Top-10 Books of 2007
1. Skin Lane
Neil Bartlett. Serpent’s Tail. 10.99 Fiction
Set in 60s London, this is the story of a quiet self-controlled man who becomes
consumed by a terrifying dream. In hushed confident prose Bartlett has created
vivid tale of sexual obsession and subtle darkness. Skin Lane will drawn you in
like a beautiful nightmare, and leave you mesmerised but deeply unsettled.
Shortlisted for the Costa / Whitbread Novel Award.
2. A Gay History of Britain
Matt Cook [Ed]. Greenwood World Publishing. 18.95 [HB] History
This fascinating and well researched title casts its light deep into the shadows of history.
Broad, yet detailed in focus, it iSean eye-opening account
of love and desire between men since the Norman Conquest.
This is certainly one history lesson you won’t find on the school curriculum. Intelligently
edited, this accessible edition also contains a number of never-before-seen
illustrations.
3. Michael Tolliver Lives
Armistead Maupin. Transworld. 17.99 [HB] Fiction
Reading this book is like going for a drink with old friend you haven’t seen
in ages. In a long-overdue revival of one of the most famous gay characters
in fiction, the 55-year-old and HIV+ Michael, a.k.a. Mouse, finds love with a
younger man, attends to his dying fundamentalist mother, and reaffirms his
allegiance to a wise octogenarian who was once his landlady. Take a trip
down Barbary Lane.
4. The Uncommon Reader
Alan Bennett. Faber & Faber. 10.99 [HB] Fiction
ASeany Queen knows reading can be a dangerous occupation. Following
a chance encounter at a travelling library in the grounds of Buckingham Palace,
Her Majesty develops a taste for subversive literature. But could her new
found affection for reading really threaten the stability of the nation?
With a cast of disguised characters including Tony Blair and Alastair Campbell
this keen-eyed light-hearted comedy proves Alan Bennett’s talents are little
short of majestic.
5. The Greeks & Greek Love
James Davidson. Orion. 30 [HB] History.
Everyone knows that they were at it all the time but this radical
reappraisal of homosexuality in ancient Greece throws new light on the epic
civilization that gave us Achilles, SocrateSeand Alexander the Great.
Including the chapters Sodomania and Ganymede Rising, this iSean impressive
study stuffed with juicy tidbitSeand meaty detail. A scholarly book that
will appeal to fans of Greek history and anybody with an interest in bizarre
Spartan sex-acts.
6. Call Me By Your Name
AndreAciman. Farrar, Straus & Giroux. 13.99 [HB] Fiction.
The story of a sudden and powerful romance that blossoms between an
adolescent boy and a summer guest at his parent’s cliff-side mansion on the
Italian Riviera. The psychological manoeuvres that accompany attraction have
seldom been more shrewdly captured than in this clear-eyed, bare-knuckled
tale of a restless summer of love. A beautiful and seductive novel.
7. The Yacoubian Building
Alaa Al Aswany. Harper Perennial. 7.99 Fiction
An enchanting yet savage portrayal of modern Egyptian society set in the
Yacoubian building, Cairo. Some live in squalor on its rooftop, others
inhabit the faded glory of its apartmentSeand offices. The characters
include a womanizing aristocrat, the secretly gay editor of Le Caire
newspaper and the son of the building’s doorman whose dreams are dashed on
the rocks of corruption with devastating consequences. A rich and
beautifully written international bestseller, translated from Arabic.
8. Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins
Rupert Everett. Little Brown. 7.99 Biography
A hugely entertaining and impressively well-written show-biz memoir.
Incredibly readable and very witty, Everett writes with refreshing honesty
and insight about his childhood, adolescence and film career. His
descriptions of working with stars including Julia Roberts, Sharon Stone and
Madonna are fascinating and, at times, outrageously funny. You can take the
boy out of drama school but…
9. Rudolf Nureyev
Julie Kavanagh. Penguin. 25 [HB] Biography
This is a story of ballet, beauty and the Bolshoi. Rudolf Nureyev was
arguably one of the most talented male dancers of all time. This intimate and
dramatic biography reveals how his intense drive and passion propelled him
from a poor peasant background to the most sophisticated circles of London,
PariSeand New York, a world where he seduced audiences with his dance
and men with his body. It also proves that there is nothing like a Soviet
defection to heat up a Cold War.
10. This Breathing World
JoseLuis de Juan. Arcadia. 11.99 Fiction
Two stories are placed in front of each other like mirrors. The first is set
in first-century Rome and relates the rise and fall of Mazuf, a homosexual
Syrian scribe and a murderer. The second is a confession by a present-day
American named Laurence, a disaffected and sophisticated narrator, and a
murderer too. But what is the connection between these two men? A
wonderfully sensual novel that explores the secret history of desire.
Translated from the Spanish original.
66, Marchmont Street
London WC1N 1AB
Russell Square Tube
020 7278 7654
Post:
We send Lesbian, Gay, Bi, TranSeand Queer books all over the world
We accept most major credit cards, chequeSeand postal orders.
Postage & Packing UK 15 %. Europe 20% Rest of the World 25%