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shimmery's review against another edition
5.0
Paul is mutable — not only, as he says, because he’s a Sagittarius, but because he is often switching jobs, interests, states and sex.
This is a hilarious read as it follows the happy-go-lucky, fun-seeking Paul through his jobs in gay bars and thrift stores, to his life as a woman in an all lesbian, vegetarian household, and on to the life he lives as a gay man working in an LGBT bookstore. Lawlor writes with such wit; they are an expert at storytelling.
But this book is also deeply moving; it looks at he aids crisis and the struggles of LGBT people, while also exploring gender and identity in a way that is both self aware and teasing and profound. It’s one of the only books I’ve read that manages to write about music in an interesting and entertaining way.
It’s a very smart book, perhaps my favourite I’ve read so far this year, and I’d encourage all to read it.
This is a hilarious read as it follows the happy-go-lucky, fun-seeking Paul through his jobs in gay bars and thrift stores, to his life as a woman in an all lesbian, vegetarian household, and on to the life he lives as a gay man working in an LGBT bookstore. Lawlor writes with such wit; they are an expert at storytelling.
But this book is also deeply moving; it looks at he aids crisis and the struggles of LGBT people, while also exploring gender and identity in a way that is both self aware and teasing and profound. It’s one of the only books I’ve read that manages to write about music in an interesting and entertaining way.
It’s a very smart book, perhaps my favourite I’ve read so far this year, and I’d encourage all to read it.
ejkimberley's review against another edition
5.0
This was a lovely ride all the way through, which really felt like it was written by someone who knows what it was like to hit the gay and lesbian scene in the 90s. Characters and situations were compelling and on point, but made more compelling for me by the high-concept premise of Paul not just being a genderfluid queen who can pass in any context, but a literal shapeshifter.
The sex scenes were interesting and varied enough (given Paul's transformational abilities. And the dialogue was well written and fun. Making this altogether a highly entertaining nostalgic experience of a (literally) genderfluid "youngman" hitting the scene at (perhaps) its historical height.
The sex scenes were interesting and varied enough (given Paul's transformational abilities. And the dialogue was well written and fun. Making this altogether a highly entertaining nostalgic experience of a (literally) genderfluid "youngman" hitting the scene at (perhaps) its historical height.
pran's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Beautiful, nuanced, all-encompassing, Queer, fabulous. Would highly recommend to absolutely anyone. Be warned: lots of depictions of sex!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia
barriojm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really wanted to like it. I didn't dislike it, it's definitely a piece of art. It just wasn't my preferred style, so it was hard to get into.
jairereads's review
3.0
Taking a few steps back, I think my issues with it were all with its influences rather than its own execution. I hadn't heard of "picaresque novel" until I started digging around for reasons I should have enjoyed this more. If this was indeed meant to follow in the picaresque tradition, I'd say this was an impressive entry, and I can't get mad at a duck for quacking. If it dialed up the satire a bit more, I think it would have been a blast.
chuckyinspace's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
hannahrose_99's review against another edition
3.75
3.5/4, maybe?? i love when a book takes place in iowa city! it took me a while to get into this book, and i found myself losing interest at points, but it's really so hard to tell if that's the book's fault, or the mental place i was in while reading it. i want to read it again! i thought the writing was so gorgeous, and loved the whole concept. i didn't find myself attached to any of the characters, and that indifference always makes it hard for me to get into a book! the last 100 pages were my favorite and made me want to go back to san francisco again.
jbash_lo_fi's review against another edition
5.0
A lot of queer fiction leaves me disappointed. Too many of these books seem toned down to avoid alienating "mainstream" (straight) readers. But his book is exactly what I've been waiting for. It's shamelessly honest. It's fun, explicit, moving and joyously queer. I'm so glad I read it.
donut_holer's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0