Paul David Gould, author of Last Dance at the Discotheque for Deviants recommends...

These are novels that I've not only enjoyed, but have inspired me. When I say 'inspired', it's often more a case of 'I'll never be able to write as well as them!' The novels selected here all deal with different aspects of gay life — though they all interact with the straight world, rather than being shut off from it.
Product list
  • A Little Life cover art

    • A Little Life

    • By: Hanya Yanagihara
    • Narrated by: Oliver Wyman
    • Length: 32 hrs and 51 mins
    • Release date: 29-10-15
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 3,558 ratings
    • 'This is of course a cult read! Yes, its descriptions of abuse and self-harm are harrowing, but I also loved the togetherness of the four male friends, not all gay, during their coming-of-age. It's also beautifully, vividly written.'

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  • Barracuda cover art

    • Barracuda

    • By: Christos Tsiolkas
    • Narrated by: Grant Cartwright
    • Length: 14 hrs and 45 mins
    • Release date: 01-11-13
    • Language: English
    • 4 out of 5 stars 60 ratings
    • 'Less well-known than The Slap, this is a story that tells not only a gay story, but one of a working-class guy of immigrant origins. It's gritty, surprisingly laddish and again there's verve and punch to Tsiolkas's prose — and a great plot too.'

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  • The Lost Language of Cranes cover art

    • The Lost Language of Cranes

    • By: David Leavitt
    • Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
    • Length: 12 hrs and 48 mins
    • Release date: 06-04-10
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 23 ratings
    • 'Beautifully written, achingly sublime prose . . . I was in awe of David Leavitt for producing what should be a 'modern gay classic' when he was still only in his twenties. Sadly, it seems to have gone off readers' radar these days.'

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  • Tales of the City Audio Collection cover art

    • Tales of the City Audio Collection

    • Tales of the City, Books 1-6
    • By: Armistead Maupin
    • Narrated by: Armistead Maupin
    • Length: 18 hrs and 21 mins
    • Release date: 04-05-15
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 106 ratings
    • 'Required reading for any student of LGBT depiction in the modern novel. Accessible, funny, plot-driven, human — plus Maupin is a master of dialogue. What's more, he's a chronicler par excellence of America from Reagan to the present.'

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  • The Secret History cover art

    • The Secret History

    • By: Donna Tartt
    • Narrated by: Donna Tartt
    • Length: 22 hrs and 4 mins
    • Release date: 30-09-10
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 3,705 ratings
    • 'Not so much a 'gay' or LGBT novel, but this is nevertheless a story of outsiders. It pulls off the trick of being both plot-driven AND literary, falling into that elusive sweet spot. Very atmospheric and an extraordinary achievement.'

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Freedom and betrayal

Moscow, 1993. The end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union have brought unimaginable change to Russia. With this change come new freedoms: freedom to travel abroad and to befriend Westerners, freedom to make money, and even the freedom for an underground gay scene to take root.

In this gripping mystery Paul David Gould tells the story of twenty-one-year-old Kostya who makes a decision to pursue his dreams of working in the theatre and finding love. Yet his dreams lead to betrayal and tragedy strikes...

Paul shares the inspration for his debut novel on the Audible Blog >

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