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drjreads's review
2.0
More like "Humdrum Homosexual" if you ask me...
This book, a memoir in essays by a millennial author, feels like it is an endless complaint by someone who feels oppressed by the fact that he hasn't been oppressed enough - so much so that he internalizes and appropriates other people's traumas and oppressions as his own and then acts like they have been committed against him.
This book is a collection of micro-aggressions presented as though they were hate crimes, and it gets very old very quickly, until it becomes exasperating when he simply lacks any notion of self criticism and awareness. He does not seem for a second to recognize how much worse others have/had it than him, and when he seems to he takes it upon himself as some sort of historical burden that he has claimed as his own. It's an exhausting read.
Add in the fact that the essays are structured in ways that seem to come out of a "creative writing 101" class, and I should know since I teach those types of classes!
All in all I had a very bad time reading this. I just don't think the author was mature enough yet to have the perspective to write such a book and not question himself, his beliefs, or his experience with the benefit of time and maturity. Perhaps one day it would have been an interesting book, but as is it is a pretty lackluster and shallow narrative of a person that hasn't really gone through anything and mostly complains that he was born too late to participate in actually historical gay liberation movements and experienced queer life in the 70s and 80s, and that makes for a really boring, if not borderline offensive, reading experience.
This book, a memoir in essays by a millennial author, feels like it is an endless complaint by someone who feels oppressed by the fact that he hasn't been oppressed enough - so much so that he internalizes and appropriates other people's traumas and oppressions as his own and then acts like they have been committed against him.
This book is a collection of micro-aggressions presented as though they were hate crimes, and it gets very old very quickly, until it becomes exasperating when he simply lacks any notion of self criticism and awareness. He does not seem for a second to recognize how much worse others have/had it than him, and when he seems to he takes it upon himself as some sort of historical burden that he has claimed as his own. It's an exhausting read.
Add in the fact that the essays are structured in ways that seem to come out of a "creative writing 101" class, and I should know since I teach those types of classes!
All in all I had a very bad time reading this. I just don't think the author was mature enough yet to have the perspective to write such a book and not question himself, his beliefs, or his experience with the benefit of time and maturity. Perhaps one day it would have been an interesting book, but as is it is a pretty lackluster and shallow narrative of a person that hasn't really gone through anything and mostly complains that he was born too late to participate in actually historical gay liberation movements and experienced queer life in the 70s and 80s, and that makes for a really boring, if not borderline offensive, reading experience.
mwohlbrandt's review
5.0
A really great memoir and book in general. It covers Gomez's life growing up and finding his way in the world as a gay, Latinx person and while we all might have read similar stories before, the author's voice and way of telling his story was quite charming and didn't feel like 'the same old, same old' experience. It's about as humorous as it can be without calling this book a comedic memoir, a bit sad, a bit bittersweet, a bit angry, a lot hopeful. The kind of memoir that makes me feel like we're friends, like I hope the author only has happy things come to him in life, not because I feel bad for him but because he deserves it and we all do, it's that kind of memoir. I really hope to see more from Gomez in the future.
lclindley's review
5.0
What a beautiful memoir this. I found it bewildering, shocking, and illuminating all at once. Gomez' voice is incredible and uniquely his, but also uniquely his are descriptions of the inner workings of a highly anxious brain. Thought patterns that I wouldn't even imagine to exist. It is somewhat heartbreaking to realize so acutely the noise that so many live with in their head. I have never shared that and I don't know that I've ever read a book that quite so perfectly places it on the page. A stand out debut memoir from a beautiful voice. Highly recommend.
silenthillda's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Like I know the future is scary and algorithms/AI will eventually kill us all. At least for now though, it works in my favor in recommending good shit. Edgar Gomez and his new release “Alligator Tears” has been hitting my instagram feed. Coming to visit a books and books here near me in Miami. Further research I come to find that he’s a non-binary queer writer that was raised in Florida and already has a prior memoir out called High-risk Homosexual. I’m like bitch! Let me get on this!
Of course, I read it in a day! I was hooked from the beginning and found it super freaky to read a memoir in some parts similar to my own life. And that’s that he’s Orlando and I’m down here in Hialeah. It was like a nostalgic trip, it’s kind of cool that a lot of us humans can have some of the same origin connections, even in slightly different fonts.
I completely related to a lot of Edgar’s feelings of shame and pride. Having Latinx parents who say that they’re supportive but yet there’s a disconnect. Growing up in the early 2000s as a queer, Hispanic kid being complicated as fuck to say the least. Difficult relationship with our gender and identity. What is really is to be a “MAN”… bro FUCK the binary.
I really enjoyed this. Even in its somber tones, I found light and just overall connection to another human. We’re all just getting by and surviving, that even when we’re alone, we’re not truly alone. Some really great chapters and of course my ass sobbed in one. I would highly recommend this to any LGBTQ Floridian that grew up during this time period but also any others. Anyway, keep spying on me Instagram, give me more recommendations.
priscillatorres's review against another edition
4.0
emotional and interesting stories about a latino queer kid growing up. good easy read despite some heavy topics.
mood_reading_maya's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
In my hunt for nonfiction that looks at the intersections between queerness and Latinidad, this was one of the books that I landed on during my library catalog search.
Gomez relays personal experiences as a child, teen, and young man navigating the world as a gay man. While there are moments of insightful reflection on themes of masculinity, machismo, in/visibility, and community, most of the essays contend with Gomez's struggle with internalized homophobia. I can appreciate this message, but it wasn't quite what I was looking for. It's heavy on the personal anecdotes and storytelling and very light on the broader conclusions or reflections on what they meant for the queer & Latinx community. Just...a touch too surface level? The sections centered on Pulse Nightclub had the most depth.
The narration, done by the author, was really not for me. Lots of repeated lip smacking and breathy pauses after every other sentence forced me to break up my listening because it was distracting.
Gomez relays personal experiences as a child, teen, and young man navigating the world as a gay man. While there are moments of insightful reflection on themes of masculinity, machismo, in/visibility, and community, most of the essays contend with Gomez's struggle with internalized homophobia. I can appreciate this message, but it wasn't quite what I was looking for. It's heavy on the personal anecdotes and storytelling and very light on the broader conclusions or reflections on what they meant for the queer & Latinx community. Just...a touch too surface level? The sections centered on Pulse Nightclub had the most depth.
The narration, done by the author, was really not for me. Lots of repeated lip smacking and breathy pauses after every other sentence forced me to break up my listening because it was distracting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Medical content
Minor: Gun violence and Hate crime