Gay Philly Picks Some of Their Favorite Summer Reads

Summer is here, and it’s a great time to pick up a book to enjoy while lounging at Rittenhouse Park or while soaking up the sun at Rehoboth.  We surveyed several gay Philadelphians on their favorite reading suggestions to form our big gay book list.  Trust me: it’s a lot better than all of that required summer reading from high school!

Gay Philly Summer Reading Picks

The Book of Laughter and Forgetting by Milan Kundera

"Milan Kundera's work, full of echoes of magic realism, ponders the nature of forgetting. In it's seven separate narratives it explores the theme across politics, history, and in general. They range from philosophical to historical, from biographical to novella. And get this, the last of the seven is an orgy! "--Joseph Hallman, Composer.

Secret by Jonathan Hickman

"I try to read everything Hickman does. His work blends social theory with compelling stories. I've even used one of his books in a class at Temple. This is his latest. I haven't finished it but I'm loving it so far."--Dustin Kidd, Professor, Temple University

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

"This non-fiction book reads like a suspense novel; it tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor black tobacco farmer, whose cells were extracted without her permission. These cells, better known as HeLa, became a multi-billion dollar industry. Meanwhile, her family still lives in poverty outside of Baltimore, unable to get health insurance. This read will anger you and compel you take action."--Bryan Buttler, G Philly Contributor.

Marvel Comics: The Untold Story by Sean Howe

"I am a huge comic book fan, but this really sheds light into the historical importance of comic books in media. Marvel's story isn't just about superheros and mutants; its about junk bonds, Carl Icahn, hostile takeovers, bad movie deals, lay-offs, royalties, sudden deaths, heart breaks, and most of all, the unparalleled spirit of creativty that gave birth to some of the world's most well-known legends."--Matthew Ray, Co-Founder, Chatterblast

Night by Elie Wiesel

"I always loved Wiesel's quotes, so I figured I should read one of his books. He's a Holocaust survivor and the book gave me an inside view of what happened during the atrocities that took place."--Michael Cullen, kitchen designer.

Closet: A Todd Mills Mystery by R. D. Zimmerman

"I love this series. Todd Mills is the main character and is a reporter. The author combines my love of suspense with gay characters."--Barry Eichner, Barry Eichner Consulting and G Philly contributor

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini

"I am enthralled by this book because it explores the nuances in communication most people do not take the time to learn. When applied to business life, these nuances can make or break the success of your marketing campaign - ultimately determining the success of the organization. When applied to personal situations, it can make the difference between bagging that cutie at the bar or waking up alone for another Sunday brunch."--Christina Ferraz, G Philly contributor