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the_clueless_tourist's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Antisemitism and Cultural appropriation
jester_reviews's review against another edition
0.75
I hope K. Dot goes back in time to WOP WOP WOP WOP WOP this cunt into the grave. Oh my god.
I had low expectations going in because my buddy warned me but Jesus Christ on a Bike, somehow it was worse. When William wasn't coercing young menor even TEENAGERS AS YOUNG AS 12 to have sex with him, he was antisemitic, orientalist, and extremely racist against Mexicans. The other 90% was dedicated to him yapping about fuck all just to get people to pay attention to him. Which I can understand. But I also don't diddle teenagers and say that all Mexicans do is commit crime . It's dogshit. Genuinely, utter dogshit.
One of my best friends who encouraged me to read it said the only thing saving this book was the raw portrayal of loneliness as a lgbtq person and the raw writing style. Sorry buddy, I love you, but I gotta disagree. I'm a hater, first and foremost. I usually like more simplistic writing styles that are more brutalist, but for some reason, I couldn't get into it. Might be a me thing there. As for the themes, I agree that said themes are worth exploring, but the thing is that there are plenty of other books ABOUT this very subject that not only do it way better, but don't have the Main Character be a certified loverboy certified pedophile. It is a product of its time, and learning and reading about queer culture throughout history is important. But some things should be left in the past. Sometimes, things that are older, are worse.
If I wasn't giving this copy back to my friend, I'd burn it.
I had low expectations going in because my buddy warned me but Jesus Christ on a Bike, somehow it was worse. When William wasn't coercing young men
One of my best friends who encouraged me to read it said the only thing saving this book was the raw portrayal of loneliness as a lgbtq person and the raw writing style. Sorry buddy, I love you, but I gotta disagree. I'm a hater, first and foremost. I usually like more simplistic writing styles that are more brutalist, but for some reason, I couldn't get into it. Might be a me thing there. As for the themes, I agree that said themes are worth exploring, but the thing is that there are plenty of other books ABOUT this very subject that not only do it way better, but don't have the Main Character be a certified loverboy certified pedophile. It is a product of its time, and learning and reading about queer culture throughout history is important. But some things should be left in the past. Sometimes, things that are older, are worse.
If I wasn't giving this copy back to my friend, I'd burn it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, and Alcohol
I'm so mad the Not Like Us music video isn't out yet but if it was, the link would be here.earth_to_mars's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
My feelings for Queer are mixed and the only thing saving this book from a one star rating is Burroughs' straightforward and raw writing style. This book suffers severely from being a product of its time and if you are able to push through the obvious orientalism and offensive portrayal of South America, you will be met with a disgusting excuse of a main character.
Speaking of Lee, he is absolutely an unlikeable protagonist, which wouldn't have been an issue (I like BoJack Horseman and Catcher and the Rye) if it weren't for how gross this guy actually is. He is angry, manipulative, narcissistic and downright pathetic. He doesn't do anything redeemable and his constant racist and antisemetic tangents make for a rough read. On top of that, he is constantly trying to get into the pants of a straight man, Allerton (to the point of coercing him into sex to pay for a trip ) and lusts after and abuses young boys in Chapter Nine which almost made me DNF this book if it hadn't been for the fact that I had one chapter left.
If you're expecting a plot, there is no plot, and very little happens and it can feel like a drag.
The only positive I can find in this book is the little bits of theme exploration. The isolation and yearning for human connection as a queer person in a world that has effectively turned its back on you. The despair and pain in those little excerpts make me rate it as high as I did, and maybe had Burroughs focused more on that rather than his obvious biases and worrisome behaviors, this could have been a better book about yearning for human connection.
Speaking of Lee, he is absolutely an unlikeable protagonist, which wouldn't have been an issue (I like BoJack Horseman and Catcher and the Rye) if it weren't for how gross this guy actually is. He is angry, manipulative, narcissistic and downright pathetic. He doesn't do anything redeemable and his constant racist and antisemetic tangents make for a rough read. On top of that, he is constantly trying to get into the pants of a straight man, Allerton (
If you're expecting a plot, there is no plot, and very little happens and it can feel like a drag.
The only positive I can find in this book is the little bits of theme exploration. The isolation and yearning for human connection as a queer person in a world that has effectively turned its back on you. The despair and pain in those little excerpts make me rate it as high as I did, and maybe had Burroughs focused more on that rather than his obvious biases and worrisome behaviors, this could have been a better book about yearning for human connection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Racial slurs, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Pedophilia, and Racism
Minor: Gun violence, Hate crime, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
marianneiriss's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
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