Sadly, I didn't currently have any books on my bookshelves that fit this challenge. Not that it was by design, frankly I don't choose books by authors, but by genre, subject, and general interest in the story being told. An acquaintance was recently asking for suggestions of female authors because he read primarily male authors and this was so foreign to me as I just read books, I don't choose by male, female, gay or straight authors.
In trying to select a book by an LGBTQ author I really struggled. Primarily because SO many that I came across were romance or erotica. Which I understand, the LGBTQ hasn't been permitted this "taboo" genre in mainstream literature. While I'm not opposed to erotica or a gay romance generally, its simply that I don't read romance - gay or straight. Oh I had my Danielle Steele era, but after enduring enough of my own real heartbreak I don't need to read about unrealistic romances (come on, those guys written on the page will never be found in flesh and blood) nor do I need to read/relive heartbreak.
So, I stumbled upon Greg Herren. While he started in writing adult mystery he delved into YA books in 2010. I read a few interviews with him and was pleasantly surprised that they were focused on his works and not on his gayness! It seems like with every gay artist the interviews will focus on "when did you come out" "how was your coming out, were you accepted", etc. They certainly don't ask straight artists this: "when did you know you were straight". It was refreshing to see the focus being on Herren's works rather than his sexuality.
As to Sleeping Angel, this was a good, easy read. A mystery being unraveled by the reader and the protagonist who suffered from amnesia following a car accident. A little bit of supernatural elements (nothing too over the top to be deemed a fantasy novel), some life lessons about how we treat others in life, bullying and not surprisingly gay characters in the mix, but no gratuitous sex scenes. I think there is a misconception that gay authors all write about gay sex. But Herren said it well in an interview referencing the cancellation of a speaking event he was to attend: "The notion that I was going to show up at a high school and talk to teenagers about erotica and sexuality, that my being gay made me somehow incapable of knowing or comprehending what was and wasn't appropriate discussion for teens, was incredibly insulting and demeaning."
I'm not a huge YA fan so I don't know if I'll pick up any of Herren's other YA books, but he has two adult mystery series about gay private eyes in New Orleans. Similar only in that both protagonists are private eyes - one is dark and cynical while the other is happy-go-lucky, seeing humor in everything. Both series sound equally intriguing!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment