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Reviews
Nothing Ever Just Disappears: A New History of Queer Culture Through Its Spaces by Diarmuid Hester
clmckinney's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
This is non fiction set of essays that explore queer pioneers. Some of them are more obscure than others but no less important. I found this utterly fascinating, which is a feat as I am not the biggest fan of non-fiction. I have to say that these short glimpses into these trail blazers were enthralling and read like actual fictional stories. I really liked this book. I would love to see Hester excavate the lives of other gay personas. I give this one a 5/5.
itsneilcochrane's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
I’ve read a lot of queer histories, and this is one of the most compelling I’ve ever read. Hester introduces us to seven queer people—some already well known, some obscure—and situates them in their specific times and places. He describes them with a queer sensibility that is neither harsh nor sanitized. Rarely have I felt our queer ancestors so respected as whole, real people who lived in a real world. Highly recommended.
readbycallum's review
5.0
A good, good book.
Did I buy this book based on the cover alone? I surely did but look how sexy that cover is.
NEJD is queer history, sociology and geography. Spanning the 20th century in each chapter Hester focuses on a different giant of queer culture and the place(s) and space(s) they made home.
Obviously as a Forster fan girl I loved the chapter on Cambridge and I will never tire of reading about Baldwin. But the standouts in this, for me, were the ones on Claude Cahun’s Jersey, Jack Smith’s New York and the gorgeously tender and personal chapter covering Kevin Killian’s San Francisco.
The subject matter is so rich and fascinating already but Hester is a really beautiful writer. His personal reflections and experiences are carefully used throughout to add a subjective response to the lives he explores.
AND it has given me a lot of excellent new artists, poets and writers I now need to explore further!
Did I buy this book based on the cover alone? I surely did but look how sexy that cover is.
NEJD is queer history, sociology and geography. Spanning the 20th century in each chapter Hester focuses on a different giant of queer culture and the place(s) and space(s) they made home.
Obviously as a Forster fan girl I loved the chapter on Cambridge and I will never tire of reading about Baldwin. But the standouts in this, for me, were the ones on Claude Cahun’s Jersey, Jack Smith’s New York and the gorgeously tender and personal chapter covering Kevin Killian’s San Francisco.
The subject matter is so rich and fascinating already but Hester is a really beautiful writer. His personal reflections and experiences are carefully used throughout to add a subjective response to the lives he explores.
AND it has given me a lot of excellent new artists, poets and writers I now need to explore further!
bobthebookerer's review
5.0
One of those brilliant books that is so full of love and joy for the people and work it speaks about, that you immediately want to seek them all out.
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