Information is courtesy of Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960; www.queerbooks.com. Ten-percent off most hardcover in-store sales.
Men’s Books 1. “Americano: Growing Up Gay and Latino in the USA” by Emanuel Xaxier (Rebel Satori, $9.95 pb). These poems are a tribute to freedom and equality from an insider looking out while enjoying a piece of both the apple and lemon merengue pie. 2. “The Last Thing I Saw: A Donald Strachey Mystery” by Richard Stevenson (MLR, $14.99 pb). 3. “Out in Paperback” by Ian Young (MLR, $11.99 pb). More than 100 covers of gay-themed “pulps” published between 1948-98. 4. “The Fall” by Ryan Quinn (AmazonEncore, $14.95 pb). Three college seniors in their pivotal year. 5. “The Bible of Gay Sex” by Stephan Niederwieser (Bruno Gmuender, $39.99 hb, less 10 percent in the store). Everything you wanted to know and more. 6. “Why Are Faggots So Afraid of Faggots? Flaming Challenges to Masculinity, Objectification and the Desire to Conform” by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore (AK, $17.95 pb, $9.99 and Google eBook). An exploration of the perils of assimilation, a call for accountability, a vision for change. A sassy and splintering emergency intervention. 7. “Outback Bushmen” photos by Paul Freeman (self-published, $79.95 hb, less 10 percent in the store). Naked men in bushland and rural settings. 8. “We the Animals” by Justin Torres (Mariner, $12.95 pb and Google eBook). “The kind of book that makes a career.” — Esquire 9. “The Art of Fielding” by Chad Hardwick (Back Bay, $14.99 pb). A college baseball prodigy and his friends. 10. “A Clean Up Man” by M.T. Pope (Urban, $14.95 pb). A gay affair in college leads to a life of promiscuity and dangerous sex — and revenge.
Men’s DVDs 1. “Leave It on the Floor” directed by Sheldon Larry (2011, 107 min., $24.95). An ode to the wild, funky and heart-aching life of the “Paris Is Burning” subculture. 2. “Weekend” directed by Andrew Haigh (2011, 97 min., $29.95). A one-night-stand that develops into a weekend-long idyll for two very different young men. 3. “From Beginning to End” directed by Aluizio Abranches (2011, $14.99). A searing romantic drama set in sun-burnished Brazil about two brothers who love each other. 4. “eCupid” directed by J.C. Calciano (2012, $24.99). Sparkling romantic comedy that takes online dating to the extreme. 5. “Bangkok Love Story” directed by Poj Arnon (2008, $14.99). Steamy Thai nights provide the backdrop for unbridled romance, crime and action as two men unexpectedly brave forbidden love. 6. “Finding Me: Truth” directed by Roger S. Emeus Jr. (2011, 100 min., $17.99). Truth follows the loves, losses, fights, jealousies and broken hearts of a group of friends. 7. “The Boys in the Band” directed by William Friedkin (1970, $26.95). The first film to openly deal with gay issues in a personal, honest and shockingly real fashion. 8. “Funkytown” directed by Daniel Roby (2011, 132 min., $24.95). Life in Montreal’s elite disco world. 9. “A Wedding Most Strange” directed by Trevor Garlick (2012, $24.95). There’s only two weeks left for the recently divorced Danny to remarry and inherit his family’s estate. 10. “Beauty” directed by Oliver Hermanus (2011, $19.99). Francois is a dutiful husband and father but finds himself going through the motions of a loveless marriage while harboring a life-long secret.
Women’s and Trans Books 1. “When Leonard Lost His Spots” by Monique Costa (Dodi, $14.99 pb). Children’s book about a dad who becomes a mom. 2. “The Collection: Short Fiction from the Transgender Vanguard” edited by Tom Léger and Riley MacLeod (Topside, $19.95 pb). Twenty-eight authors from North America represent the future of trans literature. 3. “Israel/Palestine and the Queer International” by Sarah Schulman (Duke, $22.95 pb). Activist and novelist Schulman describes her dawning consciousness of the Palestinian liberation struggle. 4. “Are You My Mother? A Comic Drama” by Alison Bechdel (HMH, $22.95 hb, less 10 percent in the store). A graphic memoir of becoming the artist her mother wanted to be. 5. “Why Are Faggots So Afraid of Faggots? Flaming Challenges to Masculinity, Objectification and the Desire to Conform” by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore (AK, $17.95 pb, $9.99 Google eBook). An exploration of the perils of assimilation, a call for accountability, a vision for change. A sassy emergency intervention. 6. “Ill Will” by R.M. Redman (Bold Strokes, 16.95 pb). The seventh by New Orleans P.I. Micky Knight takes her into the health-care system. 7. “The Floundering Time” by Katey Weselcouch (SLG, $14.95 pb). College seniors in love with an FTM and bad-girl types. 8. “Oath of Honor” by Radclyffe (Bold Strokes, $16.95 pb). Navy Captain Wes Masters is newly posted to head the White House Medical Unit. 9. “Girls Who Score: Hot Lesbian Erotica” by Ily Goyanes (Cleis, $15.95 pb). Girl jocks having fun. 10. “Best Lesbian Romance 2012” edited by Radclyffe (Cleis, $14.95 pb and Google eBook). Over two-dozen titillating tales of lesbian couples taking each other to new heights.
Women’s and Trans DVDs 1. “The Guest House” directed by Michael Baumgarten (2011, 84 min., $24.95). Teen and college grads. 2. “Purple Sea” directed by Donatella Maiorca (2010, $24.95). Love between two women in 19th-century Sicily. 3. “Tomboy” directed by Celine Sciamma (2011, $24.95). Ten-year-old Laure moves to the suburbs and decides to pass as a boy. 4. “Big Lesbian Love: Collector’s Set” (321 min., $34.95). Boxed set of “The Four-Faced Liar,” “My Normal,” “And Then Came Lola” and “Itty Bitty Titty Committee.” 5. “The Owls” directed by Cheryl Dunye (2010, $27.95). What happens when lesbian band members get older? 6. “Edie and Thea: A Very Long Engagement” directed by Susan Muska and Greta Olafsdottir (2010, $24.99). A documentary in which Edie and Thea recount how their improbable romance ignited a lifelong journey around the world and through history. 7. “Sex, Politics and Cocktails” directed by Julien Hernandez (2002, $14.95). Sebastian turns to his soap-opera star friend Daria to guide him through the unfamiliar terrain of West Hollywood. 8. “But I’m a Cheerleader” directed by Jamie Babbit (2000, $14.98). A comedy about teenage girls thought to be lesbian and sent away to be rehabilitated. 9. “Boys Don’t Cry” directed by Kimberly Pierce (1999, $14.95). The tremendously powerful portrait of the life and death of Brandon Teena. 10. “Go Fish” directed by Rose Troche (1994, $14.95). A fun and sexy glimpse into the lives, loves and drama of a cluster of lesbian friends.