Bidding Farewell to Pride Month with Epic Reads

on Jun 30, 2022

As Pride Month ends, we must look at these stories that define the entire sexuality spectrum in our lives. These are some must-read books if you'd like a clearer view of what's possible in the world once you begin unraveling what it is to be you.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker - It is more of an emotional rollercoaster ride than a novel exploring women's fluid sexuality. It deals with horror, rape, prejudice, and sexism that prevailed in the America of 1900s, especially towards women of color. You will fall in love with Celie from the first moment, start caring about all the women in the story, root for their love, and despise the stereotypical men of the times. Although the ending is bittersweet, a feeling of home and love is enabled that will leave you in tears as your heroine finally makes it.

Greedy: Notes from a bisexual who wants too much by Jen Winston - Why is every bisexual a confusing hot mess? Why does the male gaze define how women should feel? Why is it so hard to get a threesome? This hilarious and witty book by Jen Winston answers all these questions and more. Her eye-opening remarks on society and its unwritten rules weigh heavily on people who don't and won't fit into its prescribed boxes. Bisexuality is not just about who people sleep with but an acceptance of the chaos they are in.

Me Hijra, Me Laxmi by Laxmi Narayan Tripathi - From numerous love affairs to finding solace by dancing in Mumbai's bars; from being taunted as a homo to being the first Indian hijra to attend the World AIDS Conference in Toronto; from mental and physical abuse to finding a life of grace, dignity, and fame, this autobiography is an extraordinary journey of a hijra who fought against tremendous odds for the recognition of hijras and their rights.

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin - A classic of gay literature. In a 1950s Paris swarming with expatriates and characterized by dangerous liaisons and hidden violence, an American finds himself unable to repress his impulses, despite his determination to live the conventional life he envisions. After meeting and proposing to a young woman, he has a lengthy affair with an Italian bartender. He is confounded and tortured by his sexual identity as he oscillates between the two.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell - This tale of fantasy, magic, and vampires is one of the best young adult fantasies in the contemporary. The characters are delightful, while the plot keeps churning new revelations through every chapter. There is a small exploration of the main character, Simon's bisexuality, as he grows closer to his vampire nemesis Baz throughout the book. Internet shippers love this book as nemesis turned into lovers is a trope we are all in for.

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai - What is a human? What is humanity? Can someone who has faced nothing but horror in cruelty in such a way that it leaves him feeling nothing be considered a human? This story is not just an exploration of human nature and sexuality but also the emptiness of depression and worthlessness. A masterpiece born out of the darkest pits of human sociology. Read it for its reflection of human cruelty, for its depiction of the slow destruction of a man, and to immortalize Osamu for living a life we can't imagine in our worst nightmares.

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice - Oh Lestat, the patron saint of all omnisexual vampires. The brat prince of darkness romances the readers, leaving them craving for someone who does not exist. The mind reader, manipulator, heretic, narcissistic vampire we all secretly crave to be like. This classic first book in the Vampire Chronicles series is told through the perspective of Louis, who reveals his journey through the 1800s, where he met Lestat, was enamored by him, and was cursed to become one of the damned. Their romance, however, is doomed from the start as Louis is a God-fearing man while Lestat is a hedonistic atheist who excels at being a friend of the night. To keep Louis with him, he turns a five-year-old girl, Gloria into a vampire. Together this makeshift family lives a happy life until Lestat's narcissistic, controlling behavior drives them away. But no worry, these human squabbles are nothing for these immortal beings. Their stories continue exploring so much about sexuality, sociology, theology, and what it truly means to be a Vampire.

So many books, so little time! Have patience and keep calm while going through these. Even though it would be hard to keep yourself contained while visiting so many worlds and meeting so many epic people, it will all be worth it in the end.