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Reviews tagging 'Outing'
Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York by Elon Green
9 reviews
annemaries_shelves's review against another edition
4.0
I think it's easy to forget (or at least I do) that NYC was extremely violent towards LGBTQIA+ people (and still is in many ways) despite also serving as a haven for many who moved there from other areas of the USA. I did appreciate the chapters on NYC queer/gay social scenes and the gay bars that many frequented - it's a piece of queer history that I didn't know much about.
To me, Green did a good job capturing the closeted 20th century queer experience and showing just how difficult it was to be visibly whole and yourself. Pretty much all the known or suspected victims of the serial killer were deeply closeted/scared men - and even with all their relative privileges (middle/upper class, white, presumed straight, family men, etc.) were largely forgotten about and ignored by authorities. Despite the hard work by law enforcement to identify, prosecute, and imprison Rogers, it was largely due to luck and activist support from the Anti-Violence Project, in my opinion, that they were successful given the apathy and/or homophobia of politicians and senior law enforcement (and I'm sure some of the detectives, technicians, etc.).
The writing was good but not outstanding, which I find a feature of many journalists who tackle longer narrative/investigative journalism for the first time (and apparently parts of it were line edited by David Grann, which I found a fun coincidence given I just finished one of his books).
What I find truly upsetting is just how many people Rogers's may have murdered in the decades of freedom he had. I'm glad he's behind bars now.
CW: murder, dismemberment, homophobia, violence/beatings/attacks as hate crimes, needles/injections, AIDS, and anything else you can think of to associate with serial murder of gay people in the early 90s.
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism and Outing
ashleighcattell's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Murder, and Outing
alyssa_s10's review against another edition
4.75
Moreover, the author's dedication to honoring the victims' lives is evident throughout the book. Green takes great care to tell their stories with empathy and respect, giving them a voice that resonates beyond their untimely deaths. This approach not only humanizes the victims but also sheds light on their diverse backgrounds, dreams, and aspirations, making their loss even more poignant.
While the book is undeniably gripping and insightful, the intricate details and the number of individuals involved can sometimes make it a bit challenging to keep track of the entire narrative. However, this is a minor drawback in an otherwise exceptional work.
Overall, "Last Call" is a remarkable blend of true crime and historical narrative that both educates and moves the reader. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of queer history and the personal stories behind a dark chapter in New York City's past.
Graphic: Police brutality, Murder, and Outing
Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol
mandi_lea's review against another edition
2.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Outing, and Alcohol
jhbandcats's review against another edition
4.5
The focus on New York City gives a feel for what it was like, living in an ostensibly liberal city while never able to be safe. The author’s compassionate focus on the victims and the friends who loved them shows how wrong it was that police departments did nothing about gay bashing for decades. Only when it was politically expedient did the politicians encourage the police to be at least somewhat sympathetic. When enough people started protesting the inaction, the city authorities finally created a liaison position between gays and cops.
Even then, cases were dropped and then forgotten when new homicides came along. It was almost fifteen years between the first known homicide and the court case. Other homicides weren’t investigated because some police departments didn’t think they were connected. The Rockland County Medical Examiner and the FBI mishandled evidence so badly that it couldn’t be used. The initial lack of interest and the difficulty of working in multiple jurisdictions overshadow the success of finding and jailing the killer.
Overall, a fascinating social history and a look back at how poorly gays were - and still are - treated.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence, Grief, Murder, Outing, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
erinkellyreads's review against another edition
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
jmross10's review against another edition
I think it was very well written and does not suffer from timeline confusion many historical nonfiction books do. It follows the narrative in a mostly linear fashion which makes it easier for readers to follow.
Green did a good job of explaining the circumstances around the murders but also, in my opinion, trying to make these men more than just victims. He took the time to tell their life story separate from their tragic deaths which is so important. It forces readers to remember they are people and not just another name on the page.
There is an air of mystery around the outcome which Green handles well. Not for the sake of monopolizing on the unknown but because that’s where it makes the most sense in the narrative. Once they start looking for legitimate suspects, the information about those individuals (including the guilty parties) is revealed.
As a whole, I think it did a good job recounting the events. It had some information about forensics practices but didn’t overwhelm the reader with it. The historical context was helpful for those who didn’t have that information without being dry or feeling alienating. There was discussion of politics and society as well that made the history more fleshed out than just dates. Lastly, the commentary from his interviewees was well used and distributed throughout the book. It felt like a cohesive narrative and not just a hodge podge of other people’s work.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence, Blood, Murder, Outing, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Suicide, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting
arlangrey17's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Outing, and Alcohol
bookswithmybulldog's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Murder, and Outing