I’m going to try and relax and put less on my plate in terms of reading from now on. I want to do other things. Granted this month, July 18th, i’m getting surgery. I expect to be in the hospital about a week. And then recovering for at least a month. Because that’s what it was last time I had this surgery (colostomy hernia repair). So we’ll see what i’m able to do.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
This is the only book I *have* to get to. It’s my July pick for the The eclecticist of eclectic book club. I love octopuses and it sounds really good! It makes me think of The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery which I loved.
Now for the books I would like to get to but if I don’t, oh well.
Discover – May/June 2022 by Kalmbach Publishing Co., BBC Wildlife Magazine – May 2022 by Immediate Media Company London Ltd, BBC Science Focus Magazine by Immediate Media Company London Ltd, Philosophy Now – Issue 150 by Anja Publications, BBC Wildlife Magazine – June 2022 by Immediate Media Company London Ltd
Would I be caught up on magazines yet? Nope.
Saga, Volume 5 and 6 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
I need to continue my reread already so I can read volume 10 later this year.
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas, One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
I really should read the books i’ve been getting in my BOTM boxes.
Monster Musume, Vol. 7 and 8 by Okayado
We’ll see if I can get to these or not. I still have a lot of catching up to do.
Why I’m Afraid of Bees by R.L. Stine
There are still many Goosebumps books I haven’t read yet, which is beyond unacceptable! This is next on my list.
Transformation: The Breakthrough by Whitley Strieber
I read the first one, Communion. This is the second book. A guy talking about his abduction alien experiences.
Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
I have been in the middle of this book since last year. I finished the story Frankenstein, my absolute favorite, but there are extras in it that I want to finish before October. Who knows if i’ll get to it this month or not though.
Stay tuned to see what I end up reading. Like I said, only Remarkably Bright Creatures is a given but the rest of them is what i’m thinking of at the moment. I shall see where mood reading/mood hobbying takes me.
BBC Science Focus Magazine – April 2022 by Immediate Media Company London Ltd
Still behind on my magazines of course. Maybe i’ll catch up within a few months.
What I finished in the past week
BBC Wildlife Magazine – Spring 2022 by Immediate Media Company London Ltd, Cirque Berserk by Jessica Guess, The Cannibals of Candyland by Carlton Mellick III, Archaeology – May/June 2022 by Archaeological Institute Of America
BBC Wildlife Magazine – Spring 2022 – 5 stars
Aminals (spelling on purpose) and nature
Cirque Berserk – 5 stars
This was so much fun. I loved getting to know the characters and feel for them. This book made me cry. It also made me question things because things aren’t black and white. It even has a trope I hate and I still loved this book and am giving it 5 stars! That says something.
It’s an interesting slasher, that’s for sure!
The Cannibals of Candyland – 4 stars
I’ve really gotta read more bizarro. This is my second book by Carlton Mellick III. My first was The Haunted Vagina. I really enjoyed both of these books. Not only is it weird, it can also be thought-provoking. My only complaint, for both of them, is the ending feels rushed. But I still look forward to reading more by this author!
Archaeology – May/June 2022 – 4 stars
Magazine
What do I think I’ll read next?
Since i’m relaxing on reading so much and going to focus on mood reading some weeks i’ll have nothing to say about this however right now I do know what the next book i’ll pick up should be.
I have been staying off social media like I said to a point. I did search some things on twitter but stayed off my feed and I still post once in awhile to Instagram. I’m still hearing the news of course, I don’t need to be drowning in it and giving myself more panic attacks, especially with my anxiety already on high from an upcoming surgery and the fact that all this awful news impacts me to. Yes, we need to fight. We also need to care for ourselves so we CAN fight.
I’ve played some good ol’ Sims 2, oh how i’ve missed thee. My Simblr (Sims Tumblr) is Here if you’re interested in my Sims game.
A wonderful horror novel! Tackles grief and sexism. Loved the characters and depth and creepy atmosphere.
The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite
A F/F historical fiction romance. My initial review …
I freaking loved this! I adored the characters, especially Lucy. A very strong woman who knows what she wants and doesn’t take crap. Don’t get me wrong, she has her insecurities for sure, but she still has a strength within her than shines. Catherine has been hurt in the past and is very insecure in the beginning despite having the countess act down in public. She hides it well but she’s hurting. I loved her character arc and seeing her grow stronger. Both women have their own interests and personalities that I really enjoyed getting to see. Both are interesting characters that I loved in their own rights. I also felt for Catherine with what she had been through and some stuff rang quite true for me too.
A beautiful sapphic historical romance.
Bodymap by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
Poetry about being a queer disabled femme of color. Raw, emotional, heart-breaking, thought-provoking, beautiful. I related to some of it, being queer, afab, and disabled myself.
Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft & Mary Shelley by Charlotte Gordon
Wonderful biography on Mary Shelley and her mother Mary Wollstonecraft! Told in alternating chapters it came together really well and I learned so much about them. Amazing women! Amazing, and humanized.
To Touch the Light by E.M. Lindsey
A latino gay trans man (also a chef) and a undocumented immigrant from Russia (forced out of Russia) who is half-blind, Jewish and gay. Age gap. M/M Chanukah HEA romance.
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
Hard-hitting, fantasy, packs a powerful punch, educational to boot. It has themes of being oneself, of being a part of a group and having a group history, of kinship, trauma, climate change. I’m sure there is even stuff I missed. It has powerful messages wrapped in a fantasy story with merfolk
Ghost Story by Peter Straub
A ghost story that’s not quite a ghost story. Very creepy, the writing flows, strong atmosphere, loved the characters. Easy to read while being complex.
Rare and Resilient – ONE in 5000 Anthology by Greg Ryan
Here is my entire review because I can’t figure out how to shorten it.
I was born with imperforate anus (IA) AKA no butt hole. Like one in 5000 people around the world. Yes, it’s real. There is no cure as it causes other life long issues, even after surgery. I have always been and always will be incontinent. I used to do enemas/malone, currently have a colostomy (again, had one as a baby). I also have other issues related to VACteRL Association (used to be called VAteR Syndrome) as many of us born with IA/ARM do (but not all. And ARM stands for anorectal malformation). It’s not laziness. It’s an invisible disability that causes pain, trauma, medical procedures, doctor visits, surgeries etc. Each person with IA can have a different story. Some have more issues, some have less. What works for one person, might not work for the next.
It also causes a lot of shame. And growing up when I did, the internet barely existed and as a teen I had internet but it was dial up and certainly not like it is now. Now we have facebook groups and ways to talk to others in the same boat, which is amazing, but I and many others didn’t have that growing up (and some still don’t depending on where they live/their situation) so we literally felt completely alone, like no one understood, because it’s so rare. I’m in my 30s and to my knowledge , i’ve never met anyone else with vacterl or IA/ARM. Though it is an invisible disability, so who knows, I might have.
The shame and stigma need to end, but it’s going to be hard getting there as these issues are so taboo. There needs to be more awareness and understanding. Something Greg Ryan and the one in 5000 foundation are working towards.
It is so wonderful, on one hand, to read these stories, to see myself in so much of them, to know there are others out there who understand, going through the same things. Feeling all alone is the absolute worst. But on the other, it’s a double edged sword, as I would NEVER wish these issues on anyone. No, not even my worst enemy. After that though I must mention there is also plenty of hope in these pages. Also plenty of emotion and it is heart-wrenching.
I’m beginning to see just how strong I am. But … can I please get a break?
Btw, it’s also on KU.
The Pretty One: On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Fall in Love with Me by Keah Brown
This book is a memoir/essays by a black disabled woman with so much honesty, truth and power in the pages! Honestly I wish I knew how to describe it, but all I can say is the affect it had on me, an afab (nonbinary) disabled person. I don’t know what it’s like to be black, i’m white. I learned a lot from this book, from where I didn’t relate personally but also from where I did, with being disabled (though with different medical issues) as well as the talk about depression and suicidal ideation.
