> Libros en español > Gay y Lesbiana

Evaluación: - Excrutiatingly Beautiful
I read Giovanni's Room for an English class at the college-level on the experience of foreignness. This has been one of my favorite classes and favorite teachers (not to keep beating on the word favorite, but maybe everything just came together really well?). We explored different ways of being foreign, first the more obvious - literally being foreign like being an immigrant, traveler, etc. Next, ways we could feel foreign, either by our personal interests or our political views.

Giovanni's room was just beautiful. It was a story of a man who felt foreign in his own skin, and traveled half way across the world to escape himself, only to trap himself, unable to escape. In Giovanni's room, he is exposed but cannot face himself, destroying himself and those around him. Baldwin is poetic. rhythmic. violent, emotional. and excruciatingly beautiful.

Revisiting the book again with the context of the author's background gives it another layer of complexity. Giovanni's ... Leer Más

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Evaluación: - A milestone that stands the test of time
I read Giovanni's Room originally when I was in my 20's and loved it.
Now at 51, I just reread it. This time around it struck me as a tad overwrought, but still a wonderful book. It's certainly one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. The prose just flows gracefully along like a Brahms Intermezzo. Baldwin captures the anguish of a man struggling with his sexuality and the impact that has on others beautifully. His insights into human nature are keen. Despite being written in the 50's when homosexuality was quite taboo, the book has aged remarkably well and in no way feels dated. Highly recommended.

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Evaluación: - Weird ending
I liked the story, although it seemed more like the outline to a great novel yet to be written. It was just too short. The only thing I didn't like was the sudden strange ending that was unrelated to the relationships between any of the main characters.

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Evaluación: - Amazing book. You will want to read it more than once!
I loved this book. It is one of the top ten gay and lesbian novels of all times. I was shocked to learn that Amazon was instituting a new anti-gay policy and censoring it from search lists. Hopefully people can still find this gem.

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Evaluación: - I am so glad I found this book!
What a beautifully written book! I read it for my book club. I had heard of James Baldwin, but had never read anything of his before. I loved the depiction of Paris - the sleazier, decadent life underneath the beauty, and the depiction of the bars and the sad characters that Giovanni hung out with. The depiction of the main character's feelings for Giovanni and for his fiancee were just amazingly written - some of the best writing about feelings of love that I have read - the positive and negative. Heartbreakingly sad. Everybody in my book club LOVED the book - I think it is one of only two books which has received a 100% thumbs up from us all!

Evaluación: - Read it twice (please) and then discuss it in book group
At the March 2008 meeting of the NYC LGBT Center Book Discussion group, we discussed "Nightwood" by Djuna Barnes.

We had a very small group that was surprised at the difficultly and rewards and incomprehensibility and pleasure of the novel. One reader brought his notes about Barnes' biography, which were very helpful. By discussing several aspects of the novel, we learned more about what was going on and made sense of much of it, including the "what just happened?!" ending.

We all agreed that it is much more understandable on its second reading. This may be a great novel (#11 on The Publishing Triangle's list of 100 Best Lesbian and Gay Novels), but it seems very odd and difficult to approach without knowing Barnes' life and having some additional tools to handle the text.

Why did I give this four stars? This is a three-star review for the book itself and a FIVE-STAR REVIEW for book groups considering reading it.

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Evaluación: - I do not get it
I have tried to read this book several times over the past twenty years and never made it past page 25. I found the book to be stupefyingly dull. I find this vey puzzling because the list of Barnes admirers are legion. Everyone from T.S. Eliot to Samuel R. Delany to Herbert Read have proclaimed the book's greatness.Moreover, I have read and admired many abstrct and abstruse books. I don't get it. It must be some fault of mine that prevents me from appreciating this novel.
Maybe someone can leave me a comment that will put it together for me.

