Scan barcode
bobthebookerer's review
4.0
I have admired Weeks for a while, being as he was one of the first queer historians I read, and was an absolute lifesaver while writing university essays (he’s great for a good quote about queer history or about queer identities).
In this book, he turns the lens on himself, and takes us through the fascinating times and locations that created him, from being a young sensitive and nerdy child in the Welsh valleys, to being heavily involved in the early days of queer activism in London.
These parts of the book are some of the most powerful- Weeks captures the energy, spirit and characters of both, and really creates a vision of a time that was hung in the balance, and was so pivotal to his life and those of many others.
He then moves on to his life as a historian, watching, documenting and writing about the UK (and wider world) as it goes through some significant turning points, especially for LGBTQ+ people (the first pride parades, the AIDS crisis, Thatcher, Section 28, equality legislation).
It occasionally veers a little into digressions about university life, but Weeks is at his best when he describes the unimaginable transformations in queer life and acceptance he has witnessed throughout his life, and his role as a historian and archivist means he observes them with brilliant insight and tenderness.
The moments where he connects the wider national picture with his personal life- in which he watches partners fall ill and pass away, and explores different relationship types- are really quite special. You realize just how much of the last few decades he has seen go by, and just how far we have all come.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In this book, he turns the lens on himself, and takes us through the fascinating times and locations that created him, from being a young sensitive and nerdy child in the Welsh valleys, to being heavily involved in the early days of queer activism in London.
These parts of the book are some of the most powerful- Weeks captures the energy, spirit and characters of both, and really creates a vision of a time that was hung in the balance, and was so pivotal to his life and those of many others.
He then moves on to his life as a historian, watching, documenting and writing about the UK (and wider world) as it goes through some significant turning points, especially for LGBTQ+ people (the first pride parades, the AIDS crisis, Thatcher, Section 28, equality legislation).
It occasionally veers a little into digressions about university life, but Weeks is at his best when he describes the unimaginable transformations in queer life and acceptance he has witnessed throughout his life, and his role as a historian and archivist means he observes them with brilliant insight and tenderness.
The moments where he connects the wider national picture with his personal life- in which he watches partners fall ill and pass away, and explores different relationship types- are really quite special. You realize just how much of the last few decades he has seen go by, and just how far we have all come.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
toria's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I first encountered the work of this author when I was at university. His work was a cornerstone of the emerging study of sexuality and LGBT representation. In addition, Weeks' work played a vital role in my development.
Therefore, I was excited to hear that they had written an autobiography, intrigued to read it, and pleased to receive a copy from the publisher. I was not disappointed. This book is a fascinating self-portrait of an inspirational figure. This book explores the author's early life, his childhood in Wales, and his growing understanding of his sexuality.
He then outlines his role in LGBT activism and academia. He looks at his role in the emerging study of queer history. Moreover, Weeks explores the political climate of the 1980s and 1990s, looking at the key debates around sexuality. As someone growing up at that time, this exploration provoked feelings of nostalgia. If you weren't there, then this discussion will give you an understanding of the origins of today's queer/lgbt+ movement. It is a highly recommended read.
Therefore, I was excited to hear that they had written an autobiography, intrigued to read it, and pleased to receive a copy from the publisher. I was not disappointed. This book is a fascinating self-portrait of an inspirational figure. This book explores the author's early life, his childhood in Wales, and his growing understanding of his sexuality.
He then outlines his role in LGBT activism and academia. He looks at his role in the emerging study of queer history. Moreover, Weeks explores the political climate of the 1980s and 1990s, looking at the key debates around sexuality. As someone growing up at that time, this exploration provoked feelings of nostalgia. If you weren't there, then this discussion will give you an understanding of the origins of today's queer/lgbt+ movement. It is a highly recommended read.
yellowbrickfly's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Jeffrey Weeks’ ‘Between Worlds’ serves the dual role of an autobiography and a firsthand telling of the UK’s social evolution from the 1960s to the present day. Beginning from his childhood home in the Rhondda Valley in South Wales, he tells the story of the evolution of his people as he experienced it. He weaves a narrative showing how the changes in the global political landscape impacted UK policy, how that in turn had economical and social ramifications on the tight knit community of the valley, and how the impact was ultimately felt by an adolescent Jeffrey in the form of changing gender roles within his home and the altered economic habits of his family and community.
The seemingly solitary experience of a queer boy in a small mining town in Southern Wales turns into that of a young man making his way as a gay rights activist and scholar in London. From the Welsh countryside, the setting shifts to the heady rooms of the early years of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF). An experience of isolation evolves into an intense and passionate journey of communal learning and the fight for equal rights in 1960s London. Weeks weaves a narrative of the evolution and growth of his perspective of his identity as a gay men in parallel with the growth of the movement itself. The story he tells is that of a group of young people doing whatever they could to increase visibility of the gay community in London, slowly recognizing their growing power as they realize that their activism was making a real impact. Importantly, Weeks describes the evolution of the movement from a unified front that fought for basic human rights to a diverse schismatic one with various sects and differing opinions and priorities. This change reflects the diversity and nuance contained within the complex identity and experience often reduced to the single word ‘gay’.
As the movement expands, so does Weeks’ career and the reader’s perspective. We move from a house in the Rhondda valley, to the still partially hidden gay community in London, to various hubs of thought across universities in the UK, to the globally connected and diverse discourse of the LGBTQ+ movement of the present day. Weeks’ burgeoning career is paralleled by his growing understanding of his own identity. He reflects on the naivety of his beliefs that the generations that came before him were too cautious, recognizing that he is able to live and view his predecessors’ acts as cautious because those same “cautious” acts were brave and audacious enough to pave the way to his current life. The book takes a macro-view to the movement, and as a result Weeks often notes occasions when his knowledge grew more nuanced without actually explaining what those nuances are.
Weeks talks of how his career as a historian and sociologist of the gay movement put him in a liminal space that often felt limited and constricting. As in many themes of his life, that specific space between worlds is what makes this telling powerful and unlike any other in skill and perspective.
eggata's review
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.0
The lives of gay activists during the 70s onwards had always fascinated me, as someone who was very shielded from gay history growing up, Reading about the experiences of someone who lived through these times was very interesting and I enjoyed the mix of personal and professional aspects of this memoir. It was also interesting to see the various influences on Weeks' writings and activism. I love seeing how writers reach their conclusions as these are often extremely nuanced topics. It was very clear that Weeks has been influenced by a wide variety of people and ideas. I particularly loved Weeks' thoughts on the idea of community and grassroots activism, even if his race commentary was lacking. Another theme throughout the memoir was understanding the views of others, even if you didn't agree, and the analysis of these various ideas was quite compelling.
However, the reason I picked up this book was the promise of a discussion surrounding queerness in the valleys (as I am currently queer in the valleys). We definitely got an insight into Weeks' childhood and the struggles of growing up as a gay man in the Rhondda. What was lacking for me, was a link to the valleys throughout the rest of the memoir. For the majority of the memoir, no links were made to the Rhondda, which is something I would have liked to see a deeper exploration of. The parts that did talk about the Valleys culture were extremely interesting, I just wish it was a theme throughout!
Overall, an interesting read.
However, the reason I picked up this book was the promise of a discussion surrounding queerness in the valleys (as I am currently queer in the valleys). We definitely got an insight into Weeks' childhood and the struggles of growing up as a gay man in the Rhondda. What was lacking for me, was a link to the valleys throughout the rest of the memoir. For the majority of the memoir, no links were made to the Rhondda, which is something I would have liked to see a deeper exploration of. The parts that did talk about the Valleys culture were extremely interesting, I just wish it was a theme throughout!
Overall, an interesting read.
savannahmorrow's review
4.0
I knew nothing about Jeffrey Weeks going into this book so I might be a little biased...but I loved this. I am forever fascinated by the lives of LGBTQ+ persons who lived through 1970-2000s and this man was in the thick of it. Very interesting read and I hope to pick up my own copy in the future to share with friends. Would recommend to those looking to expand their understand of LGBTQ+ struggles pr are just big ole' lovers of memoirs like myself
4.5 stars.
4.5 stars.
More...