Lesbian Literature

I am looking for Lesbian Literature. I have read numerous short story collections, but want to be able to relate to something a little more in depth. Any suggestions?

I love Sarah Waters as a starting place. If you want the classics, Rubyfruit Jungle and Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit are good ones.

Welcome to LT! There's a large body of lesbian fiction out there, everything from literary to speculative to mystery to YA. Are you looking for a coming out novel? What type of book do you enjoy?

I love old southern american fiction! I hate vampires, mystery, crime. I looked at a few Sarah Waters we have on the shelf here and they didnt really grab my attention, I am probably the fussiest bookwench you will ever come across! Do you know of any along the lines of Fried green tomatoes or The secret life of bees?

Thanks xo

Rubyfruit Jungle is southern, I think...

I am waiting on a copy to come from the US. :)

Rubyfruit Jungle is indeed set in the South-- at least the bulk of it-- and was what every young lesbian read back when I came out in the days of the dinosaurs.
Dorothy Allison’s Bastard Out of Carolina is as southern as they come, if you can take the pain.
I haven't read it, but Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady might appeal to you, too. It's supposed to be as funny as Allison's book is grim.
I love The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, but the subtext is much more gay male than lesbian, even though the author was a (not straight) woman.
Then, of course, there's The Color Purple, which is set mostly in Georgia.

Ooh, I just read Dorothy Allison's Two or Three Things I Know For Sure, and it was amazing. I highly recommend it. It's about growing up poor and queer in the south.

Thanks so so much! I have ordered: Two or Three Things I Know For Sure, Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady, Bastard Out of Carolina and i am currently reading Fingersmith. The only thing is i have to wait 6 weeks for the books to arrive from our american supplier. I can't bring myself to use amazon. I have tried to read the colour purple before but i couldnt get into it, although in saying that i only give books 2 chapters to impress me or their out. Thanks again for all your help! xo

Let us know what you think of them! Ooh, I love Fingersmith.

All of the suggestions made here are wonderful. I've read Rubyfruit Jungle and thought it was truly wonderful. If you're looking for non-fiction may I suggest The Letters of Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West as a fantastic read. I've only recently come across Sarah Waters and I can't wait to start her books. I'm not sure where to start: Affinity or Fingersmith.

If you like Southern fiction, definitely check out Fannie Flagg's Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.

And definitely seconding Sarah Waters. Tipping the Velvet made me positively bawl when I read it as a teenager and realized that I felt exactly like Nan did.

you can't beat TIPPING THE VELVET in my opinion

i have to echo Sarah Waters, just discovered her and have read Fingersmith and Nightwatch. Am starting Tipping the velvet. FingerSmith was excellent in my opinion for the amazing plot twists and unpredictable turns in the story.

I am reading tipping the velvet but i can't seem to get into it. I am having a reader's block! Generally by the second page the book owns my soul, but lately i can't read! I really want to read Sarah Waters though, I have seen her on my shelves for a year and never thought to read it until you all suggested. I will be sure to give it a go tomorrow, the sun is getting fantastically hot, so sun baking and reading sound divine!

where are you that the sun is baking - it's freezing here in Scotland. Here it's more about cuddled up on the couch in front of a log fire. Am reading a mystery at the moment but it's not at all lesbian. It's set in India and has a fabulously funny main character called Puri as the detective. It's called The case of the missing servant and it's by Tarquin Hall.
Also have you tried Lauri King - she's a great detective story writer too - nut of course you might not like the who dunnit??

Since you mentioned short stories, I'd emphatically recommend Ali Smith, both her short stories and novels. I am also a HUGE fan of Jeanette Winterson and can go on at length about her brilliance (just ask...). Chloe Plus Olivia is a great anthology covering a vast spectrum of authors and lesbian writings, almost like a buffet! Stay the course with Tipping the Velvet; it is worth it.

I live in Albury, Australia. A middle of nowhere town in the middle of Sydney & Melbourne. We are a mixture of country, outback & city. Scotland sounds lovely! I love the cold and have contemplated a move to Antartica many times! Nothing better than snuggle weather. I have put Lauri King & Tarquin Hall on my to read list. I am reading Billie Letts - Where the heart is... I guess i needed a "fluffy" book to get me back into it.

All three added to my list! Thanks :) I am aching to give Tipping the velvet another try. I shall do so tomorrow morning!