It showed me that though i’ve already been working on having disability pride and unlearning internalized ableism, as someone who has also been disabled my entire life and always will be, I still have a lot more to learn/unlearn. Some of it felt like a much needed punch to the gut! It wasn’t easy to hear some of it, but I know I needed it.
This was incredibly emotional for me, and some of it i’m just like “how do I get there?”. I’m still working on a lot of things, but life is a journey and as long as i’m working on it, that’s what matters.
Transmuted by Eve Harms
As a deformed trans person myself this hit so many feels! The feelings of dysphoria, of being fetishized, of being looked at like a freak, of feeling like a freak. The way people treat you. I loved Isa. I want to gush about this book but i’m at a loss for words. I read it on KU and had to buy myself a physical copy.
These are 18 more queer books that I really want to read, am pretty sure I have not mentioned already this month and am unlikely to get to this month of June but one can read queer books all year round and we always need more queer books.
To avoid this post being extremely long i’ve linked the titles to the Goodreads pages so you can check them out if you wish.
Have you read any of these? I haven’t yet, so no spoilers please. Of course these are a tiny tiny drop in the bucket of the queer books I want to read! What are some queer books you really wanna get to?
Yup. I came up with 50 books for this so instead of narrowing it down to 10, you get 5 posts. This is part 4.
Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
A Sci-Fi graphic novel series. I’m in the middle of rereading them so I can read volume 10 when it comes out later this year. Emotional and thought-provoking. I’m going to cry all over again rereading this series. If you know you know.
My Little Pony: Pony Tales Volume 1 by Thomas F. Zahler
My Little Pony. I love these characters and the lessons they learn along the way. Fun and full of heart.
Silent Night by R.L. Stine
There are 3 Silent Night novels and I enjoyed them all. I usually enjoy a good Fear Street novel by R.L. Stine. Fun YA thrillers. Nostalgic to.
Dance In The Vampire Bund, Vol. 1 by Nozomu Tamaki
I’ve read the first 8 volumes and loved them but there is way more and it’s been awhile so I need to reread them at some point and binge it all. Vampires. Manga. Loved the complex characters and plot.
How to Understand Your Gender: A Practical Guide for Exploring Who You Are by Alex Iantaffi and Meg-John Barker
Reflect on gender and sexuality, your own and in society.
It also talks a lot about intersections and how they interact with each other. Class, Race, Ethnicity, Disability, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Religion. For example I’m White, Middle-Class, Physically Disabled, Neurodivergent, an afab Non-binary person, bisexual, and Wiccan. All of these things interact with each other and matter.
It talks about how gender is complex in that it’s a mix of biological, psychological and social. Even though it’s a complex topic, it was never confusing. Always accessible.
The Haunted Vagina by Carlton Mellick III
That was bizarre….and I loved it! Kinda made me think too. I’ve barely stepped into bizarro book land but i’ve noticed the best bizarre stories also can make you think, while they also have you going “what the fuck?” I need to read more by Carlton Mellick III.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Latinx trans boy brujo mc, m/m romance with said trans boy and a ghost. So many feels!! Had me tabbing it to hell and back and so many tissues were used.
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
A heart-wrenching and important read. I need to read more by Octavia E. Butler as well.
Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
Nonfiction essays about disability justice, by disabled queer femme’s of color. So much packed into this book! As a queer disabled afab person there was so much I related to, I swear it helped heal something inside of me, and as a white person there is so much that I learned from. I initially read this on Hoopla then bought my own physical copy, that says a lot.
My Rainbow by Trinity Neal and Deshanna Neal
This is a beautiful children’s book about an autistic black trans girl who needs long hair, but her mama can’t find what she needs in a store, after all she’s a beautiful black girl with curly hair and the wigs in store are so straight, so she makes Trinity her own rainbow wig and she loves it!
This brought tears to my eyes. It’s so wholesome and loving.
If you’re going “these books are all over the place” … Good! ^_^ Variety is the spice of life.
BBC Wildlife Magazine – Spring 2022 by Immediate Media Company London Ltd
Working on those magazines. Animals!
2. What did you recently finish?
Trans Wizard Harriet Porber and the Bad Boy Parasaurolophus: An Adult Romance Novel by Chuck Tingle, Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca, Her Stepsister’s Secret by Callista Bree, Archaeology – March/April 2022 by Archaeological Institute Of America, Philosophy Now – issue 149 by Anja Publications
Trans Wizard Harriet Porber and the Bad Boy Parasaurolophus – 4 stars
Despite all the typos and the fact I think this coulda been even better if it had been a bit more polished I still really enjoyed this. It’s hilarious, I enjoyed the characters and the story and especially the calling out of she who shall not be named and the whole romance parody thing. There’s also the complete smashing of the 4th wall.
Now, which of Chuck’s 5,000 other books do I read next?
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke – 2.75 stars
My review, the first part being right after I read it and just a little later I did the “edit”.
What in the bloody fuck was that? I don’t mean that as an insult in any way. It’s just bizarre and I have no idea how to rate it. I didn’t dislike it at all. I just … wtf man. … wtf
Edit: Logging this into my spreadsheet (of books I read this year) that has different aspects of the book I came up with a 2.75 and that feels right somehow. It’s just my opinion and i’m not sure how to express it. I think it needed … more. The characters, the atmosphere, the plot. I just needed, more. But again, that’s just me.
Her Stepsister’s Secret – 5 stars
Taboo. Review going up tomorrow. There is a bonus story that I refused to rate because I hated it.
Archaeology – March/April 2022 – 4 stars
Nothing to say. Magazine.
Philosophy Now – issue 149 – 4 stars
There always seems to be at least 1 article per magazine that I really wish everyone would read, but there’s also a bunch of shit I don’t understand and people talking in circles. In some ways philosophy really seems important, and in others, philosophers seems a bit … ridiculous.
3. What do you think you’ll read next?
Archaeology – May/June 2022 by Archaeological Institute Of America, BBC Science Focus Magazine – April 2022 by Immediate Media Company London Ltd, Cirque Berserk by Jessica Guess, The Cannibals of Candyland by Carlton Mellick III, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I’ll be working on catching up on magazines for awhile, and then working on staying caught up lol. Cirque Berzerk I have borrowed on KU and I need to read something to make room. I could end up choosing to read something else. The Cannibals of Candyland is because bingo board space and i’ve been wanting to read another book by Carlton Mellick III. I read The Haunted Vagina by him and enjoyed it. To Kill a Mockingbird is for my 40 before 40 list and no, i’ve never read it.
What have you done in the past week? Currently reading or going to read next?
I came up with a total of 50 books for this, so instead of breaking it down for just 1 post i’ve decided to do a series of 5 posts for it! Because why not.
My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland
An adult zombie urban fantasy novel. I’ve read it twice. The second time was by listening to it on audio in an attempt to continue the series and I read the second one and well … i’m bad at continuing series. I want to fix that, but i’ve loved the first two books! I got them both on audio now so when I have the time to reread I can listen to them before continuing on. I own the whole series physically. There are 6 books.
Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde
Contemporary YA with an Asian Austrailian bisexual MC and an MC that is autistic, has anxiety and is fat (and ok with that!). I related SO HARD to Taylor, the autistic/anxiety/fat MC, because anxiety and I read it when I didn’t know i’m autistic. This is one of the books that eventually lead me on my journey to realizing I am! I’m also bisexual so that rep was awesome. Involves a con like comic con.
Cum For Bigfoot: Volume One by Virginia Wade
Yes. I read this. I have all 3 volumes. I have only read the first one because I was feeling awkward and ashamed trying to talk about it even though I said i’d finish the series years go. I plan to reread the first volume and finish the damn series. Also, fuck shame. I liked this ok? It’s well written actually. It’s has a simple plot but it does have a plot and I like monster erotica. I need to learn to say that with pride. I know i’m not alone. I see many other monster erotica lovers places like Twitter. Where my monster erotica lovers at? Monsters need love to.
A Secret Life: Surviving A Rare Congenital Condition by Greg Ryan
The rare congenital condition, is imperforate anus. Me and Greg were both born without an anus. Yes, it’s real. It happens. And we have lifelong issues because of it. One in 5,000 babies are born with IA (Imperforate Anus). This is his autobiography, which I related to a lot.
To Be Devoured by Sara Tantlinger
Queer. Horror. I don’t know what else to say. It’s fucking creepy! Also, I heard it’s going out of print in July and I had read it via KU so when I heard I snatched up a physical copy!
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
This book has meant THE WORLD to me! The MC is black, queer and trans. He feels like too much, which I can relate to as physically disabled, neurodivergent, queer and trans. And he realizes he’s a demiboy, LIKE ME! He’s a bisexual trans demiboy like me. With the word demiboy ON. THE. PAGE. The only time i’ve seen it so far! Hopefully not the last. I have a long review Here if you wanna check it out!
1984 by George Orwell
Terrifying. Awesome book. Wish everyone would read it. Wish people would quit treating it as an instruction manual. It was meant to be a warning, not an instruction manual!
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Historical Fiction. Each chapter is told from a different person’s pov, going from one descendant to the next, all connected, over generations, like a family tree that tells their stories. There is so much to learn from this book, yes it’s fictional but still teaches so much and tugs at the heart (and tears).
Masquerade by Parker Lee
Queerness and poetry. This book has quite a range imo. I felt these poems deep in my soul. The author is nonbinary (as am I) and that’s explored but so are other things. Some of them I literally went “I know this isn’t about autism but my nonbinary and autistic ass felt that in both ways”. I think a lot of people could relate to at least some of it. There’s also themes of abandonment and more. And it’s so very accessible.
Corduroy by Don Freeman
I loved this book as a kid and still loved it upon adult reread. It’s so sweet!
Yes, i’m aware i’m all over the place in what I read and love, and I love it that way!
I came up with 50 potential books for this and instead of narrowing it down to 10 I decided to make 5 posts lol. Here is part 2.
It by Stephen King
Horror. Very character-driven. I absolutely love character-driven and getting to know the characters! Coming of age.
Krampus: The Yule Lord by Brom
Fantasy. Holiday. Reminds me to not be a Grinch during the holidays. Emotional.
Better Off Red by Rebekah Weatherspoon
Paranormal romance. Vampires. F/F. Much erotic-ness. But also emotional with some depth. Romance. First book in a trilogy and for some stupid reason I never continued. I have it on audio now and need to reread it since I own all 3 physically.
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? by Frans de Waal
Nonfiction. Animals. ❤
Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner
Character depth. Friendships. Action. YA Fantasy. Queer. F/F.
Defining Myself: Transmasculine Experience Through Poetry by Michael Eric Brown
I am transmasc. Transmasculine poetry. I cried. A lot. Related so hard to this!
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
I also related a lot to this! A Nonfiction autobiography about growing up nonbinary and asexual. I am not asexual but I am nonbinary and I wish i’d had this as a teenager. It would have helped tremendously! I am so glad it exists now and I wish people would quit banning it!
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-first Century edited by Alice Wong
Nonfiction essays by disabled people about disability. These 37 essays feature a huge diversity of disabled people! Queer, Trans, People of Color, physical and mental disabilities, all very much featured in here! It’s accessible and so very much needed. If I could ask everyone to read just ONE book, it’d be this one! No question about it!
The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen
Fantasy. Fairy-Tale. I love The Little Mermaid.
We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir by Samra Habib
Trans Wizard Harriet Porber and the Bad Boy Parasaurolophus: An Adult Romance Novel by Chuck Tingle
I’m actually in the middle of something this week! I’m slightly over halfway through. I am enjoying it so far and it’s hilarious. I do believe (I could be wrong) this was out pretty quickly after JK Terfling came out as a terf and was in response to her (I know it was a response to her, that much is obvious). I think it could have been even better if given more time for some research/talking to trans people (i’m trans and not offended by anything here personally, it’s not like that, I just think it could’ve been more polished I guess you could say) as well as proofreading. So many typos.
However it is hilarious. The 4th wall is smashed to smithereens. It’s a wonderful parody of romance novels and calling JK out on her shit and i’m enjoying the characters and story. So at the moment i’m looking at 4 stars probably.
2. What did you recently finish?
Book wise, nothing. I had a few busy days where I didn’t get any reading done and then I HAD to finish catching up on Stranger Things! So, I finished catching up on Stranger Things, that counts, right? lol. No spoilers just OMG OMG OMG. I can’t wait for the rest of season 4 now!
3. What do you think you’ll read next?
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca
I know i’ll be reading this next because my hold came in via Libby. And hey, it’s queer so awesome it came in during pride month! When I put it on hold I think it said 6 months and I know it’s been a little bit (over a month at least) but not 6 months. I was watching the numbers go down slowly one by one then it went from 12 left (with the library having 8 copies) to BOOM, IT’S HERE like o.O. I know it’s a queer horror and disturbing and from what i’ve heard people either love it or hate it. Hopefully i’ll like it. We shall see.
What have you done in the past week? Currently reading or going to read next?
This story hit me hard from the very beginning. I was so angry at the Wajinru for putting the burden of their entire history all on Yetu’s shoulders. All alone, in so much pain, pain they should have been sharing together rather than dumping it all on Yetu and it was killing her, literally. As the story progressed though I understood why they did it. I felt so much for Yetu. At times I related to certain things from being disabled, neuro-divergent and a rather sensitive INFP. I just wanted to hug Yetu and scream at the rest of the Wajinru that they were killing Yetu and didn’t even seem to notice.
The writing flowed and sucked me in. The book may be short but it packs a powerful punch and has so much weaved within it I can’t believe it’s short. No sentence felt wasted, everything important. It is a complex story with several layers but I was never confused by it. Though I think I might have been if I had read it too fast rather than taking my time with it as I did.
A classic for a reason! It talks about racism, sexism, love and more.
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
Part of my review when I read it
Felix feels like he is one marginalization too many as black queer and trans, and I can relate. I am not black but I am disabled. Obviously those are entirely different (though not mutually exclusive of course) but that is the same amount of marginalization’s (i’m aslo queer and trans-even if I don’t “look” like it, though spoiler alert, queer and trans don’t have a look) and i’ve felt that “too much” a lot. I’m also fat now and am mentally ill and neurodiverse in more ways than one. I’m not trying to make it a competition i’m just explaining how I get that “too much” feeling.
Felix feels so real. He makes mistakes, he isn’t perfect, he struggles with his identity. We get to see him fuck up, like people do. He felt like a real person and a real teenager, which is a good thing! He’s going through life and trying to figure so much out and having been so hurt by things. He thinks that he isn’t worthy of love (at least in part because of parental abandonment), and even pushes people away because of it, but eventually learns that he IS worthy of love and respect.
My full review Here. Suffice it to say this book meant a LOT to me! And it’s the only book i’ve seen so far to say the word demiboy! Felix is a demiboy like me and it states it on the page!
To Be Devoured by Sara Tantlinger
This is queer horror and very, very creepy!
The Curse of Doll Island: A Paranormal Suspense Thriller by Ocean
2 very different lesbians, one is famous the other is a quiet teacher who loves to knit, end up on a boat cruise to see a supposed island with cursed haunted creepy dolls. They later end up taking out a boat on their own for a picnic and end up stuck on it, at night, when the dolls are said to come alive. Of course they do and the curse is true.
Creepy cursed haunted dolls. crocodiles. snakes. clowns. I found this book fun and creepy. I enjoyed it.
There is a sequel that I was annoyed by some cis-normativity and other things but over-all still loved and gave 4.25 stars.
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
A memoir about growing up black and queer.
Soft on Soft by Mina Waheed
A cute fluffy romance between 2 fat (and fat-positive) women of color. One, Selena, is a black demisexual model, and the other, June, is an Arab-Persian Pansexual with anxiety and 2 cats (and a bisexual muslim mom). At one point Selena has a baby shower for some friends, a Female/Nonbinary couple and the nonbinary person uses she/her pronouns, showing that not all nonbinary people use they/them pronouns. Her name is Noor and she is also black.
Whenever someone’s pronouns isn’t known they/them is used, as well as some nonbinary people who use they/them all the time. I love how that is normalized.
This cute queer diverse fluffy romance made me queer heart so happy! It’s pure fluff and I loved it.
So many queer, nonbinary and trans feels! Yet I should reread this first volume because I haven’t continued the series and I have volumes 2 and 3.
Disabled Voices edited by S.B. Smith
This is an amazing anthology of diverse disabled voices! It has a mix of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and artwork. It has a variety of disabilities represented, both physical and neurodiversities. It has authors of color, queer, nonbinary and trans writers/artists. It is packed with awesome! I related to some, as a fellow disabled queer nonbinary person, and learned from others about specific disabilities I don’t have. I loved nearly everything in here! It is BY disabled voices FOR disabled people!
Nonbinary: Memoirs of Gender and Identity edited by Micah Rajunov
A diverse range of nonbinary voices. Related to some as a fellow nonbinary person, learned a lot and was thought-provoking. Showed a range of ages too with older nonbinary people as well, showing it’s not a “young person” thing. Nonbinary folks have always been here.
Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
Nonfiction essays about disability justice, by disabled queer femme’s of color. So much packed into this book! As a queer disabled afab person there was so much I related to, I swear it helped heal something inside of me, and as a white person there is so much that I learned from.
If you are abled, or white, or masc, or cishet…honestly, I recommend this book to everyone.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Latinx trans boy brujo mc, m/m romance with said trans boy and a ghost. So many feels. The amount of tissues I went through while reading this book O.O. So many tabs. Tabs for days. A rainbow of many, many tabs. The plot, the characters, the world, ALL OF IT!🥰🥰
I don’t know what to say, except READ IT! *Rolls around in feels*
Yes that was my review when I read it.
The Gilda Stories by Jewelle L. Gómez\
Lovely. Thought-provoking. Black lesbian vampire.
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-first Century edited by Alice Wong
I can’t express my love and joy at this book through words! My disabled self is LIVING! So many emotions I had while reading this book! Anger, at ableism and injustice, seeing that i’m not alone and relating to others on things that most just don’t get, and joy at all the disabled joy! This is a book I HIGHLY recommend to EVERYONE! If you are disabled you’ll find stuff to relate to and to love in this book. If you aren’t I truly think it’ll help you understand disabled people, disability justice and the ableism we face more.
These essays (37) feature a huge diversity of disabled people! Queer, Trans, People of Color, physical and mental disabilities, all very much featured in here! It’s accessible and so very much needed. If I could ask everyone to read just ONE book, it’d be this one! No question about it!
A latino gay trans man (also a chef) and a undocumented immigrant from Russia (forced out of Russia) who is half-blind, Jewish and gay. Age gap. M/M Chanukah HEA romance.
So many feels! I really felt like I got to know these 2 guys, I wanted to hug them, rooted for their happiness. It touched on so many important things in regards to both of them. This is definitely a favorite!
Literary Stoner 