Pride Month Reads

Held in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall uprising, Pride Month celebrates and affirms the worth and vitality of the LGBTQ community. Titles in this collection include notable fiction and nonfiction works by LGBTQ authors and those writing about LGBTQ topics, including Audre Lorde, Douglas Stuart, and Amy Ellis Nutt.

Publication year 1949

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality

Tags Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Existentialism, Philosophy, Sociology


Publication year 2020

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, LGBTQ, Race / Racism, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Self Discovery, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Historical Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Russian Literature, History: World


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Italian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction


Publication year 1942

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: War, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Identity: Sexuality, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Play: Drama, Allegory / Fable / Parable, WWII / World War II, Education, Education, American Literature, Drama / Tragedy, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Thornton Wilder’s dramatic masterpiece, The Skin of Our Teeth, opened on Broadway in November of 1942, less than a year after the United States entered World War II. On the heels of the Great Depression (1929-1939), the war meant more sacrifice and hardship for the average American family, and another era of fear, loss, and anxiety about the future of humanity. The play is a satirical allegory for the human race’s seemingly indomitable will to... Read The Skin of Our Teeth Summary


Publication year 1929

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Economics, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Masculinity

Tags Southern Gothic, Classic Fiction, Modernism, Education, Education, Southern Literature, American Literature, History: World

William Faulkner’s 1929 novel The Sound and the Fury relays the trials and decline of a once-prominent Southern family, the Compsons. The novel grapples with the challenges of a changing cultural landscape as modernity encroaches on the values—and deep-seated prejudices—of the Old South. Told through the perspectives of the three Compson brothers, Benjy, Quentin, and Jason, the novel visits and revisits key events in the family’s past and present. Much of the concern swirls around... Read The Sound and the Fury Summary


Publication year 2002

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Sexuality


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Art, Identity: Disability, Society: Community, Identity: Sexuality

Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, LGBTQ, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Grief / Death, Class, African American Literature, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Race / Racism


Publication year 1972

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Classic Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Gender / Feminism


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Flora/plants, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Mythology, Romance, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, LGBTQ, Depression / Suicide, Mental Illness, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, Psychology, Trauma / Abuse / Violence


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Natural World: Flora/plants

Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Race / Racism, American Civil War, African American Literature, Grief / Death, History: U.S., Love / Sexuality, Post-War Era, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Romance, Military / War, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction


Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Disability, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies


Publication year 1898

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Gender

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Love / Sexuality, Gothic Literature, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1996

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Play: Drama, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Drama / Tragedy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Historical Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Gender / Feminism, Psychology, British Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World

Maggie O’Farrell’s novel The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, published in 2006, is the author’s fourth novel and tackles the grim history of forced incarcerations of women and the devastating effects of family secrets. O’Farrell’s work often focuses on women trapped physically, emotionally, and psychologically by forces over which they have no control, and this novel is no exception. Through a twisted entanglement of three different perspectives, O’Farrell tells the story of not only Esme... Read The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox Summary


Publication year 1993

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Depression / Suicide, Climate Change, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, Classic Fiction

The Virgin Suicides is a realistic fiction novel written by Jeffrey Eugenides and originally published in 1993. Using death by suicide as its central motif, the novel examines the themes of The Objectification of Women, Romanticizing the Past, and The Effects of Loss. A statement of youth disillusionment, death by suicide becomes The Death of the Future, another of the novel’s themes. The novel was adapted into a critically acclaimed film directed by Sofia Coppola... Read The Virgin Suicides Summary


Publication year 1986

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Society: Community, Identity: Sexuality, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags LGBTQ, Health / Medicine, American Literature, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1990

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Gothic Literature


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction