A review by maestro_cerrotorcido
Queer by William S. Burroughs

challenging dark 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

0.5

A friend gave me this book for my birthday. I think she maybe grabbed it at a thrift store and didn't really research much into it. I had never heard of William Burroughs nor the Beat Generation. I hated the author from the introduction where he uses a racial slur and would have DNF'd this book really early if it hadn't been a gift. And even though the book was written earlier (maybe the 50's?), the introduction is dated in 1985 when the book was published. The book is described as semi-autobiographical which makes me dislike Burroughs even more because to call every character in the book unlikable would be an understatement. Lee is horribly racist, misogynistic, and pedo-y. The reader is asked to take into account that he is going with withdrawal so his libido is coming back which doesn't sit well with me. I then researched more of Burroughs's life and found out that I not only dislike him more but he is a pretty famous and liked author which is baffling to me.
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