Thursday 4 December 2014

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LGBT Reading Challenge: End of Year Survey

Cayce of Fighting Dreamer has created a mini-survey for the LGBT Reading Challenge as the year is drawing to a close. So here are my answers about the LGBTQ YA novels I've read this year, and those I'm hoping to read in 2015.

LGBT YA Reading Challenge1. Number of YA LGBT books you have read in 2014:

18. There are still a few weeks left to go before the end of this year, but I don't think there will be any more LGBTQ YA novels read. But I think 18 is pretty good, considering before last year, I hadn't really read any. You can see a list of all the LGBTQ YA novels I've read this year on my Reading Challenges page.

2. Top 3 YA LGBT you read this year:

Hmm. I really want to say the first three books of The Rain Wild Chronicles by Robin Hobb (The Dragon Keeper, Dragon Haven, City of Dragons), but they're not technically YA. I feel there's strong crossover appeal for the stories, considering there are a group of teenagers who are major characters, but for the most part, the LGBTQ element of the story is an adult one, so I'm not sure this would count for this question? In which case I will say:

Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin - An absolutely wonderful, incredibly powerful and undeniably moving story of an intersex boy. Narrated by various characters, this story is unforgettable.

Far From You by Tess Sharpe - The story of a girl trying to work out who murdered her best friend, who she was in love with. A wonderful murder mystery/bisexual love story, that also deals with addiction.

Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine - A Romeo and Juliet retelling from Benvolio's point of view. Mercutio is gay, and his sexuality is pivotal to the plot. Fantastic story!

3. YA LGBT book you recommended the most to other readers in 2014:

By word of mouth, or social media, I would say Golden Boy, and Alex As Well by Alyssa Brugman, another intersex story, this time about a girl. Some people have had some issues with this book, but I myself really enjoyed it. I know of maybe one person who read Golden Boy on my recommendation on Twitter. Otherwise, I don't know if people read the books or not.

I don't know if it counts or not, but I wrote a staff review for the bookshop I work in for Golden Boy, and that seems to have helped sales.

4. YA LGBT book you are most likely to re-read next year:

Next year, none, probably. Too soon to be picking them up again next year. But generally? Golden Boy and Prince of Shadows, I think.

5. YA LGBT that you keep meaning to read, but still haven't:

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirsten Cronn-Mills, for the simple fact that I haven't yet fancied it. I'm looking forward to reading it at some point, but it hasn't yet been the right time to pick it up and enjoy properly. I'd feel like I'm reading it because I felt I had to, rather than because I wanted to. I'll wait until I'm in the right frame of mind.

6. YA LGBT that totally surprised you:

Prince of Shadows, because I didn't see that coming. Far From You, because I'm not generally in to crime novels, and I thought the drug addiction was related to illegal drugs rather than medication, and both aspects put me off. It was recommended to me over and over though, so I finally relented. And I loved it!

7. Favorite debut or new to you YA LGBT author of 2014:

It's going to be Abigail Tarttelin (new-to-me) and Tess Sharpe (debut).

8. Best YA LGBT cover(s) of 2014:

I'm picking three.

Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine  Far From You by Tess Sharpe

Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis

I really like the cover for Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis, but I didn't like the book, sadly - about a boy who, when he closes his eyes, see's out of the eyes of a bisexual girl in a different world.

9. Favorite YA LGBT review/post:

Um. I'm quite proud of my Golden Boy review?

10. 2015 release(s) you are most excited about:

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson and Marly's Ghost by David Levithan (which is coming out in the UK for the first time in 2015, but UK edition is not yet on Goodreads) - it may not be LGBTQ, though. The premise sounds like it's a cis-gendered straight relationship. But with Levithan, I think I'm safe in saying there might be some LGBTQ characters in the story anyway. I haven't yet heard of any others. Feel free to recommend some to me (traditionally published, please!).

So, there we have it. Some repetitions there, sorry. What would your answers to these questions be? :)

4 comments:

  1. Really interesting survey! It made me curious to see how many books I'd read this year that would count towards the challenge. It turned out to be 14, which isn't too bad. Perhaps I'll try to do more to focus myself next year and read even more :)

    Absolutely adore Far From You! Some of my favourites this year were Shadowplay, Starring Kitty, and Ask the Passengers.

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    1. Cayce from Niji Feels (previously Fighting Dreamer) is hosting the LGBT Reading Challenge again next year, if you're interested :)

      I've not read the your favourites, I'm afraid. Still have to read Shadowplay, Ask the Passengers sounds SO good, but I don't really fancy Starring Kitty. :/

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  2. I think 18 is really, really good, Jo! :)

    And why do I have a feeling I have already commented here? Anyway, I'm currently reading Alex As Well (it's my 'bus read' to and fro work and it's now holidays), about 1/3 in and can't wait to see how it ends~

    The Art of Being Normal!! So, so looking forward to read that book. Just a few more days and it'll be out!! Yay!!

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  3. Thank you! Though I think it's a few more now. I read some LGBTQ YA novels that I didn't realise were LGBTQ YA until I read them, so a few more :)

    Oooh, I hope you enjoy it! I really liked it!

    SO looking forward to The Art of Being Normal! Looks so good!

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