Hey hey! Things have been getting a bit hectic in my life today, with my family having a Chanukah party, getting all the presents and cooking situated, coordinating a buddy read, and just managing general life. So I’m a bit behind on getting all my books read at my usual breakneck pace, and don’t have a fresh review for you today. Instead, I’m catching up on a book tag that I was tagged in SO LONG AGO and never got around to doing. Better late than never, right?

Today I’m doing the LGBTQ+ Historical Icons tag, and it just sounded like an awesome thing to do, but I just never had time to actually work on up until now. I was tagged to do this by Riddhi @ Whispering Stories, and her blog is so fun and welcoming, so you should totally check it out if you haven’t yet.

Here we go!

Rules

• Link back to the original creator (The Corner of Laura) and link back to this page (otherwise, the original creator won’t get a notification).
• Thank whoever tagged you and link back to their post
• (Optional) Use the graphics and don’t forget to credit the original creator (Text prompts are at the end of the tag if you’d prefer to use those)
• (Optional) Tag 5 or more other people.

Sappho – Greek poet known for her lyric poetry which is believed to describe homoerotic feelings: A book of poetry (or written in verse)

When We Make It by Elisabet Velasquez. I loved the story and the style it’s told in, and realized how much I enjoy novels written in verse.

Alan Turing – Mathematician known for cracking the Enigma code but who was persecuted for his homosexuality: A character who deserved better

Arc and Daffodil Poet in On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel. They both deserved such better lives than the ones that they got, and my heart broke for them. 

Gilbert Baker – Creator of the rainbow Pride Flag: The most colourful book you own

Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler. Even though I have an e-ARC of this, I get extra credit because this is also an LGBTQ story, right?

Anne Lister – Landowner, industrialist and considered to be the first modern lesbian: A book written as a diary (or includes diary entries)

The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith. While this doesn’t necessarily include diary entries per se, the librarians write entries in the librarian’s log, and they come across more as diary-like musings, and I loved reading about what the librarians thought about throughout the centuries.

Marsha P. Johnson – Prominent figure in the Stonewall Uprising and founder of several LGBTQ rights organisations: A character you’d would want fighting at your side

Uhtred Ragnarson from The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell, because … duh. He’s a freaking beast and a military genius throughout the series, and I’d definitely want him fighting by my side.

Alfred Kinsey – Creator of the Kinsey scale: A book set in academia

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. This book caught my attention, and it’s so different from the other academia books that I’ve read in the past.

Lucy Hicks Anderson – First trans woman to defend her identity in court: A book where a major scene takes place in court

When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff. This book surprised me with how much I enjoyed it, and the twists and turns that it took.

Open Prompt – Your choice: A book that inspires you

I’m inspired by a lot of books, but most recently, Know My Name by Chanel Miller inspired me to live my life to the fullest and search for the positive in my life, even when it feels hopeless.

I’m tagging:

• Julie @ One Book More
• Mehsi @ Twirling Book Princess
• Alex @ MyBookWorld24
• AquaVenatus
• Rabhya @ Rab’s Bookish Planet

If you see this and want to participate, consider yourself tagged! Also, let me know your favorite book with LGBTQIA+ representation!