A Different Light Bookstore

This review is a little-​too-​late, as news of ‘A Different Light’s Closing’ is now making its’ way through the social medias.
When I moved to Berkeley 6 years ago, I would travel into the Castro to discover what a ‘LGBT Community’ was all about and help define who I was as a gay man. Of course, being 18, there were few places I could really go. ‘A Different Light’ was one of those, and only the second LGBT Bookstores I walked into. It was a place I could find a lot of literature around a subject I was interested in without having to be super-​sensitive about the section I was browsing, or really having to dig too hard!
The staff is super friendly, and I always had a joy peeking at the ‘adult’ content: D. Whether this place stays or goes, it has been a wonderful stone in the foundation of so many coming-​to-​term stories, and reinforcing the fabric of our community through shared experiences and voices to the difficulties and joys of our lives.

It’s impossible for me to write an unbiased review of A Different Light. You see, years ago I came to the Bay Area to interview with Stanford University for my doc program, and afterwards I came to the Castro to walk about. This was a very big deal to me at the time, as I was a total closet case, was terrified that someone back in Arizona would find out, but had the guts to walk around since I was so far from home.
Standing at the greeting cards rack at A Different Light, the man who would soon become my first boyfriend approached me, started chatting about the funniest cards. We compared cards, laughed together, left the store, and spent the day walking around the city together. That night we shared my first public kiss (with a man) at the gate of the airline, and it was only a few months later that I told my friends, another year until my family, and now I’m a psychologist specializing in LGBT outreach, teach as a professor within the LGBT specialization of a masters in psychology program, and help others who are still back in that scary place.
The relevance? Well, A Different Light is a safe space, a place where people can come to get books to help them learn about themselves, a place they can look at picture books and see what they may like and dislike, a place with no alcohol, no loud music, where people can find out who they are and who they aren’t. It’s a wonderful place.
Sure, there’s a great selection, the people are nice, and it’s a landmark in the community. But more than that, it’s symbolic. Not only to me, but to many people. Can’t imagine that being worth less than five stars.

A gay bookstore that sells pornography and is in the heart of the Castro?
I am sold. I plan on taking a trip here next time I go to the Castro to get «The Testerone Files» by Max Wolf Valerio and some gay porn. They have a lot of great books here all relating to LGBT history. For that alone, this is worth the visit. I’d like to spend more time here, but you know people to do… things to see in the Castro. ;)
I need to catch up on my gay writings though and know my history, since a lot of folks struggled for us to have our own little mecca.

As others have said, I wanted to like this bookstore more than I did.
The selection was mostly focused towards gay men, and over half of what’s for sale is porn. It should really advertise itself as a G-​bookstore, rather than as a GLBTIQ (etc.)-bookstore. Other than the novelty factor in coming here, I’d recommend going to Modern Times bookstore on Valencia.
However, it is unique, and fun to browse, the staff is always nice and helpful, and it’s a good place to find new authors you might not see at Borders (or even Green Apple). It’s hard to diss a place – even if it could be better! – when I wouldn’t have ever found so many of my favorite authors (Michelle Tea!) without coming here.

I came in ready to spend my money on young adult gay fiction, and I left happy. They had a great selection, more than most small gay bookstores. I found a book that I just added on good reads under the «to-​read» section. Hell yeah! The $ 3.00 bargain book shelf was hilarious. Gay ficiton & non-​fiction from the 70’s and 80’s. The best title, «How to live the Lesbian Lifestyle». Very chic indeed.
They also have a large porn-​free gay rentable dvd collection, but don’t worry they also have a large porn collection as well.
One extra star for introducing me to a local lesbian author from the Mission.

Different Light makes itself very hard to love, no matter how much you want to. They have a very small selection of books you actually want to read. Most of it seems to be dedicated to large glossy coffee table books of male nude photography and porn star memoirs.
Don’t we know just about everything about the contours of a male ass juxtaposed against… well everything? Haven’t we long ago identified the various thematic similarities between the lives of porn stars? Or gay marine porn stars?
Now, I like Joe Phillips books, and I like the Castro. But Different Light just doesn’t have much to read!

If Books Inc. on Market is the Anderson Cooper of gay-​oriented bookstores, then A Different Light is the Perez Hilton. Consider how carefully the… shall we say… more anatomically-​focused images are positioned in the back and around the corner at Books Inc. But at A Different Light, you are bombarded with similarly suggestive material the moment you walk through the door. They give new meaning to the Rainbow Connection… the lovers, the dreamers and me.
That’s what is mildly titillating about this place. Nothing is left to the imagination because others exhibit bigger… imaginations. Very big. National Geographic big. Lots of books, serious-​minded books but also coffee-​table books, big coffee-​table books… some having nothing to do with interior decorating, manscaping, Judy Garland, or firefighters who forgot to clothe themselves before going on duty.
I have to admit I prefer the low-​key vibe of Books Inc. However, the rainbow comes in many hues, and it ain’t just about the porn. There are plenty of other latex-​filled stores in the neighborhood for that. This one is an independent supporting an essential part of the city’s cultural fabric. And you can put that in your pipe and smoke it. Or put it wherever you like. This is the Castro after all.

Cute name for a bookstore, especially in the Castro. :-)
Good selection of coffee table books, and interesting selection of gay movies.
They have actual books too, but a bit overpriced for my tastes.
I will also say that the sales reps are über-​friendly, and perky!
Stick to browsing if you must. :-)

Any place with this much artistic photobooks featuring hot, gay men gets my vote. They have everything a gay man would want to read, watch, and see… apparently in my past life I was a gay man because I love the selection they have to offer: gay lit, porn (sometimes at a discounted price), magazines (including Playgirl) and «rainbow» stickers to show one’s pride. We love stopping by, Peet’s coffee in hand, chatting up the staff (very funny, very friendly, very helpful, btw) and browsing new titles and potential coffee table material.
Next on my reading list: «Possible Side Effects» by Agusten Borroughs, «Object of Desire by William J. Mann and «Men of the World» photobook ;-P