Category Archives: Gay Life

Book review: ‘A Little Life’, revisited

Posted on 23 January 2023 by andyq

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara My rating: 4 of 5 stars Spoiler alert: I assume that you have read A Little Life already and like me, are reading more about it to help you make sense of it! Please … Continue reading →

Posted in Book, Book Review, Gay Life, Review, Writing | Leave a comment

Book Review: David Leavitt’s The Page Turner

Posted on 11 December 2022 by andyq

The Page Turner by David Leavitt My rating: 3 of 5 stars Decades ago, as a young gay man and an aspiring writer, I read ‘Family Dancing’, Leavitt’s collection of short stories, and then ‘Lost Language of Cranes’. I remember … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Gay Life | Leave a comment

Book Review: Ian Young’s London Skin and Bones: The Finsbury Park Stories

Posted on 14 September 2020 by andyq

London Skin & Bones: The Finsbury Park Stories by Ian Young My rating: 5 of 5 stars I met Ian decades ago when I was at university, but I never knew the stories of his years in London, living in … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Creative Non-Fiction, Gay Life | 2 Comments

Book Review: Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

Posted on 29 March 2020 by andyq

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong My rating: 5 of 5 stars I was stunned by this book. Immediately, on entering it, it’s clear that the story will be unconventional. A letter to a mother. An autobiography? A … Continue reading →

Posted in Book, Gay Life, Review | Leave a comment

Book Review: André Aciman’s Call Me

Posted on 18 January 2020 by andyq

Find Me by André Aciman My rating: 1 of 5 stars A ridiculous, overwritten ode to romanticism and wish fulfilment, it’s so bad it may have ruined my affection for the prequel. If you are reading this, I am guessing … Continue reading →

Posted in Book, Gay Life, Review | Leave a comment

Book Review: André Aciman’s Call Me By Your Name

Posted on 22 January 2019 by andyq

[Review includes spoilers; don’t read it if you plan on reading the book and don’t want to know key plot points and issues!] Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman My rating: 4 of 5 stars André Aciman’s Call … Continue reading →

Posted in Book, Books, Gay Life, Review | Leave a comment

Book Review: Matthew Mitcham’s Twists and Turns (autobiography)

Posted on 23 December 2018 by andyq

Twists and Turns by Matthew Mitcham My rating: 4 of 5 stars I haven’t seen the one-man shows that Mitcham has done, where he’s brought his stories from this book (and his life) to the stage, but I have the … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Book, Books, Gay Life, Review | Leave a comment

Sydney Food Diary: Priscillas at the Imperial Hotel, Erskineville

Posted on 29 October 2018 by andyq

Did Priscillas really go there? Why, yes, they did. The photo above is from their Rood Food menu, a roasted carrot with two zucchini herb balls with a creamy sauce, and let’s not get into interpreting what the rest of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bar, Food n' Grog, Gay Life, Sydney | Tagged | Leave a comment

Book Review: Andrew Sean Greer’s Less, Fiction

Posted on 2 July 2018 by andyq

Less by Andrew Sean Greer My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved Arthur Less, the protagonist of the novel Less. I’ve occasionally fallen in love with the voice of an author or one of their characters but then realised … Continue reading →

Posted in Book, Gay Life, Review | Leave a comment

Book Review: Garth Greenwell’s What Belongs To You

Posted on 20 October 2016 by andyq

What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell My rating: 3 of 5 stars There was a phase in gay fiction where authors (or their fictional stand-ins) seemed to be lauded for writing about their encounters with poor, rough sex workers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Gay Life | Leave a comment