idk if someone already did that but here are the books lady dakota mentioned: 1. "On earth we're briefly gorgeous" by Ocean Vuong + Vuong's other work 2. "Heartstopper" by Alice Oseman 3. "Carmilla" by Sheridan Le Fanu 4. "The song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller 5. "Call me by your name" by André Aciman 6. "Brokeback Mountain" by Annie Proulx 7. "The picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde 8. "The perks of being a wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky 9. "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides 10. "Paul takes the form of a mortal girl" by Andrea Lawlor 11. "Giovanni's room" by James Baldwin 13. "Bad gays" by Huw Lemmey and Ben Miller 14. "The color purple" by Alice Walker 15. Sappho's poems 16. "C+nto & other poems" by Joelle Taylor 17. Allen Ginsberg's poems 18. "The secret history" by Donna Tartt 19. "Paradise Rot" by Jenny Hvai
Adding all of these to my tbr!! Here are some of my fav queer books: - To Be Devoured by Sara Tantlinger (horror, wlw) - Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo (wlw, nonbinary rep) - Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson (wlw) - Blue Is the Warmest Color by Jul Maroh (graphic novel, wlw) - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (mlm) - Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca (horror, wlw) - She of the Mountains (novel); God Loves Hair (short stories); I'm Afraid of Men (memoir) by Vivek Shraya - Taproot by Keezy Young (graphic novel) - Wilder Girls by Rory Power (wlw)
A Starless Sea is a confusing mess of a novel about a library scattered across time, written gorgeously by Erin Morgenstern, which includes a gay love story between the main character and a man he meets along the surreal adventure he goes on. A rec for anyone looking for queer romance without the focus being solely on romance
I think it's the best book i've ever read. Everything is so good ! The references, the storyline, the way the story is told, the characters, the gayness, the emotions... Trully beautiful
one of my favourite queer reads is the price of salt by patricia highsmith (written in 1953). it was often regarded as the first mainstream lesbian love story with a happy ending.
i'm reading loveless by alice oseman right now,, and as an aroace myself, i find it to be a very comforting read, like a big warm hug that i never knew i craved so badly
I recommend Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski. It has the same feel as Call Me by Your Name but without the obsessive+grooming bits(although people should check its trigger warnings too). It's realistic, mature and emotional gay historical fiction that needs more love 🌈
I love that the first recommendation was Vuong! I absolutely adore his ambitious style and structure-I really think he has quite a radical rethinking of what a novel (or poem for that matter) can be. I almost think it is a disservice to call ‘On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous’ a piece of queer literature because of its incredible range and depth. Such an amazing writer, he really deserves the first mention.
i always get sad during pride month for so many reasons, so any chance i can get to get lost into queer literature, i will gladly take. ty for all the recs!!
Definitely recommend My Policeman, told from the joint perspectives of a woman in 50s Brighton and her husband’s lover. Some scenes are so visually stunning, some are full of devastation and gaslighting and shame.
I love the work of Audre Lorde. Her biomythography "Zami A New Spelling of my Name" is excellent, and Norton just put out an anthology of a number of her essays and poems, with an introduction by Roxanne Gay.
@@oopsgirl44 the film is so gorgeous, such a beautiful adaptation, it captured the emotions of the book so perfectly in my opinion. so happy that you enjoyed it, on my initial watch the feelings of the movie lingered with me for days and days
I am just finishing up reading Gentleman Jack, the inspiration for the tv series. Anne Lister was a businesswoman, a regency landowner, a seducer of women, a cheater (much less cool than the other stuff, but true) and a forever learner. Her diaries written in secret code were almost destroyed upon being deciphered at the end of the 19th century, because of the "very unsavory" content. She had no shame in who she was. She made it seem like everyone was gay in her time. "The girls liked me & had always liked me. I had never been refused by anyone." Anne Lister, 13 November 1816
HIGHLY recommend The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (Taylor Jenkins Reid) for the queer storyline... and slightly unrelated but The Chestnut Man (Søren Sveistrup) as another horror thriller given the theme of the channel heheh
Cemetery boys, the seven husbands of Evelyn hugo, Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets to the universe, and autoboyography are my personal favorite lgbt books that aren’t mentioned here 🥰
Glad Ari & Dante isn’t mentioned since the second book is the most transphobic thing I’ve ever read, + all the biophobia through the whole series is freaking disgusting.
@@Isaacnoel54 yes I totally agree with the second book but I really like the first one. It’s my beautiful childhood ‘cause it’s easy to read if you’re practicing English as foreigners.
@@Isaacnoel54 Wait wow what in the second book is transphobic and what is biophobic about the whole series? Cause I don't remember reading any of that but idk maybe I read over it for some reason. Could you please tell me because I would really like to know
these violent delights by micah nemerever would be right up your alley. (im not the best at summaries so ill just copy down a part of the summary i found in the amazon product description lol) its a dark academia novel surrounding “two college students, each with his own troubled past, whose escalating obsession with one another leads to an act of unspeakable violence.” its absolutely captivating though make sure to check tws ofc
If you love manga or graphic novels, please read "I Think Our Son Is Gay" by Okura. It is a heartwarming slice-of-life ish manga told from the perspective of a mother who suspects that her son might be gay (as the title says). I've finished the second volume yesterday and got so mad my library doesn't have the rest of the series 😤 in the 2nd volume it addresses this kind of gross, ignorant comment like, "you're too pretty to be gay, what a waste" which I don't think is talked about enough. A waste according to whose standard? Heteronormative standard?
Unfortunately, I haven't read much queer literature, but I do recommend "If We Were Villains". It is very similar to "The Secret History" and very gay lol. Happy pride month everyone! :)
If you liked those books you will probably like "these violent delights" by micah nemerever. it's dark academia and even gayer than if we were villains :p
I’m reading “The Hearts invisible Furies” by John Boyne. It’s about a man growing up gay in Ireland during the 1960’s when the Catholic Church was still very influential and it was illegal to be gay. I’ve not finished it yet but it’s a gorgeous book that I’ve not seen mentioned in many places but is very good.
Happy pride month lady dakota! Im new here and I absolutely adore your intro! Cant wait to see your recommendations i have been looking for new books to add to my wishlist,,have lots of fun in Paris living the mysterious author dream ha
I would highly recommend "Separate rooms" by Pier Vittorio Tondelli, it's a book about love, passion, separation and loss. Pier Vittorio Tondelli is also one of the most important Italian writers of the second half of the XX century!
I was debating DMing you on tiktok to ask for queer poetry recs like 2 days ago lmao. Also the way your lipstick and sweater match is so aesthetically pleasing
lie with me by Philippe Besson is really good and also very short. A man runs into the doppelganger of his first lover, and then reflects on his teenage years and his relationship with said boy
I've been almost exclusively reading queer books lately! Here are some faves: anything written by Carmen Maria Machado, the woman is a genius. Milkfed by Melissa Broder, Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier, Sarahland by Sam Cohen, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson xx
all the books that Dakota has recommended + some queer Emily Dickinson poems . Wild nights - Wild nights! . we never know we go . love is done when love's begun . we cover thee, sweet face . going to her! . you love me, are you sure . i have never seen volcanos
Thanks so much for the recs! Here goes some of my faves:Memorial, Exciting Times, Everyone in this room will someday be dead, They never learn, she gets the girl, red white and royal blue, One last stop, i kissed shara wheeler, the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
I'd recommend these violent delights by Micah Nemerever and The town of Babylon by Alejandro varela, both are rlly amazing imo and I truly enjoyed it, fav reads of 2022
radio silence is a wonderful book full of queer exploration, i found it very relatable. it is a young adult book but it made me smile, also a very quick read
Orlando by Virginia Woolf is very special to me, among other things because it’s one of the first books that I extensively researched and wrote about for an academic project - I also greatly enjoyed looking into the historical context, researching Woolf’s life and writing, reading her and Vita Sackville-West’s letters to each other, and so on. I think that’s one of the reasons I loved that experience so much and remember the book so well, because I really looked into the surrounding circumstances + it was also quite fascinating to read the letters and whatnot of real queer people from the past and then read their expression of queerness through their art. Thank you for your recommendations!
The Telegraph Club, One Last Stop, Who I Was With Her and, Red White and Royal Blue are a few great queer YA novels, the first detailing the asian-american, sapphic experience in the 50’s, the second a modern, moderately sci-fi story of two young women from different decades, the third one is sapphic and just kinda sad and the last is so well know i don’t even have to say anything
Red, White and Royal Blue and One Last Stop are not technically YA novels but if you're looking for a queer YA novel, Casey McQuiston (author of those two books) just wrote one called I Kissed Shara Wheeler. It was such a delight!! It just came out a month or so ago.
One of my favourite books I've ever read: This Is How You Lose The Time War. It's a sci-fi enemies-to--lovers lesbian romance told primarily through teasing letters between the two characters of warring factions in the aforementioned Time War. Their passionate love for each other slowly simmers until it erupts explosively, destructively, and it damn near made me cry which is quite the accomplishment. It's a little slow to get into at first because of its surprising linguistic complexity, but I'm sure watchers of this channel will enjoy it. Some of the most gorgeous prose I have ever read.
You might like Edmund White, "Nocturnes for the King of Naples" and Andrew Holleran's "Dancer from the Dance". Also Holleran's lovely short story "In September The Light Changes". "Nocturnes", by the way is brilliantly surreal and dream-haunted.
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera was such a beautiful read. The theme of knowing you are going to die on this very day is used in a situation that most people find themselves in at some point: falling in love with someone you just met. It’s not crazy or dramatic, but very intimate and tender as it chronicles two young boys sharing one last, very gay, day together.
You should definitely read 'Notes of A Crocodile' by the Taiwanese writer Qiu Miaojin, if you haven't already. It's Asian queer literature set in the 1980s and It's absolutely remarkable. It examines things such as patriarchy, misogyny, homophobia, gender normativity and capitalism, yet it's witty and satire. As a sad queer teenage girl it was a very refreshing and also painful read. I only wish it would be more popular so we could get more translations than only english. I haven't yet read Qui Miaojin's other book but I bet it's just as good!
Happy Pride! A few of my recommendations and recent reads: How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann, Exodus 20:3 by Freydis Moon, Dead Collections by Isaac Fellman, Boy Parts by Eliza Clark, The World Cannot Give by Tara Isabella Burton, Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
love that you included Call me by your name, my favourite love story or all time. i personally think that the film only makes sense once you‘ve read the book. i recommend another one of Aciman‘s books: Enigma Variations. Our protagonist falls in and out of love, desire and obsession with both men and women. A very passionate, introspective book
YES. This is what we want! I had a breakdown too dw except I fled to the south coast 🙃 I recommend a bit of non-fic for you all: Growing Up Queer in Australia (edited by Benjamin Law). It'll make you laugh, cry and feel far less alone.
Right now I am reading a book called willa and hesper, do look up the trigger warning thing if you want to read it but, I haven’t even finished it and it so beautiful, I want to read it at all times and if I wasn’t so tired right now I would be. If you can read it you should anyone.
Thank you for your recommendations! "Carmilla" and some others are the next books on my shopping list, now! I had seen the film The colour purple", but reading the book was a whirlwind of emotions. I've recently read "Crimson" by Niviaq Korneliussen It is an incredible read, from the subject and the way it's written, too!
