In a time of backlash, this guide to queer writing is invaluable

The Conversation reviews a new guide to queer literature spanning from ancient Mesopotamian epics to contemporary graphic novels, offering readers a rare opportunity to explore the breadth and depth of writing centered on queer identity and experience. The Queer Bookshelf, written by Layla McCay — a London-based psychiatrist and international book club host — traces how queer themes and identities have evolved across millennia of literature. McCay's guide arrives at a moment when book banning is accelerating worldwide, with recent raids in Russia targeting publishers for distributing LGBTQIA+ content and organized removals of books from libraries in the United States and Australia. With its comprehensive appendix of recommended titles across genres and reading levels, reviewers say The Queer Bookshelf is an invaluable resource for discovering books that celebrate and explore queer lives.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton