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DVDs Gay Men’s 1. “A Single Man,” directed by Tom Ford (2009, 99 min., $24.95). Set in Los Angeles in 1962, this is the story of George Falconer, a British college professor (Colin Firth), struggling to find meaning to his life after the death of his longtime partner, Jim. 2. “Rag Tag,” directed by Adaora Nwandu (2009, 98 min., $29.95). A moving story of two childhood friends who, when they meet again as adults, realize there is more than friendship between them. Many obstacles, however, challenge their deep love. 3. “The History Boys,” directed by Nicholas Hytner (2006, 112 min., $9.85). The price accounts for this splendid drama reappearing on our best-seller list. 4. “Raging Sun, Raging Sky,” directed by Julian Hernandez (2009, 191 min., $19.95). Kieri and Ryo, two handsome Mexican young men, have an unquestioning love for each other — a love that gives meaning to their lives and is expressed through intense explicit sexual bonding. But Ryo is abducted. (Spanish with subtitles.) 5. “Soundless Wind Chime,” directed by Kit Hung (2009, 110 min., $19.95). Elegant and moving, the love story of Pascal and Ricky has been woven into this gorgeous tapestry of a film. (Cantonese, with subtitles.) 6. “Sordid Lives,” directed by Del Shores (2001, 111 min., $9.98). Hilarious East Tex cutups. See, too, the just-released “Sordid Lives,” the TV series (2009, 366 min., $35), a black comedy about white trash.
Women’s 1. “Hannah Free,” directed by Wendy Jo Carlton (2010, 86 min., $24.95). A feature film about the lifelong love affair between an independent spirit and the woman she calls home. Weaving between past and present, the story reveals how the women maintain their love affair despite a marriage, a world war, infidelity and family denial. 2. “And Then Came Lola,” directed by Ellen Seidler and Megan Siler (2009, 70 min., $24.95). This wonderfully fun and sexy lesbian romp takes a tour through the streets of San Francisco as photographer Lola races to get to a crucial meeting on time. 3. ‘The Lovers & Friends Show, Season 2,” directed by Charmain Johnson (2009, 163 min., $19.95). All the thrilling and sexy women are in trouble, again. 4. “Murder.com,” directed by Rex Piano (2010, 85 min., $24.95). Stacey and Laura, two of South Beach’s most promising lawyers, accept awards at a company banquet, but Stacey’s contentment is cut short by the news that her estranged sister has been strangled to death. 5. “I Can’t Think Straight,” directed by Shamim Sharif (2008, 80 min., $24.95). This popular South Asian drama features two women who fall in love on the eve of one woman’s wedding. One must decide whether to stay true to her culture or to her heart.
Books Multiple Interest 1. “If I Should Die Under the Knife, Tell My Kidney I Was the Fiercest Poet Around,” by J. Mase III ($15). Losing a kidney was never as fun, raunchy and queertastic as it is in Mase’s debut. 2. “Balancing on the Mexhitza: Transgender in the Jewish Community,” edited by Noach Dzmura (North Atlantic, 288 pp., $16.95 pb). The contributors — activists, theologians, scholars and other transgender Jews — share theoretical contemplations, as well as rites-of-passage and other transformative stories, for the first time in a printed volume.
Women’s 1. “Bobby Blanchard, Lesbian Gym Teacher,” by Monica Nolan (Kensington, 269 pp., $15 pb). From the author of “Lois Lenz: Lesbian Secretary” comes another hilarious, campy send-up packed with sex, mystery and boarding-school hijinks. 2. “Mean Little Deaf Queer,” by Terry Galloway (Beacon, 248 pp., $15 new in pb). With disarming candor, Galloway writes about her mental breakdowns, her queer identity and living in a silent, quirky world populated by unforgettable characters. 3. “Little Stranger,” by Sarah Waters (Riverhead Trade, 528 pp., $16 new in pb). Dr. Faraday is called to a patient at the home of the Ayres family. Its owners — mother, son and daughter — are struggling to keep pace with a changing society, as well as with conflicts of their own. 4. “I Told You So,” by Kate Clinton (Beacon, 189 pp., $15 pb). A hilarious, bittersweet, politically acute survival guide in which Clinton gleefully details personal coping techniques tested over a lifetime. 5. “Tipping the Velvet,” by Sarah Waters (Riverhead, 472 pp., $16 pb). This stunning and steamy debut chronicles the adventures of Nan King, a small-town girl at the turn of the century whose life takes a wild turn when she follows a local music-hall star to London.
Gay Men’s 1. “In My Father’s House,” by E. Lynn Harris (St. Martin’s, 304 pp., $24.99 hb, less 10 percent in the store). Before he died last year, Harris wrote this bang-up first installment to a projected series about a bisexual owner of a Miami modeling agency. 2. “Probation,” by Tom Mendicino (Kensington Press, 304 pp., $15 pb). Mendicino explores how a closeted gay man’s decision to marry impacts his life and the people he loves, and what happens when the lies unravel. 3. “Spore,” by Thom Nickels (StarBooks, 238 pp., $16.95 pb). Science fiction set in Philadelphia! 4. “What We Remember,” by Michael Thomas Ford (Kensington, 362 pp., $15 new in pb). Award-winning author Ford returns with his most ambitious novel to date, in which a father’s disappearance has a profound effect on his three children and causes secrets and lies to be exposed. 5. “Visible Lives: Three Stories in Tribute to E. Lynn Harris,” by Terrance Dean, Stanley Bennett Clay and James Earl Hardy (Kensington, 342 pp., $15 pb). In a powerful tribute to best-selling author and literary icon Harris, best-selling authors and friends Dean, Hardy and Clay honor him with sexy, original novellas in the genre he helped create — groundbreaking stories of black, gay men searching for love in a taboo world. 4. “The Road Home,” by Michael Thomas Ford (Kensington, 248 pp., $24 hb). The award-winning author of “What We Remember” and “Changing Tides” portrays the modern gay experience in a moving story of love, family and finding one’s place in the world. 5. “Insignificant Others,” by Stephen McCauley (Simon & Schuster, 256 pp., $25 hb). What do you do when you discover your spouse has an insignificant other? How about when you realize your own insignificant other is becoming more significant than your spouse? There are no easy answers to these questions, but McCauley makes exploring them a literary delight.