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A Queer New York: Geographies of Lesbians, Dykes, and Queers
The first lesbian and queer historical geography of New York City
Over the past few decades, rapid gentrification in New York City has led to the disappearance of many lesbian and queer spaces, displacing some of the most marginalized members of the LGBTQ+ community. In A Queer New York, Jen Jack Gieseking highlights the historic significance of these spaces, mapping the political, economic, and geographic dispossession of an important, thriving community that once called certain New York neighborhoods home.
Focusing on well-known neighborhoods like Greenwich Village, Park Slope, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Crown Heights, Gieseking shows how lesbian and queer neighborhoods have folded under the capitalist influence of white, wealthy gentrifiers who have ultimately failed to make room for them. Nevertheless, they highlight the ways lesbian and queer communities have succeeded in carving out spaces--and lives--in a city that has consistently pushed its most vulnerable citizens away.
Beautifully written, A Queer New York is an eye-opening account of how lesbians and queers have survived in the face of twenty-first century gentrification and urban development.
Over the past few decades, rapid gentrification in New York City has led to the disappearance of many lesbian and queer spaces, displacing some of the most marginalized members of the LGBTQ+ community. In A Queer New York, Jen Jack Gieseking highlights the historic significance of these spaces, mapping the political, economic, and geographic dispossession of an important, thriving community that once called certain New York neighborhoods home.
Focusing on well-known neighborhoods like Greenwich Village, Park Slope, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Crown Heights, Gieseking shows how lesbian and queer neighborhoods have folded under the capitalist influence of white, wealthy gentrifiers who have ultimately failed to make room for them. Nevertheless, they highlight the ways lesbian and queer communities have succeeded in carving out spaces--and lives--in a city that has consistently pushed its most vulnerable citizens away.
Beautifully written, A Queer New York is an eye-opening account of how lesbians and queers have survived in the face of twenty-first century gentrification and urban development.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published September 15, 2020
15 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Jen Jack Gieseking
3 books4 followersJen Jack Gieseking is an urban cultural geographer, feminist and queer theorist, and environmental psychologist. He is engaged in research on co-productions of space and identity in digital and material environments. His work pays special attention to how such productions support or inhibit social, spatial, and economic justice in regard to gender and sexuality. He is Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Kentucky, where he teaches courses on digital, feminist, and queer geographies and critical cartography and mapping.
He is a member of the ACME: International Journal of Critical Geography editorial collective board, as well as a board member of the Rainbow Heritage Network. He contributed to writing and reviewing the National Parks Service’s LGBTQ America: A Theme Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History. He identifies as a woman, and uses he/him/his pronouns.
He is a member of the ACME: International Journal of Critical Geography editorial collective board, as well as a board member of the Rainbow Heritage Network. He contributed to writing and reviewing the National Parks Service’s LGBTQ America: A Theme Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History. He identifies as a woman, and uses he/him/his pronouns.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 16, 2020
I love New York. Every time I visit I feel like I’m at home, even though I’m general I’m really not a city person. I’ve not managed to visit since I came out so when I saw this book was being released I was really looking forward to it. I was hoping it would be a chance to immerse myself in the experiences and places of queer New Yorkers. Unfortunately it just isn’t what I was hoping for.
It’s a clearly well researched book, but I couldn’t get into the style and structure of the text. I’m used to academic works, but I was hopeful this would be so much more accessible. I found it difficult at times to establish whether I was reading the lived voices or the research and felt a different structure to the book would make this so much more enjoyable. Like many others I’d have loved more full interviews and the opportunity to feel more lived experiences to break up the research.
I’m glad the work is out there and admire all the research done to put this together, I just wish I’d enjoyed it more.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It’s a clearly well researched book, but I couldn’t get into the style and structure of the text. I’m used to academic works, but I was hopeful this would be so much more accessible. I found it difficult at times to establish whether I was reading the lived voices or the research and felt a different structure to the book would make this so much more enjoyable. Like many others I’d have loved more full interviews and the opportunity to feel more lived experiences to break up the research.
I’m glad the work is out there and admire all the research done to put this together, I just wish I’d enjoyed it more.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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May 1, 2021I am completely ignorant about the literature of the Geography field and contemporary Geography method so I don't know if the innovative style and structure of Jack's book is his alone, or reflective of the discipline. It is a fast - almost survey- of gossip and historical detail about place. How location takes on a mythical and sometimes spiritual meaning for queer people far beyond how that space actually functions. Jack looks at the gentrified and racially segregated nature of places like Greenwich Village but how it has a meaning to - especially young and out of town queer people- that transcends its lived reality. His theory certainly applies to the East Village where -pre Covid- I saw queer and trans kids come and walk around, even though the world they sought was long gone. Yet the idea of the neighborhood promised a kind of freedom that is still, in fact, accessible but only for visitors. How Giesking's ideas apply post-Covid demands a follow up work of some kind. Also, some facts are wrong, which is unavoidable- like the first lesbian bar in Park Slope was not Christine Marioni's The Rising, but rather a place called LA PAPAYA, run by a couple long gone and long forgotten.
November 21, 2020
This is a very academic book which features a lot of quantitative research, which for a nerd like me who really loved writing their dissertation research, was quite a joy to read! Despite never having visited New York, and therefore not really knowing the areas being talked about, I never once felt out of the loop while reading this book. It features a lot of excellent discussion on gentrification of and within queer spaces, transphobia within queer spaces, the difference in experiences of white and BIPOC queer people, and the focus on white, cis gay men in activism and queer communities. As such, I cannot stress enough how important it is to pick up this book as part of any anti-racist reading or if you are interested in queer history. However, it is not an extremely accessible text - not only is it difficult to find even in online bookstores, but it is quite expensive, and the language used is very academic, but in the sense that at times it felt like 'fancier' words were being used just for the sake of using them, than the fact that the text necessitated their use.
August 27, 2020
The premise of this book is that queer spaces don't have to be relegated to physically owned buildings because that leaves out many people who can't afford to live in/own/rent property in specific places, mixed with a desire to shine light on the afab (assigned female at birth) experience, as many histories and indeed much of gay life focuses on cis, white gay men.
I have to admit, this book really wasn't for me. It should be. I'm an afab trans person, I love reading books about the queer histories of places and last year I curated an exhibit for a gay library on lesbian-feminism in our city. Our cut off date was in the 80s where this book really began, so I thought I would be able to learn a lot about how women and queer people navigated spaces and the changes that have occurred since. And I did! There's a lot of good material in this book, but I feel like it was really drowned out by the author. Especially when the premise was to explore spaces not relegated to addresses or neighborhoods, but the people interviewed clearly define a lot of their experiences in gay neighborhoods with places like bars and community centers.
The author did a lot of research and much of that background information is good to know, but I feel the message would have gotten across much more powerfully if she had let the interviews she did with people who lived the life speak for themselves with much less speculation/interpretation from her. I was usually either rolling my eyes at the nonsensical, long-winded writing so beloved in academia or skimming to get ahead to another quote from an interview session. Maybe this just isn't for me. As I say, there's really good stuff in here, but I just don't have the temperament to read this kind of writing.
I have to admit, this book really wasn't for me. It should be. I'm an afab trans person, I love reading books about the queer histories of places and last year I curated an exhibit for a gay library on lesbian-feminism in our city. Our cut off date was in the 80s where this book really began, so I thought I would be able to learn a lot about how women and queer people navigated spaces and the changes that have occurred since. And I did! There's a lot of good material in this book, but I feel like it was really drowned out by the author. Especially when the premise was to explore spaces not relegated to addresses or neighborhoods, but the people interviewed clearly define a lot of their experiences in gay neighborhoods with places like bars and community centers.
The author did a lot of research and much of that background information is good to know, but I feel the message would have gotten across much more powerfully if she had let the interviews she did with people who lived the life speak for themselves with much less speculation/interpretation from her. I was usually either rolling my eyes at the nonsensical, long-winded writing so beloved in academia or skimming to get ahead to another quote from an interview session. Maybe this just isn't for me. As I say, there's really good stuff in here, but I just don't have the temperament to read this kind of writing.
October 2, 2020
A Queer New York by Jen Jack Gieseking is an exploration of lesbian/queer spaces in New York and how they inform the lives of the people who navigate between them. Using the idea of "constellations" of locations and focusing primarily on information gleaned from in-person interviews as data points, Gieseking takes us through New York from the '80s to 2008 for lesbian and queer people.
Affected by forces like legislation, gentrification, and just the simple fact of time, these places in New York have changed or gone away entirely. I found this book to be an interesting discussion of what "queer spaces" really are and how they come to be (and come to pass).
While this book is undoubtedly academic and relatively dry, I liked a lot of Gieseking's points here, especially about how cruising and U-Hauling are stereotypical and yet have their roots in queer culture for a reason. I appreciated the discussion of race and gentrification on how these places change over time, though as a white reader, I'm not the person to ask about how those topics are handled. I'm interested to see what lesbians and queer people of color have to say in that regard.
I struggled at times because it felt almost repetitious, and I would've liked for this book to be more of an oral history. At times I wanted to just read full transcripts of the group interviews, rather than the occasional pull quote with supporting text from the author.
I appreciate what this book is doing in documenting queer culture, and I'm glad it exists. I'm glad I received a copy from NetGalley and NYU Press in exchange for an honest review.
Affected by forces like legislation, gentrification, and just the simple fact of time, these places in New York have changed or gone away entirely. I found this book to be an interesting discussion of what "queer spaces" really are and how they come to be (and come to pass).
While this book is undoubtedly academic and relatively dry, I liked a lot of Gieseking's points here, especially about how cruising and U-Hauling are stereotypical and yet have their roots in queer culture for a reason. I appreciated the discussion of race and gentrification on how these places change over time, though as a white reader, I'm not the person to ask about how those topics are handled. I'm interested to see what lesbians and queer people of color have to say in that regard.
I struggled at times because it felt almost repetitious, and I would've liked for this book to be more of an oral history. At times I wanted to just read full transcripts of the group interviews, rather than the occasional pull quote with supporting text from the author.
I appreciate what this book is doing in documenting queer culture, and I'm glad it exists. I'm glad I received a copy from NetGalley and NYU Press in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2021
I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to give this one up. Not because it's a bad book or because I don't like the topic because it is well-written and obviously I'm interested in material she discusses otherwise I wouldn't have asked for an ARC.
Gieseking analyses how queer spaces, particularly women and afab related queer spaces (including with intersections to disability, poverty, BIPOC and other marginalised communities/identities), existist within New York. Gieseking defines these queer spaces not as a physical place, which they can be, but as "constellations". As a marginalised community, queer spaces are also continuously under threat, particularly due to poverty, with white gay men being the safest group within the queer community, as they find a certain acceptance and enjoy financial privileges due to their whiteness and gender that other queer people don't have.
By using interviews, historical documents and other data, the author recreates a complex and ever-shifting history of queer spaces in New York that is marked by constant change, adaptation and appropriation. Longevity is difficult in urban space, but particularly so for marginalised communities, with people being pushed out of their neighbourhoods through gentrification.
I love the idea of the book: a mapping of queer spaces, geographies and constellations, much of which now only exists as memories and documents, not as physical spaces. Gieseking is very aware of their privileged position and self-reflects on the privileges they have and how their perspective influences how the interviews and data shape the book. That is of course standard for feminist and queer research and I wished more academics would be this aware of their own bias and privileges when writing their books.
Unfortunately, I'm a quarter of the way through the book and it hasn't properly started yet. So far, Gieseking has repeated the topic of the books several times, explaing what they are going to do with what material and what outcome they expect. This information is given over and over again with little variation. I'm still waiting for the book to finally start and the anticipation is exhausting because I've been reading the same false starts numerous times by now.
It is taking the book too long to get to the actual content of the book and I'm tired of waiting. A part of it is also that I have so many things going on in my life - work, PhD, still looking for a permanent job, waiting for a grant decision, my depression, etc. - that I just do not have the energy to be reading the same content over and over again and hoping the book finally starts, this time for real.
The book definitely needed some stronger editing, especially when you see how many pages it has. The repetitions aren't necessary and it feels like Gieseking was insecure about the research and was trying to convince us six times that this book is truly necessary. I understand that urge, as it usually stems from a traumatic experience within the academic field, but I'm on board with the book. I think if the writing was tighter and less repetitive, I would've been finished by now because I truly like the work Gieseking did here. I just don't have the gumption to continue anymore and I'm very sorry for that.
I hope the finished product has has some editing done and I would still recommend the book. I put this book on hold not because it's bad, but because I don't have any more patience left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to give this one up. Not because it's a bad book or because I don't like the topic because it is well-written and obviously I'm interested in material she discusses otherwise I wouldn't have asked for an ARC.
Gieseking analyses how queer spaces, particularly women and afab related queer spaces (including with intersections to disability, poverty, BIPOC and other marginalised communities/identities), existist within New York. Gieseking defines these queer spaces not as a physical place, which they can be, but as "constellations". As a marginalised community, queer spaces are also continuously under threat, particularly due to poverty, with white gay men being the safest group within the queer community, as they find a certain acceptance and enjoy financial privileges due to their whiteness and gender that other queer people don't have.
By using interviews, historical documents and other data, the author recreates a complex and ever-shifting history of queer spaces in New York that is marked by constant change, adaptation and appropriation. Longevity is difficult in urban space, but particularly so for marginalised communities, with people being pushed out of their neighbourhoods through gentrification.
I love the idea of the book: a mapping of queer spaces, geographies and constellations, much of which now only exists as memories and documents, not as physical spaces. Gieseking is very aware of their privileged position and self-reflects on the privileges they have and how their perspective influences how the interviews and data shape the book. That is of course standard for feminist and queer research and I wished more academics would be this aware of their own bias and privileges when writing their books.
Unfortunately, I'm a quarter of the way through the book and it hasn't properly started yet. So far, Gieseking has repeated the topic of the books several times, explaing what they are going to do with what material and what outcome they expect. This information is given over and over again with little variation. I'm still waiting for the book to finally start and the anticipation is exhausting because I've been reading the same false starts numerous times by now.
It is taking the book too long to get to the actual content of the book and I'm tired of waiting. A part of it is also that I have so many things going on in my life - work, PhD, still looking for a permanent job, waiting for a grant decision, my depression, etc. - that I just do not have the energy to be reading the same content over and over again and hoping the book finally starts, this time for real.
The book definitely needed some stronger editing, especially when you see how many pages it has. The repetitions aren't necessary and it feels like Gieseking was insecure about the research and was trying to convince us six times that this book is truly necessary. I understand that urge, as it usually stems from a traumatic experience within the academic field, but I'm on board with the book. I think if the writing was tighter and less repetitive, I would've been finished by now because I truly like the work Gieseking did here. I just don't have the gumption to continue anymore and I'm very sorry for that.
I hope the finished product has has some editing done and I would still recommend the book. I put this book on hold not because it's bad, but because I don't have any more patience left.
August 15, 2020
For readers who enjoyed Timothy Stewart-Winter's "Queer Clout: Chicago and the Rise of Gay Politics" (2015) and Bonnie J. Morris' "The Disappearing L: The Erasure of Lesbian Spaces and Culture" (2016).
"I realized that invisible lesbian-queer lives and spaces materialized, concretized, and could be traced through lesbian-queer bodies across the urban landscape and beyond, generation after generation" (xv)
What an opening! Gieseking's desire to reveal the invisible, honor the forgotten or maligned, and take seriously the socio-geographic aspects of lesbian and queer lives is compelling and desperately necessary. I will never forget the dismay I felt when I realized my favorite lesbian bar had to initiate a ladies' night: a mix of irony and profound sadness that a space designed for lesbians and queer female-identifying folx - for people like me - had to carve out space for those very people. With this in mind, I found Gieseking's cartography of lesbian NYC and the lesbian-queer lives unfolding within it both affirming and disheartening. Affirming to know of the multifaceted, dynamic, and fabulous lives and people and spaces that exist within the lesbian-queer community; but disheartening to know that this trend of erasure and de-prioritization of some members of the LGBTQIA community continues with such tenacity and fervor.
I really enjoyed Gieseking's mixed-methodology of ethnography and archival research. It gave their monograph a sense of tangibility, as well as liveness, that translated well on the page. And the companion website was fantastic (http://jgieseking.org/AQNY/) I thoroughly look forward to being able to use that resource when teaching my undergraduate students, especially on the topics of data visualization and community. I was additionally particularly struck by the author's use of the term "constellation" to understand the intersection of lesbian-queer lives, spaces, and experiences. In my own work I have drawn on the imagery of constellations to better represent the world of sonic encounters that are always heard in ways that are predicated on what was previously heard and what will be heard, so I loved seeing how Gieseking was drawing on similar theoretical frameworks to render the connectivity of everyday experiences.
