The Cruising Diaries

by Brontez Purnell, Janelle Hessig (Illustrator)

The Cruising Diaries is a collection of writer/musician Brontez Purnell's various sexual follies and misadventures around '00s Oakland. Taco truck blowjobs, 'shrooms, Santa - everything you could want from an illustrated sex memoir and much, much more.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Queer, LGBT, Nonfiction, Memoir, Comics, Short Stories

54 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2014

About the author

Brontez Purnell is an Oakland-based writer, musician, dancer, and director. He is the author of several books, including Since I Laid My Burden Down, and the zine Fag School; frontman for the punk band The Younger Lovers; and founder of the Brontez Purnell Dance Company.

Reviews

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a high level of admiration for Brontez Purnell. Air that dirty laundry, girl! Put it all out there!

[MariNaomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband: What are you reading?
Mari: Brontez Purnell's new book. OMG.
Husband: Oh, that guy from Sister Spit? Excellent! What's the book about?
Mari: It's like KISS & TELL, but utterly RAUNCHY.
*I then proceed to read half the book out loud, laughing my ass off.*

[Jaina Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Howling, hilarious, homo-anti-erotica from the real life experiences of the author. Reminds me of the bad-old days of Lisa Suckdog Carver's "Rollerderby" zine.

[Pierre-Alexandre Buisson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il n'y a personne comme Brontez. Si sa vie était moins bordélique, il publierait probablement davantage, mais il serait peut-être un peu moins intéressant, qui sait.

The Cruising Diaries - dont j'ai lu la version augmentée - est une collection d'anecdotes de quelques-unes de ses rencontres charnelles, accompagnées d'illustrations hilarantes. Purnell n'a aucun filtre, et c'est tant mieux. Ça se lit quand même loin des enfants, cela dit. Mais c'est aussi crade que délicieux.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was warned. I still wasn’t ready. “Anti-erotic sexual experiences” seemed confusing, even contradictory, and as such made me incredibly curious. But it wasn’t a challenge to witness the naked birth of this new genre laid bare - it boldly and vociferously announced itself as a clear-visioned new genre from the first vignette. Yep anti-erotic sexual experiences is very much ‘a thing’ that Purnell created and perfected. I laughed and I grimaced - I fidgeted uncomfortably with the pages, and I may have thought - or maybe even said - “bless his heart” quite a few times. It’s like a journalistic exposé worthy of covering messy sexual encounters - sans the unnecessary punditry or pageantry or pleasantries, for that matter. I feel like I’ve unlocked a tool with which to write about and imagine sexual encounters and experiences. My first book purchased at a comic book store and I appreciate - as am simultaneously confused by - the bookkeeper who recommended this to me. Thank you, nonetheless, for it was an experience. It’s not the size of the book that matters; or rather, don’t judge a book by its size. That lesson has been learned.

[Clark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Total garbage, it's porn and not very well written.

I am not a prude or "sex negative" but this graphic novel served no other purpose than to fuel the author's own narcissism.

None of it was shocking, it was super boring, completely predictable, and the author's writings are why people hate gay men/LGBT people as a whole.

Yes I am gay and this book belongs in the bin as it's trash.

[Dan MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very funny. I found it a bit too short. It was what it needed to be, didn’t have much behind the surface - but the honesty was there. I can’t say any of it was “shocking” so it was not shock value, from my perspective. Just a slice of life. It was precisely what it was supposed to be. The illustrations were phenomenal. 🙌

[Alvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

These raunchy tell-all tales of sexual misadventure (perfectly paired with punkishly insouciant illustrations from Janelle Hessig) are so shockingly candid and hilarious one almost doesn't notice that Purnell is a unique and talented prose stylist. Viva Brontez!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic work by fellow Oakland friends in the scene. Much love to Janelle and Brontez :)

[David Macpherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vulgar and true. Brief tales of causal sex in the modern age. The honesty and the humor really won me over

[Robert Hudder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think there is an expanded edition. Whatever. If you like funny, sexy short stories about sexual encounters of the homosexual variety, this is fucking funny.

[Marty Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short quick and funny. Sort of like a hookup for your gay mind

[Gary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

We need more books by queer POC writers, and we definitely need more books like this from queer POC writers

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud and hilariously explicit slices of life. Highly recommended.

[celia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cackled, I screamed

[JB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish this was five times as long.

[Darius Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting graphic (and it is, but no pun intended) memoir that is more anecdotal and earnest than it is deeply revelatory.

[Jacob Neale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horrible, Disgusting, and Absolutely The Graphic Comic Book You Need In Your Life. Beyond !!!

[Krol · Rating 3 out of 5]

It delivered what it promised but I had higher expectations.

[Pedro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, quick, and rated X!

[Carlton Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a life! This makes me want to do a tell all about my sexual escapades👀

[Damon Verdema · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raunchy, messy, and an utter delight.

[Armando Jimenez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Brontez Purcell funny, sexy, dirty and entertaining writing.

[Ken French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious.

[Anna-Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

It looked like someone had taken a chocolate milkshake into the shower and physically assaulted it

[Rin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not one to read in public 😆 but I loved this

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

nope i'm sorry i read this in one sitting. not a competition but this was the best bday gift i got this year <3 a romp for sure, and obvi so fun to read about places i know

[Dino · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Brittany Weinstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOL I wish I was a gay man

[Carina Stopenski · Rating 3 out of 5]

raunchy and silly, humor could have been a little more balanced, though