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Recently discussed books

Swimming in the Dark, by Tomasz Jedrowski       Fiction
Set in early 1980s Poland against the violent decline of Communism, this stunningly poetic and heartrending debut novel is a tender and passionate story of first love between two young men who eventually find themselves on opposite sides of the political divide.

A Ladder to the Sky, by John Boyne      Fiction
Maurice Swift, an aspiring writer, intends to be the greatest novelist of his generation. Yet his ambition is greater than his ability.  Swift is an enthralling yet profoundly disturbing protagonist.  "Boyne's fast-paced, white-knuckle plot, accompanied by delightfully sardonic commentary on the ego, insecurities, and pitfalls of those involved in the literary world, makes for a truly engrossing experience."  Publishers Weekly  

Bayard Rustin: A Legacy of Protest and Politics, by Michael G. Long, Ed.      Nonfiction
A series of essays about Bayard Rustin, gay civil rights activist.  The essays are somewhat repetitive, but the history of Rustin is an important one that has been overlooked.  

The Old Gays Guide to the Good Life, by Old Gays       Nonfiction
Four older men who live in the Palm Springs area and created a  highly successful TikTok series detail their experience and offer witty advice on a wide range of topics.

The Passenger, by Chaney Kwak      Fiction
This is the suspenseful, harrowing, funny, true story by  Chaney Kwak, a travel writer, trapped on a battered cruise ship as it sways in surging waves off the coast of Norway.  Kwak uses his twenty-seven hours aboard the teetering ship to examine his family history, maritime tragedies, and the failing relationship back on shore with a man he's loved for nearly two decades.

The Sons of El Rey, by Alex Espinoza      
This is an engaging story about a Mexican family with the patriarch a key figure in the lucha libre wrestling world, who is now dying of cancer.  His son had followed him in his footsteps and is now struggling to find his way as their gym collapses during the  time of the pandemic.  And his gay grandson has struggled to find his own way.  

You Should Be So Lucky, by Cat Sebastian      Fiction
Sebastian's (We Could Be So Good) latest is full of grumpy/sunshine goodness, with an absolutely delicious slow-burn romance.

The House in the Cerulean Sea, by T.J. Klune      Fiction
Highly popular fantasy novel about quirky characters in an orphanage on a remote island.  

Some Strange Music Draws Me In, by Griffin Hansbury       Fiction
A provocative novel that tells an emotionally gripping story about friendship, family, and transgender awakening in a working-class American town.

Forever Home, by Ron Danta & Danny Robertshaw      Nonfiction
Part memoir, part care-and-keeping-of-rescue-dogs, with a heartwarming, compassionate voice and a message of acceptance, kindness, and, of course, love.

Out Loud, by Mark Morris      Nonfiction
Memoir of a world-famous modern dance choreographer who grew up in Seattle.  

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, by Ocean Vuong
A letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. Written when the speaker, Little Dog, is in his late twenties, the letter unearths a family's history that began before he was born--a history whose epicenter is rooted in Vietnam--and serves as a doorway into parts of his life his mother has never known, all of it leading to an unforgettable revelation.​

Twilight Man, by Liz Brown          Nonfiction
​The unbelievable true story of Harrison Post--the enigmatic lover of one of the richest men in 1920s Hollywood--and the battle for a family fortune.

Lie With Me, by Philippe Besson          Fiction
​An award-winning, bestselling French novel about an affair between two teenage boys in 1984 France.

Less is Lost, by Andrew Sean Greer          Fiction
​A follow-up to the best-selling and Pulitzer Prize-winning Less: A Novel.  The awkward and lovable Arthur Less returns in an unforgettable road trip across America.

When We Rise, By Cleve Jones          Nonfiction
​The story of not only a hero to the LQBTQ community, but also the vibrantly voiced memoir of a full and transformative American life.

​I Have Something to Tell You, by Chasten Buttigieg          Nonfiction
A moving, hopeful, and refreshingly candid memoir by the husband of Pete Buttigieg about growing up gay in his small Midwestern town, his relationship with Pete, and his hope for America’s future.

A History of Loneliness, by John Boyne          Fiction
​The riveting narrative of an honorable Irish priest who finds the church collapsing around him at a pivotal moment in its history.

​An Odyssey, by Daniel Mendelsohn          Memoir
Presents the story of a father and son's transformative shared journey in reading in the wake of the father's late-in-life enrollment in his son's undergraduate seminar, where the two engaged in debates over how to interpret Homer's classic masterpiece.

The Man Who Ate Too Much: The Life of James Beard, by John Birdsall          Nonfiction
​A fun and witty biography of a very complex character.

Don't Cry for Me, by Daniel Black          Fiction
​A Black father makes amends with his gay son through letters written on his deathbed in this wise and penetrating novel of empathy and forgiveness.
​​
​Deaf Utopia,   by Nyle DeMarco           Memoir
A wonderfully uplifting, touching and funny memoir by a man who has been a winner in both America’s Next Top Model and Dancing with the Stars. He also happens to be deaf — and is very proud about it.
Mature Friends functions as a non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian resource organization based in Seattle to provide social activities, education, and protection against discrimination to the over-40 LGBTQ communities and their allies. 
  • Home
  • Activities
    • Board Games
    • Book Club
    • Bridge Night
    • Dinner For Six
    • Green Lake Walk
    • Hike
    • Monthly Potluck
    • Travel >
      • Oregon Shakespeare
      • 2026 Alaska Cruise
    • West Seattle Walk
    • Wine Group
  • Membership
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • History
    • Bylaws