sedgewren's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
A truly gorgeous, spiritual and empathetic book that, although I'm neither particularly queer nor religious, I found calming and encouraging. The very short essay format made the book very easy to get through, and the range of writers produced a much smaller range of quality of writing than I expected (all of it was well written, which is not common for a collection of essays from the same writer let alone from disparate authors!).
I loved the poetry in the writings from queer people who found God despite being outcast from the church, and what being religious means to them. Often it came down to love, and how they described their relationships with God were often breathtaking.
I found the writings from queer ordained ministers particularly inspiring, and it made me happy that, although they were in the minority and not in particularly orthodox churches, they were still passionate and optimistic.
I loved the poetry in the writings from queer people who found God despite being outcast from the church, and what being religious means to them. Often it came down to love, and how they described their relationships with God were often breathtaking.
I found the writings from queer ordained ministers particularly inspiring, and it made me happy that, although they were in the minority and not in particularly orthodox churches, they were still passionate and optimistic.
claire60's review
4.0
An important book where many different LGBT people write about their own relationships with their faith, a mix of faiths is included alongside a range of experiences including many who have been ordained and then cast out for being LGBT. Some are moving including the Mpho Tutu van Furth Archbishop Desmond Tutu's daughter, Jarel Robinson-Brown who both write eloquently about being ordained Black LGBT people who are then cast out. There is also an excellent essay from Jeanette Winterson on fundamentalism and binaries that makes some really important long overdue points about extremism and 'othering'. This book is moving, enlightening and vital to ensuring that LGBT people of faith find their space in the world.
With thanks to net galley for a free ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
With thanks to net galley for a free ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
captainwinter's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
3.75
Some essays I found more interesting than others, but I liked reading all the different perspectives. As a person who doesn't particularly believe in anything, it was interesting reading why queer/LGBTQ+ people still chose to have their faith, when the image in the public is often that the two don't go together.
curlyhairedbooklover's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Incredibly interesting and it was great to read so many different perspectives and see the truth and vulnerability each person gave.
annrhub's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
catherinedsharp's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Parts of this book I very much enjoyed and felt inspired by. Others not as much. Overall it is a wonderfully reflective piece about how religion and being LGBTQIA*+ interconnect and how the two topics are not mutually exclusive.
Generally the pieces are written with relation to Catholicism/Christianity yet there are some pieces reflecting upon being Muslim or following Judaism.
This text forced me to consider my relationship with what makes up my identity in an emotional and often funny way.
Generally the pieces are written with relation to Catholicism/Christianity yet there are some pieces reflecting upon being Muslim or following Judaism.
This text forced me to consider my relationship with what makes up my identity in an emotional and often funny way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Biphobia, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt