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What was your fave page-turner this year?
With 20gayteen at its end, it’s only natural for us to want to look back at some of the best books that came out in this amazingly long year! In 2018, there were six books that stood out to us beyond the rest. Four are memoirs (one of which, actually doesn’t come out until early 2019, but after reading the advance reader’s copy we felt obliged to include), and three are fiction. And let us clarify that these six titles just happen to be the ones we at PRIDE read! God knows there are plenty of other awesome books by amazing queer authors that we didn’t get to and that also deserve to be on the list!
Unwifeable by Mandy Stadtmiller
Written by Mandy Stadtmiller, a profound writer known for her work at The Daily Beast, New York Post, and xoJane, Unwifeable is an emotionally-raw, hilarious, and extremely relatable memoir. As women and queer men, I think we often find ourselves thinking that there’s something fundamental to our personality that inhibits us from finding Mr. Right, especially if we haven’t ever had a serious partner. We begin to believe we’re too crass, self-centered, messy, immature, or any of a number of other attributes. We fear that these parts of our identity will plague us to be single forever, so we attempt to change parts of who we are for a man or we give up completely on the prospect of finding love. Mandy was able to provide a modern take on these universal feelings which nearly all queer men and women struggle with. —Zachary Zane (@zacharyzane_)
Sissy by Jacob Tobia
I had the pleasure of reading the advanced reader’s copy of Jacob Tobia’s memoir. (Sorry folks, it doesn’t come out until March of 2019, but I simply HAD to include it on the list.) In Sissy, the gender-bending writer, model, and activist provides a new narrative that’s been missing from the transgender canon. As they explain in their introduction, most transgender narratives aren’t inclusive of gender non-binary folks. In fact, they actually perpetuate a gender binary. They also note that the transgender narrative thus far is legitimated through experiencing trauma. Only transgender individuals who’ve experienced deep persecution on both a personal and societal level are able to tell their story. So they wanted to do something different. They wanted to add some humor and levity. That’s not to say they're taking the issues less seriously, or they, themselves, haven’t experienced trauma. No, Jacob is and they have. Still, they recognize that using a humorous non-binary voice hasn’t been represented, and they do one hell of a good job sharing their own story through a comedic lens. —Zachary Zane (@zacharyzane_)
Circe by Madeline Miller
I had very high hopes for Circe, a #1 New York Times best-seller. The reason being Miller is the author behind The Song of Achilles, which to this day, is my favorite work of fiction of all time. While Circe didn’t have as strong of a queer narrative as her former novel, it’s still fabulous and does absolutely have some light queer content. More importantly, it’s well-written and captivating. Think of it like an origin story similar to Wicked, where we learn the truth behind Circe, the witch best known for turning all sailors who stepped onto her island, excluding Odysseus, to swine. (I mean, men ARE pigs, so I get it.) —Zachary Zane (@zacharyzane_)
How to Be Alone: If You Want To, and Even If You Don't by Lane Moore
Lane Moore’s memoir is dark comedic gold. The queer writer, best known for her work with The Onion, The New Yorker Shouts and Murmurs, and The Washington Post, really explores how lonely it can be as a queer person with unsupportive parents. At times, the memoir is thoroughly depressing, but at other times, it’s laugh out loud, peeing in your pants funny. In the end, she’s able to recognize the difference between being lonely and being alone, and how to eschew the former while embracing the latter. She also, as the book promises, offers some tips on being alone. —Zachary Zane (@zacharyzane_)
What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
The young adult novel explores an adorable queer romance. Ben isn't happy with the universe as he drops off a box of his ex-boyfriend's things at the post office. He quite literally bumps into Arthur, an adorably quirky intern who's only in New York until the end of the summer, but sparks fly instantly. With Ben fresh out of a relationship and Arthur leaving soon, the stars aren't exactly aligned for any kind of romance. What If It's Us, inspired by the broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen, is a tender, hilarious, and heartbreakingly genuine story of two boys finding each other against all the odds. —Taylor Henderson (@cornbreadsays)
How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee
This is the first nonfiction book ever written by the prolific Korean-American writer, and it’s a masterpiece. With a simple yet eloquent writing style, Chee takes us through his life in a series of personal essays, detailing the lessons he’s learned over a lifetime of writing fiction. In his book, he explores how he grows from student to teacher, reckons with his identity as a gay Korean-American, and talks his father’s death, 9/11, and Tarot-reading. —Zachary Zane (@zacharyzane_)
