spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
3.0
Unlike what you might assume from the title, this isn't a book of collected Hindu folklore with queer themes, but actually a critical academic look at queer themes within Hindu folklore, the role of queerness, its importance, and its evolution.
strystyl's review against another edition
3.0
TL;DR - So this was a really interesting read. Definitely a deep dive so do some light reading on hinduism before, but helpful glossary and bibliography make it a good one.
Book looks at queerness in Hindu lore, how it affects Indian culture (as informed by Hinduism, some Buddhism and Jainism) and the impact of that history. I think it's a solid look at things, even though I remember reading and learning as much as I could about Indian History through hinduism as a child, and STILL not being able to learn enough. My family came from a bramhin lineage but I didn't really learn much about EACH and every line of mythology, though not for a lack of trying.
The analysis and reading of each section was actually fascinating as the queerness of it all is bright and center, though the societal realities of LGBT issues in India seem to be unmet with equally widespread understanding. Though MANY brown people find affirmation in their history and culture, it's also (as stated in the book) hard not to see the effects of misogyny and patriarchy that intermingle with the same bright and vivid colors that paint the hindu and vedic tapestry.
The stories are short and easy to read, though the critical analysis linking the sections together flows impecceably well. It's not really something new. You hear the stories, you read about it, (if you're me) you ask questions about all the weirdness that no one wants to discuss or educate you about, and then you grow up and find a book written with the same kind of questioning.
There is a LOT of queerness in Hindu mythology, brown culture and tradition in general. Now, it's just up to society to let LGBT issues become less taboo and that way the south asian diaspora can begin helping heal the wounds, and celebrating the greatness of our queer family. There is a lot of work being done in that regard and I think it's important that we don't stop and just talk about it, but use works like this to recognize and impliment reform and acceptance that colonial binary conformity is both harmful and erases our wonderfully queer brown history.
Book looks at queerness in Hindu lore, how it affects Indian culture (as informed by Hinduism, some Buddhism and Jainism) and the impact of that history. I think it's a solid look at things, even though I remember reading and learning as much as I could about Indian History through hinduism as a child, and STILL not being able to learn enough. My family came from a bramhin lineage but I didn't really learn much about EACH and every line of mythology, though not for a lack of trying.
The analysis and reading of each section was actually fascinating as the queerness of it all is bright and center, though the societal realities of LGBT issues in India seem to be unmet with equally widespread understanding. Though MANY brown people find affirmation in their history and culture, it's also (as stated in the book) hard not to see the effects of misogyny and patriarchy that intermingle with the same bright and vivid colors that paint the hindu and vedic tapestry.
The stories are short and easy to read, though the critical analysis linking the sections together flows impecceably well. It's not really something new. You hear the stories, you read about it, (if you're me) you ask questions about all the weirdness that no one wants to discuss or educate you about, and then you grow up and find a book written with the same kind of questioning.
There is a LOT of queerness in Hindu mythology, brown culture and tradition in general. Now, it's just up to society to let LGBT issues become less taboo and that way the south asian diaspora can begin helping heal the wounds, and celebrating the greatness of our queer family. There is a lot of work being done in that regard and I think it's important that we don't stop and just talk about it, but use works like this to recognize and impliment reform and acceptance that colonial binary conformity is both harmful and erases our wonderfully queer brown history.
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