Recommendations for lesbian fiction?

Contributor: fernwehh fernwehh
Hey there! I was wondering if anybody has read any really good recs for lesbian-centric fiction - not necessarily erotica, though that's okay too. I've read Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet and really loved them. I also have a few more on my list to read (Rubyfruit Jungle, Annie on my Mind) but I'd love some more recommendations if anybody has them! Thanks!
08/28/2012
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Contributor: Happenstance Happenstance
Quote:
Originally posted by fernwehh
Hey there! I was wondering if anybody has read any really good recs for lesbian-centric fiction - not necessarily erotica, though that's okay too. I've read Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet and really loved them. I also have a few more on ... more
"Fire Logic," by Laurie J. Marks, is queer fantasy. The main character is a lesbian of color, and most of the secondary characters are queer. It's a decent series, however I will warn that since it is written by a white woman, there some problematic elements in how she addresses issues of race and colonialism.
08/28/2012
Contributor: smlove smlove
"A Pirate's Heart" by Catherine Friend is a fun lesbian history adventure. One is a librarian researching an old pirate legend, and the other is a special agent, I think. It's fun and does have romance in it, but isn't erotica-centric.
I do miss the fact that there aren't more books with just lesbian main characters that aren't "this is my traumatic coming out story" or straight up erotica.
08/29/2012
Contributor: smlove smlove
"A Pirate's Heart" by Catherine Friend is a fun lesbian history adventure. One is a librarian researching an old pirate legend, and the other is a special agent, I think. It's fun and does have romance in it, but isn't erotica-centric.
I do miss the fact that there aren't more books with just lesbian main characters that aren't "this is my traumatic coming out story" or straight up erotica.
08/29/2012
Contributor: fernwehh fernwehh
Quote:
Originally posted by Happenstance
"Fire Logic," by Laurie J. Marks, is queer fantasy. The main character is a lesbian of color, and most of the secondary characters are queer. It's a decent series, however I will warn that since it is written by a white woman, there ... more
Thank you so much! I had never heard of this one. I like that it has a person of color as the main character, I've been making a point to read more fiction that features women of color lately, and I also appreciate your warning. I'll definitely be putting it on hold at the library.
08/29/2012
Contributor: fernwehh fernwehh
Quote:
Originally posted by smlove
"A Pirate's Heart" by Catherine Friend is a fun lesbian history adventure. One is a librarian researching an old pirate legend, and the other is a special agent, I think. It's fun and does have romance in it, but isn't ... more
Yay for fun lesbian history adventures! Thanks for the rec, that's going on my list too. I feel you on the lack of more light-hearted (or at least non-traumatic) fiction that features lesbian characters, the majority of titles I've come up with seem kinda heavy or dark, like Fall on Your Knees and Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. I did hear about a YA fantasy author recently, Malinda Lo, who has written at least two lesbian-focused teen books that I know of, so I'm excited to pick those up as well.
08/29/2012
Contributor: charletnarouh charletnarouh
The same author of Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith also wrote Affinity which is also really good.
09/04/2012
Contributor: fernwehh fernwehh
Ah yes! That one is on my stack to read because I totally loved those other two books by her and I figured it might be along the same lines but maybe a little different? It sounds like it's sort of supernatural but with the same Victorian England backdrop.
09/05/2012
Contributor: charletnarouh charletnarouh
Quote:
Originally posted by fernwehh
Ah yes! That one is on my stack to read because I totally loved those other two books by her and I figured it might be along the same lines but maybe a little different? It sounds like it's sort of supernatural but with the same Victorian England ... more
It's definitely different. Still very good. Not quite as romantic. Same sort of era, setting. It doesn't have the sweet love story. The whole thing is kind of thinly veiled erotica. Definitely expect the sort of unexpected twists present in the other two books, but don't expect a fluffy ending. As for the supernatural...well, you'll have to read it.
09/05/2012
Contributor: fernwehh fernwehh
Quote:
Originally posted by charletnarouh
It's definitely different. Still very good. Not quite as romantic. Same sort of era, setting. It doesn't have the sweet love story. The whole thing is kind of thinly veiled erotica. Definitely expect the sort of unexpected twists present in ... more
Wow, this does sound like a great read. I'm excited to get to it, I could go for something a bit darker/less focused on the romance but still with lesbian interest. From reading the description I wouldn't have expected it to come across as thinly veiled erotica, though, so I'm interested to start reading it. I just finished Huntress by Malinda Lo and Ash by the same author, both are teen books with lesbian main characters and they were a bit predictable and fluffy but I enjoyed them anyway. Time to move onto something a little deeper.
09/07/2012
Contributor: Willowe Willowe
Quote:
Originally posted by fernwehh
Wow, this does sound like a great read. I'm excited to get to it, I could go for something a bit darker/less focused on the romance but still with lesbian interest. From reading the description I wouldn't have expected it to come across as ... more
If you don't mind another teen book suggestion, Wildthorn by Jane Eagland. It's a bit darker than other YA books; it's set in 19th century England and the main character is a lesbian who gets locked in an insane asylum. She doesn't know who ordered her to be locked up or whether it had anything to do with her being a lesbian. The main focus isn't necessarily on her being a lesbian though, if that makes a difference to you.
09/07/2012
Contributor: fernwehh fernwehh
Quote:
Originally posted by Willowe
If you don't mind another teen book suggestion, Wildthorn by Jane Eagland. It's a bit darker than other YA books; it's set in 19th century England and the main character is a lesbian who gets locked in an insane asylum. She doesn't ... more
Ah, I actually read this one a couple months ago! I enjoyed it for the most part, I found some aspects of it to be a bit predictable or at least quite influenced by other books about that topic, sending "hysterical" women to insane asylums in Victorian England. It was a fun read though and I got through it in a couple of days so it definitely hooked me. I think if I were a bit younger I would have been really excited about it.
09/08/2012
Contributor: charletnarouh charletnarouh
Let me know what you think when you get through Affinity.
09/09/2012
Contributor: fernwehh fernwehh
Quote:
Originally posted by charletnarouh
Let me know what you think when you get through Affinity.
Definitely will do, I'm finishing up another and then I think I'll tackle it next. I also read an article on Autostraddle about Fall Down on your Knees which is apparently incredible! I've heard mixed things about it but I'm willing to give it a shot, have you read it?
09/09/2012
Contributor: smlove smlove
Also, "Stake Through the Heart" printed by Bella Books is a fun collection of short stories. They're all vampire-related lesbian stories. Loads of fun and dark humor.
09/10/2012
Contributor: aluminummm aluminummm
"Zami" by Audre Lorde and "Stone Butch Blues" by Leslie Feinberg are two of my favorite books of all time. Prepare yourself to have a lot of feels.
09/12/2012
Contributor: fernwehh fernwehh
Awesome recs! Audre Lorde is fantastic, but I haven't read Stone Butch Blues yet. I put another one on my to-read list recently, Valencia by Michelle Tea, I wondered if anyone has read it before. It sounds kind of fun and interesting and very dyke-y!
09/13/2012
Contributor: zz1aag zz1aag
Quote:
Originally posted by fernwehh
Hey there! I was wondering if anybody has read any really good recs for lesbian-centric fiction - not necessarily erotica, though that's okay too. I've read Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet and really loved them. I also have a few more on ... more
50 shades of gray
10/13/2012
Contributor: charletnarouh charletnarouh
Is that a joke?
10/13/2012
Contributor: Happenstance Happenstance
Quote:
Originally posted by zz1aag
50 shades of gray
.... No. Just. No.
12/10/2012