The Polari Literary Salon is an LGBT movement in London that is both inspiring and award winning. This year the movement held their inaugural literary awards with the Polari Prize and the shortlist, announced back in July was quite the reading list.
We missed the shortlist, but I have included it below for those who are looking for some good LGBT reads. Sadly the award hasn’t received as much press as other literary awards, let’s hope it picks up momentum as it becomes more established.
However today the winner of the award has been announced and it goes to the debut novel The Good Son from Paul McVeigh. Here is the winner, and the rest of the shortlisted novels for the Polari Prize in its first year.
Winner
The Good Son – Paul McVeigh
The Good Son was shortlisted for several literary awards this year, and the coming of age tale following a young boy growing up gay in Belfast during the 1980s Troubles offers a strong voice and believable characters.
Shortlisted
Blood Relatives – Stevan Alcock
Yorkshire was quite the place to grow up in the 1970s, Peter Sutcliffe cast a dark shadow across the time, skinheads appeared from nowhere and growing up gay amongst it all just adds in a new issue. This fantastic coming of age LGBT novel offers a strong narrative with an interesting look at British 1970s culture.
Shortlisted
Sugar and Snails – Anne Goodwin
Sugar and Snails is Goodwin’s debut novel and is presented in flashback form as the protagonist Dr Diana Dosworth looks back at her life. A novel about sexuality, bullying, self harm and secrets. While not an easy read, it’s engaging, touching and is receiving critical acclaim.
Shortlisted
Trans – Juliet Jacques
Trans is an extraordinary and touching memoir of transition and transgender politics. Set in 2012 when Jacques was 30 and underwent gender reassignment surgery, this is her story.
Shortlisted
Different for Girls – Jacquie Lawrence
Different for Girls follows the story of Fran and Cam and is crammed full of romance, suspense, and heartbreak too.
Shortlisted
Physical – Andrew McMillan
A book of poetry, Physical is said to be a book of hymns to the male body, to male friendship and male love. Moving, vulnerable and beautiful.
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