. Also! Have you seen/heard KNOW YOURSELF, where Kae is sampling their younger self: “A dialogue between selves across time, in real time. Or maybe I could put that simpler - ‘When I was young I sought help from my older self. I came into my head, I told me know yourself.’” Amazing.
AMERICA IS NOT THE HEART, by Elaine Castillo, is such a beautiful novel. It tells the story of Hero, newly arrived in America after being disowned by her parents in the Philippines, as she starts to rebuild a life for herself. Castillo’s second novel is coming out in August and I CANNOT WAIT.
Finally, I couldn’t not include Elizabeth’s beautiful non-fiction/memoir, THANK YOU FOR CALLING THE LESBIAN LINE, the history of a lesbian phone helpline mixed with her own coming out and finding her feet. Elizabeth is one of my favourite people, and her book is honestly fantastic. I’m genuinely in awe of how much of herself she put into it.
Hopefully that lot should tide you over for a while!