Just By Looking at Him by Ryan O'Connell is probably my favorite queer book I've read in this year (or maybe it's tied with Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir). It's funny, insightful, and beautifully candid, all about a disabled gay man living in LA and working in television. Much like the author, himself. This is the book I'm recommending to everyone right now.
love being able to spot the picture of dorian gray from a miniscule picture, also thanks for including it because people either forget or don't know that it also falls under lgbt-novels
A book I really adore is "She who became the sun" It's kind of a dark, magical, historically accurate Mulan retelling. Even though retelling is probably a bit of a stretch, it's not that similar, it just has similar themes. It starts with a character taking their brothers palce in a monastery after their entire family died. When they're grown up, there's a war going on and we get to see the people on both sides. That being said, throughout the entire novel, I knew there was no way the ending would make me happy, because I was rooting for both sides and unsurprisingly I was destroyed. It's plot driven and character driven I'd say, depending on where you are in the storyline, there's more action packed scenes orreally slow scenes. We have a romance between a female character and a gender queer character . We also have two characters, one male and one male-ish? (we don't know for sure, the character doesn't know, noone knows and frankly it just matters that the character is amazing) They have this really intense relationship. Personally for me those two are a great representation of the kind of co-dependet friendships where everyone included is aware that it's something more than friendship, somehow at least, but noone really finds the bravery to explore what they have and what they could be. The romance was more of a sub plot, the queerness and the realization of being queer wasn't really a big drama, it's not like the entire book centerd around it. Personally, I appreciated that a lot. When I was younger, I used to think that maybe I wasn't queer in the "right way" because fiction used to portray the moment of realization as this big life changing thing. For me, however, I simply one day realized that I was in love with my best friend, and it felt natural to me, and I never questioned if there was anything "wrong" or "dramatic" about the situation. I didn't feel any change or life altering moment. It was "just" falling in love once again. I'm rambling, the point is, I adore that the book doesn't make a fuss about the characters being queer. It's part of their identity, and there's misgendering and internalized homophobia and dysmorphia but it's not all there is to the novel. However, in order to enjoy the novel, one must enjoy historical books that center not only about the development of characters but also around a plot and war. The writing style was amazing as well.
Young mungo and The house of impossible beauties would by my favourite queer reads. Young mungo is a queer story set in secterian scotland during the 90s, i would check the trigger warnings before reading. The house of impossible beauties is my favourite book, featuring the real life house of extravaganza we see a fictionalised version of their life together (with some things that actually happened to them added in) its beautiful and made me feel every emotion. Again i would check the tw
Ocean vuong specifically on earth we’re briefly gorgeous is I think one of the most beautiful pieces of art I have ever come across,the most beautiful writer of our time I cant speak highly enough of him
i think it a privilege to be so familiar with your videos which is to say i definitely said "a voice that demands to be heard" in perfect chorus with you and enjoyed it immensely
For all the Brazilians in Dakota's comment section: Têm um livro muito bom que eu li que chama "Garota, Mulher Outras," escrito pela autora Bernardine Evaristo. Ele explora temas como identidade, raça, e sexualidade, contando várias histórias do ponto de vista de personagens diferentes. Eu recomendo muuuuuito pra quem quer um livro sáfico muito bem escrito.
I am currently reading "Confessions of the Fox" by Jordy Rosenberg and I highly recommend! It's a beautiful exploration of queer intimacy and trans identity :)
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta is an excellent depiction of a young black boy going through his life, questioning his own identity & sexuality, finding the right group of people and what he truly wants to do in his life. What fascinated me the most about this is the writing style. Dean Atta magically tells the story through poems/a verse-like style. I couldn't recommend it enough.
I'm currently reading Bernardine Evaristo's Mr Loverman and it's brilliant! It narrates the story of closeted gay Caribbean Barry as life goes on from his 20s to his 70s and it's just brilliant because you sort of hate him (because he's so conservative on so many topics) but you still get very attached to him!
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz deserves every award it has and is my favorite book of all time it takes place in the 80s on the American-Mexican border and follows two boys becoming friends and exploring themselves with and without each other and it’s so beautifully written and so queer and handles familial trauma and mental health so well
Last night at the telegraph club, one last stop, red, white and royal blue and seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo are some of my faves not mentioned here!!!
When I was in secondary school I read a book called 'The Shell House', I don't remember much about it but it was definitely gay and I definitely enjoyed it. If I remember correctly, it was about a teenage boy who becomes obsessed with an old abandoned mansion, and learns about a soldier who lived there during the first world war, and their storylines mirror each other as they each struggle with their sexualities (but its been at least 4 years since I read it, so I might be misremembering it slightly haha - it was definitely good though!!). Thought I'd mention it since I've never seen or heard anyone else talk about it.
Ooh, and 'Lies We Tell Ourselves', that was the first sapphic book I ever read, again I read it in book club in secondary school when I was about 12 or 13. Its set in the US in 1950s, when a black girl goes to a previously all white school, and meets a white girl who is the daughter of a very vocal opponent of integration in schools.
they both die at the end by adam silvera it's a queer mlm book, but it's centered on the boys' experiences, rather than the romance. we have very few explicit romance elements, but you can feel the bond the two boys, rufus and mateo, developed over the course of a day. it's wholesome, it's cute, it's sad, it's literally everything i personally wanted from it, and more. it got me ugly crying in my room at 11 pm
Omggg I'm so happieee I was asking for queer book reccomendations when you posted a question sticker on ig and u made a whole video it makes me jump yeeee love you Dakota ❤️🤍
I think The Fever King Duology by Victoria Lee would be a great book to add! Its very heavy in its TWs but it written very well if anyone wants gays, science-magic, classic literature references, and political drama. Also every character in the main cast is queer
Swimming in The Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski! It sets in early 1980s Poland amidst the chaotic political situation. It is so heartbreaking and I genuinely think this book needs more love.. also it is a bittersweet ode to Giovannni's Room.
two books that I adored ever since I read them was dead dead girls by Nekesa Afia and a dowry of blood by s,t. Gibson. I think they were beautifully written.
Great video!! 🥰 Here are some of my recs: - A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson (polyamory + vampires + GORGEOUS prose) - Less by Andrew Sean Greer - Lore & Lust trilogy by Karla Nikole (a fun, sexy vampire story) - The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune (SO heartwarming!!) - novellas by Nghi Vo and Zen Cho - Captive Prince trilogy by C.S. Pacat (❗️problematic, dark romance, you’ll see why if you read the synopsis lol) - Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (YA) - The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (YA) - I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson (YA) aaand of course: - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Giovanni's room, song of achilleas and paradise rot are definitely some of my favourites Orlando by Woolf but I feel that probably work better in a feminist context than a queer one I'm currently reading Maurice by E.M Forster = gay school boys in in the early 1900s then I'm prbly moving on to Zami: a new spelling of my name June was made for queer reading
i just finished reading orlando, hahshsh. it does feel kinda queer to me, especially because in the book it is stated that orlando appreciated women's and men's love equally
Three books that trend more to literary classics are The Price of Salt, Winter's Love, and A Single Man. If you're looking for something that could scratch that gothic horror itch maybe try Yellow Jessamine (though it is set in a fantasy world, not a contemporary one).
im reading "bunny" by mona awad right now and i love it so much. its disturbing and weird but at the same time it feels like a warm hug? also "parfume" by patrik süskind is my most recent (and favorite) read!
Please i urge you to read 'All Men Want to Know' by Nina Bouraoui, its a coming of age story about a queer woman who beautifully explores her childhood in Algeria and her teen years in paris, as her mother is french and her farther Algerian. It is one of the most beautiful books i have read and with one of the most magical opening sentences i have come across.
great video as always Lady Dakota, for anyone who wants some more queer stuff (especially the edgier stuff) my recommendations would be: The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis, Frisk by Dennis Cooper (super fucked up book but worth a read) and really anything by Chuck Palahniuk. He's gay but not a lot of his stuff is outright queer, but Fight Club is super homoerotic and Invisible Monsters has a trans protagonist! Rules of Attraction is also connected to The Secret History, and Tartt and Ellis are good pals.
i've never heard anyone talk about it but my rec is "confessions of the fox", a queer trans historical retelling set in eighteenth century london, but at the same time in todays time with a university professor who is researching this story. so his story is in the footnotes of the manuscript of the main story. i think i didnt explain it very well but just read it !!
"It Looks Like This" by Rafi Mittlefehldt is a contemporary read that personally absolutely shattered me. There's a lot of heavy and triggering topics depicted though, which I would be careful with as it may be upsetting to some, but I think it really touches on the grim reality that some queer people are facing with lack of support from their loved ones. It doesn't have a happy ending, but god is it emotional.
OMG u read my mind! I was literally thinking about this for ALL DAY and this video just appeared on the top of my recommendations. Happy Pride Month and happy reading 🤩
My recommendation would be June Jordan's memoir Soldier. In it, she recounts how her father raised her as both a daughter and son in order to make her into a "soldier" for the black community/ to help her learn how to survive. It also touches on her bisexuality but only briefly, given it's a memoir about her childhood. It's written in a beautiful mixture of verse and prose. I wrote my senior seminar on it, so I just want more ppl to read it. Lol
Head to squarespace.com/dakotawarren to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code DAKOTAWARREN
idk if someone already did that but here are the books lady dakota mentioned:
1. "On earth we're briefly gorgeous" by Ocean Vuong + Vuong's other work
2. "Heartstopper" by Alice Oseman
3. "Carmilla" by Sheridan Le Fanu
4. "The song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller
5. "Call me by your name" by André Aciman
6. "Brokeback Mountain" by Annie Proulx
7. "The picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde
8. "The perks of being a wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky
9. "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides
10. "Paul takes the form of a mortal girl" by Andrea Lawlor
11. "Giovanni's room" by James Baldwin
13. "Bad gays" by Huw Lemmey and Ben Miller
14. "The color purple" by Alice Walker
15. Sappho's poems
16. "C+nto & other poems" by Joelle Taylor
17. Allen Ginsberg's poems
18. "The secret history" by Donna Tartt
19. "Paradise Rot" by Jenny Hvai
you are an angel thank you so much
@@lt28maja you're welcome
Hi I don’t know if this spelling was intentional but for #11 the book is called Giovanni’s Room :)
@@leemonade7211 thank you :))
🩷🩷🩷
Adding all of these to my tbr!! Here are some of my fav queer books:
- To Be Devoured by Sara Tantlinger (horror, wlw)
- Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo (wlw, nonbinary rep)
- Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson (wlw)
- Blue Is the Warmest Color by Jul Maroh (graphic novel, wlw)
- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (mlm)
- Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca (horror, wlw)
- She of the Mountains (novel); God Loves Hair (short stories); I'm Afraid of Men (memoir) by Vivek Shraya
- Taproot by Keezy Young (graphic novel)
- Wilder Girls by Rory Power (wlw)
A Starless Sea is a confusing mess of a novel about a library scattered across time, written gorgeously by Erin Morgenstern, which includes a gay love story between the main character and a man he meets along the surreal adventure he goes on. A rec for anyone looking for queer romance without the focus being solely on romance
This is such a beautiful written book oh my god. Erin Morgenstern is amazing ❤
oh my god i absolutely loved this book
This book is so good. I read it online and just had to get a physical copy because the imagery and plot are woven together so elegantly
I think it's the best book i've ever read. Everything is so good ! The references, the storyline, the way the story is told, the characters, the gayness, the emotions... Trully beautiful
one of my favourite queer reads is the price of salt by patricia highsmith (written in 1953). it was often regarded as the first mainstream lesbian love story with a happy ending.
the happy ending part is such a spoiler, kills the tension at the end!! I was so on edge until the last page - fave wlw read!!
i'm reading loveless by alice oseman right now,, and as an aroace myself, i find it to be a very comforting read, like a big warm hug that i never knew i craved so badly
i just finished reading it, it’s soooo good. i personally relate to pip the most:D
Yes same!! 💜💜💜
Fellow aroace here - thats such a good description of how Loveless feels!
