Who needs glitches from Amazon when one of the nation's leading book reviewers informs a curious reader that basically there are no new gay books? The Washington Post's "Summer Reading Issue" features a Q&A section to solve life's eternal question, What should I read?, including this exchange:
Anonymous: What are new gay books that are recommended?
Dennis Drabelle: Does it have to be a new gay book? Not many of these are being published anymore, mostly, I think, because the great gay storyline -- coming out -- isn't such a big deal anymore and has been done to death. But here's a classic you may not have read: Michael Campbell's Lord Dismiss Us, set in an English boarding school. You can find used copies online, and it's well worth doing. A masterpiece!
Disappointing, insulting, and untrue. It's really shocking that Drabble has to reach back 42 years to 1967 for a suggestion of "a new gay book." A more helpful answer might have steered readers toward the annual Lambda Literary Awards, the Publishing Triangle Awards, the ALA gay book prize, and the revamped Alyson Books. As for specifically new gay titles (in hardcover or paperback), 2009 has seen NYT bestsellers from Andrew Sean Greer, E. Lynn Harris, and Tom Rob Smith, as well as widely praised reads from Stacey D'Erasmo, Ali Smith, Christopher Rice, Peter Cameron, Benjamin Taylor, P. E. Ryan, James Hannaham, Dennis Cooper, Frank Polito, Neil Plakcy, Elinor Lipman, Dale Peck, and Alex Sanchez.
I've added my suggestions in the Post's "Comments" section under the transcript of the discussion. "Lord Dismiss Us" indeed!
Posted by: Reggie H | June 17, 2009 at 01:17 PM
TAKE THAT! You dribble Drabbelle. At least someone is catching these foolish guillotinistes!
Posted by: Philip F. Clark | June 18, 2009 at 08:59 AM
Sad and pathetic.
Posted by: Cynthia Dunn | June 18, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Thanks for mentioning me in such illustrious company! Seems like Dennis Drabelle needs a lesson in contemporary fiction; there are more "storylines" than coming out today.
Neil
Posted by: Neil Plakcy | June 18, 2009 at 02:47 PM
Not only ignorant but self-fulfilling prophecy. By all means, send eager readers to used titles and rest assured there will be no new gay books!
Posted by: Karin Kallmaker | June 18, 2009 at 11:57 PM
How about checking out these authors for some new work:
Mavis Applewater
Kate Sweeney
Nell Stark
Karin Kallmaker
Lori Lake
KG McGregor
Val Brown
Robin Alexander
or better yet because the list goes on:
Blue Feather Books
Intaglio Publications
Bella Books
Spinsters Ink
Regal Crest
GCLS.com
Lambda Literary
small independent bookstores
gay and lesbian bookstores of which there are many
There are many more out there with a little bit of research one can find more than a "coming out" story.
(sorry I can't mention everyone the list is just too long, it was not meant as a slight to any of the fine authors out there writing wonderful gay and lesbian themed books).
Posted by: Sandal Birkenstock | June 19, 2009 at 12:36 AM
Just a few more authors putting out "New" work recently:
Gabrielle Goldsby
Susan X Meagher
Lee Lynch
Georgia Beers
Brenda Adcock
Ruth Perkinson
Catherine Friend
name correction from earlier post: KG MacGregor
KD Badger
Blayne Cooper
Erin Dutton
Lisa Girolami
Arleen Williams
The books are out there folks, go forth and buy, read and comment.
Posted by: Sandal Birkenstock | June 19, 2009 at 12:49 AM
Wow. Thanks for listing all those authors and publishers.
Posted by: Cynthia Dunn | June 20, 2009 at 08:42 AM
This is just amazing! Thanks for reporting it.
By the way, in what sense is Tom Rob Smith a gay author?
Posted by: Gabriel Villada | June 26, 2009 at 02:48 PM
Tom Rob Smith is gay and out. Google yields many interviews in which he discusses it, such as:
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7213.html
and
http://www.nowtoronto.com/books/story.cfm?content=165539
Posted by: Band of Thebes | June 26, 2009 at 07:17 PM
Tom Rob Smith was photographed in London for the Out 100 last year, sharing a photo with Dustin Lance Black. The link is here:
http://www.out.com/out100/nominees_25.asp
And what of Edmund White, the grand old man of gay letters.
To say nothing of the fabulous Abdellah Taia, from Morocco, who puts new life into the gay coming-of-age story.
Or Alan Hollinghurst's Booker Winning The Line of Beauty, one of the greatest gay novels of our time.
The list is endless...
Posted by: Jason | July 02, 2009 at 03:24 PM
How much are one cent George Washington post stamps worth?
I have some old George Washington post stamps, I don't know what year they are but they are both one cent stamps,green,one looks like the George Washington from the dollar bill (except he is looking right instead of left) and the other is the same picture as on quarters. They are both post stamped. Are they worth any money?
Posted by: Soft Cialis | February 04, 2010 at 10:43 AM