I’ve read The Charioteer three times, it’s in the top three of my favourite books of all time. It’s an absolute masterpiece of English literature in my opinion. It’s a slow-paced, mesmerising character study and love story. The writing style is the most elegant and evocative, it shows such craftsmanship in setting a scene and it creates the most perfectly balanced dialogues, where half of the meaning is in the unsaid. It’s quite under-read unfortunately but it has very VERY enthusiastic fans. It’s a classic LGBTQ+ novel but another aspect that in my opinion makes it so special is that it’s not a tragic story. I have just convinced myself to re-read it.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

SOLD 😃😃

@LauraUllen

2 жыл бұрын

I feel exactly the same, it's absolutely brilliant! Planning on re-reading it for the third time this month.

For every lover of The Song of Achilles: please please PLEASE read Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar. It's a fictional autobiography about the Roman Emperor Hadrian, a relationship with another man is kind of a turning point in his life and the novel. SO beautifully written, with a lot of philosophy and historical details.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

That sounds awesome, thanks!

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong Crush by Richard Siken And Nepantla: An Anthology Dedicated to Queer Poets of Color

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Will check it out :p

when you pulled out the first wig I CACKLED and then you kept goingggg !! also in the dream house is a sapphic memoir about abusive relationships but its written in one of the most creative writing styles I've encountered in my reading!!

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

😄😄 That's good to know about Dream House, thanks!

@Galaksyxxxht

3 ай бұрын

It is very important to produce publications with useful and useful content instead of these shameful and immoral publications.

I didn't think I would enjoy Seven husband's Evelyn Hugo. Book was sitting on bookshelf such long time ! It was great surprise, Hollywood old glam , hidden secrets , enjoyed book very much.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Sounds fab! I need to give it a go

@brightroarttttbbbb

4 ай бұрын

Gay publications and porn are the biggest corruption in the world. God created people from two genders that complement each other and build a home. The opposite of this cannot be considered. Women are beautiful as women, men are beautiful as men. Trying to change this is futile.

I'd really recommend The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne, and The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai. Both exceptional books.

In Call Me By Your Name Elio is 17 and Oliver 24. André Aciman is a Proust scholar and expert and you can see that in his books. CMBYN is an exploration of a young “obsessive” love inspired by Marcel Proust and a novel called Olivia by Dorothy Strachey (another little known LGBTQ+ book). I thought that might be of interest to you since you’re reading La Recherche. In a way Aciman writes like a French novelist and Philippe Besson is an author I would recommend if you like Aciman… In the Absence of Men by Philippe Besson has Marcel Proust as a character! I have a particular fondness for CMBYN (both novel and film) because it’s set in Italy during the summer (I’m Italian) and the descriptions of lethargic, hot summer days and awakening desire remind me of my teenage years. It’s an incredibly sensual novel. Another recommendation: Fingersmith by Sarah Waters.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Ahhh so not a 30 something dating a 17 year old like I was assuming haha (my bad). That's definitely good to know that its inspired by Proust as I'm finding la recherche such an enjoyable reading experience. You've tempted me to give it a go! Thanks :D

@Galaksyxxxht

3 ай бұрын

Gay publications are very harmful for the whole world. Useful information and publications should be made instead of these publications.

@bilikfinke9197

2 ай бұрын

Aciman putting together a non-academic circle jerk anthology on Proust doesn't make him a "scholar" on the writer.

I’m sure you get this all the time, but you are so wildly entertaining.

@doomantidote

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! ☺️

As always I’m confused how (well, I know how haha) A Little Life gets recommended as LGBTQ+ when I think it’s much more a book about friendship!! I did read it all in the course of three days, it was like I was in a trance. I read it not too long after it came out though so I’m not sure what I would have thought it after all of the discourse surrounding it. I honestly don’t know how you’d feel about the book, but makes me all the more curious to know!! Loved the gay transformations throughout here lol and Love In The Big City in very gay rights™️!!! 😄 🎉

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

I need to just bite the bullet and get it done haha and thanks so much for recommending LITBC! I'm going to order it TODAY 😄

Hadn't heard about some of these. 👀📝 Here's another 5: - The Persian Boy also from Mary Renault - Dancer from the Dark, Andrew Holleran - A Single Man, Christopher Isherwood - At Swim, Two Boys, Jamie O'Neill - Lie with me, Philippe Besson

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Oh LOVE Lie With Me! Forgot I had that in my shelves! And intrigued by A Single Man having watched the film :p

I don't know how open you are to reading manga, but the last gay story I read was "Our Dreams at Dusk" by Yuhki Kamatani . I 100% recommend this story, it had me in my feels.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

I'd def be up for that! Will check it out.... thanks!

Loved the light drag scattered through out! I recently read Giovanni's Room and loved it so much, what a sad ending though ;(

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks haha I'm not gonna be winning any reality TV shows with these crusty wigs 😄 so glad you liked Giovannis Room, I'm really looking forward to Another Country!

I haven’t seen your videos for a while and then I come back to this amazing wigs show. I missed your videos!!!

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! 😄😊😊👩

oh I have more! :D -peter darling by austin chant (YA trans retelling of peter pan) -huntress by malinda lo (YA sapphic retelling of cinderella) -against nature by joris-karl huysmans (nothing much happens except the main character listing all his possessions and illnesses but maybe that was why the one gay moment kind of knocked the wind out of me) -kitchen by banana yoshimoto (features a trans character in 1980s japan and is a tragedy but has some really beautiful moments) -another country by james baldwin (similar to giovanni‘s room but longer and kind of more hopeful and also just one of my favourite books of all time)

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!! Ooff have heard really cool things about Another Country, need to get to it ASAP! The others sound awesome too!

The Charioteer is one of those books I feel I need to reread because I don't think I *got it* in the way so many others seemed to have. I recommend Before Night Falls by Reinaldo Arenas if you haven't read it. Also, Edinburgh by Alexander Chee (a personal favorite), Vanishing Rooms by Melvin Dixon (this might be hard to find), and On Swift Horses by Shannon Pufahl, my favorite book of 2019.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Oh wow! Thanks for these! 😃

Can I recommend Leaves of grass? His early poems are so beautiful and homoerotic and he's so in love with male body. The later ones are very american history and presidents that I don't care about 😆

I read A Little Life when it was first published. I'm still reeling. Completely unforgettable. Existential. Read it.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Wow! Hopefully I can psyche myself up to it soon!

Just read them all, Ben! And you are obviously living under a rock. You have to watch more booktube. 😉 Sorry to say, but Shuggie Bain doesn't prepare you for A Little Life. But please forget about these dramatically sobbing people in front of cameras, who thought they have to do this after reading it. It's a tough, but very serious story. And important in my opinion. I was only listening to you talking in the background and had to ask myself what happened when I looked at the screen again. 😂

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Oooff, ok... Will prepare myself and just do it with little life then. It might be one of those things where I build it up too much in my head. And yeah... I need to watch more booktube it's true 😄😄

I have a couple of rec’s. Firstly it’s a series, The Adrien English series by Josh Lanyon you’ll love these if you like a good murder mystery. And my favourite one of all time is Into This River I Drown by TJ Klune. TJ always writes other-worldly books and this is no exception. It’s mainly about the love between a father and son but it’s so much more. Both these authors are my favourite LGBTQ+ authors, I just love the way they write.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for those!

I LOVED The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. One of my favourite books of 2021. I just picked up Tin Man which I have high hopes for. I still have to read A Little Life too. I want to but I'm preparing my heart first. I'm hoping to pair Mrs. Dalloway and The Hours later this year. I haven't read either of them yet. Let me know if you are up for a buddy read of it. Freshwater and Prettiest Star on my TBR. The costume changes are fabulous! 💙😊

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Haha thank you! Need to read Evelyn Hugo now! Everyone loves it. Not like A Little Life which is SO polarising haha

Tin Man and Giovanni’s Room are the most beautiful 💜

My #lgbtqia TBR is Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart After The Parade by Lori Ostlund

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Definitely intrigued by Young Mungo! (And interested to see if it makes the booker longlist...)

I suggest you Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski, My policeman by Bethan Roberts, Hailey Turner's "Soulbound" Saga or any book by T.J. Klune

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for these! Someone else has recommended Swimming in the dark too, but I haven't heard of the others!