I adore that book so so much! Im not aro ace but could relate to Georgia in many ways
I read it recently and honestly that is the best way to describe Alice Oseman as an author!
I recommend Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski. It has the same feel as Call Me by Your Name but without the obsessive+grooming bits(although people should check its trigger warnings too). It's realistic, mature and emotional gay historical fiction that needs more love 🌈
It's one of my favourite books ever!! It's so beautifully written too♡
yes it’s so good !
I love it too 😍 (also the cover is gorgeous)
Omg i love this book sm it’s so beautifully written, I never hear ppl talk about it enough!
I love that the first recommendation was Vuong! I absolutely adore his ambitious style and structure-I really think he has quite a radical rethinking of what a novel (or poem for that matter) can be.
I almost think it is a disservice to call ‘On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous’ a piece of queer literature because of its incredible range and depth.
Such an amazing writer, he really deserves the first mention.
i always get sad during pride month for so many reasons, so any chance i can get to get lost into queer literature, i will gladly take. ty for all the recs!!
Definitely recommend My Policeman, told from the joint perspectives of a woman in 50s Brighton and her husband’s lover. Some scenes are so visually stunning, some are full of devastation and gaslighting and shame.
this channel brings me so much joy, thank you Dakota for curing my book burnout
I love the work of Audre Lorde. Her biomythography "Zami A New Spelling of my Name" is excellent, and Norton just put out an anthology of a number of her essays and poems, with an introduction by Roxanne Gay.
This is perfect timing, I'm currently drunk eating pizza! Thank you for providing me with quality content
maurice by e.m forster is my absolute favourite book in the whole entire world, i couldn't recommend it enough
I watched the film again today and I'm still feeling it 😭😭❤️❤️ this comment made me very happy 🥺🌹
@@oopsgirl44 the film is so gorgeous, such a beautiful adaptation, it captured the emotions of the book so perfectly in my opinion. so happy that you enjoyed it, on my initial watch the feelings of the movie lingered with me for days and days
although it's a christmas story, I recommend "The Price of Salt" by Claire Morgan to anyone who is a fan of the movie "Carol" :)
isn't patricia highsmith the author of the price of salt?
@@sneshree i think she used claire morgan as a pseudonym for this book but it is indeed patricia highsmith !
i recommended the same book and just saw your comment :)
I am just finishing up reading Gentleman Jack, the inspiration for the tv series. Anne Lister was a businesswoman, a regency landowner, a seducer of women, a cheater (much less cool than the other stuff, but true) and a forever learner. Her diaries written in secret code were almost destroyed upon being deciphered at the end of the 19th century, because of the "very unsavory" content. She had no shame in who she was. She made it seem like everyone was gay in her time.
"The girls liked me
& had always liked me.
I had never been refused by anyone."
Anne Lister, 13 November 1816
HIGHLY recommend The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (Taylor Jenkins Reid) for the queer storyline... and slightly unrelated but The Chestnut Man (Søren Sveistrup) as another horror thriller given the theme of the channel heheh
Cemetery boys, the seven husbands of Evelyn hugo, Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets to the universe, and autoboyography are my personal favorite lgbt books that aren’t mentioned here 🥰
Aristotle and Dante is SOOOo gooodddd I have to recommend too.
I just bought the sequel.☺️
Glad Ari & Dante isn’t mentioned since the second book is the most transphobic thing I’ve ever read, + all the biophobia through the whole series is freaking disgusting.
@@Isaacnoel54 yes I totally agree with the second book but I really like the first one. It’s my beautiful childhood ‘cause it’s easy to read if you’re practicing English as foreigners.
@@Isaacnoel54 Wait wow what in the second book is transphobic and what is biophobic about the whole series? Cause I don't remember reading any of that but idk maybe I read over it for some reason. Could you please tell me because I would really like to know
these violent delights by micah nemerever would be right up your alley. (im not the best at summaries so ill just copy down a part of the summary i found in the amazon product description lol) its a dark academia novel surrounding “two college students, each with his own troubled past, whose escalating obsession with one another leads to an act of unspeakable violence.”
its absolutely captivating though make sure to check tws ofc
If you love manga or graphic novels, please read "I Think Our Son Is Gay" by Okura. It is a heartwarming slice-of-life ish manga told from the perspective of a mother who suspects that her son might be gay (as the title says). I've finished the second volume yesterday and got so mad my library doesn't have the rest of the series 😤 in the 2nd volume it addresses this kind of gross, ignorant comment like, "you're too pretty to be gay, what a waste" which I don't think is talked about enough. A waste according to whose standard? Heteronormative standard?
Unfortunately, I haven't read much queer literature, but I do recommend
"If We Were Villains". It is very similar to "The Secret History" and very gay lol. Happy pride month everyone! :)
If you liked those books you will probably like "these violent delights" by micah nemerever. it's dark academia and even gayer than if we were villains :p
stared at my book sobbing an hour straight after i finished it
yeees I second this, if we were villains is so great
i didn’t know that was gay omg i have it thank u
I’m reading “The Hearts invisible Furies” by John Boyne. It’s about a man growing up gay in Ireland during the 1960’s when the Catholic Church was still very influential and it was illegal to be gay. I’ve not finished it yet but it’s a gorgeous book that I’ve not seen mentioned in many places but is very good.
Happy pride month lady dakota! Im new here and I absolutely adore your intro! Cant wait to see your recommendations i have been looking for new books to add to my wishlist,,have lots of fun in Paris living the mysterious author dream ha
I would highly recommend "Separate rooms" by Pier Vittorio Tondelli, it's a book about love, passion, separation and loss. Pier Vittorio Tondelli is also one of the most important Italian writers of the second half of the XX century!
