Timothy Arliss OBrien
[isbn]
I've read many other stories written in verse before, but in most of them, the individual poems aren't really standalone pieces like in this work. You can open this collection at any point and find a short, intriguing, thought-provoking poem, but when read together, they slowly unfold the mystery of one woman's life, delving into a psychological exploration of her mental health and her questioning of reality. It's a stimulating literary trip,... (read more)
Recommended by Nicholas Y.
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Timothy Arliss O'Brien
[isbn]
This collection of poetry and creative short prose is destined to be one of my favorite reads of 2019 and probably of all time. This book is uplifting, yet dark, whimsical, yet hard-hitting. O'Brien uses a variety of written forms, like poetry, essay, lists, prayers, daydreams, even a recipe, to tell his story as an LGBTQ+ individual working through his struggles with Christian faith, his trauma from conversion therapy, and his own battles with... (read more)
Recommended by Nicholas Y.
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Peter Cameron
[isbn]
Someday is told in the first person from a gay, male point of view, but it doesn't center on "coming out" and avoids most of the other tropes of this genre, too, which is refreshing. I loved spending time in James Sveck's head; he's an intriguing character, who's sophisticated, cynical, entertaining, and relatable. This novel is basically just a snapshot of his life at the crossroads between high school and college, when he's feeling the... (read more)
Recommended by Nicholas Y.
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Timothy Garton Ash
[isbn]
Garton Ash's work provides us with an excellent conceptual foundation for discussion on this subject, along with illuminations about what free speech really means in a global and technological 21st-century world. His writing is accessible, yet thorough, with numerous fascinating historical and modern-day examples of threats to and conflicts over free speech. The author is clearly passionate about this subject, and his enthusiasm and life... (read more)
Recommended by Nicholas Y.
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Shaun David Hutchinson and Christine Larsen
[isbn]
This is a book you can easily devour within a weekend, but one whose characters and story will stay with you long after. It's about a gay teenager living in a hospital after the deaths of his family and moving through his own "Five Stages of Grief" to find himself once again. Though it's marketed as a young adult novel, it certainly has the potential for a much wider audience with its complex storytelling and universal themes such as overcoming... (read more)
Recommended by Nicholas Y.
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Bret Easton Ellis
[isbn]
A captivating ride through the darker side of being young and rich in LA in the '80s. Take a couple of days and immerse yourself in this evocative and frightening portrait of a subculture.
Recommended by Nicholas Y.
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Anne Carson
[isbn]
Immerse yourself in this daring work of absolute genius. Part poetry, part myth, part coming-of-age love story for a gay teenage boy, it's like nothing else I've ever come across. A slim volume of exquisitely crafted lines, perfectly evoking that sense of wonder that only seems to manifest itself in the poetic language. This is magic!
Recommended by Nicholas Y.
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Jay McInerney
[isbn]
An immersive literary work and rare example of a novel written in the second-person point of view. McInerney narrates your story as you're gallivanting through New York City in the 1980s, staying up way too late, making questionable decisions with questionable people, sabotaging your work life, running away from your past and yourself, and basically just recklessly careening through your post-college existence. This is a fun yet thought-provoking... (read more)
Recommended by Nicholas Y.
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Bret Easton Ellis
[isbn]
The writing of Bret Easton Ellis disturbs me, but sometimes in a good way, and this is him at his best. Lunar Park is one of the novels that shook me from my chair, frightened me and made me uncomfortable, but kept me completely riveted. This fluid, first-person story seemed so realistic that at first I thought it was entirely biographical, until he started introducing supernatural elements, and even then I'm not convinced there isn't... (read more)
Recommended by Nicholas Y.
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