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. “Pirate Passions” by Robert Bringston (Gmuender, $17.99 pb). Plymouth, 1586: Stormy adventures on the high seas. After his parents’ untimely death, Tom is sent by his uncle on a long sea journey. He’s soon inducted into the erotic rituals of the men of the British fleet. 2. “The Martin Duberman Reader: The Essential Historical, Biographical and Autobiographical Writings” by Martin Duberman (New Press, $21.95 pb). 3. “They Call Me a Hero: A Memoir of My Youth” by Daniel Hernandez (Simon & Schuster, $17.99 hb, $9.99 eBook). Hernandez helped save the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and his life experience is a source of true inspiration in this heartfelt memoir. 4. “Full Frontal: To Make a Long Story Short” by Tom Baker (iUniverse, $10.95 pb, $3.49 eBook). In 1957, Tim Halladay, a caddie at the Long Shore Country Club, is looking forward to beginning eighth grade at Assumption School. Tim and his best friend and fellow caddie, Jimmy, are oblivious to the fact that they are slowly transforming into young men with secret desires. 5. “The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde, edited by Nicholas Frankel (Belknap, $12.95 pb, $9.39 Kobo eBook). This volume restores material, including instances of graphic homosexual content, removed by the novel’s first editor. 6. “A Body on Pine” by Joseph R.G. DeMarco (Lethe, $18 pb, $8.99 eBook). When Marco Fontana enters his friend’s spa on Pine Street, down the street from Giovanni’s Room, he doesn’t find the peaceful retreat he expected. 7. “Great Speeches on Gay Rights,” edited by James Daley (Dover, $3.50 pb, $3.99 Kobo eBook). The voice of the gay-rights movement from its clandestine beginnings in the late 1800s through the current fight for marriage equality.
Women’s books 1. “Seriously, I’m Kidding” by Ellen DeGeneres (Running Press Miniature Editions, $5.99 hb, $12.99 eBook). An abridged edition. Ellen talks about the secret of life, how to be a supermodel and much more! 2. “My Beloved World” by Sonia Sotomayor (Knopf, $27.95 hb, less 10 percent in the store, $12.99 eBook). Autobiography of the first Hispanic and third woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court. 3. “I Am J” by Cris Beam (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, $8.99 pb, $7.99 eBook). J had always felt different. He was certain that eventually everyone would understand who he really was: a boy mistakenly born as a girl. 4. “My Princess Boy” by Cheryl Kilodavis (Aladdin, $15.99 hb, $10.38 eBook). Dyson loves pink sparkly things. Sometimes he wears dresses. Sometimes he wears jeans. He likes to wear his princess tiara, even when climbing trees. He’s a Princess Boy. 5. “Who’s in a Family?” by Robert Skutch and Laura Nienhaus (Tricycle, $7.99 pb). Family is important, but who’s in a family? Why, the people who love you the most! 6. “Dirty Greek: Everyday Slang from ‘What’s Up?’ to ‘F*%# Off!’” by Cristos Samaras (Ulysses, $10 pb, $7.69 eBook). Cool things to say for all casual situations: shopping, parties, nightclubs, sporting events and even romance and sex. 7. “Love and Money: Queers, Class and Cultural Production” by Lisa Henderson (NYU, $23 pb). We can’t understand contemporary queer cultures without looking through the lens of social class.
Men’s DVDs 1. “Mixed Kebab,” directed by Guy Lee Thys (2012, 86 min., $19.95). Happily filled with contradictions, tall, dark and handsome Bram lives a mysterious life in Antwerp that is very different from his conservative, religious upbringing. 2. “The Endless Possibility of Sky,” directed by Todd Verow (85 min., $19.95). Portrays the physical and emotional tolls of addiction(s) and the trauma they can cause. 3. “Yossi, aka Yossi and Jagger 2,” directed by Eytan Fox (2012, 85 min., $27.95). The long-awaited sequel to “Yossi and Jagger” exploring Yossi’s life after Jagger’s death. 4. “I Want Your Love,” directed by Travis Mathews (71 min., $24.99). One man’s last weekend in the city he loves, San Francisco. 5. “D’Agostino,” directed by Jorge Ameer (117 min., $24.95). A thriller set in Santorini, Greece. 6. “Clapham Junction,” directed by Adrian Shergold (2007, 120 min., $24.95). After another man falls victim to a violent gay-bashing incident, the homosexual community of Clapham Junction comes together to bring the assailants to justice. 7. “Any Day Now,” directed by Travis Fine (2012, 97 min., $24.95). Two men are forced to fight a biased legal system to save the life of the child they have come to love as their own.
Women’s DVDs 1. “Kiss Me,” directed by Alexandra-Therese Keining (2011, 105 min., $24.95). Winner of Best Movie in the AfterEllen.com 2012 Visibility Awards. Swedish, with subtitles. 2. “Edie and Thea: A Very Long Engagement,” directed by Susan Muska and Greta Olafsdottir (2010, $24.99). Documentary of a 40-year relationship, culminating in marriage. 3. “Making Grace,” directed by Catherine Gund (2005, 86 min., $24.95). A lesbian couple discovers the process of creating a family — from selecting a sperm donor and determining who will carry the baby to Lamaze classes, the baby shower and figuring out how to explain “two mommies” to their nieces and nephews. 4. “But I’m a Cheerleader” directed by Jamie Babbit (2000, 83 min., $14.98). Everybody’s favorite comedy. 5. “Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love,” directed by Maria Maggenti (1995, 94 min., $7.95). A terrific teen lesbian story about the love between poor white tomboy Randy and her affluent African-American classmate Evie. 6. “If These Walls Could Talk 2,” directed by Anne Heche, et al. (2000, 96 min., $9.95). The classic three-part HBO drama starring Vanessa Redgrave, Sharon Stone, Ellen DeGeneres, Chloe Sevigny and Michelle Williams. A trio of stories about lesbian couples in three different decades.