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Flavorwire's 50 Essential Works of LGBT Fiction

From the Original Description:
Here's the thing: "LGBT" is not a genre, but if you walk into any big chain bookstore, you'll likely to find a "Gay and Lesbian" shelf in the literature section. Works of fiction that heavily feature queer themes are often ghettoized, only placing an unfortunate stigma on indelible pieces of writing that, while attracting a small group of readers, only serves to alienate others. While we're still waiting for queer literature's mainstream acceptance — The Great Gay Novel, if you will — there have been numerous novels and plays published in the last century that have illuminated the multifaceted queer experience among a diverse, wide-reaching community. While this list is no way a definitive canon of the best in queer literature, it does include some essential works that can provide entertainment, introspection, and comfort to those who identify as queer or straight.
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1
Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes (Tony Kushner)
Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes
Tony Kushner
2
At Swim, Two Boys
At Swim, Two Boys
3
The Color Purple (Alice Walker)
The Color Purple
Alice Walker
4
Confessions of a Mask
Confessions of a Mask
5
Valencia (Michelle Tea)
Valencia
Michelle Tea
6
A Boy's Own Story
A Boy's Own Story
7
The Boys in the Band
The Boys in the Band
8
Patrick McCabe: Breakfast on Pluto
Patrick McCabe: Breakfast on Pluto
9
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (Jeanette Winterson)
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
Jeanette Winterson
10
Call Me by Your Name
Call Me by Your Name
11
The City and the Pillar
The City and the Pillar
12
The City of Devi (Manil Suri)
The City of Devi
Manil Suri
13
City of Night
City of Night
14
The Price of Salt (Patricia Highsmith)
The Price of Salt
Patricia Highsmith
15
Rubyfruit Jungle (Rita Mae Brown)
Rubyfruit Jungle
Rita Mae Brown
16
Closer (Dennis Cooper)
Closer
Dennis Cooper
17
Dancer From the Dance
Dancer From the Dance
18
Death in Venice (Thomas Mann)
Death in Venice
Thomas Mann
19
Dhalgren
Dhalgren
20
Edinburgh (Alexander Chee)
Edinburgh
Alexander Chee
21
Empath (Sarah Schulman)
Empath
Sarah Schulman
22
Faggots (Larry Kramer)
Faggots
Larry Kramer
23
Funny Boy
Funny Boy
24
Giovanni's Room (James Baldwin)
Giovanni's Room
James Baldwin
25
Hornito (Mike Albo)
Hornito
Mike Albo
26
I'm Trying to Reach You (Barbara Browning)
I'm Trying to Reach You
Barbara Browning
27
In Search of Lost Time (Marcel Proust)
In Search of Lost Time
Marcel Proust
28
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Kiss of the Spider Woman
29
Luna (Julie Anne Peters)
Luna
Julie Anne Peters
30
M. Butterfly (David Henry Hwang)
M. Butterfly
David Henry Hwang
31
Maurice
Maurice
32
The Metropolis Case (Matthew Gallaway)
The Metropolis Case
Matthew Gallaway
33
Middlesex (Jeffrey Eugenides)
Middlesex
Jeffrey Eugenides
34
The Mysteries of Pittsburgh
The Mysteries of Pittsburgh
35
Mysterious Skin (Scott Heim)
Mysterious Skin
Scott Heim
36
Narrow Rooms (James Purdy)
Narrow Rooms
James Purdy
37
The Normal Heart (Larry Kramer)
The Normal Heart
Larry Kramer
38
Orlando (Virginia Woolf)
Orlando
Virginia Woolf
39
Our Lady of the Flowers
Our Lady of the Flowers
40
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Stephen Chbosky
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