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svetyas4's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Such an interesting figure that I'd never heard of before! I'd definitely recommend people read this book.
eriknoteric's review
3.0
Sadly the story of and stories by Samuel Steward and his plethora of gay pseudonyms has, for the better part of a half century, been forgotten. Fortunately, in the years immediately prior to his death, he wrote an autobiography that forever engraved his own incredibly queer life story into the annals of gay literature.
Following his path from a small town in Ohio through a PhD program and professorship and finally to his time as a tattooist in Chicago, this book details the story of a man who was deeply thoughtful and reflective and at the same time subversive and complex. The story itself interweaves cultural references and staunch criticism in a really beautiful manner, but sadly much of the metaphorical genius of the book was silenced by the editor's (why did this book have an editor??) extremely heavy handed use of footnotes - I mean really! We don't need every single cultural reference and metaphor spelled out in a footnote! Let the writing speak for itself.
Overall, an important autobiography about the life of an incredibly important write and man.
Following his path from a small town in Ohio through a PhD program and professorship and finally to his time as a tattooist in Chicago, this book details the story of a man who was deeply thoughtful and reflective and at the same time subversive and complex. The story itself interweaves cultural references and staunch criticism in a really beautiful manner, but sadly much of the metaphorical genius of the book was silenced by the editor's (why did this book have an editor??) extremely heavy handed use of footnotes - I mean really! We don't need every single cultural reference and metaphor spelled out in a footnote! Let the writing speak for itself.
Overall, an important autobiography about the life of an incredibly important write and man.
themidnightbagel's review
3.0
*3.5 stars*
Read this for my Queer Literature class, and it was endless fascinating, entertaining and at many points within his narration, hilarious. I also think his experiences are very enlightening in aspects such as queer regionalism, and the ways in which he does and doesn’t ascribe to the “standard gay white man” queer experience. Didn’t necessarily have much personal effect for me, unlike “Fun Home”, but definitely glad to have known more about this incredibly interesting man.
Read this for my Queer Literature class, and it was endless fascinating, entertaining and at many points within his narration, hilarious. I also think his experiences are very enlightening in aspects such as queer regionalism, and the ways in which he does and doesn’t ascribe to the “standard gay white man” queer experience. Didn’t necessarily have much personal effect for me, unlike “Fun Home”, but definitely glad to have known more about this incredibly interesting man.
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