Book Recommendations

[JoeCatcher]

Since he hasn't been mentioned, and younger folks may not have heard of, or read, his books, check out John Rechy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rechy

Start with City of Night: http://www.johnrechy.com/city.htm

 

[DonQuixote]

This is a great book -
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402778252/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=momstoocom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1402778252"]Amazon.com: Summer in a Glass: The Coming of Age of Winemaking in the Finger Lakes (9781402778254): Evan Dawson, James Molesworth: Books[/ame]

Check out the reviews

The, enjoy this article series.

This is a blog by Vinesleuth - from Houston, TX

http://vinesleuth.com/uncorked/2012/01/visiting-the-finger-lakes-wine-new-york/

 

[DonQuixote]

I just found this introduction to the book, "Summer in a Glass" - it will tell you a lot more about the book - which explains why I like it so much.

http://www.evandawsonwrites.com/book/

 

[subsonic]

Wow! First of all thank you all for your contributions. My "to-read"-list on goodreads has exploded after looking up all the books you've mentioned. I hope a lot more people will give their two cents on this thread. Surely there must be more people here who've read good, gay literature?
What I hate most about living in a country like Denmark is the fact that books are so crazy expensive. I only read books in English and I haven't managed finding a place where I can buy good, second-hand books in English, so whenever I go to London I go crazy and fill my suitcase with books. So, thank you all for the inspiration. Now I know what to look after on my next visit.

Already 47 postings and no one mentions The Front Runner by Patricia Nell Warren? I love this book. Since that it is one of the often talk-about title, I believe it should be mentioned here.

^You beat me to the punch! This is actually the only gay-themed book in English that I've read so far and I must admit that never have I ever been touched so deeply by a book. When I finished it I actually couldn't stop sobbing - an effect that I've never gotten from a book before.
Has anyone read the sequels and are they worth a try?

I want to find a really sad, romantic, but realistic novel. Something that makes your heart skip a beat and you can't put it down because you relate to it kind of book. (but gay themed, obviously lol)
....
I guess my reason behind looking for such a book is because I want to find hope that real love exists out there for me. Basically i just want to find something I can relate to. Maybe I wouldn't mind crying my heart out for the characters. My life isn't based all around sex and all that, but rather I wish I could love and be loved? Maybe you guys could offer a bit of your stories/novels/etc that you've ever come across.
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You should definitely try out The Front Runner - it's a great, beautiful and very touching story.

 

[andrew thomas]

You are talking about the classic. Front Runner is the classic novel. Very touching story. The sequels is Harlan's Race. It answer all the questions on the first book. I do not want to give it away.

There are some other books you may want to check it out such as While England Sleeps by David Leavitt. Surprising Myself by Christopher Bram.

 

[subsonic]

You are talking about the classic. Front Runner is the classic novel. Very touching story. The sequels is Harlan's Race. It answer all the questions on the first book. I do not want to give it away.

Oh yes I am very much aware of this. I was just asking if someone had read the sequels as I was interested in wether or not they were worth a try.
But thanks for the recommendations.

I'm personally interested in more of those realistic novels that aren't sic-fi, fantasy or about teens who deal with coming out but a bit more mature yet with still a bit of romance. Has anyone any recommendations?

 

[AdrianMarcus]

I love books by James Ash. He's an indie author and my favorite book from his is Anarchy of The Gods. It's a fantasy novel which is supposed to be part of a series, and there are a lot of gay characters. There are some graphic gay and straight sex scenes, and the book also touches on many very interesting and deep philosophical concepts. I never read anything like it before, and I loved how the author treated the gay characters. There was really no difference between the gay and straight characters in the story. People are just people in his books. He wrote another book called The Questioning that was also recently released, and I loved that book too, but it didn't have the same feel as Anarchy of The Gods. There were hardly any sex scenes, and it was much darker than the Anarchy of The Gods book, though both were very well written and both had gay and bisexual characters.

 

[marqau]

I recently read "An Arrow's Flight" by Mark Merlis. A story set in Ancient Greece but steam punk. It follows the story of Phyrrus, Achilles's son who is a go go dancer in the local gay bar who goes to Troy to reclaim his dead father's armour. Well it is much better than I think I make it sound. I like the way the author directly speaks to his gay readers. It is the only book I know that I think only gay guys will get some of it.

 

[ClosetPrince]

I highly recommend this trilogy

 

[marqau]

Yes "Holding the Man" is a great book. They have made a movie which isn't too bad but nothing compared to the book.

 

[marqau]

I recently read the "Leech" trilogy by James Crawford. "Caleo", "Jack" and "Nolan". YA Paranormal with realistic young gay characters that are not over sexualised. The books unfortunately needed another proof read, but its a good story.

Also some books by T.J. Klune. A Lightning Struck Heart and How to be a Normal Person. The second one is very moving and also unusual because it is a relationship between a gay guy and an "ace" (asexual) guy. All Klune's books that I have read are both very funny and very moving.

 

[rikoboy]

Captive Prince Trilogy by Cs pacat

Anything by Santino Hassell Hot as fuck.

Stockholm Syndrome trilogy by Richard Rider.

Rock by anyta Sunday (my fav)

 

[Sincitywanker]

For witty books with charming characters, try the Brandt and Donnelly series by Xavier Mayne. He also recently branched out into M/M/F fiction with We Are Fallingwater, available through Amazon.

 

[JoeCatcher]

In Desert Sons, Mark Kendrick has provided all the ingredients of a good book: solid characterization, a compelling story, and a skillful evocation of place. All in all, Desert Sons is a wonderful read, realistic and moving. Highly recommended.

Someone Is Watching, about a high school jock just discovering his feelings towards other boys, takes a spooky turn when he begins receiving notes in his locker from somebody who apparently has figured out the secret even he just realized about himself.

A Secret Edge is a well written and well researched book dealing with gays who are athletically inclined.

I just bought Someone is Watching because I once left a note in Dan Murphy's locker. I was too chicken-shit to sign it or wait around to see his reaction. If he had gone to Hollywood he wouldn't have made it to the drugstore. That was so long ago I think it was against the law to be queer.