Chasten Buttigieg's new book

I didn't learn until after the fact about his appearance at Union Stage to promote it this past Friday, but Chasten Buttigieg has just published a children's book, Papa's Coming Home. (We read his memoir, I Have Something to Tell You, back in 2020.)

Here's the summary: "Jojo and Rosie’s papa has been away on a trip, and they can’t wait to welcome him home! They make signs, they pick flowers, and with Daddy’s help, they bake a cake and pack the car with absolutely everything Papa might have missed while he was away. When Papa’s plane arrives, they give him a huge hug—but when they bring him to the car, they realize there’s one small problem: Where will Papa sit? Delightfully illustrated by Dan Taylor, this charming story filled with love celebrates dads and familial bonds. Chasten Buttigieg shines a beautiful light on the humorous musings of toddlers and a parent’s unconditional love for their child."

While I'm not a big fan of children's books--or children--Papa's Coming Home sounds delightful.

Our blog makes a list

Feedspot has just notified us that our blog has made its list of "Top 70 LGBTQ Book Blogs" on the web. And since we're #24 on the list, I suppose we can claim to be in its top 25!

Baldwin vs. Buckley

The June issue of The Atlantic contains a fascinating account of James Baldwin's February 1965 debate with William F. Buckley at Cambridge University. The motion put up for debate was this: “The American dream is at the expense of the American Negro.” (I won't say which speaker won over the audience, but I will say it was a rout.) Although Baldwin's homosexuality did not arise that evening, and Sam Tanenhaus only lightly touches on it in the article, I found the article fascinating, and commend it to you all.

Ocean Vuong's latest novel

So far, BookMen DC has read two books by Ocean Vuong: his first poetry collection, Night Sky with Exit Wounds (February 2022) and his first novel, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous (June 2020). His new novel, The Emperor of Gladness, is an Oprah Book Club selection, and while Oprah's interview is nearly an hour long, I was riveted--and I went out and bought a copy at Little District Books the next morning.

I haven't had a chance to start reading it yet, but unless the novel is a real disappointment, I intend to nominate it for next year's reading list. Here are some reviews and profiles from GQ, Vulture, the New York Times and The Guardian.

Happy 26th Birthday to us!

Exactly 26 years ago today, on May 11, 1999, what was originally known as the Potomac Gay Men's Book Group convened for its first meeting.  And we're still going strong more than a quarter-century later! For more details on our origin story, see this May 2024 Washington Blade article.

Meet James Kirchick!

WorldPride staff have invited BookMen members to the following in-person WorldPride event:

James Kirchick, author of Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington (one of our current third-Wednesday anthologies), will be in conversation with New York Times reporter Shawn McCreesh at the Alliance Française on Tuesday, May 20, at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). Here is a link with more info: https://www.francedc.org/eventbrite/1357138270099.

I've already reserved a spot; hope to see some of you there.