Scan barcode
nerdybookbabe's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Drug use and Drug abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse
kjlewis494's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Cursing, Cancer, and Domestic abuse
cmshaw15's review
4.0
Moderate: Abandonment and Drug use
Minor: Domestic abuse
tigger89's review against another edition
4.5
The story picks up in his early childhood back in the '60s, with his parents' divorce. As he traces his life through his teenage years and into his 20s, he reflects on the double-edged sword of his independence and drive, values instilled in him by his mother. I was satisfied with how well this narrative held true from chapter to chapter, driving straight from his childhood through to his troubled adult relationships. It felt like a memoir that had something specific to say, rather than merely being a collection of related anecdotes from someone's life.
While each chapter centers around a specific place or theme, he mostly keeps it linear, avoiding a lot of the jumping from childhood to adulthood and back again that tends to happen in queer memoir. That said, I did sometimes struggle to grasp how much time was passing. I knew roughly where I was in relation to other things, but at times I couldn't have told you if RuPaul was 20 or 25, 25 or 30. The ending in particular surprised me, as I'd failed to realize just how far into the 90s we'd gotten. Part of this might be my age, as I don't necessarily have the innate knowledge of when the various cultural touchstones were current and I wasn't looking them up as fastidiously as I could have been.
Moderate: Abandonment, Cancer, Drug use, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, and Racial slurs
gay_for_jay's review against another edition
5.0
RuPaul wrote and narrated a phenomenal book about their life and journey to becoming who they are today. There are quotable moments - cause Ru is almost always quotable, but there is so much more as you dive deeper into what is on the page.
I loved learning more about the person under the wig and costume. RuPaul has always been semi-vulnerable but revealed a different side of them (IMO). Learning more about their struggles, life, what drove them, and their relationships (platonic and romantic) was humanizing. Overall, it is digestible, easy to read (and listen to), and insightful.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent
devynreadsnovels's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Racism, Physical abuse, Classism, Cursing, Death, Addiction, Abandonment, Violence, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Drug use, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Biphobia, Bullying, Transphobia, Cancer, and Infidelity
kataleen1989's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Drug use
gretchenplz's review
4.0
Listening to this, I realized that I actually knew very little about Ru, who he is, and where he came from. I appreciate his openness and honesty throughout. I actually love that this doesn't even mention the show at all. I don't think it is the right place to share that story, anyway. The only thing I was looking forward to but am sad was missing was more details about Ru's friendship with Michelle. But I understand keeping the version of himself that hosts Drag Race separate.
I hope there's a follow-up memoir once he steps down/retires from Drag Race, honestly.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Drug abuse, and Drug use