I was debating DMing you on tiktok to ask for queer poetry recs like 2 days ago lmao. Also the way your lipstick and sweater match is so aesthetically pleasing
lie with me by Philippe Besson is really good and also very short. A man runs into the doppelganger of his first lover, and then reflects on his teenage years and his relationship with said boy
I've been almost exclusively reading queer books lately! Here are some faves: anything written by Carmen Maria Machado, the woman is a genius. Milkfed by Melissa Broder, Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier, Sarahland by Sam Cohen, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson xx
all the books that Dakota has recommended
+ some queer Emily Dickinson poems
. Wild nights - Wild nights!
. we never know we go
. love is done when love's begun
. we cover thee, sweet face
. going to her!
. you love me, are you sure
. i have never seen volcanos
The stars and the blackness between them. One of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read with poetry in between.
Thanks so much for the recs! Here goes some of my faves:Memorial, Exciting Times, Everyone in this room will someday be dead, They never learn, she gets the girl, red white and royal blue, One last stop, i kissed shara wheeler, the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
I'd recommend these violent delights by Micah Nemerever and The town of Babylon by Alejandro varela, both are rlly amazing imo and I truly enjoyed it, fav reads of 2022
More people need to read these violent delights 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
These violent delights is my favorite book!!
@@sofiamilla7809 yes, and Dakota would love it
LOVED these violent delights, i've been bullying everyone into reading it because it doesn't get enough love
@@angelacanedit as you should
radio silence is a wonderful book full of queer exploration, i found it very relatable. it is a young adult book but it made me smile, also a very quick read
Orlando by Virginia Woolf is very special to me, among other things because it’s one of the first books that I extensively researched and wrote about for an academic project - I also greatly enjoyed looking into the historical context, researching Woolf’s life and writing, reading her and Vita Sackville-West’s letters to each other, and so on. I think that’s one of the reasons I loved that experience so much and remember the book so well, because I really looked into the surrounding circumstances + it was also quite fascinating to read the letters and whatnot of real queer people from the past and then read their expression of queerness through their art. Thank you for your recommendations!
Hi Dakota! We've never met but I just wanted to thank you, so much for existing! I am immensely grateful for your content - I love you!
Pride month just got so much better
The Telegraph Club, One Last Stop, Who I Was With Her and, Red White and Royal Blue are a few great queer YA novels, the first detailing the asian-american, sapphic experience in the 50’s, the second a modern, moderately sci-fi story of two young women from different decades, the third one is sapphic and just kinda sad and the last is so well know i don’t even have to say anything
Red, White and Royal Blue and One Last Stop are not technically YA novels but if you're looking for a queer YA novel, Casey McQuiston (author of those two books) just wrote one called I Kissed Shara Wheeler. It was such a delight!! It just came out a month or so ago.
One of my favourite books I've ever read: This Is How You Lose The Time War. It's a sci-fi enemies-to--lovers lesbian romance told primarily through teasing letters between the two characters of warring factions in the aforementioned Time War. Their passionate love for each other slowly simmers until it erupts explosively, destructively, and it damn near made me cry which is quite the accomplishment. It's a little slow to get into at first because of its surprising linguistic complexity, but I'm sure watchers of this channel will enjoy it. Some of the most gorgeous prose I have ever read.
"Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe" is another queer book that i adore!
SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK!!! 10/10 will stick with me for the rest of my life !
Yes yes yes!! Read the 2nd book last month and loved it
You might like Edmund White, "Nocturnes for the King of Naples" and Andrew Holleran's "Dancer from the Dance". Also Holleran's lovely short story "In September The Light Changes". "Nocturnes", by the way is brilliantly surreal and dream-haunted.
I recommend “Camilla and Laura” by SD Simper. Its a rewritten work of sheridan le fanu’s Camilla, but updated for a modern queer audience.
How have I never seen this video before?? I've watched all of your other videos and never seen this one before and it is lovely :))
The RUclips algorithm has a tendency to suppress videos with queer themes, bcs we can't have nice things 😑
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera was such a beautiful read. The theme of knowing you are going to die on this very day is used in a situation that most people find themselves in at some point: falling in love with someone you just met. It’s not crazy or dramatic, but very intimate and tender as it chronicles two young boys sharing one last, very gay, day together.
You should definitely read 'Notes of A Crocodile' by the Taiwanese writer Qiu Miaojin, if you haven't already. It's Asian queer literature set in the 1980s and It's absolutely remarkable. It examines things such as patriarchy, misogyny, homophobia, gender normativity and capitalism, yet it's witty and satire. As a sad queer teenage girl it was a very refreshing and also painful read. I only wish it would be more popular so we could get more translations than only english.
I haven't yet read Qui Miaojin's other book but I bet it's just as good!
some of my queer fiction recommendations
we are okay is an absolute *chef's kiss* ~
Happy Pride! A few of my recommendations and recent reads: How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann, Exodus 20:3 by Freydis Moon, Dead Collections by Isaac Fellman, Boy Parts by Eliza Clark, The World Cannot Give by Tara Isabella Burton, Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
this is my fav outfit of yours in a youtube video i think. god bless dakota warren's fashion tastes
I have literally never read anything as beautifull as Laura dicribing carmillas hair in that one scene
I looooove it so much
the way you described the song of achilles was just chef's kiss
love that you included Call me by your name, my favourite love story or all time. i personally think that the film only makes sense once you‘ve read the book. i recommend another one of Aciman‘s books: Enigma Variations. Our protagonist falls in and out of love, desire and obsession with both men and women. A very passionate, introspective book
yes yes yes!
Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe is one of my FAVORITE books and it’s one of the gayest things I’ve ever read!
YES. This is what we want! I had a breakdown too dw except I fled to the south coast 🙃 I recommend a bit of non-fic for you all: Growing Up Queer in Australia (edited by Benjamin Law). It'll make you laugh, cry and feel far less alone.
In addition to Heartstopper I reccomend Radio Silence and Loveless by Alice Oseman 🖤💜
Right now I am reading a book called willa and hesper, do look up the trigger warning thing if you want to read it but, I haven’t even finished it and it so beautiful, I want to read it at all times and if I wasn’t so tired right now I would be. If you can read it you should anyone.
Thank you for your recommendations! "Carmilla" and some others are the next books on my shopping list, now!
I had seen the film The colour purple", but reading the book was a whirlwind of emotions.
I've recently read "Crimson" by Niviaq Korneliussen It is an incredible read, from the subject and the way it's written, too!
Just By Looking at Him by Ryan O'Connell is probably my favorite queer book I've read in this year (or maybe it's tied with Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir). It's funny, insightful, and beautifully candid, all about a disabled gay man living in LA and working in television. Much like the author, himself. This is the book I'm recommending to everyone right now.
Please read "Detransition, Baby" its sooooo good im obsessed
love being able to spot the picture of dorian gray from a miniscule picture, also thanks for including it because people either forget or don't know that it also falls under lgbt-novels
A book I really adore is "She who became the sun" It's kind of a dark, magical, historically accurate Mulan retelling. Even though retelling is probably a bit of a stretch, it's not that similar, it just has similar themes.
It starts with a character taking their brothers palce in a monastery after their entire family died. When they're grown up, there's a war going on and we get to see the people on both sides. That being said, throughout the entire novel, I knew there was no way the ending would make me happy, because I was rooting for both sides and unsurprisingly I was destroyed.
It's plot driven and character driven I'd say, depending on where you are in the storyline, there's more action packed scenes orreally slow scenes.
We have a romance between a female character and a gender queer character . We also have two characters, one male and one male-ish? (we don't know for sure, the character doesn't know, noone knows and frankly it just matters that the character is amazing) They have this really intense relationship. Personally for me those two are a great representation of the kind of co-dependet friendships where everyone included is aware that it's something more than friendship, somehow at least, but noone really finds the bravery to explore what they have and what they could be.
The romance was more of a sub plot, the queerness and the realization of being queer wasn't really a big drama, it's not like the entire book centerd around it. Personally, I appreciated that a lot. When I was younger, I used to think that maybe I wasn't queer in the "right way" because fiction used to portray the moment of realization as this big life changing thing. For me, however, I simply one day realized that I was in love with my best friend, and it felt natural to me, and I never questioned if there was anything "wrong" or "dramatic" about the situation. I didn't feel any change or life altering moment. It was "just" falling in love once again. I'm rambling, the point is, I adore that the book doesn't make a fuss about the characters being queer. It's part of their identity, and there's misgendering and internalized homophobia and dysmorphia but it's not all there is to the novel.
However, in order to enjoy the novel, one must enjoy historical books that center not only about the development of characters but also around a plot and war.
The writing style was amazing as well.
Young mungo and The house of impossible beauties would by my favourite queer reads. Young mungo is a queer story set in secterian scotland during the 90s, i would check the trigger warnings before reading. The house of impossible beauties is my favourite book, featuring the real life house of extravaganza we see a fictionalised version of their life together (with some things that actually happened to them added in) its beautiful and made me feel every emotion. Again i would check the tw
I feel the EXACT same about the perks of being a wallflower. Thanks for spelling it out to me!
Ocean vuong specifically on earth we’re briefly gorgeous is I think one of the most beautiful pieces of art I have ever come across,the most beautiful writer of our time I cant speak highly enough of him
i think it a privilege to be so familiar with your videos which is to say i definitely said "a voice that demands to be heard" in perfect chorus with you and enjoyed it immensely
For all the Brazilians in Dakota's comment section: Têm um livro muito bom que eu li que chama "Garota, Mulher Outras," escrito pela autora Bernardine Evaristo. Ele explora temas como identidade, raça, e sexualidade, contando várias histórias do ponto de vista de personagens diferentes. Eu recomendo muuuuuito pra quem quer um livro sáfico muito bem escrito.
obrigada!:)
Vlw♡
Anotado!
I am currently reading "Confessions of the Fox" by Jordy Rosenberg and I highly recommend! It's a beautiful exploration of queer intimacy and trans identity :)
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta is an excellent depiction of a young black boy going through his life, questioning his own identity & sexuality, finding the right group of people and what he truly wants to do in his life. What fascinated me the most about this is the writing style. Dean Atta magically tells the story through poems/a verse-like style. I couldn't recommend it enough.
just found your yt channel after following u on tiktok for a while lol. i am definitely adding this to my tbr list.
happy pride everyone!!
Thank you for doing a video with Jack! I am really happy I discovered your channel 😁 was in desperate need for queer recommendations
wake up people the queen just posted a video. looking forward to reading them as always. thank you x
I haven’t read the color purple but the movie had me sobbing the entire time. Definitely my all time favorite film. 😊
Things a Bright Girl Can Do, 100%! Dakota, you really remind me of the character Sadie towards the start of that book.
I'm currently reading Bernardine Evaristo's Mr Loverman and it's brilliant! It narrates the story of closeted gay Caribbean Barry as life goes on from his 20s to his 70s and it's just brilliant because you sort of hate him (because he's so conservative on so many topics) but you still get very attached to him!
this perhaps may be my favorite list of books that lady dakota has curated for us yet.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz deserves every award it has and is my favorite book of all time it takes place in the 80s on the American-Mexican border and follows two boys becoming friends and exploring themselves with and without each other and it’s so beautifully written and so queer and handles familial trauma and mental health so well
It’s also my favorite!’ such a beautiful one
"Bronze Age Mindset" by BAP is probably the greatest queer book I've read in a while, many thanks
Last night at the telegraph club, one last stop, red, white and royal blue and seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo are some of my faves not mentioned here!!!
When I was in secondary school I read a book called 'The Shell House', I don't remember much about it but it was definitely gay and I definitely enjoyed it. If I remember correctly, it was about a teenage boy who becomes obsessed with an old abandoned mansion, and learns about a soldier who lived there during the first world war, and their storylines mirror each other as they each struggle with their sexualities (but its been at least 4 years since I read it, so I might be misremembering it slightly haha - it was definitely good though!!). Thought I'd mention it since I've never seen or heard anyone else talk about it.
Ooh, and 'Lies We Tell Ourselves', that was the first sapphic book I ever read, again I read it in book club in secondary school when I was about 12 or 13. Its set in the US in 1950s, when a black girl goes to a previously all white school, and meets a white girl who is the daughter of a very vocal opponent of integration in schools.
they both die at the end by adam silvera
it's a queer mlm book, but it's centered on the boys' experiences, rather than the romance. we have very few explicit romance elements, but you can feel the bond the two boys, rufus and mateo, developed over the course of a day. it's wholesome, it's cute, it's sad, it's literally everything i personally wanted from it, and more. it got me ugly crying in my room at 11 pm
Omggg I'm so happieee I was asking for queer book reccomendations when you posted a question sticker on ig and u made a whole video it makes me jump yeeee love you Dakota ❤️🤍
I definitely recommend -Annie On My Mind-, such a beautiful book and it has a lot of history behind it.
more dakota recs… happy pride month to me!!!!
I think The Fever King Duology by Victoria Lee would be a great book to add! Its very heavy in its TWs but it written very well if anyone wants gays, science-magic, classic literature references, and political drama. Also every character in the main cast is queer
perks of being a wallflower is my favorite book and movie
Swimming in The Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski! It sets in early 1980s Poland amidst the chaotic political situation. It is so heartbreaking and I genuinely think this book needs more love.. also it is a bittersweet ode to Giovannni's Room.
maurice by E.M. Forster
YES! dark academia gay classic
two books that I adored ever since I read them was dead dead girls by Nekesa Afia and a dowry of blood by s,t. Gibson. I think they were beautifully written.
Great video!! 🥰 Here are some of my recs:
- A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson (polyamory + vampires + GORGEOUS prose)
- Less by Andrew Sean Greer
- Lore & Lust trilogy by Karla Nikole (a fun, sexy vampire story)
- The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune (SO heartwarming!!)
- novellas by Nghi Vo and Zen Cho
- Captive Prince trilogy by C.S. Pacat (❗️problematic, dark romance, you’ll see why if you read the synopsis lol)
- Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (YA)
- The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (YA)
- I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson (YA)
aaand of course:
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
I will always be a Captive Prince apologist
I'd recommend The Charm Offensive, The Degenerates, She gets the Girl and The House in the Cerulean Sea ❤
Giovanni's room, song of achilleas and paradise rot are definitely some of my favourites
Orlando by Woolf but I feel that probably work better in a feminist context than a queer one
I'm currently reading Maurice by E.M Forster = gay school boys in in the early 1900s
then I'm prbly moving on to Zami: a new spelling of my name
June was made for queer reading
i just finished reading orlando, hahshsh. it does feel kinda queer to me, especially because in the book it is stated that orlando appreciated women's and men's love equally
Three books that trend more to literary classics are The Price of Salt, Winter's Love, and A Single Man.
If you're looking for something that could scratch that gothic horror itch maybe try Yellow Jessamine (though it is set in a fantasy world, not a contemporary one).
'The dark interval' by Rilke is so so special!
im reading "bunny" by mona awad right now and i love it so much. its disturbing and weird but at the same time it feels like a warm hug? also "parfume" by patrik süskind is my most recent (and favorite) read!
Please i urge you to read 'All Men Want to Know' by Nina Bouraoui, its a coming of age story about a queer woman who beautifully explores her childhood in Algeria and her teen years in paris, as her mother is french and her farther Algerian. It is one of the most beautiful books i have read and with one of the most magical opening sentences i have come across.
ooo this sounds interesting- thanks for the rec!! **runs to libby**
great video as always Lady Dakota, for anyone who wants some more queer stuff (especially the edgier stuff) my recommendations would be: The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis, Frisk by Dennis Cooper (super fucked up book but worth a read) and really anything by Chuck Palahniuk. He's gay but not a lot of his stuff is outright queer, but Fight Club is super homoerotic and Invisible Monsters has a trans protagonist! Rules of Attraction is also connected to The Secret History, and Tartt and Ellis are good pals.
It's my birthday and I get to watch the video early 🥰
happy birthday and happy pride month!!
i've never heard anyone talk about it but my rec is "confessions of the fox", a queer trans historical retelling set in eighteenth century london, but at the same time in todays time with a university professor who is researching this story. so his story is in the footnotes of the manuscript of the main story. i think i didnt explain it very well but just read it !!
"It Looks Like This" by Rafi Mittlefehldt is a contemporary read that personally absolutely shattered me. There's a lot of heavy and triggering topics depicted though, which I would be careful with as it may be upsetting to some, but I think it really touches on the grim reality that some queer people are facing with lack of support from their loved ones. It doesn't have a happy ending, but god is it emotional.
I would be so curious to hear you review Milkfed 🥛
OMG u read my mind! I was literally thinking about this for ALL DAY and this video just appeared on the top of my recommendations. Happy Pride Month and happy reading 🤩
This is amazing coz im about to do a school project on queer literature, thank you so much, Lady Dakota
My recommendation would be June Jordan's memoir Soldier. In it, she recounts how her father raised her as both a daughter and son in order to make her into a "soldier" for the black community/ to help her learn how to survive. It also touches on her bisexuality but only briefly, given it's a memoir about her childhood. It's written in a beautiful mixture of verse and prose. I wrote my senior seminar on it, so I just want more ppl to read it. Lol