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10 must-read books for fall

Lambda Literary helps gay book lovers find the season’s gems

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Weeding through scores of books set to hit shelves this fall, Antonio Gonzalez, chief editor of LambdaLiterary.org, compiled a list of 10 must reads. As he notes, from a few well-known authors (Emma Donoghue), to a relative unknown (Tristan Garcia), to a Grammy winner (Ricky Martin), the fall book line-up is all over the map.

Here are the books (in no particular order) that Gonzalez expects to make a big impact among LGBT literary critics, bookworms and novice readers alike.

1. “Mary Ann in Autumn” by Armistead Maupin (Harper; $25.99) In the eighth installment of Maupin’s Tales of the City series, Mary Ann Singleton (now 57) returns to San Francisco after 20 years with news she can only share with her pal Michael Tolliver — who’s happily married to a younger man. By the way, did you know there’s a musical of the saga coming out next year in San Francisco with a score and lyrics by Jake Shears and John Garden of Scissor Sisters? (Nov.)

2. “Hate: A Romance,” by Tristan Garcia, translated by Marion Duvert and Lorin Stein (Faber and Faber; $14) Winner of France’s prestigious literary award Prix de Flore, “Hate” is set in Paris in the ’80s and chronicles a group of friends — and the subsequent love affairs that destroy a life. Previously titled “The Best Part of Men,” “Hate” received a tepid review from Publisher’s Weekly, but with its enticing cover, who can resist picking up this new translation? (Oct.)

3. “Inferno (A Poet’s Novel)” by Eileen Myles (OR Books; $16) If the glowing reviews from John Waters, Alison Bechdel and John Ashbery don’t convince you, then perhaps you need to read the first two sentences: “My English professor’s ass was so beautiful. It was perfect and full as she stood at the board writing some important word.” (Nov.)

4. “By Nightfall” by Michael Cunningham (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux; $25) Despite making Anis Shivani’s list of “Most Overrated Contemporary Authors,” Cunningham’s talent cannot be overlooked, even when he’s writing about the existential crises of wealthy New Yorkers. (Sep.)

5. “Me” by Ricky Martin (Celebra; $26.95) After fathering twin boys via surrogate and finally coming out, Martin releases his memoir that, according to the press release, takes us through his musical career, the challenges of increased fame, and his “unique personal connection with millions of fans around the world.” (Nov.)

6. “Grant Wood: A Life” by R. Tripp Evans (Knopf; $37.50) The artist behind one of America’s most famous paintings, “American Gothic,” was much more complicated than the image of simple, decent, homespun Americana that his paintings reflected. (Oct.)

7. “Fever of the Bone” by Val McDermid (Harper; $14.99) The sixth in the Tony Hill mystery series, this novel received a starred review and high praise from Publishers Weekly: “McDermid demonstrates once again that she’s as adept with matters of the heart as she is with murder.” (Sept.)

8. “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture” by Jonathan D. Katz and David C. Ward (Smithsonian Books; $45) The companion volume to an exhibition of the same name at the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, “Hide/Seek” highlights the often overlooked influence of gay and lesbian artists on American art and portraiture through 140 full-color illustrations, drawings and portraits by leading American artists from Eakins, to O’Keeffe, to Rauschenberg, to Warhol, to Mapplethorpe. (Nov.)

9. “Room” by Emma Donoghue (Little, Brown; $24.99) Long-listed for the Man Booker Prize, Donoghue’s new novel tackles kidnapping, sociopaths and child psychology. (Sept.)

10. “Unbearable Lightness” by Portia de Rossi (Atria; $25.99) De Rossi, as described by Amazon.com, “shares her struggles with eating disorders and her sexuality in this riveting memoir.” Back in February, Portia confirmed her book was “definitely not self-help.” (Nov.)

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Music & Concerts

Cyndi Lauper ready to have fun in Virginia

Superstar to bring final leg of farewell tour to Jiffy Lube Live

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Pop icon Cyndi Lauper brings her farewell tour to Jiffy Lube Live on July 24. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Superstar Cyndi Lauper will bring the final leg of her farewell tour “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” to Bristow, Va., on Thursday, July 24 at Jiffy Lube Live. 

Lauper’s international Farewell Tour – her first major headlining run in a decade – kicked off in North America last October, and included her first time ever headlining (and selling out) Madison Square Garden. Lauper’s performances have earned raves from the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and many more, and surprise guests have included Chaka Khan, Sam Smith, and Hayley Williams. The tour just visited the U.K. and Europe, and will head to Australia and Japan in April.  

Tickets are available on Live Nation’s website

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Out & About

Rehoboth Pride set for this weekend

Delaware beach town hosts festival, events

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(Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Rehoboth Beach Pride is back for a day of summer celebration on Saturday. 

The Delaware beach town will host its Pride festival at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center on July 19 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., followed by an after-party at Freddie’s Beach Bar and a ticketed event in the evening with a film screening, comedian, and musician. 

“It will be a day of community engagement, fun, celebration and learning, all sorts of things rolled into one,” David Mariner, executive director of Sussex Pride, told the Blade. “I think it’s a great opportunity for us to be together, to support each other.”

Pride is organized by Sussex Pride and Gay Women of Rehoboth. The festival will include a free, family-friendly event with vendors offering information and resources, health screenings, and other activities. For more information visit sussexpride.org.

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Calendar

Calendar: July 18-24

LGBTQ events in the days to come

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Friday, July 18

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. in-person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected]

Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 6 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome and there’ll be card and board games on hand. Feel free to bring your own games to share. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at Hotel Zena. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

Saturday, July 19

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 12 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

LGBT People of Color Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgement free. There are all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more details, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc

Miss Capital Pride will host “DC Drag brunch on Rooftop – Penthouse” at 12 p.m. at MXDC Cocina Mexicana. Guests will experience a Mexican brunch infused with Baby Shank’s signature dishes, complemented by margaritas and mimosas. There will also be performances by drag queens and celebrity impersonators, featuring Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, Whitney Houston, Cher, and many more. Tickets are $30.65 and available on Eventbrite

Monday, July 21

“Center Aging Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected]

Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. in-person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary, whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more details, visit genderqueerdc.org or Facebook

Tuesday, July 22

Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-facilitated discussion group and a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook page. 

Wednesday, July 23

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

Asexual and Aromantic Group will meet at 7 p.m. virtually and in-person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a space where people who are questioning this aspect of their identity or those who identify as asexual and/or aromantic can come together, share stories and experiences, and discuss various topics. For more details, email [email protected]

Thursday, July 24

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245. 

Lit Lovers: Book Club for Seniors will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. The book selection for July is “Rubyfruit Jungle” by Rita Mae Brown. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website

Poly Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an inclusive, welcoming, virtual safer space to talk about all things polyamorous — the rapturous, the confused, the pure YIKES, we want to hear them all. For more details, email [email protected]

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