What should I look for? Wanting to dive into a classic… I’m a 29 year old queer woman – so I love anything feminist/queer oriented. I love weird books. I love underrated dystopian books. I do *not* like romance. Give me your must reads. Thank you 🙂
by inamedmycatcrouton
11 Comments
You’ve probably already read it, but if not, The Handmaid’s Tale is a classic for a reason!
– The wall is dystopian adjacent, feminist and a bit of a hidden gem
– I who have never know men, both feminist and dystopian
– not classics (yet) but anything by Claire Keegan
– the murderess by Alexandros Papadiamantis
It’s not really dystopian, but Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K LeGuin is a must read if you want something weird and feminist
I think you would enjoy books by Sarah Waters. Fingersmith is my favourite but all her books are great.
You might like Milk Fed by Melissa Broder? There’s a (queer) relationship in it but I wouldn’t really call it a romance as it’s not especially romanticised lol, it’s more just literary fiction and definitely fits the bill for being ‘weird’ and unpalatable. Same goes for Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield (although that one might lean slightly more on the romantic side, I still wouldn’t call it a conventional romance novel, and I’d argue it has some features of dystopia too) and Tell Me I’m Worthless by Alison Rumfitt (which is more straight-up horror and VERY weird).
As for classics, if you haven’t read Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier you should! Again, there’s a relationship in it but it’s absolutely not a romance, the central (het) marriage is far from aspirational. And if you fancy something REALLY old and niche try The History of the Nun by Aphra Behn lol
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin, if you haven’t already read it!
The Fifth Sacred Thing by Stawhawk?
Any of Patricia Highsmith’s novels.
Parable of the Sower
Legends and Lattes is fun!
Not sure if it’s your usual style but Jules Verne has some good adventure books. Particularly 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (my favorite classic).