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Evaluación: - Breathtakingly Bad: as Art/Life-Affirming as a Steven Seagal film.
This book is so embarassingly, jaw-droppingly, crosseyed-inducingly bad, I wonder what T.S. Possum was ever smoking when he agreed to write the preface for it (which is also badly written, go figure!).

My only explanation for how this book/writer ever became published/famous, is, most feminist readers simply do not read very much other than feminist writers, and so, alas, become woefully deluded as to even basic literary values (vide, gibbering eulogist reviews re Barnes romancière).

Perhaps the only justification a sane grown-up human being has in reading this turbid swill, is it is really, really (I mean, you-can't-make-this-stuff-up!) funny, to make fun of. If, in fact, you are like me -- somebody what feels like they have "read everything" and are moving on with jaded appetite to 4th and 5th tier litterati -- I actually heartily recommend "NightBoner" as a bracing cordial of pure giddy hilariousness. The blunders come so bewilderingly turgid and apace (literally ... Leer Más

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Evaluación: - The Edge of Attention
There is no question that Djuna Barnes' book is engaging. To begin to read it is to fall into a mania; descending word after word into the pathetic world of the four main characters - especially Dr. O'Conner, whose errant monologues expose the other characters while covering his own descent.

Is it well-written? No doubt; the descriptions are moving, the scenes (when there are scenes) are gripping, and the characters are alive. But it's easy to fall into the question: does all of the book matter? During some of Dr. O'Conner rambling tangents, for example, I could've flipped through another book or made myself some tea, coming back (as after a commercial break) to engage with the truly consequential passages. Of course it's difficult to know what matters in one reading, which makes "Nightwood," in its way, a bit of a trick.

It's short enough, at 180 pages, to speed through and see in hindsight almost before it's finished. This saves the book; the rush one feels reading it ... Leer Más

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Evaluación: - A prose poem...
... is T. S. Eliot's description of Djuana Barnes novel. It is that, and much more. I first read this novel almost 40 years ago; felt I understood very little of it. In the intervening time I have walked past, and patronized the Café de la Mairie, a backdrop for much of the action, on the north side of the square in front of St. Sulpice numerous times. Unquestionable a radically different café in the `30's, certainly not surrounded by the very chic shops of today. The Café "nagged" me into giving it a second try.

I am truly grateful that it was not a school assignment. I imagined a Professor expecting effusive praise, and that my report on the book would have to be filled with ramblings on "transgender identification," "anomie," "angst," "symbolism," "codependence," "transcendent wisdom" and of course, "stream of consciousness." And with a bit of luck, I might get a B -.

But when your main motivation is a pleasant café, and a "does-your-perspective-improve-with-age" ... Leer Más

Evaluación: - Middle of the road
For its contribution to the three dimensional knowledge of Castro's regime and its attempted casting of image on the greater world, this book is valuable.

For its over-the-top exploration of Arenas' questionable sexual life, it's borderline laughable. By "questionable" I don't mean to criticize his sexuality (saving the bestiality, gross), I mean the sheer volume of anecdotes. It's just too much, I felt over-saturated, and first I began to laugh and then I stopped caring. My eyes roamed to the next section.

Anyway... Did it increase my awareness of the human rights abuses perpetrated by Castro and Co.? Absolutely, and for that, this is a great book. Do I feel for Arenas suffering his fate due to his sexual promiscuity? Nope. Sorry, I just don't.

It is, though, a decent-to-compelling read, depending on where you're at, so go ahead and give it a shot. I won't spoil the end, but it really breaks down, and I lost my interest.