I would recommend akweke emezi's memoir more than the death of Vivek goji, especially if you loved freshwater. They kind of explain a lot about the meaning behind freshwater and how they see the ideas of gender discussed there.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Will check it out :D

I’m late to the game but can I add Saeed Jones’ coming of age memoir? (And his beautiful poetry). He is also a great twitter follow, if you’re on there :) I rarely comment but I LOVE your channel. Thank you for the great recommendations.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

YES! Much to add to my TBR here. If you haven’t yet, I’d add Carmilla, by Sheridan le Fanu, to your list for vampire trope representation.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the rec! Will check it out 🧛‍♂️

I have Love in the Big City in june tbr bc i keep hearing about it!!! (and will be in seoul in sept!) as well as Maurice bc i need to read more E. M. Forster, and if I’m up for it bc i do struggle w her, Orlando by V. Woolf! So much to read!! Glam-eRRRR!!!

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Maurice is fab (or as I like to call it Go Get Yoirself a Gardener). Can't wait for Love in the Big City! (And your Seoul vlog...)

@liamfrederic5203

2 жыл бұрын

hahaha I’m glad I’m not the only one who struggles with Virginia Woolf! :D I didn’t like Orlando as much as I hoped I would but I’m psyching myself up to give it another go 😅

Tin Man is one of @savidgereads favorite books!! I really liked Evelyn Hugo, very much a booktube darling. I liked Call Me By Your Name (the book, I've never seen the film). Very gay, pretty happy, pretty sexy! My recommendations: Tales of the City by Amisted Maupin Franny, The Queen of Provincetown by John Preston Carol by Patricia Highsmith

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

A booktube darling, I like that haha. Really need to get to Tales of the City!

@AnaMoShoshin

2 жыл бұрын

@@doomantidote You really do!! It’s a breeze to read and such a romp!!

Love after love by Ingrid Persaud, Sorrowland by Rivers Soloman, frankisstein by Jeanette Winterson. Also anything by Sarah Waters 💛 Everyone has a lot to say about a little life, I thought it was beautiful, heartbreaking yes but beautiful.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for these! I need to get to Sarah Waters!

Stone Butch Blues is very good! I'd recommend an Australian novel by Timothy Conigrave, Holding The Man. It's a wonderful book!

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

That's great to know thanks! And oooo I think I've heard of that one will check it out!

After reading Proust, A little Life will speed by, it reads fast! I strongly recommend Swimming in the Dark...a book I read last year about a relationship in Communist Poland.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Oooo yes! Heard of that one, good shout. I suppose anything will read quickly after Proust haha

I’m avoiding A Little Life, as I don’t think I’ll be able to handle it. I would recommend The Price of Salt (aka Carol) by Patricia Highsmith, Rat Bohemia by Sarah Schulman, and the entire Tales of the City series, very heartwarming and FUNNY! The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is very pop culture, and skippable IMHO.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for these! I definitely need to get to tales of the city!

Ok two things from first five minutes: you must read Tin Man, it’s gorgeous and one of my all time favourite books. You DONT have to read A Little Life. It’s so violent and unrelenting and I don’t think there’s much to be gained from reading it apart from traumatising yourself. Lots of people love her writing and think the characters are impressive but it’s really not a must, more like… if you must

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Ooo thank you! Will get to tin man soon then! I feel like I HAVE to get to a little life but I won't prioritise it over anything else haha

Other recommendations for you A Place Called Winter by Patrick Gale Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne A Ladder To The Sky by John Boyne

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! These are great :P

@wavaleebranch

2 жыл бұрын

I haven’t read Cantoris but I loved your other 3 recommendations!

I'm loving this video sm!! can't wait to hear your thoughts about Tin Man

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! ☺️😄

Oh Tin Man… one of the best books I’ve read. I just looooooooooove that book. A Little Life is very long, says the man who is reading all Proust and all the mega massive classics, oh I lol’d. My Cat Yugoslavia is a great book. My mother bought me The Charioteer years ago, I’ve still not read it. Gay Bar is BRILLIANT. (I recommend it 😉) I need to read Less, especially as I just got Less is Lost. Fab video as always.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Hahaha I've been read for filth with Proust! 😄😄 and yes for tin man (my mum also has still life which I might steal at some point ha)

I loved everything about this video! I put my vote behind A Little Life and Tin Man! You must read them 🙂📚

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! 😃

I'd keep avoiding 'A Little Life 'if I was you 😘 Shuggie Bain is kindergarten compared to it. 'Cleanness ' by Garth Greenwell is a fave. I must pause & praise your dedication to presentation in this video 🎉👍🥳👐

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Haha! I love how polarising it is 😄

Nobody ever talks about Tom Spanbauer. OMG, read Tom Spanbauer! Especially: The Man Who Fell in Love with the Moon. By Tom Spanbauer! Oh, also Nightswimmer, by Joseph Olshan. But first -- Tom Spanbauer!

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Tom Spanbauer! I shall have a Google.... OK just googled. Man who fell in love: sold!

@troytradup

2 жыл бұрын

@@doomantidote It also occurs to me that Nightswimmer is written in second person, which I believe you were interested in for a time. Am I remembering that right? Am I remembering Nightswimmer right? It's 2022 -- my memories are anybody's guess.

I've read a lot of these books, I just read The Charioteer last month and really loved it. Oh, and The Prettiest Star is beautiful, but heartbreaking, have tissues ready!

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

I'm so intrigued by the charioteer! I've got a lot of catching up to do!

@Emmareads15

2 жыл бұрын

@@doomantidote I hope you enjoy it when you get to it. Also, A Little Life is maybe Shuggie Bain doubles, then doubled again for trauma (possibly double that) it's pretty relentless! Also, please read Young Mungo because it's wonderful!

The Heartstopper graphic novels series by Alice Oseman!

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

I def need to get on the Heartstopper train!

@liamfrederic5203

2 жыл бұрын

obviously! :D

I'd say there is no need to read A Little Life EVER let alone during pride as it's not a novel that talks about LGBTQ+ relationships in any depth. It's so grim and full of immature angst (there's a reason teenagers love it) and in my opinion, not worth the hassle. The Charioteer is great and has a similar feeling to Giovani's Room at times and I really liked it. I'm also going to re-read Mrs Dalloway and then read The Hours straight after it, two brilliant novels and The Hours is a very rare thing where it's as good as the book it references.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

I feel I need to read it to see what everyone is going on about! But maybe after Pride month ;) that's great to hear you're going to reread the hours! I'd love to get to Mrs Dalloway!

Late to this! but 2 recs. 1., *"City of Night" by John Rechy* (1963). It pains me to never see this on lists, because it is classic: without dispute, "the Beat novel" of all queer canon. (And its title is what Jim Morrison references in the chorus to "LA Woman"...he was a big fan.) Invaluable for its history. And Rechy himself...such an icon. 2., *"Paul takes the form of a mortal girl" by Andrea Lawlor* (2017). This is not only a top 10 of my 2022 reading year. It's in my top...10-15 of all time, probably, and certainly in my top 5 LGBTQ+ reading. If ever in your life you wanted to read a crucial moment of romancing to involve the conflicting feelings of making, old school style, a literal mixtape....But beyond the 1993 period elements, it's just such a brilliant novel about who we are when we desire people. Why don't more people know about this novel!!? ("Faggots" is fantastic. Swiftian, wild, necessary.)

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Read Paul Takes... and thought it was WILD haha. Haven't heard of City of Night so will def check that out thank you! (Also, Swiftian, gonna steal that 😄)

1:17 i love your american accent

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! 😆😆

I'd be very interested in your take of A Little Life but I don't think it's one to be pressured into. I personally loved it but it does suck your soul out of your body while reading 😂

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

I'm hoping I have the mental energy to get to it soon, maybe late summer.... I do love how polarising it is, I'm keen to know what I make of it!

As always I loved the video. My TBR just got a bit more gay and I'm ok with that! 😀 I have just a few offbeat recommendations. Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead. A beautifully written, character driven novel that reads like a memoir. The main character is a two-spirit first nations young man who does cybersex work to support himself. Last Call by Elon Green. Maybe not a read for pride month. But it's a true crime book about the ignored and almost forgotten victims of a killer who targeted gay men at a specific bar in New York in the 80's and 90's. Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex by Angela Chen. I'm not sure how you feel about Asexuality being included in pride, but this is a very informative non fiction book. I wish it or something like it existed before I spent a ridiculously long time being confused and feeling broken.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I've heard about the ACE book and I would be fascinated to read it 🙂

I thought A Little Life was long and now the author's new book is almost 1,000 pages, lord have mercy I hope it's better than A Little Life at portraying LGBT+ characters and not just using their tragedy to make the reader feel sorry It's one of those books I love to hate

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Haha! I'm looking forward to see what I make of it. The difference in how people respond to it is fascinating!

