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iantaylor's review
5.0
A beautifully tender and heartbreaking reflection of the rise/history of gay culture, the AIDs epidemic, drag and (the one and only) Doris Fish. At one point of the book one of Doris's performances is described as spanning "from funny, to catty, to bleak, to wise" which in turn perfectly sums up the range of feelings throughout the book. Not only is this a fascinating read, bit it also serves as a reminder that we (gay folks) have have always been here, and always will.
Rest in Peace, Doris
Rest in Peace, Doris
knenigans's review
4.25
Raw and real. If only every biography was so honest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Addiction, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Transphobia, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury
thomasgoddard's review
3.0
I read Luda by Grant Morrison and couldn’t shake the feeling like I was missing something. Like my impressions of what the motivation for drag was were just a little too vague to make any clear sense of. So I did what I always do when I don’t understand something. I sought out another book to read...
I know that drag has been present in popular culture for a long time. But I led a very sheltered religious upbringing and so it wasn’t going to make much of an appearance in my life until I went to various gay bars in my late teens and throughout my twenties. And it is hard to really understand anything when you are taking as many drugs and drinking as much as I was during that time. The curiosity never materialised beyond that. It didn’t much matter as it was outside what I’d consider my own range of artistic interests.
This book really explained a lot of what I was missing about the art of drag. I can’t honestly say that I’m much drawn to it, but I think it is important to learn about things beyond your own interests occasionally - especially when it is such a large part of other people’s lives. It just helps you understand the world better. Prevents you inventing strange explanations for cultural practices outside your scene and thereby possibly insulting people, however unintentionally.
Tippi was the real focus of unpicking a lot of my misunderstandings when it came to drag. The inclusion of Tippi’s story was contextually important in Doris’ life, but also helpful in the sense that it made more obvious the diffuse border between gender identity and drag.
I thought the writing was clear and clipped along in a personable way. This is exactly the voice I look for when I want to read a biography. That sort of perspective of understanding and honesty is really important. Because it paints a true picture. Insecurities, inconsistencies, imperfections: those make a person of fragile beauty and that’s what is on offer here.
Such a sad life; but at the same time hugely joyful and full of the very stuff life is made of.
I loved the inclusion of photography at the start of each chapter too. It really sparked a visual context that served the book really well. Especially for me, I do like to see the people I read about. I can’t understand books that only have images of the subject on the cover... Anyway, if you are interested in drag or gay culture, you will get a lot out of this book.
I’d recommend it generally, but I do feel it would make a better documentary than a book. Not a criticism, just my own personal perspective.
I know that drag has been present in popular culture for a long time. But I led a very sheltered religious upbringing and so it wasn’t going to make much of an appearance in my life until I went to various gay bars in my late teens and throughout my twenties. And it is hard to really understand anything when you are taking as many drugs and drinking as much as I was during that time. The curiosity never materialised beyond that. It didn’t much matter as it was outside what I’d consider my own range of artistic interests.
This book really explained a lot of what I was missing about the art of drag. I can’t honestly say that I’m much drawn to it, but I think it is important to learn about things beyond your own interests occasionally - especially when it is such a large part of other people’s lives. It just helps you understand the world better. Prevents you inventing strange explanations for cultural practices outside your scene and thereby possibly insulting people, however unintentionally.
Tippi was the real focus of unpicking a lot of my misunderstandings when it came to drag. The inclusion of Tippi’s story was contextually important in Doris’ life, but also helpful in the sense that it made more obvious the diffuse border between gender identity and drag.
I thought the writing was clear and clipped along in a personable way. This is exactly the voice I look for when I want to read a biography. That sort of perspective of understanding and honesty is really important. Because it paints a true picture. Insecurities, inconsistencies, imperfections: those make a person of fragile beauty and that’s what is on offer here.
Such a sad life; but at the same time hugely joyful and full of the very stuff life is made of.
I loved the inclusion of photography at the start of each chapter too. It really sparked a visual context that served the book really well. Especially for me, I do like to see the people I read about. I can’t understand books that only have images of the subject on the cover... Anyway, if you are interested in drag or gay culture, you will get a lot out of this book.
I’d recommend it generally, but I do feel it would make a better documentary than a book. Not a criticism, just my own personal perspective.