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Evaluación: - Arenas: Before Night Falls
In this vivid memoir of both personal and political experiences, author Reinaldo Arenas narrates his life from growing up in rural Cuba to his oppression as a dissident writer and homosexual. Although an early supporter of the revolution, Arenas opinion of the Castro regime changes as the political oppression increases and living conditions worsen- such as lack of housing, consumer goods and electrical blackouts. The Castro regime banned many of his writings and Arenas had to evade police to smuggle manuscripts abroad for publication. Arenas spent about two years in prison after being prosecuted as a dissident homosexual and he describes in horrid detail the beatings, torture, and unsanitary conditions in Castro's jails. After his release, he managed to gain exile along with many other gays during the 1980 Mariel boatlift. He narrates the chaotic conditions in Mariel, including the mixing of criminals amongst those leaving and an incident when a Cuban Coast Guard member died attempting to escape into ... Leer Más

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Evaluación: - Fascinating Read
Yes there was a lot of sex in the book. Some of it funny and some disturbing re the prison cells. Unlike some of the other reviewers the sex did not put me off enjoying the book. But to claim that the book is known mainly for the writer's sexual preferences and politics is a view I don't accept. It is well written by a very talented writer. That is why the book should be read. To die at 47 after finally escaping Cuba was a tragedy but what a colourful life he led for all of it's up's and down's. Hardly a dull page in the book and you have to admit that it was as funny as it was chilling and moving.

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Evaluación: - Disappointment
This is Arenas' autobiography. Let me say, first, that I have read his works of fiction and have found them to be excellent, and in some cases, hilarious. Second, I really found his graphic descriptions of his homosexual activities to be revolting. Third, this writer was about to be relegated to oblivion because of his frank anti-Communism and the film that was made with this title rescued his writings from oblivion, yet, it is pathetic that he is now being read by the English speaking world not because of his literary talent but because he became a famously persecuted homosexual writer. Again, let me urge the reader to read his other works, because they are good. I have read them in the original Spanish and don't know how well they've translated into other languages, so if you can read them in the original Spanish, do so.

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Evaluación: - This book has been AMAZON RANKED
If you found this actual paperback, good for you. Amazon has recently removed sales ranks from several titles it considers "mature," meaning that this result is buried under everything else even remotely related to the title (did you notice that the old edition with no image available came up first, as did out of print editions?). Other titles with gay, lesbian, and transgendered themes are being similarly treated, as are classics such as "Lady Chatterly's Lover."

Put the sales ranks back, Amazon!

Evaluación: - Muy bueno
Brutal y real. Este libro es muy bueno para aprender sobre la realidad de los asesinos a sueldos y lo que hacen los jovenes para sobrevivir en Colombia.

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Evaluación: - simbolismo o realidad?
Vallejo crea imagenes sangrientos, desesperados, feos y sin solución, pero lo mas sorprendente son los imagenes que no sean exagerados sino todo verdadero: saltando los cadáveres de jóvenes de 12 a 17 años; el fuego artificial para celebrar el transporte de drogas y el circulo de venganza de una generación a otra. No se comparte esta realidad toda América Latina, pero se encuentra en todas las favelas, "ghettos," "shanty-towns," comunas y caseríos.

Esperamos simbolismo y surrealismo en la literatura latinoamerica, pero de Vallejo y sus contemporáneos Colombianos encontramos una realidad tan real como incompresible. Ni siguiera nos da esperanza; nos muestra que la literatura no puede solucionar este mundo tan desesperado y violento, que solo nos puede llevar a entender mejor.

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Evaluación: - la historia de un angel exterminador
Leí LA VIRGEN DE LOS SICARIOS, por recomendación, pero sinceramente no me gustó mucho.
Trata sobre la vida en Colombia. El narrador odia a todo el mundo y su compañero es un asesino que elimina a todos los que de una manera u otra "molestan" en la sociedad. Hay relatos violentos y de homesexualidad en practicamente toda la novela. Narra las contradicciones sociales, critica los políticos y la pobreza de los barrios y los "triunfos" de la mafia colombiana. Todo esto envuelto en una gran devoción religiosa, pues los protagonistas se mueven de una parroquia a otra para buscar el silencio y consuelo por los pecados.

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Evaluación: - Amor y odio en un clásico latinoamericano
"El pobre surrealismo se estrella en añicos contra la realidad de Colombia," escribe Fernando Vallejo casi al final de La Virgen de los Sicarios.

Con esa sentencia sentenciadora de la cotidianidad sangrienta colombiana, varios escritores iniciaron una ráfaga de letras contra los que aunque le trajeron gloria literaria y reconocimiento internacional a la sufrida nación, parecían hacerse de la vista larga mientras los tiroteos y la sangre derramada se convertían en una rutina más increíble que la ficción misma.

Ésta novela, su más conocida y controvertida obra, es la ficción exagerada y alucinante de la polarización a la que se sumió el país cuando el narcotráfico por un lado, y la impotencia del Gobierno por el otro, estremecieron las simientes mismas de la sociedad, alterando su permanencia, al grado de lo irreconocible según Vallejo - presunto, para usar una de las palabras ubicuas en su narrativa, narrador y protagonista - a su regreso a Medellín, después ... Leer Más

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Evaluación: - Finalmente
Vallejo describe una Colombia confundida, violenta y al mismo tiempo comica. Este libro me hiso reir Sus anecdotas, su ironias su manera de escribir es ejemplar se lo recomiendo a todo latino americano que se pregunta como vive dia a dia el hombre latinoamericano.

Evaluación: - Sorprendente
Leí este libro en cuanto lo vi ya que la otra obra que conozco de esta autora, La concubina del diablo, me encantó, y aunque difieren totalmente no me ha decepcionado en absoluto.

El libro parte de un argumento muy original e interesante que se desarrolla de forma amena y bien narrada y cuenta hechos reales, normales en esos días, que hoy no dejan de asombrar.

Los dos hermanos, huérfanos de madre, viven su adolescencia en la Florencia del Renacimiento con las preocupaciones comunes de esa edad y época: primeros amores, lograré convertirme en pintor o tendré que aceptar ser camarero, con quién me casaré... Hasta que su padre muere en extrañas circunstancias. A partir de ahí su mundo se trastoca.
Siguiendo las convenciones de la época, el peso del mantenimiento del hogar y de la hermana cae sobre Ghezzo, pero ella, que no es en absoluto convencional sino muy inteligente y con muchas ideas para salir adelante, se convierte en copiadora (calígrafa, aún no había ... Leer Más

Evaluación: - Disappointed persistence
Even though I read the whole book, the main character's homosexuality did not interest me at all. I was hoping that it would be relevant to the story. I was thinking that Donald and his wife would try to use this feature of his character to achieve something through him for the US State Dept; but it turned out as far as I could determine that the American characters were not needed for the story. In other words, if there had been an aspect of intrigue in the story due to his homosexuality, I would have found it interesting and perhaps well written.

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Evaluación: - Well developed characters in an unusual time and setting
I just finished the book and in general enjoyed it. The setting of Argentina during the Falklands war was a unique setting for a gay themed novel. I thought the characters were well developed and they evolved in ways that I was not expecting. The basic tale held my interest and toward the end it caught me my surprise. But, I do have to say the ending was a bit of a disappointment and rather left me hanging in the middle of a very dramatic situation. Nonetheless it is in the upper 10 percent of gay novels that I have read and I think that is high praise. I think few will be disappointed.

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Evaluación: - An evocative story, told with extraordinary sensitivity.
Colm Toibin is one of my favorite Irish authors writing today. Among his books that I've read to date ("The South", "The Heather Blazing", "The Blackwater Lightship", "Mothers and Sons" and this one - I haven't read "The Master" yet), "The Story of the Night" is my favorite.

Set in Buenos Aires during the Falklands war and its aftermath, the novel tracks the development of Richard Garay, a gay schoolteacher, the son of an Argentine father and English mother. At the novel's opening, the generals are still in power, and Garay is closeted and emotionally stunted. Toibin, who covered the trial of General Gualtieri as a reporter, is extraordinarily effective in conveying the sense of menace that prevails, and the way people are forced to hold their emotions in check in order to survive.

