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. “We the Animals” by Justin Torres (Mariner, $12.95 pb). ‘We the Animals’ is a dark jewel of a book. It’s heartbreaking. It’s beautiful. It resembles no other book I’ve read.”— Michael Cunningham 2. “For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide, When the Rainbow Is Still Not Enough: Coming of Age, Coming Out and Coming Home” by Keith Boykin (Magnus, $15.95 pb). Addresses longstanding issues of sexual abuse, suicide, HIV/AIDS, racism and homophobia in the African-American and Latino communities, and more specifically among young gay men of color. 3. “Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin (Delta, $14 pb). We think the resurgence of our eponymous book is due to the rebroadcast of the excellent documentary about Baldwin on PBS last month. The edition we have been selling for the past 13 years is suddenly out of print. A new edition is due this month. 4. “Necessary Errors” by Caleb Crain (Penguin, $16 pb, $9.99 ebook). Captures the lives and romances of young expatriate Americans in newly democratic Prague in 1990. 5. “The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man’s World” by Alan Downs (DaCapo, $15.99 pb, $10.79 ebook). As PGN says, “This book has remarkable staying power.” 6. “Crimes on Latimer: The Early Cases of Marco Fontana” by Joseph R.G. DeMarco (Lethe, $18 pb, $6.99 ebook). These half-dozen crime tales open a window onto Fontana’s world in Philadelphia before he found himself dealing with the events of “Murder on Camac.” 7. “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 in Philadelphia, he doesn’t find the peaceful retreat he expected. 8. “Monarch Season” by Mario Lopez-Cordero (Magnus, $19.99 pb. $9.99 ebook). A brisk, breezy beach read. 9. “Like Light for Flies: Stories” by Lee Thomas (Lethe, $18 pb, $8.99 ebook). These 12 tales of psychological suspense and horror mix heart, brains and balls. 10. “The Fallen Snow” by John J. Kelley (Stone Cabin, $15.95 pb). A soldier returns from WWI France to his Virginia mountain home to face his war demons and to deal with a secret.
Men’s DVDs
1. “Beyond the Walls,” directed by David Lambert (2012, 98 min., $24.95). When Paulo, a young pianist, meets Ilir, a lone bass player, it’s love at first sight. 2. “I Do,” directed by Glenn Gaylord (2012, 91 min., $24.95). A gay Brit living in New York is deprived of his immigration status and risks losing his family and life in the U.S. 3. “Bottom: A Documentary Film,” directed by Todd Verow (2013, 76 min., $19.95). This film is based on the personal blog. 4. “Loose Cannons,” directed by Ferzan Ozpetek (2010, 110 min., $19.95). A heartwarming comedy about family, business and coming out. Italian with subtitles. 5. “Yossi, aka Yossi and Jagger 2,” directed by Eytan Fox (2012, 85 min., $27.95). The long-awaited sequel to “Yossi and Jagger” about Yossi’s life after Jagger’s death. 6. “The Seminarian,” directed by Joshua Lim (101 min., $24.99). Ryan is a closeted gay student in his final semester of seminary studies. 7. “Finding Me: Truth,” directed by Roger S. Omeus, Jr. (2011, 100 min., $17.98). “Truth” explores the depth and intimacy of friendships, the uncertain path of life and how our decisions are forged in the midst of it all. 8. “Behind the Candelabra,” directed by Steven Soderbergh (2013, 118 min., $19.98). Oscar winners Michael Douglas and Matt Damon star as the legendary Liberace and his young lover. 9. “My Brother, the Devil,” directed by Sally el Hosaini (2012, 111 min., $19.95). Arabic brothers in London. 10. “Des/Esperando,” directed by Erick Salas Kirchhausen (2010, 73 min., $24.95). This sizzling romance is about the lust we have and the entrapment of the lives we can’t leave behind. Spanish with subtitles.
Women’s and Trans Books
1. “Feminism in Philadelphia: The Glory Years: 1968-1982” by Karen Bojar (CreateSpace, $15 pb). Interweaves the history of feminism in Philadelphia with the broad themes and trajectory of the “second wave” feminist movement. 2. “Broken in Soft Places” by Fiona Zedde (Bold Strokes, $16.95 pb, $9.99 ebook). As college girlfriends, Sara and Rille’s relationship had been incendiary. 3. “Tipping the Velvet” by Sarah Waters (Riverhead, $16 pb, $12.99 ebook). An erotic, lushly detailed historical novel set in late Victorian England. 4. “Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches” by Audre Lorde (Crossing, $16.99 pb, $14.99 ebook). In this charged collection of 15 essays and speeches, Lorde takes on sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia and class. 5. “Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison” by Piper Kerman (Spiegal & Grau, $16 pb, $11.99 ebook). The well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187–424, one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system. 6. “She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders” by Jennifer Finney Boylan (Broadway, $14.95 pb, $11.99 ebook). By turns hilarious and deeply moving, the author explores the territory that lies between men and women, examines changing friendships, and rejoices in the redeeming power of family. 7. “Being Emily” by Rachel Gold (Bella, $15.95 pb, $9.99 ebook). They say that whoever you are it’s OK: You were born that way. Those words don’t comfort Emily, as she was born Christopher and her insides know that her outsides are all wrong. 8. “And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Richardson (Simon & Schuster, $17.99 hb, $12.99 ebook). In the zoo, there are all kinds of animal families. But Tango’s family is not like any of the others. 9. “Outlaw Marriages: The Hidden Histories of Fifteen Extraordinary Same-Sex Couples” by Rodger Streitmatter (Beacon, $16 pb, $16.79 ebook). Among them are Nobel Peace Prize-winner Jane Addams and Mary Rozet Smith, literary icon Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. 10. “Who’s in a Family?” by Robert Skutch and Laura Nienhaus (Tricycle, $7.99 pb). Why, the people who love you the most!
Women’s and Trans DVDs
1. “Cloudburst,” directed by Thom Fitzgerald (2011, 93 min., $24.95). Co-stars Oscar-winning actors Brenda Fricker and Olympia Dukakis as Dot and Stella, a crackerjack lesbian couple on the run from a nursing home. You’ll laugh so hard you’ll cry! 2. “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. 3. “How to Survive a Plague,” directed by David France (2012, 109 min., $29.95). The story of the brave young men and women of ACT UP who successfully reversed the tide of an epidemic.