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LGBT fall and holiday book guide

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(2 votes, average 5.00 out of 5)

Written by Gregg Shapiro, Staff writer
Oct 6, 2010

Justin Spring reads excerpts from “Secret Historian: The life and times of Samuel Steward, professor, tattoo artist, and sexual renegade,” at 6 p.m., Thurs., Oct. 14, at the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center. Call 414-383-3727.

Larry-bob Roberts reads from his new book “The International Homosexual Conspiracy” at 7 p.m. on Mon., Oct. 18, at The Tool Shed. Call 414-906-5304.

Danbert Nobacon performs on Oct. 15 at The Frequency, 121 W. Main in Madison. Call 608-819-8777.

LGBT fiction

• Described as a “fiery call to arms,” “Krakow Melt” (Arsenal Pulp, 2010) by Daniel Allen is the story of two pyromaniacs fighting homophobia in 2005 Poland.
• On the other end of the temperature spectrum, “Wicked” author Gregory Maguire’s Christmas-set “The Next Queen of Heaven” (Harper, 2010) features the ancient religious order the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mysteries teaming up with a gay singing group.
• The novel “Ten Ways to Your Cat’s Happiness” (iUniverse, 2010) is the fifth book by gay writer Stanley E. Ely.

Debut novels

• Twenty-something part-time hustler Simon is the narrator of the Manhattan-set debut novel “Yield” by Lee Houck (Kensington, 2010).
• “Hate: A Romance” (Faber and Faber, 2008/2010) by Tristan Garcia, another debut novel, is credited with taking the French lit scene by storm and is the recipient of the Prix de Flore.  
• Cleveland, Ohio, and Washington, D.C., figure prominently in “I Came Out For This?” (Bywater Books, 2010) by Lisa Gitlin.
• Out musician, and now novelist, Lois Walden makes her fiction debut with “One More Stop” (Bliss/Arcadia, 2010), in which main character Loli discovers love and herself while trying to teach drama to teens at a theater company in the Midwest.

LGBT fiction anthologies

• The late gay novelist E. Lynn Harris is honored in the anthology “Visible Lives: Three Stories in Tribute to E. Lynn Harris” (Dafina/Kensington). Terrance Dean (author of “Hiding in Hip Hop”), James Earl Hardy (author of “B-Boy Blues” and others) and Stanley Bennett Clay (author of “In Search of Pretty Young Black Men” and more) contributed the stories “The Intern,” “Is It Still Jood To Ya?” and “House of John,” respectively.
• Gay writer Dan Loughry is one of the many writers featured in the collection “Voice From The Planet: An Anthology of Living Fiction” (Harvard Square Editions, 2010), edited by Charles Degelman. Sales of the book benefits Doctors Without Borders.

LGBT non-fiction

• David Carter’s 2004 book “Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked The Gay Revolution” (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2010) has been reissued in paperback. This book was the inspiration for Kate Davis and David Heilbroner’s excellent documentary “Stonewall Uprising.”
• The title “Secret Historian: The life and times of Samuel Steward, professor, tattoo artist and sexual renegade” (FSG, 2010) by Justin Spring almost says it all. But don’t deprive yourself of reading this fascinating and informative biography of one of the most compelling personalities in gay history.
• The late Derek Jarman was a multi-faceted artist, well-known for his groundbreaking film work. As an author, he wrote several books. Two of them – “Kicking The Pricks” (University of Minnesota Press, 1987/1997/2010) and “Dancing Ledge” (University of Minnesota Press, 1984/2010) have been reissued in new editions.
• Out lesbian Susan Parker’s memoir “Walking In the Deep End” (Silver Threads, 2010) details her life growing up in an Evangelical Christian family and her experience of ultimately coming out of the closet.

Books and Music

• Music is everywhere this season, beginning with two incredible coffee-table books that would make great gifts. “People You’d Like To Know: Legendary Musicians Photographed by Herb Wise” (Vision On/Omnibus Press, 2010) features a wide array of black-and-white photos, most of which were taken during the 1970s. The book contains a trio of photos of Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling and Divine, described as “gender-bender friends of Lou Reed.” Later in the book, there are photos of the young Arquette siblings, including Alexis, as well as picture of the late Kate McGarrigle, mother of Rufus Wainwright.  
• “The Record: Contemporary Art and Vinyl” (Duke University Press, 2010), edited by Trevor Schoonmaker, is the companion book to the “first museum exhibition to explore the culture of vinyl records within the history of contemporary art.” With essays by Luc Sante and Merge Records co-founder McCaughan, among others, and artwork by Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, Ed Ruscha  and gay artist Jasper Johns, to name a few, “The Record” is a long-player indeed.  
• Musicians-turned-authors are gaining popularity. Longtime friend of the LGBT community Rosanne Cash, author of the acclaimed short story collection “Bodies of Water,” has returned with her latest book “Composed” (Viking), a powerful and moving memoir that will have readers alternately smiling and wiping tears from their eyes.
• Patti LuPone, the grand dame of contemporary musical theater, has penned “Patti LuPone: A Memoir” (Crown/Archetype) with Digby Diehl.
• Danbert Nobacon of anarchist punk band Chumbawamba has written “3 Dead Princes: An Anarchist Fairy Tale” (Exterminating Angel Press, 2010), with illustrations by filmmaker Alex Cox (“Repo Man,” “Sid and Nancy”).
• Piano player for the Winsome Griffles and Holy Titclamps `zine mastermind Larry-Bob Roberts collects his thoughts in the thought-provoking, offbeat and often amusing essay collection “The International Homosexual Conspiracy“ (Manic D Press, 2010).
• Bisexual singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco is one of 24 musician interview subjects in “Innerviews: Music Without Borders” (Abstract Logix Books, 2010) by Anil Prasad.

Poetry

• Lesbian poet Celeste Newbrough’s latest book is titled “The Archetype Strikes Back” (One Craft, 2010).
• “Angry June Moon Says Hello: Poems to come out to” (KClifford Burke.com, 2010) is a poetry collection by gay poet Kevin Clifford Burke.