Rubyfruit Jungle By Rita Mae Brown

So why did I originally chose this book. Well if anyone has had the pleasure to be introduced to Educating Rita the main character mention reading a book called Rubyfruit Jungle By Rita Mae Brown in an English accent just made me laugh; which followed a look by my friends who’d question if I’d read it. A disappointed face when I raised my shoulder indicating “It’s a book?” . So with the movie and a very good friend of mine convinced me to read. Or at least buy and and pick it up later. So two years later. Done! It was great.

The novel was taken from the perceptive of Molly Bolt, the adopted daughter of a poor family. Her relationship with her mother is rocky, and at a young age her mother, tells Molly that she is ‘bastard’ and that she is not her biological child but adopted. In grade 6 Molly has her first same-sex sexual relationship and her second sexual experience in a Florida high school with Carolyn Simpson, the school lead cheerleader, who willingly has sex with Molly but refuses the name "lesbian."

Molly also engages in sex with males, including her cousin Leroy when the two were younger. Her father, Carl, dies when she is in her junior year of high school. In a combination of her strong-willed nature and disdain for Carrie, Molly pushes herself to excel in high school, winning a full scholarship to the University of Florida. Unlike Carrie, Carl has always supported Molly's goals and education.

When Molly's homosexual relationship with her alcoholic roommate is discovered, she is denied a renewal of her scholarship. Possessing little money, she moves to New York to pursue an education in filmmaking. Upon reaching New York, she realizes that the rubyfruit is maybe not as delicious and varied as she had dreamed within the concrete jungle.

Rubyfruit Jungle is a gay cult story that needs to be devoured. It’s a reminder of how the world can seem filled of possibilities.

The Gay Body By Mark Thompson

The Californian Mark Thompson is a journalist from the 70’s that writes about his spiritual journey as a gay individual in a gay world as he see’s it. He illustrates a deep insights into the evolving gay rights, gay social attitudes and the attitudes within the general public local and at world large. His perceptions I warn can be dark but in the end offers hope I dually warn you may even read a little of yourself within the pages. Mark describes the gay males spirt with with Greek Myths and modern stories such as The Wizard of Oz and more.

When reading “Gay Body” you’ll soon learn that it has nothing to with vanity in terms of fitness, although he does speaks of the vanity in terms of the mind. I’ll admit I completely missed Marks point why he titled the book “Gay Body”. But conceptualizing the title I could only assumes that souls can not always choice there body and experiences but we can choice how to interpret and react to those experiences.

“...We put on our seven-league boots and take great strides, barely touching earth. Or we never make contact at all, keeping airborne and aloof. To stay in the clouds is to run with the sprits of imagination, wonder, and wit. Who would want such companionship to end?”

Mark’s childhood was surrounded with issues’ that like many do in society; the miserable parents in a marriage and lack of support and love received from them. His brother becomes his comfort and childish love play. Which re-ballets the nature vs. nurture argument of sexuality. Mark’s story does not intend to dame ones hope into believing that there is no light at the end of the tunnel but instead his wisdom may offer a reinvention into life possibility for self improvements and may even consider being compassion to your brothers in the most pure sense.

It could be stated that Mark’s story is coming from the perceptive of a scene queen who’d lived out his life parading around beats, night clubs and the artistry groupies if you’re like me you still can’t help feeling a deep sense of sympathy and admiration for the guy for really putting his heart and spiritual self on his pages; something never really seen anymore.

Mark’s writings lays out his own experiences and allow the reader to makes their own morals judgement rather a book that tells you how it is or should. This book is a huge emotional challenge and a book that makes you think not the type of a book I’d recommend for escapism. It questions your moral judgements.

Holding the Man By Timothy Conigrave

Holding the Man is the best-selling memoir by the Australian writer, actor, and activist Timothy Conigrave. Holding the Man was published in February 1995 by Penguin Books in Australia just a few months after Conigrave's death, and has since been published in Spain and North America. Holding the Man won the United Nations Human Rights Award for Non-Fiction in 1995 and was listed as one of the "100 Favourite Australian Books" by the Australian Society of Authors for its 40th anniversary in 2003.
Holding the Man tells the story of Tim's life, and centrally of his relationship with his lover of fifteen years, John Caleo. They met in the mid-1970s at Xavier College, a prestigious all-boys Jesuit Catholic school in Melbourne. In 1976, Timothy Conigrave fell in love with the captain of the football team, John Caleo, a relationship lasting 15 years.
Their love affair that weathered disapproval, separation and, ultimately death. With honesty and insight, 'Holding the Man' explores the highs and lows of their life partnership: the intimacy, constraints, temptations, and the strength of heart both men had to find when they tested positive to HIV.
Here is a little taste of the book “Holding The Man by Timothy Conigrave”
Juliet kissed Pepe. Their kiss lingered. Pepe came up for air. 'Tim'. As I kissed her she opened her mouth. Her tongue was exploring mine. I felt trapped. I was afraid to stop kissing her because I knew what was coming. I don't want John to think I'm enjoying this. Before I knew it my hand was on his knee, as if to let him know it was him I wanted. His hand settled on mine as Pepe continued kissing me. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was a virgin being led to the volcano to be sacrificed. I turned to face him. He shut his eyes and pursed his lips. Everything went slow motion as I pressed my mouth against his. His gentle warm lips filled my head. My body dissolved and I was only lips pressed against the flesh of his. I would have stayed there for the rest of my life, but I was suddenly worried about freaking him out and I pulled away. I caught sight of his face - fresh, with chocolate-brown eyes, and a small, almost undetectable smile.
Three years after writing the book “Holding The Man” Timothy died.
In 2006, it was adapted for the stage by Tommy Murphy , and has become one of the most successful Australian stage productions in recent years.
I would recommend the book “Holding On To The Man” to anyone, it was not just the fact that it was a heart warming, heart crushing story but also for the fact that the words on the page just washed over you, his writing is impeccably absolutely amazing.

Elf Child By David Pierce

Russ, a twenty-something-looking gay man, is a changeling...a shape-shifter who will never age, and who, perhaps, will never die. Living a carefree beach life in San Diego, he uses his uncanny abilities to feed his desire for men of all shapes and sizes - but something important is missing...This suspenseful novel unfolds as Russ realizes that his obsession with image has become empty and that what he really needs is a relationship with another man that will encompass more than the satisfaction of his sexual needs. Eric, who has been enjoying all that San Diego has to offer a single young gay man, is also looking for something more. Falling in love with one of Russ's many sexy incarnations, he is blissfully unaware of the supernatural direction his life story is about to take. Still, he can't help thinking that there is something odd, something too good to be true about his new lover...
A fantasy story, along with something rare in contemporary gay fiction - originality.... An entertaining light read with some unusually serious things to say about gay life.
For anyone that enjoys fantasy I would defiantly give this novel a go, especially those into vampire stories this book may just open up your bubble.