RaveLibrary JournalGhaziani shows that he’s a good listener and quantitative sociologist who skillfully captures the stories of his interview subjects ... An accessible, absorbing look into an evolving form of queer culture, written by a brilliant sociologist.
Seán Hewitt
RaveLibrary JournalThis memoir, though ostensibly about a lived life, suggests something spiritual, as befits its title, taken from a Gerard Manley Hopkins poem. It is also fitting because Hewitt is well-known as a gifted poet, as was Hopkins ... Even more poignantly, he opens up about his vulnerability to gay shame and its triggers. What can’t be conveyed in a short review is how poetic the writing is. This book bears reading twice it is so beautiful ... Readers seeking an elegant, profound memoir will find none better than this. Highly recommended.
Jack Parlett
PositiveLibrary JournalAmong the most poetic and moving parts of this beautifully written book are Parlett’s own memories of New York City, Fire Island, and his growth as a gay man ... Readers of all stripes will appreciate this fast-paced general interest title.
Jhumpa Lahiri
PositiveLibrary JournalThe collection is singular for Lahiri’s ability to integrate the personal and the theoretical, drawing her examples from literature and from life ... Though the topic of translation studies might have a limited non-academic readership, Lahiri writes so beautifully that this collection will have broad appeal for anyone interested in literary essays.
Jack Lowery
RaveLibrary JournalVivid, frank portraits ... Lowery’s raw emotion strikes deep into the reader’s conscience. The context of how the art was incubated makes this narrative essential to the history of the AIDS epidemic; as Lowery demonstrates, Gran Fury increased public awareness of AIDS by inventive use of art and unquestionably saved lives ... Readers especially interested in HIV/AIDS in New York in the ’80s and ’90s will find this book essential; general readers will also profit from Lowery’s insights on issues of art and activism. Recommended for all interested in how art can change the world.
James R. Gaines
PositiveLibrary Journal... an engrossing deep dive into the personal histories of important figures of what he calls “the long fifties” (roughly 1945–63); many of the book’s subjects have been overlooked in conventional histories ... This work by Gaines follows in the footsteps of David Halberstam’s 1993 book of the same title and will be enjoyed by readers seeking solid historical research that is also an informative read. Recommended.
Kate Bowler
RaveLibrary JournalBowler’s affecting narrative meditates on the things she’s just faced; she also takes it as an opportunity to reflect on the past and the kind of life she wants for herself in the future. Bowler writes about all of it with good humor, occasional anger, and vivid honesty ... fresh insight on life and chronic illness ... General readers will be engrossed by this heartfelt memoir of sickness, family, and recovery. The table that serves as an appendix of complicated truths is worth the price of the book.
Deborah Feldman
RaveLibrary JournalFeldman’s story might be already well-known to readers; her previous memoir was the basis of the Netflix series Unorthodox. Her newest book is equally riveting ... Feldman has a gift for making prose poems of small events ... Not only is the book beautifully written, but it deals with some of the most profound human emotions: longing to know one’s origins; anger at injustice; and romantic and parental love. Feldman’s analytic mind is particularly keen here, as when she details the complex emotions she experienced while watching the trial of a Nazi in a German court ... A barebones description of the storyline doesn’t even begin to do justice to this magnificent piece of literature, which will stand the test of time. Like Feldman’s previous book, this is another captivating memoir that will find a wide audience.
Sarah Schulman
RaveLibrary Journal... deeply personal ... [Schulman] states that she is not a trained historian, but her skilled use of oral histories, combined with solid research into earlier social movements, provide a complete history of ACT UP, from its founding in 1987 to the present day. The writing is given a personal touch with the inclusion of profiles and oral histories of notable people, such as chemist Iris Long and HIV/AIDS researcher Mark Harrington. These portraits, together with the historical context offered throughout, prove the lasting influence of ACT UP and have a lot to teach readers about activism today. Schulman reminds us that ACT UP still exists because the HIV/AIDS crisis is not over ... This engaging, accessible book will find a wide audience among readers interested in activism from the ground up. It will also be a foundational document for historians for generations to come. A must-read.
Melissa Faliveno
RaveLibrary JournalEncountering Faliveno...is a pleasure ... She is also a sensitive commentator on the topsy-turvy world of the gender systems she grew up in and an exquisite self-analyst of her own androgyny ... Readers of all kinds will wish to sit down with this tomboy, not just those interested in issues of androgyny. Recommended.
Paul Lisicky
PositiveLibrary JournalThis heartfelt memoir will appeal to literary readers, and certainly those with ties to Provincetown and its gay community.
Alex Espinoza
RaveLibrary JournalWhat makes this book so appealing is the way Espinoza combines his own experiences of cruising from adolescence to the present, and as a Chicano, with a cogent analysis of the role of cruising; an antihegemonic activity against a patriarchal system—and he writes beautifully ... Recommended for LGBT and contemporary culture collections.
Walt Odets
PositiveLibrary Journal... a humanistic narrative. The work is especially distinctive in its combination of solid social science and heartfelt compassion...The stated primary audience is gay men, but Odets believes that all can profit from and recognize themselves in the emotional content—and he\'s right. Nearly anyone interested in how much people are alike, despite differences in sexual orientation, will find much to appreciate.
