January 23rd, 2009
RANT: I don’t understand how fiction qualifies as social science!
Category posted in boys kissing, oops! an opinion!

It is no secret I am into BOYS KISSING in huge, flashing neon letters, capslock on and some glittery stars attached for good measure. I like male/male romance and I do not apologize for this. I do not think this is weird or freakish or sick. I think it is normal. I have liked it for almost ten years and I haven’t been struck down yet. I am quite sure the romance novel industry makes enough money that Scrooge McDuck would drown in for male/female sexy times. Sarah Dessen has her own GOLD PEDESTAL for male/female teen romance. People like romance! Some people happen to like romance where the same gender gets together and makes out a little. Why do I get the stink eye? It’s not like we’re in the 90s, bookstores!

What do I want? BOYS KISSING. When do I want it? NOW. Where do I want it shelved? IN THE YA SECTION.

Not, say, over in the social science sections between BEST GAY EROTICA 2006 and GAY ASTROLOGY. Number one, I get plenty of gay erotica for the low cost of TOTALLY FREE in fandom and it’s normally a hell of a lot better, no offense to gay male authors writing erotica that is kind of terrible (I’m sure you’re talented to someone who is not me). Also, astrology is junk science and 170% useless and easy to beat up on when you’re a frustrated fangirl.

Why are these books being shelved there? All Robin Reardon’s books get stuck there. I saw David Levithan there once (yet Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List was in the YA section). The book I just read by Martin Wilson would have been shelved “right here, if we had it but I guess we don’t”. The worker said this in a rush before scrambling to get away from the creepy woman who wants to read about BOYS KISSING. Right Here referred to a place between a book on feminism and something about karma.

YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG. Books-a-Million, I’m looking directly at you.

Also, I am tired of getting funny looks for asking about these books. I went in asking about The Dreyfus Affair by Peter Lefcourt and The Screwed Up Life of Charlie the Second by Drew Ferguson and was told, “Oh, that kind of book! We’d never order THAT KIND of book for shelving.” YOU MEAN THE KIND OF BOOK WHERE MEN KISS AND MAYBE HAVE SEX, LADY? IS THAT WHAT YOU MEANT? I wasn’t sure, just checking, no need to blush and look around, that gaggle of teen girls over there heard me talking about it. THE SECRET’S OUT. Women like reading about male/male relationships! Oh noez!

In other news, my shopping trip looking for some books I’ve been planning to read didn’t go so well.

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6 comments

Hayden said:

As a writer of boys-kissing-YA-fiction, I hear ya. Don’t even get me started about people’s reactions when they find out that:

a. I write young adult fiction, and
b. I write about gay teens (I’m female and straight)

Most of the GLBT young adult books I now own, I had to buy online because in brick-and-mortar stores, their definition of GLBT young adult seems to be limited to Alex Sanchez’s RAINBOW BOYS series.

posted on January 23rd, 2009
Renay said:

@ Hayden Oh man, I feel you on those reactions. I’ve gotten similar ones about writing slash in fandom? At least I escape the odd YA derision the detractors soak in like they’re happy cucumbers in a brine of self-righteousness because they have higher goals than young adult literature.

Don’t you love how they make it almost like a joke you shouldn’t really be discussing in “polite company”? I sure do!

In my neck of the woods I’ve found Levithan and at my library, Sanchez. The library does more lesbian lit, actually. Anyone else I have to special order or go online for. It’s frustrating. This latest foray into the land of people who cannot think about boys making out without having some sort of HETEROSEXUALITY CRISIS was just the cherry on scoop after scoop of tasty, melting bigotry.

We can commiserate together!

posted on January 23rd, 2009
Hayden said:

Hey, you know, we can commiserate over beer any time. :D

Seriously, though, you’re the first YA blogger who’s expressed love for boylove. Do you know how hard it is to find other people who’re into gay YA? Yikes!

I know I sound stalkerish, but I added you to my Blogs I Follow list as I like your posts on YA (regardless of romantic pairs). Of course, if it makes you uncomfortable, just let me know, and I’ll take you off my list. :)

posted on January 24th, 2009
Renay said:

@ Hayden Really? The first? Now that I think about it the only two I know that focus on it are Worth the Trip and Lee Wind (and I am really grateful Lee is there otherwise I would have never found ANYTHING). When I started this blog I planned to do all YA with side trips into adult work I thought was YA-positive. My subconscious came up with the name and the layout and when I sat back I realized, “Oh!”

So it was kind of an accident. I’ll embrace it, though! I plan to write it one day so I better be prepared. It’s like research! Where you get to read about boys kissing! YES.

Sure, it’s cool to follow me. I’m public and stalk-ready. I will return the favor. :D It’s good to meet new people with common interests!

posted on January 24th, 2009
Hayden said:

I know about Worth the Trip (it’d a dead blog now, isn’t it?) and Lee Wind’s blog. I post reviews at Lee’s blog every once in a while (I need to do that this weekend, actually, for a book I just finished reading). I was thinking more along the lines of general YA review blogs, which tend to reflect YA fiction on the whole (i.e., girl-centric fiction preferences). So far, my experience has been a bit of a downer. Those who enjoy YA don’t really care much for GLBT subjects. Those who enjoy GBLT fiction don’t care for YA. In a word, I’m screwed both ways. :D

Thanks for letting me stalk you, BTW. *sporfle*

posted on January 24th, 2009
Valentina said:

I’d sneakily reshelf those books in YA, they might get the point after a while:P

posted on January 28th, 2009