Reviews

Legendary Children: The First Decade of RuPaul's Drag Race and the Last Century of Queer Life by Tom Fitzgerald, Lorenzo Marquez

jayqueuetee's review

5.0

At the beginning of this, the authors say they expect you to read it with one hand always googling the folks they write about to get a deeper knowledge than they can give. Let me tell you: they are right. Much like a great oral history (I’m thinking of EDIE or MEET ME IN THE BATHROOM), Tom and Lorenzo’s book is catnip for people wanting an entry into a world they think they know, but have barely scratched the surface on. LEGENDARY CHILDREN is sneaky af in getting you to pick it up for the Drag Race component - yes, don’t worry, that’s in there, but this is really an entry point for people to learn the (I’m gonna say it) herstory of queer, trans, and non-binary artists and performers of the past century and a half. It’s pretty remarkable and so very very well done.

geek_mama_em's review

5.0

You don't need to be familiar with RuPaul's Drag Race to read it since the focus is on the history of drag. And it does an excellent job covering drag history and queer history in general!

dictatorkittin's review against another edition

informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.5

madamvonsassypants's review

5.0

It is an absolutely essential read by two of my most favorite bloggers. I am proudly a longtime Bitter Kitten! I highly respect their insight and thoughtful presentation of the past and present and how they relate. Contextualizing queer history within a Drag Race outline is such an excellent format. HIghly recommend this to anyone and everyone!

keitto's review

3.0

I love Tom and Lorenzo's fashion blog, so I knew I had to support them by buying this book even if I didn't have a strong motivation to read it (I've never watched RuPaul's Drag Race). The book is fine. I found it a little frustrating that, as the authors state in the foreword, it's up the reader to google every famous person/routine/historical event in order to see what is being described. This was a little annoying. When I read a book, I'd rather not have to put it down multiple times per chapter to see google stuff.

Nevertheless, I am grateful for this bite-size compendium of groundbreaking drag queens and gender-queer artists. How else would I have found out about the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a "queer anarcho-political street-theater-oriented order of activist drag nuns"?!

artie_rodgers's review

5.0

I LOVED this, a super fun look back at so much queer history! Anybody I know who loves Drag Race should definitely read this book. It’s important to note that it covers a wide berth of people, places, events, etc. The book is a great primer for anyone remotely interested in queer history. I found it was best to read a chapter a day, really take the time to look these people up (as the book suggests)

The book tackles the indelible link between queer history and popular culture and how that link has proved a watershed in heteronormative culture.

nmalendo's review

5.0

To put it bluntly, this was inredible. Going in, I expected this book to focus on the history of Rupaul's Drag Race, and not dive into too much beyond that. I was pleasantly incorrect with this assumption. I learned so much about queer history, and changemakers I never knew of prior to reading. What struck me the most while reading about the different stories was just how many queer icons and disruptors we have lost to the AIDS epidemic. Almost every section I read ended with, "Person X succumbed to the plague...," which was such a grounding moment for me. My only complaint about this book is that it wasn't longer -- I would've loved to continue reading, learning, and hearing about different individuals that have impacted the queer community. Highly, highly, highly recommend.

supau's review

I never felt like I wanted to read it, and even when I was reading it I didn't really feel anything.

toyarenee's review

5.0

An excellent primer to educate the viewing public (and young folks who might not otherwise know) about the connections between RuPaul’s Drag Race and queer culture/history at large. Great introduction to the trans women who sparked the modern-day movement, the Black and Latinx queens and gay folks who are the foundation of the ball scene, RuPaul’s forebears and contemporaries, and the wider effects of queer entertainers on the world we know.

astrostexpat's review

5.0

The book explains, with heart & humor, how many aspects of RuPauls Drag Race draw from LGBTQ history & drag traditions. I learned a lot and will definitely watch the show with a better understanding of the culture.