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A review by queerreadss
My Name's Yours, What's Alaska?: A Memoir by Alaska Thunderfuck 5000
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
This book was a new, more human side to the larger than life drag queen we met on Drag Race and All Stars. Alaska gets very personal in this debut, with tales from her failures, abusing drugs and alcohol, her toxic relationship with Sharon Needles and her complicity in her and Sharon's racist past actions.
"My Name's Yours, What's Alaska?" reads like a diary with its vulnerability shining in every page. I love that Alaska chose to use this platform to bring up a few controversial things others may have avoided. She validated trans drag queens, expressed opinions on RuPaul's and other drag competitions transphobic rules and mindsets, and the discomfort of former partner Sharon's racism. She also highlighted how toxic drug and alcohol use became for her and how that tarnished relationships with her lifelong friend, coworkers and Sharon. Alaska didn't shy away from the uncomfortable truths of her doing bad things throughout her stories.
Pictures included were really great as well, they were a great selection to accompany Alaska's writing.
I do think there could have been a bit more accountability for racist acts that Alaska herself admits to having done and maybe use her platform to speak more on her being complicit in it.
"My Name's Yours, What's Alaska?" reads like a diary with its vulnerability shining in every page. I love that Alaska chose to use this platform to bring up a few controversial things others may have avoided. She validated trans drag queens, expressed opinions on RuPaul's and other drag competitions transphobic rules and mindsets, and the discomfort of former partner Sharon's racism. She also highlighted how toxic drug and alcohol use became for her and how that tarnished relationships with her lifelong friend, coworkers and Sharon. Alaska didn't shy away from the uncomfortable truths of her doing bad things throughout her stories.
Pictures included were really great as well, they were a great selection to accompany Alaska's writing.
I do think there could have been a bit more accountability for racist acts that Alaska herself admits to having done and maybe use her platform to speak more on her being complicit in it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse