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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
h_motionless's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Queer is shockingly risky for its time; it's crass, filthy, offensive, and of course, very queer. However, despite how filthy it is, it's somehow beautiful. It may not be politically correct, but its undoubtedly authentic. Burroughs masters verisimilitude in this novel, and even though not much happens, it still feels engaging. Overall, it feels like the plot of James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room, mixed with the style of Murakami's Hear the Wind Sing and Pinball, 1973, but if Charles Bukowski wrote the whole thing. It's marvellous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Homophobia, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis