The LGBTQ+ Center in Orlando is holding the Queer Quills Summer Reading Club featuring selections by Patrick Nathan, Nicole Dennis-Benn and Lei Ming as it connects community through good reads.
Released in February, Patrick Nathan’s debut novel “Some Hell” follows Colin, a teenage boy, as he comes to terms with both family tragedy and his own gay identity. At least, that’s the impression I get. I didn’t read it. But Carol Conroy and Scottie Campbell did, and they are having a blast discussing it.
“It’s almost like the gun became another character,” says Conroy of the gun in the novel that killed Colin’s dad. “I hated that gun.”
We’re sitting in the main room of The LGBT+ Center Orlando on Mills Avenue.
This is the first meeting of the Queer Quills Summer Reading Club. Organized by Campbell, the series has selected two more books, “Here Comes the Sun” by Nicole DennisBenn for July 29 and “Life Beyond My Body” by Lei Ming and Lura Frazey for Aug. 30. The public is invited to read the books ahead of time, then meet at the Center for discussion (7 p.m., 946 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, $5 per session, thecenterorlando.org). Campbell, 51, has been involved with The Center since the 1990s. Queer Quills began as a play-reading series, holding table reads of plays related to queer themes.
Dealing with identity can be a challenging theme in literature, but Campbell hopes their book choices at least provoke people to think. The Central Florida native even admits he isn’t sure how comfortable he’ll be with the third book, which deals with transsexual issues in China. “Hopefully, what comes out of this is discussions,” he says.
Conversation isn’t a problem for the pair that have come tonight to talk “Some Hell.” They both praise the book’s device of switching voices, talk about the metaphor of parasites in one section and even debate the dream-like quality of the ending.
Both Campbell and Conroy found ways to relate to the characters of the book. Campbell could see himself in the “awkwardness of coming out and adolescence.” And he found a connection to the characters who lose someone close through suicide.
“Colin is kind of universal because of that unknown quality of adolescence,” says Conroy. She also thought it was nice not to see the character who committed suicide vilified.
Ultimately, the series is about bringing together the community, gay, straight and everyone else.
“I’ve always looked at literature as a way to find myself and other people like me when maybe I was afraid to talk to other people around me,” says Conroy.
Campbell agrees, but sees another benefit of this series. “Book clubs keep me reading,” he says.
“It’s almost like the gun became another character. I hated that gun.” Carol Conroy