Today is free topic at Top 5 Tuesday the weekly meme hosted by Shanah @bionicbookworm
Confession: I’ve been sucker punched by a book today: The Silver Cage by Anonymous
I plan on reviewing it tomorrow.
I don’t want to give much details about the plot just know that it will talk about a love story between two men.
It was written in such way that I did not see it as gay men but just two people in love. Yet it had many graphic sex scenes. Something that made me cringe in my first “M/M” read but that did not bother me here.
I had an epiphany.
My view on these “LGBTQ” stories had changed.
I did not see it anymore as two people from the same gender having a love/sexual affair.No.
I see it for what it intrisically is: a love story.
You don’t get to choose to love a gender. You just love a person.
Granted some people will only be attracted by people from the same gender and others by the opposite sex.
But even if you are attracted by your gender you will never sleep in the biblical sense with everyone from your gender. You will be attracted and fall in love with a person. Not all persons.
Often people ask me if it does not bother me that some of my colleagues are lesbians. I always answer: “Why should I be worried?”
They won’t spring on me like a starved animal for God’s sake! They are not in love with me. And even if they were I can say no and they would respect it.
I’ve never suffered from homo phoebia but now thanks to these books I don’t even want to speak about LGBTQ books. I don’t want to give them such label. I don’t want to reduce these books to a “genre”. Because that’s not what they are. The gender is not important.
These are truly extraordinary love stories. That’s how I see them now.
The first one is Wolfsong by TJ Klune. Masterpiece of emotions and deeply poetic.
The second one is A Charm of Finches by Suanne Laqueur. Powerful. Destroyer of light and life bringer.
The third one is The Silver Cage by Anonymous. Sucker punch.
The fourth and fifth ones I have yet to read: the Captive Prince series by CS Pacat and Everyday History by Alice Archer.
What is your opinion on this matter? Do you get why I don’t want to put label anymore? Feel free to disagree 😉
Thanks for reading and happy Tuesday!
Sophie
OMG I love this topic!!!!!!!!! I’m adding this to the list of topics I want to do. I know it will be a repeat for you but there are so many couples to talk about – I’m sure you can find more lol!!
Bwahahaha yes m’am I’ll find some more LOL Thank you Shanah! I hope that you are feeling much better now <3
I definitely agree that LGTB+ love stories are love stories just the same! I also know a gay author who feels the same way you do and doesn’t categorize his books as LGBT+ even though the MC is gay. I completely get why and would never tell anyone how they should label their own books or what to use on their blog! But I still use labels on my blog because I know that diversity can be hard to find, and some people are searching for these kinds of books, so I want to make them easier to find 🙂 You have me intrigued about some of these books! I love some of TJ Klune’s other books and may read Wolfsong at some point. And I loved the Captive Prince series!
I understand the need to use label as you said because people sometimes look after diverse books so yes I’ll refer them somehow as MM but what I meant is that I don’t want to see them as that anymore 😉 And yes please read Wolfsong!
I totally agree with your philosophy and this is a great list! I loved the Captive Prince trilogy! It’s one of my favorite series! Damen and Laurent are one of my favorite OTP’s. I hope you enjoy the series! 🙂
Thank you so much Raven! Fingers crossed 😉
I definitely agree that LGBTQ+ books are just love stories with different sexualities and should be read as a love story first than any character’s sexual preferences. I’m glad these five books helped you change your view and come up with such a good thought. I unfortunately haven’t read any of these but I’m sure they’ll be amazing which is why they’re definitely going to my TBR 😀 Also, I understand how people think of queer people to be more evidently ‘sexual’ (even if they are asexual *eye roll*) and wonder if they feel everything for every gender they prefer. Like, duh, no! It’s just the gender than changes, not the feelings that make up love. I loved this post, Sophie! <3
Thank you so much Fanna!!!! <3 I'm happy that these books are now on your TBR ;-)
Superb post, Sophie. Well said!
Thank you so much Paula! <3
I agree that LGBQTIA+ books shouldn’t have to be separated from the genres. If it’s romance then it’s romance! The industry needs to learn to normalize diverse books. Although, as a POC I’m always grateful to see reviews that indicate if there’s a poc in a book so it’s personally important for me to specify the rep in such books so that readers looking too see themselves represented in books could see my reviews and find their next read!
You make a valid point Adri. Yes if people are looking to have gay or lesbian hero they should be able to spot them of course. What I meant is that I don’t see them as man loves man or w loves w but just love stories.
The only one I’ve read is Wolfsong, and bro it’s so crazy good. Rereading for life. I’m not able to carve time out to start with A Charm of Finches but I’ve heard so much about it by this point that I might die if I don’t start it
Ari I swear I will hold your hand! Whatever the hour
Javi and Pinzon!!!! I think of them every single day. They are THE couple for me. I love them so much. But yeah, I get what you say. My first MM book I think was Qhuinn and Blay’s story of the Black Dagger Brotherhood and I was really disappointed because their romance in general was not as epic as I’d expected. Aaaanyway, I love MM stories. I may even prefer it to FM at times. It’s like… it’s very unlikely for me to give a low rating to a MM book, I think mostly because the issues in the book and the drama come from outside sources, which is something I prefer in books. The second I read, and loved, was Trent and Drew’s story in the Gearshark series (Luv these guys!). And do we want to talk about Wes and Jamie from Him by Bowen?!
Have you read Him, Sophie?
Not yet Talia! But it’s been recommended a thousand times! So I’ll need to one day. Peer pressure and all
Again, I totally agree with you Sophie! My son is in fact gay. He’s known for several years but just recently told my hubby and I when he started dating another boy. He was nervous to tell us but both my hubby and I made it clear to him that we love him just the way he is and we just want him to be happy and proud of the person he is. I don’t like to label either but I agree with Lover of Romance…I use them just to inform my readers that it may not be a genre they like to read to read. Though, why it’s a separate genre from romance, I’m not sure. It should be a subgenre like paranormal, I think! Anyway, great post!
Trisy your son is lucky. Unfortunately not all parents are as understanding as you are. When my kids were young I began firts by explaining that some people love people from the same gender and never to mock them as they were like you and me. Some good some bad.
Then when they were around 12 I told them that if they were gay or lesbian they could tell me. That I honestly would need some time to get used to it because we know it will be more difficult for them as everyone is not tolerant. Plus you have to grieve ypur hope of having flesh and blood grand children mainly ( side note my daughter is determined to adopt anyway ). But that I loved them as they were. That their happiness was the most important and that others would be mean to them so the family would always be their safe haven.
Thank you Sophie, we’ve also talked to him about what others my say or do…unfortunately, it’s the world we live in.
I know Trisy and it saddens me.
This is definitely a great philosophy. I think the only reason I put a label on them is for my readers because some of my readers don’t prefer to read these ( I don’t judge) but I like to keep them informed. But in my opinion Love is love right? Plus I have a cousin who is gay and I admire him so much.
I think the authors that have written great books are Suzanne Brockmann (she was my first introduction and she wrote a few books in her Troubleshooter series and this was before gay rights were established at all and she received a ton of negative interaction because of it. But her characters were so FANTASTIC and she made them seem so normal and real and opened my eyes when I was just a teen. Also other authors that have done a great job are Laura Kaye, Kate Meader, Megan Erickson.
Great post.
Thank you! And yes I get that some people would not want to read them as everyone has his own taste and that must be respected. Indeed announcing that it concerns MM or FF is important to avoid misuderstanding. Simply my view has changed.
This is definitely a great philosophy. I think the only reason I put a label on them is for my readers because some of my readers don’t prefer to read these ( I don’t judge) but I like to keep them informed. But in my opinion Love is love right? Plus I have a cousin who is gay and I admire him so much.
Great post.
Beautiful!
Thank you Roda!
I think you’re so right on this one, Sophie. It shouldn’t be about labeling something LGBT, it should be about normalizing these books as much as possible and really allowing them to permeate the romance genre without making them sound like this special snowflake thing people will either love or be disgusted by. It’s just another love story 🙂
Exactly Sophie It’s love and it’s the most important emotion. So much would be better if we loved more and if we would be kind to others whatever our differences.
I’ve not heard of any of these Sophie! It’s such a great list to check out. And your philosophy is to be admired! My brother gets hit on a lot, lol, and he always just graciously declines. ♥️
Thank you Dani! And now we need a pic of your brother He must be kind and gorgeous!