Lez Liberty Lit: James Baldwin’s Record Collection

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Hi there and welcome to this week’s Lez Liberty Lit!

Write the book you want.

In an interview at Lit Hub, Larissa Pham discusses genre, internet celebrity, and the relationship between art and intimacy:

“I think that our experience of art can be, and often is, a deeply intimate thing. It is felt. Even when we’re experiencing art in a communal context (like at a show or at a concert, for example), our experience of it is so private and internal. We’re never going to feel exactly what someone else feels and that’s special. Art moves us; it can shift things in us. And art (and literature, and culture) is uniquely powerful in how it can reach across time and space to shift us in precisely those ways.”

Capitalism is a cult, and you’re already a lifetime member.

Cats can illuminate the meaning of life. You’re welcome.

Check out this history of queer publishing.

Writer’s block is part of life. Here’s how to break out of your pandemic procrastination. (Unless it’s an essential part of your writing process.) Here’s what deadlines do to lifetimes.

Read e-books for free without pirating them.

Check out James Baldwin’s record collection as a Spotify playlist.

Read these ten genre-bending short story collections. Read these new books directly in front of a fan. Read these books about being under- and unemployed. Read these books about women fighting for a just society. Read this poetry about Black womanhood and desire. Read these books about exile and what we leave behind.

Before you go! Autostraddle runs on the reader support of our AF+ Members. If this article meant something to you today — if it informed you or made you smile or feel seen, will you consider joining AF and supporting the people who make this queer media site possible?

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Ryan Yates

Ryan Yates was the NSFW Editor (2013–2018) and Literary Editor for Autostraddle.com, with bylines in Nylon, Refinery29, The Toast, Bitch, The Daily Beast, Jezebel, and elsewhere. They live in Los Angeles and also on twitter and instagram.

Ryan has written 1142 articles for us.

1 Comment

  1. James Baldwin had really brilliant taste. I’ve been rereading a lot of his work lately, so this playlist came to me at perfect timing. Thanks Carolyn!

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