Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York by Elon Green

3 reviews

shieldbearer's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional informative medium-paced

4.5

I have to strongly recommend the audiobook, because the author's interview at the end of the book provides so much context with the author's intent upon writing this. It is very clear that this book was written from such a place of empathy for the victims and their loved ones to honor their lives and memories. 

Almost every complaint in the reviews stems from completely missing this point. 

+ While I agree the use of the n word was not necessary (and is why I have docked the book by half a star for such an egregious oversight) the use of the f-slur are because of the sources the author was utilizing, included to contextualize the sort of environment queer people had to live in, and are direct quotes from people involved in the case. If you do not understand why this contextualization matters, you need to get off twitter. 

+ the absolute genius who complained this was a "limited" "exploration of queerness" missed the memo where the author is working to show us the victims and their lives- their specific experiences and histories, and the failures of the system and society that made their deaths possible. This is not a book about "queerness" and furthermore, there is no universal "queerness." again. please get off twitter.

+ the vague "disappointing... not what I was expecting" reviews are almost invariably more interested in the 
"glamour" of the killer's motives and the gory details of the case. The author is thoroughly uninterested in the killer, and continually centers the victims and their lives. 

This book has ruined all other true crime books for me. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

book_enjoyer's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark informative mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

I’m not usually one for true crime, or even fictional murder mysteries, but I enjoyed this one. Green lays out the details of the Last Call Killer’s murders in unflinching, brutal detail, but he takes equal care with the victims’ lives and the gay bar culture that forms the setting of the book. As a queer reader, I appreciated that the book didn’t feel like it was written for a straight audience—Green doesn’t pause to explain what a bear or a leather daddy is, for example—and didn’t shy away from detailing the level of casual homophobia present at the time. In the epilogue, Green expresses some hesitancy as to whether he, a straight man, should be telling this story: “Could I do right by the queer community and its history? That’s not for me to say. What I tried to do in this book was let my sources tell the story.” In my opinion, he has risen to this challenge. Last Call is compelling, atmospheric, and thoroughly-researched, and it sheds light on a brutal serial killer whose actions were ignored for too long because of his victims’ sexuality. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

wherethewildreadsare's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark informative mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

Wow, a fantastically researched story about a serial killer that isn’t as talked about due to the sexuality of his victims. Doesn’t dwell on the killer but brings to life the victims. Who they were before they were “victims” and what in their lives led them into the path of their killer!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings