2006 was a great year for many things and lesbian books was one of them. Whether you like erotica, graphic novels or lesbian romance, 2006 had something for your taste. Here are our picks for the best lesbian fiction of 2006.
1. Rose of No Man’s Land, Michelle Tea
San Francisco’s premiere literary queer follows up 2000’s Valencia and 2004’s Rent Girl with this thrilling, fast-paced coming-of-age novel. Uninspired with life as a retail peon in a suburban working-class family, fourteen-year-old Trisha Driscoll gets an early introduction to the world of sex, drugs and rock and roll, thanks to her new gal pal Rose. You’ll finish this book in three days tops, with a burning desire to tattoo yourself, hook up in a public restroom and party ‘til dawn.
2. Best Lesbian Erotica 2006
The title says it all: the year’s hottest stories by ladies who love ladies. From first-time encounters with Sapphic sex to tales of brothels and cop fetishes, this anthology packs a sweet little something for everyone.ed. Eileen Myles and Tristan Taormino
3. Drag King Dreams by Leslie Feinberg
The iconic author of 1993’s Stone Butch Blues returns with this novel of East Village drag kings, aging radicals and queers of every variety. Max is a butch bartender, performer and disenchanted activist experiencing a midlife crisis in post-9/11 New York. After a string of injustices, Max eventually finds solidarity and renewed hope in the queer community, allowing her to overcome hopelessness and return to activism. Some may be disgruntled with Feinberg’s attempt to tackle nearly every social, political and economic issue, but Drag King Dreams is still solid storytelling with an engaging cast of characters.4. A Simple Distance by K.E. Silva
Bay area civil rights attorney Jean Sousa became estranged from her conservative West Indian family. When her uncle — a prominent politician on the fictional island of Baobique — is diagnosed with brain cancer, Jean returns to the homeland that exiled her years ago for her sexuality. While a lesbian relationship provides a welcome escape from family drama, it also complicates Jean’s relationship with her relatives and self. Between the beautiful and haunting Caribbean backdrop, sincere, well-developed characters and an honest exploration of racial and sexual identity, Silva’s debut novel leaves a lasting impression.5. Jokes and the Unconscious: A Graphic Novel
by Daphne Gottlieb and Diane DiMassaWith jarring art from DiMassa and Gottlieb’s hilariously dark storytelling, this book isn’t for everyone. But if your taste leans toward the sick and irreverent side, you’ll fall in love with the comically twisted tale of young, gay Sasha. If nothing else, Jokes and the Unconscious is profoundly original.