Also love Mary Renault, but I would recommend The last of the wine. And some people love Persian boy but Bagoas was too much for me, suffocating with his passion towards Alexander. But if you liked Song of Achilles check it out. Mary has much more respect towards history thab Miller though.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting, thanks for all these recs I really appreciate it!

Another great video Ben. My recommendation would be "The Sparsholt Affair" by Alan Hollinghurst. The best book I have ever read, which sounds an exaggeration but it really is 📚

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Oh wow that's interesting. Of course I read the line of beauty but haven't heard of this one! Thanks!

that seems like a great list of recommendations...though i haven't read the majority i have read some..i loved the color purple but read it ages and ages ago...did very much like 'the tin man' and think you would too...i read 'a little life'..and i must say first don't pay attention to the size...it reads quickly as so much happens..i came to love the characters but i found the author's unrelenting pounding of the main character to be infuriating. before he's get up from the floor she'd knock him down again. and finally i don't think you can go wrong with mary renault and i remember quentin crisp fondly and caught a live show of his in nyc in my younger days.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Oh wow! Yeah I'd love to read the naked civil servant. And I think A Little Life is going to be on my tbr very soon this summer!

I’ll be the contrary to popular opinion on Evelyn Hugo. It reads too contemporary.

Can you do that lil “I don’t feel gay enuf” gesture on all your YT vids… please?!

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Haha I'll see what I can do 😄🦄

Oooo couple I haven’t heard of. I have Tin Man to get to this month.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Will look forward to how you find it!

I was so amused by your reference to f…..t parsley and made a comment to that end. I am not being coy now but the system blocked my comment! Thought I was being rude to you I suppose. Never would that be the case!!! Some of the books you mentioned I have read and enjoyed immensely others…a little life was for me awful and I left that poor boy bleeding on his bathroom floor. Could go no further. Your array of wigs is to be celebrated but the green one was the best. X p.s. Quentin Crisp. 🤣

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

So annoying when the system does that! I'm thinking I might need to get a little life over with soon just so I know what my opinion is. And thank you, my poor green wig has suffered at the bottom of a bag unused for many years hahah

My Father’s Garden by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Will check it out :)

@SA-xv3kv

2 жыл бұрын

😇 Can't wait for your reaction 🙏

I'm not sure that I would really call A Little Life a gay novel, mostly because I don't think Yanagihara understands the dynamics of gay relationships. She's using its theme to an end. While it's readable enough, I think it's basically dishonest and manipulative. She asks us to believe that the main character in his childhood and adolescence met ONLY with men who set out to abuse him, not a single decent human being among them. It was a never ending string of misery, so it's all too easy to feel for the character, but ultimately it is just too unbelievable to withstand any sort of scrutiny, and therefore has no real resonance or importance. I agree with Mex Libris that at Swim Two Birds is an excellent book, quite complex and nuanced in that O'Neill makes very strong use of the Easter uprising in Ireland, so its span is much larger than just a gay theme. I'm sure that you're already familiar with other Irish authors such as Sebastian Barry and Colm Toibin who tackle gay issues in wonderful ways. I'm particularly fond of Toibin's novels addressing the troubled personal lives of Henry James ("The Master") and Thomas Mann ("The Magician") both of which lead me to read first "Portrait of a Lady" and more recently "Buddenbrooks", both of which have become personal favourites.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for this! Very interested in Swim Two Birds, and it'll be good for me to finally see what I make of a little life...

@rbbonotto

Жыл бұрын

I don't think it's dishonest, but it is manipulative. I ended up wondering what the author was going to do to the characters in the next chapter, instead of thinking about the characters; that's not a good sign.

A little life fucking sucked. Overhyped.

@doomantidote

2 жыл бұрын

😆