You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
slow-paced
an incredibly written book mixing history and their own notes and experiences throughout each chapter. so intelligent in its writing, huge surprise to see blackpool mentioned
Perfect mix of memoir and history, a tender but not rose-colored account of gay memory in tangibly described cities.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
This was a book club read! I like when a nonfiction book makes its way into my reading. I'm drawn to fiction so naturally that a nonfiction book can be refreshing sometimes.
The book describes the white gay experience in nutshell. Clubbing, sex, drugs, more sex, more clubbing. The author finds his partner for life and they are slutty together all over Europe and... New York? LA? I'm writing this months after reading so the details are hazy. I remember being put off a bit by the author's perspective. Though, there were many parts that felt very validating as a gay man(ish) myself. This made me want to read more of James Baldwin actually because I found similar feelings when reading Giovanni's Room. Add more James Baldwin to the TBR!!
I wouldn't have know about the book if not for the book club, and it made for a good discussion with friends!
The book describes the white gay experience in nutshell. Clubbing, sex, drugs, more sex, more clubbing. The author finds his partner for life and they are slutty together all over Europe and... New York? LA? I'm writing this months after reading so the details are hazy. I remember being put off a bit by the author's perspective. Though, there were many parts that felt very validating as a gay man(ish) myself. This made me want to read more of James Baldwin actually because I found similar feelings when reading Giovanni's Room. Add more James Baldwin to the TBR!!
I wouldn't have know about the book if not for the book club, and it made for a good discussion with friends!
The essays felt pretentious and I felt they didn’t offer much value outside of the odd history lesson tied in with the gay rights movement here and there.
I also thought that the essays would touch on more famous gay bars and their impact on a more diverse range of local communities rather than just the ones the author and their partner used to frequent.
I also thought that the essays would touch on more famous gay bars and their impact on a more diverse range of local communities rather than just the ones the author and their partner used to frequent.
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I initially wasn't sure why I didn't like what is Atherton Lin's personal recounting of his experience with gay bars, but I have to agree with other reviewers who say that the book fundamentally lacks substance. The anecdotes we see in the book are almost entirely focused on sex (this is not an anti-sex review), without any other consideration of what make gay bars a part of the queer community. While Atherton Lin is biracial, it's also a heavily white, cishet male experience aside from a mention or two of race. I would probably be less critical of how narrow the book's vision is were it not for the more introspective subtitle "Why We Went Out," to which the answer here is, to cruise for sex. This may have worked better as a straight memoir, rather than a mix of memoir and history.
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
it was so wonderful to be brought along on a journey that i may never get to experience, whether it be because of changing times or the fact that the buildings don't exist anymore. atherton lin's writing is so informative yet familiar. his ability to approach subjects with such care, casualty, and intellectualism is to be admired.
I'm the guy who loves to read about gay bars and not really go to them. it's so much more of a thing for me in written form. I found the song Famous Blue Raincoat by Leonard Cohen from reading this book because that's the pseudonym he uses for his husband.
funny
informative
tense
medium-paced