Javin has been a member of the book club for some time. As someone whose taste is quite different from the rest of the members’, we haven’t read many of his recommendations. Hence, this is an opportunity for him to tell us about his favorite books.
Javin’s Top Five GLBTQ Books
1. Harry Potter Series
I simply just love this series. Although it is not famous for its LGBT theme, I think it handles the LGBT issues very well. While many feel that the book is homophobic as the Dumbledore’s story line appears tragic, I think it displays that love is Dumbledore’s Achilles’ heels and that he has allowed his love to blind him. However, my favourite LGBT character is not Dumbledore but the other gay guy – Sirius Black. Seriously, this guy sacrifices so much for his love towards his best friend (?) James and eventually, projects this love towards Harry. While it is somewhat creepy, making him a pedophile, it is still love.
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Yup, I know some of you may think that this is not a LGBT book and wonder why this is on the list. The movies will try to pin themselves as the next twilight but the readers of this books will know that Katniss Everdeen is a raging lesbian, trying to survive in an oppressive post-apocalytic universe by associating with and marrying out of convenient to Peeta. Katniss is independent, manipulative and resourceful like any butch you’d find. And in the book, you have a sense that she is neither in love with Peeta nor Gale. Only reason for her union with Peeta is for publicity, not love. The only time you sense that she loves someone is her sister, probably her projection of what her love could be, to be with another woman and willing to do all to sacrifice for this person.
3. The South Vampire Mysteries (aka True Blood Series)
Seriously guys, it is no surprise to be in love with a Vampire series for any gay man. Firstly, vampires suck. Secondly, they are eternally youthful, beautiful, sexually aggressive and relentless, strong and fair…etc (everything that makes every gay man drools). Last but not least, they die on a stick. Of course, the sun will burn them too but that is more for the beauty regime than anything. Ok I digress. However, anyone who has read this book will know that all vampires are bisexual. Of course, the books are popular because it is a fun read and a mixture of genre, from murder mystery to vampires folklore to comedy. What’s amazing about this book is that it sometimes contains 2 finales in a single title, making it a real page turner. Why are we not reading this book?
4. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Just for the fact that we had so much fun discussing it and what it really means, makes this a real trick for me. [For our book club notes on the book, click here.]
5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
The fact that I recommended this book for the book club discussion does mean I really like it. It may be a disappointment to some that I see reading books as means of escapism/ entertainment and not really to draw some deep thoughts on the author’s ideology or philosophy. This book is fun, a real page turner and dark with a serious social justice theme behind a seemingly Hollywood story telling structure. Why must story telling be boring even if the theme is a serious one? I like the book for the fact that the author has the reader in mind when writing and it is not an exercise to express their narcissism. [For our discussion on the book, click here.]
Queer Book & Movie Club (Singapore) 