The Falklands are lost, the generals lose their hold on power, and the story traces Richard's gradual emotional development in parallel with the opening of Argentine society. The aspect of Toibin's writing ... Leer Más

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Evaluación: - History and the AIDS epidemic
The story of the night is a very interesting story set in Argentina post-Peron. There are many wonderful review on this site that will cover the plot and I encourage you to read them. To add to the already existing review I would like to discuss the way Toibin, the author, managed information regarding the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. Many are familiar with at least some aspect of the beginning of this epidemic in America and the frustrations and difficulties with the lack of available information. What is unique about this book is how the author treats the dissemination of this information to Argentina. The reader is placed in a position of understanding that information regarding AIDS in Argentina was scarce and treatment even less available. The author provides a looking glass from which we can view the beginning of the AIDS epidemic from a perspective other than our own. If this intrigues you at all, I encourage you to look at some further reviews of this novel.

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Evaluación: - how disappointing...
The only other of Toibin's books that I have read was "The Master", which I thoroughly enjoyed. It is brilliantly subtle; my slight and confusing attraction to Henry James has, probably, more than something to do with my reaction. My thought was that such a profound writer should have a few more equally enjoyable books under his belt. I was, at least as concerns this work, horribly mistaken. I did try to like this book. I kept waiting for some depth or maybe some honest emotion. What I got was intolerably lackluster 1st person in short 7 word sentences that drove me /batty/, and a 'love' that is more based on lust than anything else. There is not one drop of feeling anywhere, and this includes the protagonist's reactions to his political situation since he doesn't actually /care/ at all. I skimmed to the end of the book to see if maybe I might be missing something worthwhile, but found nothing that would have made this book worth having bought in the 1st place.

Evaluación: - Cuban literature
Extraordinary story whose author also wrote the screenplay for the award winning Cuban film, Strawberry and Chocolate (1993), directed by one of Cuba's legendary filmmakers, Tomas Gutierrez Alea. This book by Senel Paz is a treat if you saw the film because this story (or novella) gives much more detail about how Diego "became gay", details not given in the film, perhaps because the images in this text were considered too sexually graphic for the screen. This text, as well as the film, offers a self-critical view of Cuba's censorship and homophobia and yet it offers so much more: an insight to Cuban colloquialisms, class disparities, Afro-Cuban religion and intellectual dialogue.

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Evaluación: - Well worth reading.
As many people already know, this short story is the basis for the Cuban film "Fresa y Chocolate." David, a straight college student and Marxist idealist, inadvertantly befriends Diego, an older, somewhat queeny gay man with strong intellectual and cultural interests. The two have very different notions of what it means to be a patriot and what it means to serve Cuba. You can read the short story in less time than it takes to watch the movie. You should do both!

I had seen the film umpteen times before I sat down to read this novel. One would think that my familiarity with the novel's premise would make me immune to any reaction to it. No way.
In very few pages this novella hit me hard; the ruminations on friendship and the final paragraph, in which David speaks about how his life has been transformed by his friendship with Diego, are moving and very powerful---beyond the admitted power of the film version. Simply put, this is a wonderful novella/short story that I will be revisiting often. ... Leer Más

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Evaluación: - It is a short storie about homo friendship, tolerance,
In Cuba, la Habana, David is a shy man, that believes in the revolution, with prejudges. He meets Diego, he is an highly educated homo, also he is a religious man. In their friendship, Diego will lead the intelectual education of David, with the work of Lezama Lima as the master. But Diego will show David a different life, being like they really are. They will recreate the breakfasts that lezama describes in "Paradiso", in that way they will feel like "Real Cubans". This short book is about friendship, and about the problems that militar and religious believes carry with them, of love, etc. Further more you can also learn some cuban argot. This is an splendid narration which takes place 30 years after the Revolution.