"They Trod on the Necks of Those Thousands of Others Who, for God Knew What Reason, Were Not Made as They Were; They Prided Themselves on Their Indignation, on What They Proclaimed as Their Righteous Judgements."

If only people were willing to take the time, to take the opportunity to read books (with an open heart) that can teach them so much about how oppressed groups live and the prejudice they've experienced, I really do believe it would change the world. Reading The Well of Loneliness, I kept having that feeling. "If only everyone would read this and really SEE and FEEL the struggle, and pain, and confusion, and hurt, and anger, and rejection that gay people experience from everyone, even those who supposedly love them the most. If only people could acknowledge and understand this with an ounce of compassion for the agony they experience, certainly it would change hearts and minds." 

The Well of Loneliness was written by Radclyffe Hall in the 1928 and became one of the seminal works of lesbian literature (often listed with Rubyfruit Jungle and Oranges are Not the Only Fruit). It was banned in the UK but oddly enough, not in the US. The fact that it was written almost 100 years ago and still so much of it feels relevant and topical today is quite heartbreaking. But also gives me so much admiration for Radclyffe Hall for even taking the risk of publishing this novel, surely knowing the potential blowback. 

The novel is supposedly based on Radclyffe's life, telling the story of Stephen, a young woman born to wealthy English parents who thought they were having a boy (hence them keeping the name they had initially planned for their son). Little did they know, that Stephen was gay (or what was referred to as "an invert" back in the day). She presented as a boy, cropping her hair short and dressing in the manor of men at the time. I wouldn't necessarily go so far as to say she was trans, but more likely nonbinary or what might be considered a butch lesbian. The novel details her abundant challenges of trying to understand who she is while being faced with ridicule, trying to develop relationships with both men and women and not understanding how to navigate her way in those relationships, and being treated so terribly by people she loved. And how this lifetime of hurt molded her into a bitter, oftentimes angry person. But I've never read a book about an angry character where I said, "I 100% get it. And she absolutely deserves to have that kind of anger after everything she has been through. And everything that has been denied to her." The person she becomes felt very authentic. And beyond heartbreaking. 

If you haven't, please go read this book. Even while set back in the 1920s, it will open your eyes to how simple it is to accept people exactly as they are, because everyone is just living as they have been created. And most times, all people want are love and acceptance.

I am using this book to fulfill the PopSugar Reading Challenge prompt of "A book with a queer lead." 

Next up is The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West. 179 to go.