Give your reading list a liberal makeover with these intriguing page-turners

In the literary world, some books not only capture our imaginations but also make us think deeply about the world we live in. These are often transformative works that invite us into different worlds and experiences, encouraging us to reflect and question our own perspectives. And if you're someone who enjoys such narratives, then here are some intriguing page-turners that are sure to leave a lasting impression.

Knife: Meditations After An Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie

It is impossible to forget August 12, 2022—it was when author Salman Rushdie was stabbed by a masked man as he was about to give a lecture at New York’s Chautauqua Institution. What followed was a horrific act of violence that sent shockwaves through the literary cosmos. For the first time after the attack, the author relives—in unforgettable detail—the traumatic events of that day. This book is an ode to bouncing back, wrapped in a love letter to life, loss, and the magic of storytelling.

A Place Of Our Own: Six Spaces That Shaped Queer Women's Culture by June Thomas

For as long as queer women have existed, they have carved out spaces where they can authentically express themselves. Be it in the intimate darkness of a lesbian bar or while enjoying the sweaty-camaraderie at softball fields; these spaces aren’t a luxury but a necessity for queer women defining their identities. Thomas’ book blends memoir, archival research, and interviews, and explores six iconic lesbian spaces spanning six decades. Witness how queer havens have evolved from tight-knit sanctuaries of the ’70s to the inclusive LGBTQ+ scene today.

Straight Acting by Will Tosh

Have you noticed how William Shakespeare’s early comedies were about defying gender norms?! And his sonnets...well, let’s just say they exuded some seriously queer literary vibe too. This book is a surprising portrait of the author’s fabulously queer world—both his own life and the characters he brought to life. It is like a time-travelling adventure through Shakespearean England, uncovering a culture that both endorsed and suppressed same-sex desire. It is then time to stop making Shakespeare ‘act’ straight and give props to how queerness shaped the playwright’s legendary career.

Queeristan: LGBTG Inclusion In The Workplace by Parmesh Shahani

Since the reading down of Section 377 by the Supreme Court of India in 2018, the country’s LGBTQ community has been on a rollercoaster ride, crashing through the gates of conservative corporate India with policy changes across the board. This part manifesto, part memoir is genre-defying— Shahani draws from his decade-long journey in the corporate world as an out and proud gay man. He makes a cogent case for LGBTQ inclusion and lays down a step-by-step guide to reshape the office culture in India.

The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall

Stephen Gordon is a girl raised like a boy by her desperate-for-a-son dad. Unlike ‘typical’ girls, she’s all about hunting, fencing, wearing trousers, and rocking her short hairstyle. An ideal child of aristocratic parents, she grows up to be a war hero, bestselling writer, and a loyal and protective lover. But here’s the twist: her heart belongs to women. It is soon that locals start realising that something’s ‘different’ about her. As Stephen reaches maturity, she falls passionately in love with another woman—however, the society she lives in confines her, pushing her to extreme measures in the name of love.

Lead Image Credit: Unsplash

This piece originally appeared in the May-June 2024 edition of Cosmopolitan India.

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