By Maria-Nefeli Andredaki,
We are more than halfway through June, which means that Pride Month is almost over; colorful parades will cease to light up the streets, companies will bring back their non-rainbow, regular logos and the world will return to its former, not particularly safe or equal state as far as queer people and minorities are concerned.
However, one way to bring back the spark and keep it alive through challenging and unsafe times is by consuming and promoting media that shed light onto the less privileged, allowing them to take space, be seen and open discourses to the larger public.
A great way to do that is by reading books by and about queer people! I will be the first to admit it is usually during the summertime that I delve into queer books, mostly because I tend to read assigned texts for the majority of the year, due to university (Yes, I’m looking at you “Jane Eyre” and “Hamlet”!). But all jokes aside, it is important to make room in our daily lives for queer representation and make an effort to diversify our reads in general.
Without further ado, here are some of my favourite queer books that could keep you great company this Pride month, as well as any other time you’d like:
Number One: “Radio Silence” by Alice Oseman
Maybe I should have changed this one to “literally ANYTHING by Alice Oseman because this person can do no wrong” but, for anyone who is not familiar with the author, “Radio Silence” is a wonderful place to start. This particular book of theirs stood out to me because, unlike Heartstopper, which is their most popular work, it does not focus on romance at all; Radio Silence is an homage to burnt-out teenagers and young adults who are trying to navigate through college, make the right decisions for their future, create meaningful friendships and, ultimately, find themselves. By focusing on all that and, most importantly, the developing friendship between a boy and a girl who are brought together by their common nerdy interests, Alice Oseman allows for casual and organic representation to take place, without ever disguising or degrading it. It just so happens that one character is bisexual, or that another is asexual; the important thing is that they can explore how these parts of their authentic self fit into the rest of their lives and worries, along with problems that have absolutely nothing to do with their sexuality or gender, such as unhealthy parent relationships and mental health issues. I could talk for hours, about Oseman novels and the maturity with which they present and handle queerness, but I think it would be better for you to find out on your own. Don’t forget to check the trigger warnings!
Number Two: Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
Is this the part where I rant about the importance of queer relationships in classic fairy tale stories? Probably not, but, if you could please indulge me for a second; force-feeding fairy tales to children about princes and knights who come to save the damsel in distress has done more harm than good, and many queer children would feel significantly less confused and alone, were it for more diverse and inclusive stories. Now, going back to the book, it is the same old story of a princess being betrothed to the upcoming king of a neighboring kingdom, with the shocking exception that, the princess falls in love with his sister instead! There is court intrigue, politics, a generous dose of magic and, of course, the sapphic yearning of two enemies-to-friends-to-lovers who cannot stay away from each other while the world is against them. This book is a breath of fresh air for anyone who is looking to heal their inner child.
Number Three: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Have you ever thought about what happens to the chosen one after they’re… you know… done being the chosen one…? Meet Simon Snow, a complete parody of the usual hero who is supposed to be perfect in every way possible. Here we have an anxious school student who is destined to save the world, with the addition of a cranky aristocratic roommate that hates his guts but in reality pines after him. This book is considered as a gay parody of Harry Potter, and I would argue that it’s a fun substitute for it, especially now that J.K. Rowling has made her anti-trans opinions known and should not be supported.
Number Four: Ελαττωματικό Αγόρι by Sam Albatros
Last but certainly not least, I present to you an option that will hit close to home for many readers. I usually steer clear of Greek books (haven’t read one since I was in fourth grade to be honest) but I would not have been able to live with myself if I passed this one up, and I’m so glad I didn’t. This book deals with the reality of growing up queer and being different in the Greek countryside. Everything is narrated from the perspective of a little boy, talking about his life, memories, family situation and how he understands everything that is happening to him. The book is full of irony and sarcasm, the bullying and abuse that the queer boy faces are treated in a joking manner, making them even darker and harder to digest. Sam Albatros, whose real identity has not been revealed, has offered wholeheartedly their own painful experiences and trauma and has successfully made space for other queer Greek authors to have a chance at traditional publishing in our country. I actually attended their book signing back in October, and they were the loveliest person, engaging and caring for each one of their readers. I would highly recommend you support them!
Hopefully one of these will interest you but if not, there is a plethora of queers books out there waiting to meet you. Just give them a bit of attention next time you’re at the bookstore and you won’t regret it!
