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thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Hmm. This is my first foray into Burroughs’s work and, admittedly, I only read it because of the film adaptation coming out soon. I found it to be a pretty divisive novel in relation to its own characters, with little to no resolution. Which I am quite conflicted about.
This is a novel about the complexity of enduring longing and, at the same time, the simplicity of raw lust.
However, some notes—
Queer is a vast commentary on the queer scene of 1950s Mexico City, with strong emphasis on the different “classes” of queerness. Vague expatriate Lee’s attention to subtlety when discussing it aloud to someone he’s interested in (Allerton) vs his physical desires perhaps is quite obvious. The younger, more handsome Allerton is very aloof, whether by design or creation, which frustrates Lee as much as it fuels his need to be around Allerton, to capture Allerton’s gaze. Lee is a lonely extrovert seeking refuge in various rendezvous when what he desperately needs—what he finds hard to comprehend in what he wants from Allerton—in all actuality, is someone who is consistent in his affections and everyday company and will do what he asks. Allerton, meanwhile, could take him or leave him, though Lee does provide him with a sort of strange companionship he never completely disregards.
The admittance of anything is avoided outright, emotions squandered under the masculine idealisms of the times. Lee represses parts of himself that Allerton would possibly see as weak, whereas Allerton suppresses parts of himself which Lee desires. They are constantly at odds with the other even when they are under some agreement, a rather daunting dynamic that’s never really fully formed.
Lee is judgy and needy but wants to appear as a very nonchalant traveler. Except he is a drug user intent on finding some sort-of unknown stability within the unstable of another country. I found his character to be very closed-minded and biased in spite of his apparent need for universal validation, and ultimately his sexuality.
Allerton, on the other hand, is hard to define. He goes along with ideas and plans until he doesn’t, his emotional intelligence waning more often than not; however, he does have some clear lines of limitations. Though they are not always consistent.
Lee definitely takes advantage of Allerton, but then again Allerton also takes advantage of Lee; just in different ways. If Lee really is a direct reflection of Burroughs, it says a lot about his assertive nature that often seems to blur the lines when it comes to defining consensual.
The writing drew me in easily and kept me reading at a quick pace, but the story left me with many questions and concerns, especially for the real life counterparts. I don’t know what to think about Burroughs and his alternate persona, but I am excited for Luca Gaudagnino’s take on it and for the movie to expand more on nearly every point.
TL; DR situationships are probably never the answer to any of life’s questions!!
This is a novel about the complexity of enduring longing and, at the same time, the simplicity of raw lust.
However, some notes—
Queer is a vast commentary on the queer scene of 1950s Mexico City, with strong emphasis on the different “classes” of queerness. Vague expatriate Lee’s attention to subtlety when discussing it aloud to someone he’s interested in (Allerton) vs his physical desires perhaps is quite obvious. The younger, more handsome Allerton is very aloof, whether by design or creation, which frustrates Lee as much as it fuels his need to be around Allerton, to capture Allerton’s gaze. Lee is a lonely extrovert seeking refuge in various rendezvous when what he desperately needs—what he finds hard to comprehend in what he wants from Allerton—in all actuality, is someone who is consistent in his affections and everyday company and will do what he asks. Allerton, meanwhile, could take him or leave him, though Lee does provide him with a sort of strange companionship he never completely disregards.
The admittance of anything is avoided outright, emotions squandered under the masculine idealisms of the times. Lee represses parts of himself that Allerton would possibly see as weak, whereas Allerton suppresses parts of himself which Lee desires. They are constantly at odds with the other even when they are under some agreement, a rather daunting dynamic that’s never really fully formed.
Lee is judgy and needy but wants to appear as a very nonchalant traveler. Except he is a drug user intent on finding some sort-of unknown stability within the unstable of another country. I found his character to be very closed-minded and biased in spite of his apparent need for universal validation, and ultimately his sexuality.
Allerton, on the other hand, is hard to define. He goes along with ideas and plans until he doesn’t, his emotional intelligence waning more often than not; however, he does have some clear lines of limitations. Though they are not always consistent.
Lee definitely takes advantage of Allerton, but then again Allerton also takes advantage of Lee; just in different ways. If Lee really is a direct reflection of Burroughs, it says a lot about his assertive nature that often seems to blur the lines when it comes to defining consensual.
The writing drew me in easily and kept me reading at a quick pace, but the story left me with many questions and concerns, especially for the real life counterparts. I don’t know what to think about Burroughs and his alternate persona, but I am excited for Luca Gaudagnino’s take on it and for the movie to expand more on nearly every point.
TL; DR situationships are probably never the answer to any of life’s questions!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Cultural appropriation, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism, and Deportation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Violence, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail