Arts & Culture :: Books
Pedro Almodóvar's 'The Last Dream' - a wild ride into the recesses of his mind
"The Last Dream" by Pedro Almodóvar is a collection of 12 short stories, considered a "fragmentary autobiography" that shares the acclaimed gay film director's literary prowess.
Ajuan Mance's 'Gender Studies: True Confessions of an Accidental Outlaw'
Talented local artist and cartoonist Ajuan Mance recently published "Gender Studies: True Confessions of an Accidental Outlaw," a graphic memoir that gives plenty of food for thought.
In through the out door with David Bowie - Sexuality and sexual culture from "Hunky Dory" to "Let's Dance"
David Bowie exploded on the scene in 1972 and it caught the world off guard. But his glam rock influences can be traced to multiple artists including Jayne County, Tony Zanetta, Leee Black Childers and Cherry Vanilla. His 'gay' affairs soonmade headlines.
Poetry reading list for the new year
The winsome truths of lyrical poetry may guide us into the future. Among recent releases are the groundbreaking anthology, "Latino Poetry: The Library of America Anthology," Julie R. Enszer's "The Pinko Commie Dyke" and Margaret Atwood's collected poems.
Words: Ben Fink's 'Noble Deeds' - photo book of 'Mythic Portraits of the Imperial Court'
In 2017, veteran photographer Ben Fink embarked on a journey to illuminate the legacy of the Imperial Court. The award-winning artist captured scores of iconic personalities in dreamlike and distinctive tableaus.
Rick Barot's 'Moving the Bones' - lyrical, compassionate, patient poetry
Combining melodic rhythms and personal reflections, Rick Barot's "Moving the Bones" triumphantly penetrates the heart with such gentle consideration that readers will be left with new understanding of what it means to be alive at this moment in time.
Playgirl's pages - 'Official History of a Cult Magazine' bares (almost) all
For gay and bisexual men of a certain age, Playgirl provided the first in-hand periodical that featured full-frontal male nudity. This 50th anniversary book celebrates the magazine's revolutionary eras since the 1970s.
The gift of books - Diverse reading for the winter holidays
There's no question that books are the kinds of gifts that keep on giving. These titles by queer (and queer-friendly) authors featuring queer lives belong on your 2024 holiday gift list.
Mala Kumar's 'What It Meant to Survive' - Grappling with survivor's guilt & finding love
"What it Meant to Survive" by Mala Kumar is an insightful novel that transcends class, race, religion, language, and nationality to find love and healing. It's also a must-read for people overcoming post-traumatic stress and survivor's guilt.
Words: Melanie Senn's 'Murray,' a novel based on a true story
When I first spoke with Melanie Senn about her historical novel, "Murray," it sparked an interest in a nano-second. Who doesn't love a story about a gender-bending historical figure.
Fall/Winter books; Cher, Edmund White, DeSimone & more
With wetter weather and cooler temperatures comes more opportunities to amuse ourselves indoors. This selection of queer books in a few different genres will tempt your soul in books by Alan Hollinghurst, Cher, Edmund White, Lewis DeSimone and more.
Alan Hollinghurst's 'Our Evenings' - A gay odyssey toward happiness complicated by racism
Probably England's finest prose stylist, in his latest book Alan Hollinghurst has created an elegy, a reminiscence on gay life from the 1960s to the present, but through the lens of class and race as it impacts on art and sexuality.
Mark Abramson's 'My Gay History' - A time capsule of the Castro's recent past
In his latest book, "My Gay History," Mark Abramson opens a window to a wealth of personal journal entries from 2003 to 2008. The longtime San Francisco author has mastered the art of reflective writing.
'Mel Odom: Gorgeous!' - Luminary artist's works collected in a new book
Illustrator par excellence Mel Odom used his formidable talents to introduce to the world the emerging gay culture of the 1970s. His new book, "Mel Odom: Gorgeous" is a celebration of a career that is staggering in its versatility.