10 Lesbian Authors Worth Adding To Your Christmas Book List
Fancy a new book for Christmas but not sure what to get now that you’ve read everything your favourite author has written?
Well how about supporting your fellow lesbian and give one of these authors a go. Ranging from the well known to the not so well known, these ten lesbian authors have the power to scare you to death, make you laugh out loud and a couple might even make you cry.
1. Val McDermid – Fever Of The Bone
Author of over 20 bestselling novels that have sold over 10 million copies, the award winning Val McDermid returned with a new novel this year – Fever Of The Bone.
Featuring Tony Hill as the central character in the book, this novel sees Hill become involved in an investigation of the murder and mutilation of a teenager Jennifer Maidment. Soon realising this isn’t a one off, but an evil and twisted campaign that seems to be targeting random youth, Tony must find out who is doing this, but doing so whilst struggling with ghosts from his past that have risen to haunt him doesn’t make it easy….
(Available from Amazon)
2. Sarah Waters – The Little Stranger
Set in post war Warwickshire, The Little Stranger is a story focused around a Ayres family who have been living in Hundreds Hall House for over two centuries.
Now falling into decline it is inhabited by a mother, son and daughter, a family who struggle not only to keep up their house in one piece, but to keep up with the changing society around them.
Entering into their lives in the The Little Stranger is Dr Faraday who is called to tend to one of the family. Recognising that the Ayres family aren’t your normal family, he soon begins to question if there is something more sinster goin on in this house…
A chilling tale from one of the UK’s top authors, this is the type of book that will make you want to go to sleep with the lights on.
(Available at Amazon)
3. Jeanette Winterson – The Stone Gods
Putting more focus on her writing for children this year has seen nothing released in the adult market by Winterson, but there’s still plenty of classics to chose from, including The Stone Gods. Something of a departure from Jeanette, this book has a sci-fi angle to it and explores how we as a society seem to feel the need to destroy all that we have.
Written in a poetic style in four parts, you are guided through the story by Billie Crusoe, a disillusioned scientist in parts 1,3 and 4, and a sailor in part 2. Sound confusing? Well that’s because this isn’t an ordinary story written in an ordinary way, but if you’re after something a bit different then this could be the book for you.
(Available at Amazon)
4. Ali Smith -The First Person And Other Stories
If there’s one thing that stands out about Ali Smith it’s her ability to pick out those powerful moments from what to everyone else seems mundane and ordinary. And this collection of stories is no different featuring everything from a middle aged woman having a conversation with herself to a supermarket shopper finding a beautiful looking but foul mouth child in her trolley.
Diverse in their content, these stories are all tied together by a common thread of love, warmth and humanity.
(Available from Amazon)
5. Stella Duffy – The Room of Lost Things
Set in a railway arch in Loughborough Junction, South London, The Room of Things follows Robert Sutton as he hands over his thriving dry cleaning business to it’s successor, East Londoner Akeel. Seeing him explain to Akeel how it is less a shop and more of a heart of a community, Robert reveals the secrets and lies hidden with the contents of his customers’ pockets alongside his deep love for a city that he has known all his life.
Full of love not just for people but for the world around him, The Room Of Lost Things is a truly heartwarming read.
(Available from Amazon.)
6. Charlotte Mendelson – When We Were Bad
Another author who didn’t get round to releasing anything this year was Charlotte Mendelson, but we’re going to forgive her that because she’s got some darn good books out there that are definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already.
And top of our list is When We Were Bad : A Novel.
Featuring Claudia Rubin, a wife, mother, rabbi and occasional moral voice to the nation, as the main character, this story is focused around the wedding of her older son, and how everyone wants to be by her side.
Well that is until he becomes a bolter and the whole family quickly starts to fall apart.
(Available from Amazon)
7. Jackie Kay – The Lamplighter
Taking up on a journey right to the heart of slavery, The Lamplighter is not only an epic poem but also a radio play that comes included as a CD.
Following four women and one man, this is a book that leaves nothing out, going from the fort to the slave ship, exploring life on the plantations, the growth of the British city and the industrial revolution that followed. Seeing the characters have to sell their children, their bodies and be beaten to within an inch of their lives, this book may not be an easy read, but is definitely an enlightening one.
(Available from Amazon)
8. Manda Scott – The Crystal Skull
Ancient wisdom is predicting the world, with uncanny precision, is coming to an end. However there is one thing that can stop this apocalypse – a crystal skull that has been found by Stella Cody. Inheriting not only it, but the legacy of secrets, intrigue and murder, Stella and her lover Kit must work to crack the code before time runs out for them, and the world as a whole.
Taking them on a journey from Cambridge University to the wilderness of England’ prehistoric stone circles, this book has hooked many a reader before you and we’re pretty sure it’s going to do the same for you.
(Available from Amazon)
9. Karen McLeod – In Search Of The Missing Eyelash
Definitely deserving of the wackiest book title ever, this book follow Lizzie, a lonely woman whose parents have gone and whose brother (who thinks he’s a woman) has gone missing. Missing them deeply, there is however someone she misses more – her former lover Sally who has gone off with a fat necked man.
Deciding the best cause of action is to stalk Sally and steal everything from bathroom fluff to dust and pubes from her bed, Lizzy only aims to reveal to herself that life is going on, and it’s only her standing stell.
Heartbreaking and hilarious this is a book guaranteed to take you on a rollercoaster of emotions.
(Available from Amazon)
10. Gerri Hill - No Strings
Police chief Reese Daniels has been moved from the busy world of Winter Park to the sleepy Lake City in Colorado. Always one to give 100%, Daniels promises to give nothing less, but it’s clear this for her is nothing but a blip in her life.
And she’s prepared to stick to it, even after meeting M Z Morgan, a forest ranger who is quite content with the lack of dating material because it’s all about the place and people for her.
Well that’s what they try to tell each other as they strike a “no strings” bargain. I mean what does it matter if it’s the best sex they’ve ever had, and it’s only getting better. It’s only temporary isn’t it…
(Available from Amazon)
