Information is courtesy of Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 923-2960; www.giovannisroom.com. Ten-percent off most hardcover in-store sales.
DVDs
GAY 1. “Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom,” directed by Patrik-Ian Polk (2008, 101 min., $24.95 DVD). “Noah’s Arc” is back, and you’re invited to the big wedding! But can Noah and Wade really pull it off? Will Ricky’s sexcapades get the better of him? Can Chance and Eddie stay together? And can Alex stay sane? Get set for a wild wedding weekend of love, laughs, sex and some serious drama. 2. “Were the World Mine,” directed by Tom Gustafson (2008, 95 min., $24.95 DVD). Armed with a magical love potion and empowered by dazzling musical fantasies, struggling with his identity and acceptance, adorable teen Timothy turns his narrow-minded town gay while capturing the heart of Jonathon, the rugby jock of his dreams. 3. “Gods of Football: The Making of the 2009 Calendar,” directed by Grant Carroll (2009, 80 min., $24.95 DVD). Australia’s hottest footballers (rugby players) naked for a cause! Built! Hot! Sexy! And baring it all for breast-cancer research! 4. “Milk,” directed by Gus Van Sant (2008, 121 min., $19.95 DVD). Based on the politically resonant and thoroughly timely screenplay by Dustin Lance Black, Van Sant follows the arc of Milk’s political awakening, from closeted Brooklyn insurance executive to doyen of San Francisco’s Castro district’s burgeoning gay mecca in the 1970s. 5. “Pick Up the Mic: The Evolution of Homohop,” directed by Alex Hinton (2008, $19.95 DVD). 6. “The New Twenty,” directed by Chris Mason Johnson (2008, 92 min., $24.95 DVD). 7. “A Jihad for Love,” directed by Parvez Sharma (2008, 81 min., $24.95 DVD). 8. “Pedro,” directed by Nick Oceano (2008, 93 min., $24.95 DVD). 9. “Paris Is Burning,” directed by Jennie Livingston (2005, 71 min., $29.95 DVD). 10. “Polyester and Dangerous Living,” directed by John Waters (1977, sale $11.85 DVD).
LESBIAN 1. “The Gymnast,” directed by Ned Farr (2006, 98 min., $24.95 DVD). Winner of 28 awards, this is a visually stunning film about hope, second chances and finding the courage to defy gravity. 2. “Stranger Inside,” directed by Cheryl Dunye (2001, 96 min., $9.95 DVD). 3. “Lesbian Sex & Sexuality,” directed by Katherine Linton (2007, 158 min., $29.95 DVD). Takes viewers on an uncharted and provocative journey where the subject of lesbian sexuality and desire isn’t whispered, but celebrated. 4. “Chained Girls and Daughters of Lesbos,” directed by Joseph P. Mawra (1965, 61 min., $9.95 DVD). 5. “She Likes Girls 4: 8 Great Lesbian Short Films,” by various directors (2008, 98 min., $24.95 DVD). 6. “Girl + Girl: Classic Lesbian Short Films,” various directors (2006, 88 min., $19.95 DVD). This wonderfully entertaining batch of lesbian short films showcases long-unavailable film-festival favorites and pioneering works. 7. “The Guitar,” directed by Amy Redford (2008, 93 min., $26.95 DVD). 8. “Vickie Shaw: You Can Take the Girl Out of Texas … ,” stand-up comedy (2008, 59 min., $19.95 DVD). 9. “Gia,” directed by Michael Cristofer (1998, 126 min., $5.95! DVD). Angelina Jolie gives a stunning performance as real-life queer supermodel Gia who lived the wild life of the New York fashion scene in the ’70s. 10. “Mango Kiss,” directed by Sascha Rice (2003, 88 min., $19.95 DVD).
BOOKS
LESBIAN INTEREST 1. “Secrets in Stone,” by Radclyffe (Bold Strokes, $16.95 pb). 2. “The Other Side of Paradise: A Memoir,” by Staceyann Chin (Scribner, $24 hb). From the iconic and charismatic star of Russell Simmons’ “Def Poetry Jam” comes this brave and fiercely candid memoir about growing up in Jamaica by performer, activist and writer Chin. 3. “Choices,” by Skyy (Kings Crossing, $14.95 pb). Skyy’s myriad characters provide readers with yet another enlightening glimpse into the lives of lesbians from all walks of life, and give readers flavor and plenty of options when it comes to identifying with its characters. 4. “Consequences,” by Skyy (Kings Crossing, $15.95 pb). School’s back in session and there’s a lot of unfinished business to handle. As Lena prepares for her wedding day, she can’t help but think about Denise, her sexy b-ball roommate who almost stole her away. 5. “Death of a Dying Man: The Fifth Micky Knight Mystery,” by J.M. Redmann (Bold Strokes, $16.95 pb). 6. “Girl Crazy: Coming Out Erotica,” edited by Sacchi Green (Cleis, $14.95 pb). 7. “Thief of Always,” by Kim Baldwin (Bold Strokes, $15.95 pb). 8. “September Canvas,” by Gun Brooke (Bold Strokes, $16.95 pb). 9. “Tipping the Velvet,” by Sarah Waters (Riverhead, $16 pb). 10. “Dark Garden,” by Jennifer Fulton (Bold Strokes, $16.95 pb).
GAY INTEREST 1. “Deception, Lies and Truth,” by Dwayne Vernon (Norcarjo Publishing, $15 pb). Will prison life change Daunte, and can his relationship with Mia survive after his rape in prison? Reese has a promising NFL career and loving relationship with Mike. Now that the fact that he’s gay is out, will that destroy everything he worked so hard for? Will teammates Antonio and Keith stay by his side or will they betray him? 2. “The Alphabetical List of Would Be Princes,” by Fred Shelly (Lulu, 201 pp., $16 pb). An inventive tale about wanting to hold on and learning to let go; looking for love and allowing love to find you; and figuring out the rules and knowing when to break them. 3. “Bigger Than Life: The History of Gay Porn Cinema From Beefcake to Hardcore,” by Jeff Escoffier (Running Press, 367 pp., $24.95 hb). After the Stonewall riots and the emergence of the gay liberation movement in 1969, a number of entrepreneurs began to make gay adult movies for the new mail-order market. The gay porn film industry grew dramatically during the next 30 years and transformed the way men — gay men in particular — conceived of masculinity and their sexuality. “Bigger Than Life” tells that story. 4. “Object of Desire,” by William Mann (Kensington, 416 pp., $24 hb). From the acclaimed author of “Where the Boys Are” and “The Men From the Boys” comes a compelling new novel that takes readers from the bars of West Hollywood to the glamorous gay world of Palm Springs as it explores sex, aging, obsession and love. 5. “Blind Fall,” by Christopher Rice (Pocket Books, 302 pp., $15 pb). “New York Times”-bestselling author Rice delivers the gripping story of an Iraqi War vet seeking redemption and revenge when one of his fellow Marines is brutally murdered. 6. “The Conversion,” by Joseph Olshan (St. Martin’s Griffin, 304 pp., $14.95 pb). Russell Todaro, a young American translator, moves to Paris to take stock of his life and goals only to further lose himself in the surprising twists fate has in store for him. 7. “No More Tomorrows: Two Lives, Two Stories, One Love,” by Rodney Lofton (Strebor Books, 199 pp., $1 pb). A touching love story of two men (one HIV-Positive, one HIV-Negative) and the impact of living and loving in the age of AIDS. 8. “Hero,” by Perry Moore (Hyperion, 428 pp., $8.99 pb). The executive producer of Disney and Walden Media’s film adaptation of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” tells an unforgettable story about the coming of age of a young superhero, in a groundbreaking novel of love, loss, and redemption. 9. “Vast Fields of Ordinary,” by Nick Burd (Dial Books, 309 pp., $16.99 hb). 10. “My Man, My Boyz,” by Dwayne Vernon (Norcario, $15 pb).