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A review by elementarymydear
Queer Heroes of Myth and Legend by Dan Jones
4.0
Having read an enjoyed Queer Villains of Myth and Legend earlier this year, I was excited to read Jones’ earlier book about the corresponding heroes.
We’re taken on a whistle-stop tour from antiquity through to Buffy, featuring mythological figures from different cultures around the world, and looking at how their queerness has been depicted and received over the years. There are some that most of us have heard of, some you probably haven’t, and overall a really great and varied selection.
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The tone is very light-hearted and sometime tongue-in-cheek, making it very accessible and the ideal book to dip in and out of. There are also a few illustrations which really enhance the book as a whole.
My biggest criticism is that there was no mention of asexuality, despite there being many opportunities too. There were multiple people – mostly women – where Jones concluded that their lack of desire was indicative that they were secretly gay, without even mentioning or considering asexuality. It would have been a great addition, not just because the asexual community are often passed over in any discussion of the LGBTQ+ community, but also that some of the characters were actually ones that many ace people identify with.
Jones is unable to resist the temptation to use modern terminology when looking at mythological figures (and some real people) from centuries ago, but given the light-hearted style of the whole book, if you can take this with a grain of salt it will be a very enjoyable and interesting read!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
We’re taken on a whistle-stop tour from antiquity through to Buffy, featuring mythological figures from different cultures around the world, and looking at how their queerness has been depicted and received over the years. There are some that most of us have heard of, some you probably haven’t, and overall a really great and varied selection.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
The tone is very light-hearted and sometime tongue-in-cheek, making it very accessible and the ideal book to dip in and out of. There are also a few illustrations which really enhance the book as a whole.
My biggest criticism is that there was no mention of asexuality, despite there being many opportunities too. There were multiple people – mostly women – where Jones concluded that their lack of desire was indicative that they were secretly gay, without even mentioning or considering asexuality. It would have been a great addition, not just because the asexual community are often passed over in any discussion of the LGBTQ+ community, but also that some of the characters were actually ones that many ace people identify with.
Jones is unable to resist the temptation to use modern terminology when looking at mythological figures (and some real people) from centuries ago, but given the light-hearted style of the whole book, if you can take this with a grain of salt it will be a very enjoyable and interesting read!
I received a free copy for an honest review.