Thank you to Net Galley and NYU Press for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
"I realized that invisible lesbian-queer lives and spaces materialized, concretized, and could be traced through lesbian-queer bodies across the urban landscape and beyond, generation after generation" (xv)
What an opening! Gieseking's desire to reveal the invisible, honor the forgotten or maligned, and take seriously the socio-geographic aspects of lesbian and queer lives is compelling and desperately necessary. I will never forget the dismay I felt when I realized my favorite lesbian bar had to initiate a ladies' night: a mix of irony and profound sadness that a space designed for lesbians and queer female-identifying folx - for people like me - had to carve out space for those very people. With this in mind, I found Gieseking's cartography of lesbian NYC and the lesbian-queer lives unfolding within it both affirming and disheartening. Affirming to know of the multifaceted, dynamic, and fabulous lives and people and spaces that exist within the lesbian-queer community; but disheartening to know that this trend of erasure and de-prioritization of some members of the LGBTQIA community continues with such tenacity and fervor.
I really enjoyed Gieseking's mixed-methodology of ethnography and archival research. It gave their monograph a sense of tangibility, as well as liveness, that translated well on the page. And the companion website was fantastic (http://jgieseking.org/AQNY/) I thoroughly look forward to being able to use that resource when teaching my undergraduate students, especially on the topics of data visualization and community. I was additionally particularly struck by the author's use of the term "constellation" to understand the intersection of lesbian-queer lives, spaces, and experiences. In my own work I have drawn on the imagery of constellations to better represent the world of sonic encounters that are always heard in ways that are predicated on what was previously heard and what will be heard, so I loved seeing how Gieseking was drawing on similar theoretical frameworks to render the connectivity of everyday experiences.
Thank you to Net Galley and NYU Press for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
August 23, 2020
I had difficulties getting through this because it read more as an academic evaluation of the interview data than a telling of history. I would have much preferred reading the actual interviews, or having the author tell individuals' stories. I felt though the author's intent and the data itself is historically important-- the formatting of it didn't connect. Which, is ironic since the focus seemed to be the geographic stars creating constellations of queer life in New York.
It was already a given that gentrification and urban development force groups to relocate and alter their lifestyles. I wanted more of what those past 'stars' meant to those interviewed and how it shaped their lives. The social science approach, used by the author, (to the data) left a void in my connectivity to the book as a whole. I think the whole thing could be reworked and be a dynamic tool, both for historic understanding and reader comprehension.
I also felt, with the differences (between the interviewees) and the changes in gender identities (both self and societal) each life, gender, race has a different experience, view, understanding-- that all felt lumped together here. I wanted more clarity.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It was already a given that gentrification and urban development force groups to relocate and alter their lifestyles. I wanted more of what those past 'stars' meant to those interviewed and how it shaped their lives. The social science approach, used by the author, (to the data) left a void in my connectivity to the book as a whole. I think the whole thing could be reworked and be a dynamic tool, both for historic understanding and reader comprehension.
I also felt, with the differences (between the interviewees) and the changes in gender identities (both self and societal) each life, gender, race has a different experience, view, understanding-- that all felt lumped together here. I wanted more clarity.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2022
When I saw this was more of an academic text than I expected, I did not expect it to be a one sitting read. But Gieseking's style of writing and interview subjects flowed quickly. I like how they tied research and other information about Manhattan and Brooklyn (and the neighborhoods on which they focused) with the participants' recollections, as well as their own. I really appreciated how they layered class, race and gentrification with the stories of the so-called Gayborhood's of Dyke Slope, the Village and neighboring areas of Bed-Stuy/Crown Heights and the Lower East Side. I liked the selection of coming out stories from three different decades and would love a coda to see how things changed in the decade since Gieseking finished their research.
My one complaint is that this would have benefited from stronger editing. Gieseking at times repeated points - not to underscore them but because some of this material was published elsewhere and then included into the book resulting in multiple mentions. We could have done with fewer mentions of the decrease in Lesbian bars, for example, if they weren't going to add more info/context. This also led to repeat descriptions of the same places that showed on most participants' maps, including the Center,LHA and the Queer bars.
My one complaint is that this would have benefited from stronger editing. Gieseking at times repeated points - not to underscore them but because some of this material was published elsewhere and then included into the book resulting in multiple mentions. We could have done with fewer mentions of the decrease in Lesbian bars, for example, if they weren't going to add more info/context. This also led to repeat descriptions of the same places that showed on most participants' maps, including the Center,LHA and the Queer bars.
April 7, 2021
I was first drawn to this book by the rich and varied methodology used to explore the lived experience of lesbian New Yorkers 1983-2008. Writing from a geographical perspective, this analysis critiques the notion of gayborhoods, rightly points to intersectional experiences of marginalisation and provides a wealth of colour and detail about the lives of and challenges faced by its subjects. Instead of a simple story of gentrification and u-hauling, we are given a subtle depiction of the constellations whereby marginalised people make sense of the city and the public space therein that they can and cannot access. Covering a period of remarkable change - from ACT UP to increasing gender fluidity - this text is a groundbreaking series of insights which deservedly won a major award from the Association of American Geographers.
October 7, 2024
Actual rating 2.5 stars
Read this for university, and there were a few interesting points made. I liked the concept for the book and the interview portions, as well as the focus on spacial identities. However, while the idea of the mental maps was interesting, the execution was really confusing, and the constellations metaphor so over-trodden that by the end of the book it lost all meaning and I came to dread seeing the word again. The writing overall was fine, dry and a bit airy. I wanted more from this book than I got, but alas.
Read this for university, and there were a few interesting points made. I liked the concept for the book and the interview portions, as well as the focus on spacial identities. However, while the idea of the mental maps was interesting, the execution was really confusing, and the constellations metaphor so over-trodden that by the end of the book it lost all meaning and I came to dread seeing the word again. The writing overall was fine, dry and a bit airy. I wanted more from this book than I got, but alas.
December 2, 2020
I had diffrent expectations of this book. That's totally my bad and I cannot blame the book for it. The book did a great job in doing exactly what it claimed it would do: providing geographical information about a queer New York. I simply wasn't expecting it to be that geographical.
Not the book's blame, simply my own. Nontheless, it was an informative read and I especially fell in love with the cover.
I received a free copy by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Not the book's blame, simply my own. Nontheless, it was an informative read and I especially fell in love with the cover.
I received a free copy by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2020
I cannot wait to go back to New York after reading an advanced copy of this.
Having visited Greenwich Village and areas like Crown Heights I will now look at them with fresh eyes.
This is an exceptional book and well written.
Having visited Greenwich Village and areas like Crown Heights I will now look at them with fresh eyes.
This is an exceptional book and well written.
April 22, 2022
I recommend this book!
August 24, 2025
Ich habe es für meine Seminararbeit gelesen. Sehr Informativ
March 1, 2025
This book was an absolute struggle to read through. A schlepp. Unfortunately, since it's a really good concept and important research let down by some really terrible writing choices. I love queer history, I love regional local history and queer scenes, and it's such an important thing to archive.
The preface is basically the author's university reflective essay, which I frankly don't want to read. Much of the book is the author bloviating and navel gazing about things that are completely irrelevant to the data, like talking about how astrology is essential to queer culture (what???) The author also seems to have this need to insert themself into the book at all times. We hear more about THEIR background than those of the people they're interviewing.
This is all wrapped up in four dollar words, weird white guilt navel gazing, and attempts at sounding deep and academic. As other reviewers have said, the book was wildly inaccessible, and I say this as someone who regularly reads academic papers. This book could be a pamphlet. At least the information inside is interesting and useful if you can skim 80% of the writing.
The preface is basically the author's university reflective essay, which I frankly don't want to read. Much of the book is the author bloviating and navel gazing about things that are completely irrelevant to the data, like talking about how astrology is essential to queer culture (what???) The author also seems to have this need to insert themself into the book at all times. We hear more about THEIR background than those of the people they're interviewing.
This is all wrapped up in four dollar words, weird white guilt navel gazing, and attempts at sounding deep and academic. As other reviewers have said, the book was wildly inaccessible, and I say this as someone who regularly reads academic papers. This book could be a pamphlet. At least the information inside is interesting and useful if you can skim 80% of the writing.
September 5, 2025
Very informative and interesting novel, ethnographic style, tracing gentrification throughout different NYC neighborhoods and how queer ppl have been affected by it as well as contributed to it. Author uses a lot of language that I don’t quite understand and focus on the idea of “constellations” as connections btwn people, moments in different pockets of the city, to redefine what taking up space means and how we don’t need physical neighborhoods to be liberated (decolonial). Cool but didn’t understand how to reconcile the fact that a lot of those defining moments/constellations WERE actually in queer neighborhoods. There is no solution I suppose!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews