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My Name’s Yours, What’s Alaska?: A Memoir
Alaska Thunderfuck spills the tea on her meteoric rise from timid Pennsylvania kid to drag superstar in this intimate photographic memoir that will appeal to diehard Alaska admirers and broader drag fans alike.
Before RuPaul's Drag Race became a worldwide phenomenon, Drag was mostly an underground art form, performed by the daring and the quick-witted, with maximum energy and a minimal budget. This is the story of one of the galaxy's greatest queens, Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, as she transforms from wearing dresses made of trash bags because she has to, to wearing dresses made of trash bags because she wants to. Finally coming clean on her home planet (earth), this dishy, visual memoir tells the stories that shaped Alaska into an All Star: from prom king to the House of Haunt, to the very public breakup that almost destroyed her. Intimate and alluring with exclusive photography throughout, and illustrations by the author, My Name's Yours, What's Alaska? is the ultimate backstage pass.
UNIQUE & PERSONAL: Chronicling Alaska's journey from small-town kid to drag superstar, this memoir stands out for its emotional resonance, distinct humor, and unapologetic realness. Filled with compelling personal stories told in Alaska's unique voice, it gives fans an exclusive look at Justin Honard the person, not just Alaska Thunderfuck the drag queen.
LGBTQIA+ REPRESENTATION: LGBTQIA+ consumers will see their experiences and passions reflected in Alaska's authenticity and openness about her childhood struggles, and will be excited by a drag memoir that celebrates the whole story of queerness, not just the sassy, shady highlights.
GREAT GIFT FOR FANS OF RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE : Behind the scenes stories of Alaska's journey to RuPaul's Drag Race fame, alongside full-color photography of Alaska's iconic trash-glam looks throughout her career, will deliver the exclusive content fans crave.
Perfect for:
• Diehard drag fans
• Fans of Alaska Thunderfuck, RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Trixie Mattel, Bianca del Rio, Sharon Needles, Magnus Hastings, Cherri Baum, Veruca, and more
• RuPaul's Drag Race enthusiasts who want to deep dive into a famous queen's rise to stardom
Before RuPaul's Drag Race became a worldwide phenomenon, Drag was mostly an underground art form, performed by the daring and the quick-witted, with maximum energy and a minimal budget. This is the story of one of the galaxy's greatest queens, Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, as she transforms from wearing dresses made of trash bags because she has to, to wearing dresses made of trash bags because she wants to. Finally coming clean on her home planet (earth), this dishy, visual memoir tells the stories that shaped Alaska into an All Star: from prom king to the House of Haunt, to the very public breakup that almost destroyed her. Intimate and alluring with exclusive photography throughout, and illustrations by the author, My Name's Yours, What's Alaska? is the ultimate backstage pass.
UNIQUE & PERSONAL: Chronicling Alaska's journey from small-town kid to drag superstar, this memoir stands out for its emotional resonance, distinct humor, and unapologetic realness. Filled with compelling personal stories told in Alaska's unique voice, it gives fans an exclusive look at Justin Honard the person, not just Alaska Thunderfuck the drag queen.
LGBTQIA+ REPRESENTATION: LGBTQIA+ consumers will see their experiences and passions reflected in Alaska's authenticity and openness about her childhood struggles, and will be excited by a drag memoir that celebrates the whole story of queerness, not just the sassy, shady highlights.
GREAT GIFT FOR FANS OF RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE : Behind the scenes stories of Alaska's journey to RuPaul's Drag Race fame, alongside full-color photography of Alaska's iconic trash-glam looks throughout her career, will deliver the exclusive content fans crave.
Perfect for:
• Diehard drag fans
• Fans of Alaska Thunderfuck, RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Trixie Mattel, Bianca del Rio, Sharon Needles, Magnus Hastings, Cherri Baum, Veruca, and more
• RuPaul's Drag Race enthusiasts who want to deep dive into a famous queen's rise to stardom
264 pages, Hardcover
First published November 9, 2021
68 people are currently reading
3042 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 304 reviews
June 29, 2021
"Meanwhile I was expected to play with the drab and dismal G.I. Joe. He didn’t even have more than one outfit. I could have given Barbie fashion! I could have given her haircuts! I could have given her life!"
HIEEEEEE!!!* Which reminds me. one of the many things that made me laugh while reading this book, is Alaska telling us which bits of her shtick she nicked and from who or where, the most funny being her very catchphrase.
If you are a longtime viewer of Rupaul's Drag Race like me, you'll be aware of Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, and if you're even more like me, you'll find Alaska's whole... thing to be hilarious.
So she done wrote a memoir, and it's very honest, and very funny. Her life before Drag Race is actually interesting - the 'before' story in celebrity biographies can be quite boring - and so are her first steps in the Drag world (Alaska always capitalises the word 'drag', so I'll follow). It's interesting to read how her ideas on Drag formed, and what it means to her - it used to be a lot more extreme. A LOT more (be warned!):
"I chose Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” which was then considered an “overdone” Drag song. No one performed it anymore because everyone had already done it. It was a terrible song selection, which made it perfect for my needs . I wore a yellow plastic dress and came with two sexy boys, each wearing yellow jockstraps and pig masks. At the crescendo of the song, right as the key changes and Whitney really lets it all out, the two guys in pig masks turned around and pissed on me. Being the ever-considerate performer, I’d put down a tarp to facilitate an easy cleanup. I left the stage dripping wet, to roaring applause."
Not to worry, Drag Race quickly pops up, at first just in the background of their lives. Sharon Needles (who used to be in a relation with Alaska) also quickly enters the story. Sharon doesn't come off too good, but this feels more like painful truth, than vindictiveness on Alaska's part.
There's the whole story of Sharon winning Drag Race, how it affected their already rocky relationship, and how large amounts of cocaine entered their lives. When Alaska gets on Drag Race herself, we get some insight into the production of the show.
"I had achieved everything I ever wanted. But the feeling of achievement and happiness was so brief, followed by an overwhelming feeling of it never being enough. I’m not good enough, rich enough, famous enough; I don’t have enough followers, don’t get enough likes, don’t get treated like other famous people get treated. I need more. That was my greatest demon: compare and despair."
The more succes Alaska has (winning Drag Race All Stars, for example), the more Alaska drops down a drug- and alcohol-induced black hole; she doesn't hide this darker side of herself.
It's not a glossy memoir (well, there are lots of photos, almost never relating to the text's subject), it gets quite dark in content, but it always stays light and very funy, in that Alaska-y way.
* Place your bets now on how many GR reviews will start with the ole HIEEEEE..
(Picked up an ARC through Edelweiss)
HIEEEEEE!!!* Which reminds me. one of the many things that made me laugh while reading this book, is Alaska telling us which bits of her shtick she nicked and from who or where, the most funny being her very catchphrase.
If you are a longtime viewer of Rupaul's Drag Race like me, you'll be aware of Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, and if you're even more like me, you'll find Alaska's whole... thing to be hilarious.
So she done wrote a memoir, and it's very honest, and very funny. Her life before Drag Race is actually interesting - the 'before' story in celebrity biographies can be quite boring - and so are her first steps in the Drag world (Alaska always capitalises the word 'drag', so I'll follow). It's interesting to read how her ideas on Drag formed, and what it means to her - it used to be a lot more extreme. A LOT more (be warned!):
"I chose Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” which was then considered an “overdone” Drag song. No one performed it anymore because everyone had already done it. It was a terrible song selection, which made it perfect for my needs . I wore a yellow plastic dress and came with two sexy boys, each wearing yellow jockstraps and pig masks. At the crescendo of the song, right as the key changes and Whitney really lets it all out, the two guys in pig masks turned around and pissed on me. Being the ever-considerate performer, I’d put down a tarp to facilitate an easy cleanup. I left the stage dripping wet, to roaring applause."
Not to worry, Drag Race quickly pops up, at first just in the background of their lives. Sharon Needles (who used to be in a relation with Alaska) also quickly enters the story. Sharon doesn't come off too good, but this feels more like painful truth, than vindictiveness on Alaska's part.
There's the whole story of Sharon winning Drag Race, how it affected their already rocky relationship, and how large amounts of cocaine entered their lives. When Alaska gets on Drag Race herself, we get some insight into the production of the show.
"I had achieved everything I ever wanted. But the feeling of achievement and happiness was so brief, followed by an overwhelming feeling of it never being enough. I’m not good enough, rich enough, famous enough; I don’t have enough followers, don’t get enough likes, don’t get treated like other famous people get treated. I need more. That was my greatest demon: compare and despair."
The more succes Alaska has (winning Drag Race All Stars, for example), the more Alaska drops down a drug- and alcohol-induced black hole; she doesn't hide this darker side of herself.
It's not a glossy memoir (well, there are lots of photos, almost never relating to the text's subject), it gets quite dark in content, but it always stays light and very funy, in that Alaska-y way.
* Place your bets now on how many GR reviews will start with the ole HIEEEEE..
(Picked up an ARC through Edelweiss)
June 11, 2021
Hiiiieeeeee!
June 18, 2022
I just really fucking love Alaska Thunderfuck 5000. She is one of my all time favourite drag queens, NAY, goddesses and always will be! I fell in love with her the first time I saw her in her signature trash bag couture and heard her infamous “HIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEE” and I haven’t looked back since. Alaska is the most fabulous blend of fashion and comedy in a queen and I will never get enough of her. Getting to know her whole story and beginnings as a drag queen was such an absolute treat. Plus the inside scoop on the rise and fall and ultimately the end of her power couple relationship with Sharon Needles was just a bonus on top of that. My favourite part wasn’t the tea on her and Sharon though, it was getting to know Alaska behind the scenes and how her career as a drag artist started and flourished. It made me love her even more and gain a whole new level of respect for her.
December 4, 2021
I adore Alaska (probably my top three drag girl from RuPaul’s Drag Race reality tv show) so I had to read her memoir.
It’s not perfect - there are a dozen grammatical errors throughout and fairly light on Alaska’s life after season five and All Stars season two - but I enjoyed my time with Alaska and her life pre- and post-drag race.
It’s not perfect - there are a dozen grammatical errors throughout and fairly light on Alaska’s life after season five and All Stars season two - but I enjoyed my time with Alaska and her life pre- and post-drag race.
September 20, 2021
I had mixed expectations going into this book. I'm a fan of Alaska's from RuPaul's Drag Race and on the one hand she's always been a top competitor and shown how creative and capable she is. On the other hand, after Drag Race the queens are often doing something gimmicky like releasing really, really terrible music. So I figured this could go either way. I was very pleased to find Alaska's book was just as interesting, colorful, and creative as she is!
I found this book to be very readable. The writing is great and I could hear Alaska's voice in the narration. Her story is told in a chronological order, from her childhood to the present. I expected to see more highlights from her time on Drag Race and Allstars, but it's true what she said, that the audience that knows her from the show is already aware of what went on. I guess I was hoping for a little more behind-the-scenes info, but her story was strong even without it. I always liked Alaska but it was interesting to see, in her own words, where she came from and what shaped her into the person she is today, and what influenced her craft.
I've seen other reviews saying this book is all about Alaska's relationship with drag queen and fellow Drag Race alumni, Sharon Needles. I didn't feel that was true. Alaska and Sharon don't meet until a third of the way into the book. And while Sharon was a big part of Alaska's life and an integral part of her story, they weren't the focus of the book. The story was always about what else was going on while Alaska was caught up in this toxic relationship.
I will say I was surprised by just how toxic Alaska's relationship with Sharon was. I enjoy watching RPDR but I'm not so obsessive as to follow all the social media accounts and forums about it, so prior to reading the book I'm not sure I even remembered that the two of them had a history. By Alaska's account Sharon seemed to have serious issues and all the classic signs of an abuser. It was really shocking and disturbing to see how she manipulated and tormented Alaska. I'm glad they were able to move past it and be friends again, but I'm even more glad that Alaska got out of that web.
I loved the book's formatting. The leopard print at the start of every chapter with the hot pink chapter titles, and the glossy photos that accompany the story. I received an e-book from NetGalley but this is a book I'd enjoy having on my shelf and would enjoy rereading.
I found this book to be very readable. The writing is great and I could hear Alaska's voice in the narration. Her story is told in a chronological order, from her childhood to the present. I expected to see more highlights from her time on Drag Race and Allstars, but it's true what she said, that the audience that knows her from the show is already aware of what went on. I guess I was hoping for a little more behind-the-scenes info, but her story was strong even without it. I always liked Alaska but it was interesting to see, in her own words, where she came from and what shaped her into the person she is today, and what influenced her craft.
I've seen other reviews saying this book is all about Alaska's relationship with drag queen and fellow Drag Race alumni, Sharon Needles. I didn't feel that was true. Alaska and Sharon don't meet until a third of the way into the book. And while Sharon was a big part of Alaska's life and an integral part of her story, they weren't the focus of the book. The story was always about what else was going on while Alaska was caught up in this toxic relationship.
I will say I was surprised by just how toxic Alaska's relationship with Sharon was. I enjoy watching RPDR but I'm not so obsessive as to follow all the social media accounts and forums about it, so prior to reading the book I'm not sure I even remembered that the two of them had a history. By Alaska's account Sharon seemed to have serious issues and all the classic signs of an abuser. It was really shocking and disturbing to see how she manipulated and tormented Alaska. I'm glad they were able to move past it and be friends again, but I'm even more glad that Alaska got out of that web.
I loved the book's formatting. The leopard print at the start of every chapter with the hot pink chapter titles, and the glossy photos that accompany the story. I received an e-book from NetGalley but this is a book I'd enjoy having on my shelf and would enjoy rereading.
October 23, 2021
5 stars
It would be irresponsible to avoid mentioning this essential point: I love Alaska. I have loved Alaska since I came to know of Alaska many years ago (as part of Rolaskatox). This book could have been terrible, and I probably still would have thought it was great. But good news: this bio is solid on its own merits, too.
Come for the story and stay for the photos. Throughout this piece, readers learn about Alaska's early life, rise in the Drag scene, relationship with Sharon, _Drag Race_ and _All Stars_ experiences, and finally post-Ru (if there is such a thing for any of the folks who have been on this circuit). Folks who are sensitive to talk about drug and alcohol abuse should know that there is a decent amount of this here, but it's not the focal point; it's just a part of the backdrop for a good chunk of the chapters. While I was expecting this - and a generally intriguing set of circumstances surrounding Alaska, I was not expecting so many fantastic photos. I expect I spent almost as much time enjoying these - and going back to them - as I did actually reading. Definitely get a color copy of this book.
Alaska is a fixture and for good reason. I have loved her drag for as long as I've been aware of her, and now I think she's a pretty fascinating person on the inside, too. If you saw this title, said, "Hiiiiiiieeeeee," and knew you wanted to read it, I expect you'll be pleasantly surprised; it may be better than you expect, too!
*Thanks to NetGalley and Chronice Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
It would be irresponsible to avoid mentioning this essential point: I love Alaska. I have loved Alaska since I came to know of Alaska many years ago (as part of Rolaskatox). This book could have been terrible, and I probably still would have thought it was great. But good news: this bio is solid on its own merits, too.
Come for the story and stay for the photos. Throughout this piece, readers learn about Alaska's early life, rise in the Drag scene, relationship with Sharon, _Drag Race_ and _All Stars_ experiences, and finally post-Ru (if there is such a thing for any of the folks who have been on this circuit). Folks who are sensitive to talk about drug and alcohol abuse should know that there is a decent amount of this here, but it's not the focal point; it's just a part of the backdrop for a good chunk of the chapters. While I was expecting this - and a generally intriguing set of circumstances surrounding Alaska, I was not expecting so many fantastic photos. I expect I spent almost as much time enjoying these - and going back to them - as I did actually reading. Definitely get a color copy of this book.
Alaska is a fixture and for good reason. I have loved her drag for as long as I've been aware of her, and now I think she's a pretty fascinating person on the inside, too. If you saw this title, said, "Hiiiiiiieeeeee," and knew you wanted to read it, I expect you'll be pleasantly surprised; it may be better than you expect, too!
*Thanks to NetGalley and Chronice Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
February 26, 2025
Book #571
5 ⭐️
Hiiieeee. So when i first found out that Alaska had a memoir i had to read this I’ve been following her for years on instagram and social media since being on the race and loving her with half of the world because she is so talented and hilarious and deserves all the success that she has accomplished.. From her big hair to her mug to her great outfits and amazing run on the show from season 5 and all stars which was iconic. This novel had lots of stories and i wanted to learn more about the person behind the artist because a lot of times we always focus on the artist and we never really learn more about the person but Alaska does an amazing job of showing both of them in this novel, I loved all the stories she shared from her relationships to being transparent about things she was struggling with, her relationships with family and her journey to getting on the race but i also really loved reading about her friendships and the people who inspired her for example Jackie beat who also is an icon in the drag world, As a little monster myself i was so excited to dive into the Gaga chapter and see Alaska also share the love that i also have for lady Gaga because who doesn’t love that icon? I enjoyed the Britney chapter as well. This novel took us to different places and parts of alaskas live showing us more about her and the journey and things she went through. She is such an amazing person and such a talented queen and it definitely makes sense as to why so many people love her and the fans fell in love with her from her time on the race. I also loved all the amazing photoshoots and photos Alaska had throughout the whole book this novel had so many! I think if you all like memoirs and want to learn more about Alaska definitely read this one you wont regret it!
5 ⭐️
Hiiieeee. So when i first found out that Alaska had a memoir i had to read this I’ve been following her for years on instagram and social media since being on the race and loving her with half of the world because she is so talented and hilarious and deserves all the success that she has accomplished.. From her big hair to her mug to her great outfits and amazing run on the show from season 5 and all stars which was iconic. This novel had lots of stories and i wanted to learn more about the person behind the artist because a lot of times we always focus on the artist and we never really learn more about the person but Alaska does an amazing job of showing both of them in this novel, I loved all the stories she shared from her relationships to being transparent about things she was struggling with, her relationships with family and her journey to getting on the race but i also really loved reading about her friendships and the people who inspired her for example Jackie beat who also is an icon in the drag world, As a little monster myself i was so excited to dive into the Gaga chapter and see Alaska also share the love that i also have for lady Gaga because who doesn’t love that icon? I enjoyed the Britney chapter as well. This novel took us to different places and parts of alaskas live showing us more about her and the journey and things she went through. She is such an amazing person and such a talented queen and it definitely makes sense as to why so many people love her and the fans fell in love with her from her time on the race. I also loved all the amazing photoshoots and photos Alaska had throughout the whole book this novel had so many! I think if you all like memoirs and want to learn more about Alaska definitely read this one you wont regret it!
July 6, 2025
Listened to/from VA. Perfect funny, heartfelt, gripping memoir for Drag Race fans. Loved also getting to learn about this slice of Pittsburgh’s queer history. So many Blue Moon, Brillobox, etc references.
December 11, 2021
This has everything an Alaska fan could ever want. Plenty of insight into the Drag Race experience and her relationship with Sharon, but I loved the stories about her early days when she was still finding her feet even more. I listened to the audiobook version of this and highly recommend that format. I ate up every single word Alaska delivered with her delicious inflection, and couldn’t listen to it fast enough. A chapter about Lady Gaga? Absolutely! A chapter about Britney Spears? This book gets 5 stars from me straight away!
“Maybe it wasn’t pretty, but I thought Britney looked fucking awesome with a buzz cut. That moment I truly became a lifelong stan.”
“Maybe it wasn’t pretty, but I thought Britney looked fucking awesome with a buzz cut. That moment I truly became a lifelong stan.”
January 1, 2022
A super fun memoir. I started this on my lunch break at work and stayed up til 3:30 finishing it lol. Not sure how much this will appeal to folxs that don’t watch drag race, but for me I loved every second of it. Tbh, it makes me really appreciate Alaska more. I definitely relate to her trying to keep your inner diva in check and a lust for fame lol. As she says, anusthing is possible 🤷🏻♀️
Read
May 29, 2022I feel like it’s hard to rate memoirs so I’m not gonna rate this one, but I really enjoyed it. Especially the more in-depth explanation of getting in drag race and Alaska’s relationship w Sharon needles and how toxic and abusive it got.
July 14, 2022
I enjoyed learning about Alaska's background and introduction into drag. This book is an interesting glimpse into queer-American culture in the 2000s and 2010s.
January 27, 2022
I laughed, I cried and I was inspired.
February 1, 2023
I really enjoyed hearing all the behind the scenes details and loved seeing the photos throughout the book.
Also, a good reminder that “anus-thing is possible.”
Also, a good reminder that “anus-thing is possible.”
September 1, 2024
how fitting for miss alaska’s memoir to be my 69th read of 2024. and i didn’t expect to enjoy it so much.
usually im not a raving fan of memoirs but genuinely this is a must-read, especially if you’re a fan of drag race.
i think the best part of this memoir was easily the parts following alaska & sharon’s relationship.
now i hate to focus a review of a memoir based on the relationships within, but much like in the dream house, the abuse *is* central to the memoir. most drag race fans are aware that sharon is not a great person, but this really goes into sharon’s depravity. from the reasons why she auditioned for drag race to her manipulative tendencies, to me this book really gives credence to any allegation laid against sharon. if you’re still a sharon fan after reading this book….. CHOP. alaska’s quote “Sharon owned me” really summarises their entire relationship in one word.
however, as much as this memoir follows sharon, alaska is the star of the show. her witty writing style combined with her focusing on the nitty-gritty of her life was very intriguing to follow. i’m thankful in a way that alaska didn’t spend endless chapters following s5 & as2 because we all know those stories. what we didn’t know is how alaska came to rise in pittsburgh, how she met sharon, her downward spiral into a life of drugs & alcohol, and where alaska is post-as2. ive only read one drag race queen’s memoir prior to this, so (no shade to lawrence chaney) i wasn’t expecting a magnum opus - i was expecting an entertaining story, and nothing more. what i didn’t expect was an incredibly harrowing story that goes in depth about the black hole of negativity that is sharon needles.
i will say the only thing holding this memoir back is its length. for how much alaska has done in her life so far compared to the length of this book, it felt like everything breezed past too fast. i wish we spent more time on alaska herself rather than sharon, although i know sharon was an integral part of alaska’s drag career.
but hey at least now when i listen to ‘the T’ i know the backstory to all the lyrics!
usually im not a raving fan of memoirs but genuinely this is a must-read, especially if you’re a fan of drag race.
i think the best part of this memoir was easily the parts following alaska & sharon’s relationship.
now i hate to focus a review of a memoir based on the relationships within, but much like in the dream house, the abuse *is* central to the memoir. most drag race fans are aware that sharon is not a great person, but this really goes into sharon’s depravity. from the reasons why she auditioned for drag race to her manipulative tendencies, to me this book really gives credence to any allegation laid against sharon. if you’re still a sharon fan after reading this book….. CHOP. alaska’s quote “Sharon owned me” really summarises their entire relationship in one word.
however, as much as this memoir follows sharon, alaska is the star of the show. her witty writing style combined with her focusing on the nitty-gritty of her life was very intriguing to follow. i’m thankful in a way that alaska didn’t spend endless chapters following s5 & as2 because we all know those stories. what we didn’t know is how alaska came to rise in pittsburgh, how she met sharon, her downward spiral into a life of drugs & alcohol, and where alaska is post-as2. ive only read one drag race queen’s memoir prior to this, so (no shade to lawrence chaney) i wasn’t expecting a magnum opus - i was expecting an entertaining story, and nothing more. what i didn’t expect was an incredibly harrowing story that goes in depth about the black hole of negativity that is sharon needles.
i will say the only thing holding this memoir back is its length. for how much alaska has done in her life so far compared to the length of this book, it felt like everything breezed past too fast. i wish we spent more time on alaska herself rather than sharon, although i know sharon was an integral part of alaska’s drag career.
but hey at least now when i listen to ‘the T’ i know the backstory to all the lyrics!
Read
November 30, 2021Fun book, nice to revisit Pittsburgh and LA with it, two places I used to live and don’t anymore. I actually met Alaska once. It was the night before Sharon Needles won Drag Race, and I was on a date with a very boring ophthalmologist at Brillo Box in Pittsburgh, when Sharon & Alaska came in. Sharon was in full makeup (though not necessarily drag, I guess?) and Alaska was not. I wish I’d asked for a picture with Alaska—I recognized her from various clips of her the show had during Sharon’s run. I didn’t want to be annoying. I did get a picture Sharon, and here it is:
https://imgur.com/a/Urit5tX
Alaska is great, though. Very funny and also super nice. This was a nice light read, and great on audio.
https://imgur.com/a/Urit5tX
Alaska is great, though. Very funny and also super nice. This was a nice light read, and great on audio.
August 17, 2022
I started frequenting the Blue Moon not long after Alaska had moved away. Hearing her point of view as an earlier generation moon girl was definitely cool and reminded me of what that space as well as the Pittsburgh drag scene as a whole means to me and my friends, even though it’s evolved through the years there are still performers doing the type of drag that would probably resonate with a young Alaska, there is just a lot that’d also resonate with the drag race fans as well, you just need to know who to look for. One thing that remains the same though is that Cherri Baum is still the most beautiful and coolest person in all of Pittsburgh, I’m glad she got a shout out.
February 23, 2024
4/4.5 really interesting and entertaining!
Read
March 4, 2024Ugh I just love Alaska sm thank you <3
December 28, 2024
this was so all over the place but i listened to her narrate it so it was sooo entertaining. solid 3 stars
November 28, 2023
HIEEEEEEEEEEEE
June 25, 2021
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This is a very quick read that mostly is a biography told in snippets. When you add in all the photographs, you likely won't need much more than an hour to finish. That is both good and bad in that it's a breezy read but also can be very unsatisfying. The heart of the book is mostly the toxic relationship between Alaska and Sharon Needles while Drag Race memories pretty much equal a couple of pages before it is back to sex, drugs, and alcohol again.The is laid out in chronological order with Alaska's memories of a fairly decent childhood (a counterpoint to so many queens' terrible childhoods and a definite issue Sharon used to put Alaska down over). Growing up as Justin, he had great friends, a perfect best friend, his parents were accepting, his school was accepting, and he was even voted Prom King. But a love of dressing up and being made up by his bestie led him on a straight trajectory to the drag world.
Things would go off the rails soon after for Alaska (named for a strain of marijuana). The party life, frustrations of trying to make money off drag, and several failed relationships. There is honesty in what happened between Alaska and Sharon but one gets the impression that a lot was left out, as well. Especially sad was when Alaska began to mistreat her friends and abuse substances.
Those looking for inside information on Drag Race won't find it here. Sharon's appearance in season 4 doesn't come up until 61% into the book and lasts only a few pages - Alaska wasn't involved in getting Sharon ready for her appearance and Sharon was gone for 6 weeks, so Alaska was out of touch anyway. All we get was that when Sharon returned, "she shared everything" - which doesn't happen to us, sadly. Alaska's own appearance on the next season also lasts only a few pages, in which she notes that the rivalries were tiring and she didn't feel she did that well/had to deal with the stigma of just being considered as 'Sharon's boyfriend." All you'll get about Drag Race is that RuPaul really is a caring person and Michelle Visage is a nice person who tells it straight.
That isn't to say the book doesn't have interesting things to reveal or say. We get a lot about Pittsburg's drag scene, booking nightclubs, even some homophobic violence. Sadly, most of the book feels like Alaska's attempts to apologize for being a jerk or insensitive in earlier years. And to explain what happened with her and Sharon.
I finished this book yesterday and very little stands out for me or even remembered. There are several black and white images (the prom picture is great!) but none have captions, which was frustrating (perhaps the published version will have them). I had no idea who the others were in the images or if they even related to the paragraphs next to where they were placed. It would have been great to put names to local drag queen faces in Pittsburg, for example, like Cherri and Veruca.
So yes, a quick and enjoyable read. Does provide some insight into Alaska's life and a tiny bit about the RuPaul experience. It isn't deep and the snippets feel glossed over and there are a lot of plugs for her music. It ends on a good note about Alaska recognizing changes she needs to make and regrets about wrongs done in the past. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
June 15, 2021
3.5/5 Stars
As I'm sure most readers of this book are, I was first introduced to Alaska via Drag Race. After her appearance on All Stars, I was left feeling annoyed and disgusted by her childish tantrums on how she felt that she needed to win the season. My Name's Yours, What's Alaska? is an honest memoir that doesn't skirt around the not so flattering parts of Alaska's past. She candidly addresses her All Stars meltdowns, her participation in a toxic relationship with Sharon Needles, and her own shallow obsession with being famous and being a diva. I completely admire her ability to be open about her flaws, even going so far as to talk about how she wore a Confederate flag bikini and has used racial/transphobic slurs. As a public figure, that couldn't have been easy to do, especially in a world where "cancel culture" is more the norm than not.
I feel like I really got a deeper insight into Alaska, which I appreciated. Her journey makes her a lot easier to understand and to not immediately write off as a shallow, fame hungry diva, but ultimately, she still does kind of come off as a shallow, fame hungry diva. She seems to have grown a lot as a person, though, and like she says at the end of the book, she's still working on herself and evolving, so I look forward to seeing more of her journey.
As I'm sure most readers of this book are, I was first introduced to Alaska via Drag Race. After her appearance on All Stars, I was left feeling annoyed and disgusted by her childish tantrums on how she felt that she needed to win the season. My Name's Yours, What's Alaska? is an honest memoir that doesn't skirt around the not so flattering parts of Alaska's past. She candidly addresses her All Stars meltdowns, her participation in a toxic relationship with Sharon Needles, and her own shallow obsession with being famous and being a diva. I completely admire her ability to be open about her flaws, even going so far as to talk about how she wore a Confederate flag bikini and has used racial/transphobic slurs. As a public figure, that couldn't have been easy to do, especially in a world where "cancel culture" is more the norm than not.
I feel like I really got a deeper insight into Alaska, which I appreciated. Her journey makes her a lot easier to understand and to not immediately write off as a shallow, fame hungry diva, but ultimately, she still does kind of come off as a shallow, fame hungry diva. She seems to have grown a lot as a person, though, and like she says at the end of the book, she's still working on herself and evolving, so I look forward to seeing more of her journey.
July 20, 2021
My Name’s Yours, What’s Alaska? is a clever memoir about the hilarious queen Alaska Thunderfuck 5000. The book shows Alaska’s rise from small down queen to becoming the winner of RuPauls All Stars season 2 and everything in between.
One of the things I loved most about this book is just how much of herself Alaska shared with us. We got to see the lowest points as well as the highs and she didn’t try to hide the moments where she messed up. In particular when she struggled with her issues with overcoming her substance abuse issue and how to navigate the drag world as someone other than Sharon’s boyfriend I was really rooting for her. Even though she was not a great person at time, she seemed to learn from her mistakes and really grow.
I’ve been a fan of drag for awhile, so it was really fun to learn more about how much drag has changed just in the past ten years alone. I also enjoyed learning a bit about some of the history of drag, and I’ve definitely added the documentary The Queen to my viewing list. I also loved the photos throughout so we could really see the evolution of Alaska.
The first part of this book did drag a bit, but once I got about a quarter of the way through I finished the rest in one sitting. That being said I really enjoyed this book. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Chronicle for the advanced copy.
One of the things I loved most about this book is just how much of herself Alaska shared with us. We got to see the lowest points as well as the highs and she didn’t try to hide the moments where she messed up. In particular when she struggled with her issues with overcoming her substance abuse issue and how to navigate the drag world as someone other than Sharon’s boyfriend I was really rooting for her. Even though she was not a great person at time, she seemed to learn from her mistakes and really grow.
I’ve been a fan of drag for awhile, so it was really fun to learn more about how much drag has changed just in the past ten years alone. I also enjoyed learning a bit about some of the history of drag, and I’ve definitely added the documentary The Queen to my viewing list. I also loved the photos throughout so we could really see the evolution of Alaska.
The first part of this book did drag a bit, but once I got about a quarter of the way through I finished the rest in one sitting. That being said I really enjoyed this book. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Chronicle for the advanced copy.
November 2, 2022
This was a quick, mostly fun read. She discusses so much about her experience with drag and within the drag community (including her time on RuPaul's Drag Race and interactions with queens who had been on the show after leaving). There is so much messiness that she is open about (not just talking about others, but a lot about herself). There are some of tough experiences that she discusses, including hate crimes, abuse, and alcoholism/addiction - but she manages to give some details without it being a super heavy book.
This is very much written in Alaska's voice, which I really enjoyed but if you aren't already a fan (or if you come in expecting more traditional writing style), it could be off-putting. I'm not sure I would have been as into it if I wasn't already interested in her to begin with. There are definitely technical critiques I could give or details I could say that I wanted, but at the end of it, I did read most of it in a sitting and had a fun time doing it, which is why it ended up with a higher rating. I would mainly recommend this to folks who are already interested in Alaska or popular drag queens more broadly.
Other notable CWs are for slurs including the f-slur used in full and a couple that are mentioned but not typed in full as well as racism. In particular, she talks about Sharon Needles' racist depictions in drag and use of the n-word.
This is very much written in Alaska's voice, which I really enjoyed but if you aren't already a fan (or if you come in expecting more traditional writing style), it could be off-putting. I'm not sure I would have been as into it if I wasn't already interested in her to begin with. There are definitely technical critiques I could give or details I could say that I wanted, but at the end of it, I did read most of it in a sitting and had a fun time doing it, which is why it ended up with a higher rating. I would mainly recommend this to folks who are already interested in Alaska or popular drag queens more broadly.
Other notable CWs are for slurs including the f-slur used in full and a couple that are mentioned but not typed in full as well as racism. In particular, she talks about Sharon Needles' racist depictions in drag and use of the n-word.
June 28, 2021
Hieeeeeeee!
Sometime during the pandemic, I got hooked on watching Drag Race. It brought levity and joy and color to some of the dark days of COVID. Alaska captured my attention on the show, and reading this and learning more back story was a lot of fun. I've always appreciated Alaska's conceptual take on drag and willingness to play with (and outside) gender, and that comes through in this book.
While certainly far from a literary masterpiece (sometimes transitions are a little few and far between), most of this reads well in Alaska's voice. Providing loads of back story, this book details how Alaska started in drag (including life before drag), auditioning repeatedly for Drag Race, dating Sharon Needles, getting on Drag Race, and how life changed after Drag Race. I also learned a lot about the Pittsburgh drag scene in which Sharon and Alaska grew into their own. I appreciated that throughout the book Alaska owned past mistakes, writing about the bad decisions alongside the good. It's filled with photos, providing glimpses of how Alaska has developed as a queen over her career.
I would have loved more tea on Drag Race, but even as it stands, this was a fun light read that I fully enjoyed.
Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the eARC!
Sometime during the pandemic, I got hooked on watching Drag Race. It brought levity and joy and color to some of the dark days of COVID. Alaska captured my attention on the show, and reading this and learning more back story was a lot of fun. I've always appreciated Alaska's conceptual take on drag and willingness to play with (and outside) gender, and that comes through in this book.
While certainly far from a literary masterpiece (sometimes transitions are a little few and far between), most of this reads well in Alaska's voice. Providing loads of back story, this book details how Alaska started in drag (including life before drag), auditioning repeatedly for Drag Race, dating Sharon Needles, getting on Drag Race, and how life changed after Drag Race. I also learned a lot about the Pittsburgh drag scene in which Sharon and Alaska grew into their own. I appreciated that throughout the book Alaska owned past mistakes, writing about the bad decisions alongside the good. It's filled with photos, providing glimpses of how Alaska has developed as a queen over her career.
I would have loved more tea on Drag Race, but even as it stands, this was a fun light read that I fully enjoyed.
Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the eARC!
February 13, 2025
Is this book going to win wave reviews in the literary world? Probably not, but Alaska’s one-liners(Side note: Alaska definitely publish a book of her funny criticisms in one liners…even though she admits some of them are stolen she’s freakin’ hilarious!
Based on the reading, I believe my book was written during Covid so that could be about her beautiful days of being jealous and insecure on her quest for fame. Screenshot every year. She has become more humble and has not forgotten to be thankful and humble for her success. One major player on her quest for growth was her four year relationship with Sharon Needles which became very toxic because of the undertones of jealousy and mistrust on both sides. I would not say that Alaska has become a humble queen today, but I do think she has grown since her early days. Alaska is transparent about her public tantrums during drag competitions, in public criticism, as well as her ability to reflect on herself has humbled her.
I truly enjoyed this book not only for its witty shade, but also amazing pictures of Alaska’s versatile looks. I hope I can be as fabulous and hilarious as Miss Alaska in my next life. Werk it, Queen!👸👸
Based on the reading, I believe my book was written during Covid so that could be about her beautiful days of being jealous and insecure on her quest for fame. Screenshot every year. She has become more humble and has not forgotten to be thankful and humble for her success. One major player on her quest for growth was her four year relationship with Sharon Needles which became very toxic because of the undertones of jealousy and mistrust on both sides. I would not say that Alaska has become a humble queen today, but I do think she has grown since her early days. Alaska is transparent about her public tantrums during drag competitions, in public criticism, as well as her ability to reflect on herself has humbled her.
I truly enjoyed this book not only for its witty shade, but also amazing pictures of Alaska’s versatile looks. I hope I can be as fabulous and hilarious as Miss Alaska in my next life. Werk it, Queen!👸👸
November 11, 2021
I could not put this down, this memoir has so much heart and it takes you on a whole journey.
I’ve always liked listening to Alaska's stories so this is was already a treat but even if you don’t know her, with her words, she welcomes you into her universe.
I have a soft spot for any coming of age trope so her time in LA and with the House of Haunt was delightful, she doesn’t shy away from the hard times which weirdly makes you feel like everything will be okay.
She finishes it off with this quote I hope never leaves the back of my mind: “We can take those things we hate about ourselves or that make us feel shame and make them into our favorite strengths (…) that goes for mistakes as well, own it and learn from it.”
PD: I got the audiobook that includes the stunning pictures on a pdf
I’ve always liked listening to Alaska's stories so this is was already a treat but even if you don’t know her, with her words, she welcomes you into her universe.
I have a soft spot for any coming of age trope so her time in LA and with the House of Haunt was delightful, she doesn’t shy away from the hard times which weirdly makes you feel like everything will be okay.
She finishes it off with this quote I hope never leaves the back of my mind: “We can take those things we hate about ourselves or that make us feel shame and make them into our favorite strengths (…) that goes for mistakes as well, own it and learn from it.”
PD: I got the audiobook that includes the stunning pictures on a pdf
June 14, 2021
A compulsively readable rags-to-riches tale of life as a drag queen, My Names Yours, What's Alaska?, by the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 2 (and the runner-up of season 5 of the regular season).
The book does require a few... actually, many trigger/content warnings.
tw/cw: emotional abuse, physical abuse/relationship violence, racism, homophobia, transphobia, anti-LGBTQ+ violence, drug abuse/addiction, arson, a missing cat.
Alaska's ex, Sharon Needles, won season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race, but has faced controversy for using racist and transphobic language during performances (purportedly to make a non-bigoted point). Alaska deems the incidents unacceptable. Alaska later acknowledges using similar language on stage and says it's one of her biggest regrets. Throughout the book, Alaska is unafraid to discuss alcohol and drug abuse, mistreatment of friends, and other bad behavior. She urges readers, when they make a mistake, "own it and learn from it".
RuPaul's Drag Race isn't covered quite as much as readers might expect (Ru and Michelle are both praised, though, especially Michelle.) However, there is so, so much about drag clubs, drag contests, drag pageants, touring, and trying to survive as a working drag queen. It's also so good to see how appreciative and gracious Alaska is to the queens who came before her and those who have helped and inspired her.
A fascinating read.
The book does require a few... actually, many trigger/content warnings.
tw/cw: emotional abuse, physical abuse/relationship violence, racism, homophobia, transphobia, anti-LGBTQ+ violence, drug abuse/addiction, arson, a missing cat.
Alaska's ex, Sharon Needles, won season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race, but has faced controversy for using racist and transphobic language during performances (purportedly to make a non-bigoted point). Alaska deems the incidents unacceptable. Alaska later acknowledges using similar language on stage and says it's one of her biggest regrets. Throughout the book, Alaska is unafraid to discuss alcohol and drug abuse, mistreatment of friends, and other bad behavior. She urges readers, when they make a mistake, "own it and learn from it".
RuPaul's Drag Race isn't covered quite as much as readers might expect (Ru and Michelle are both praised, though, especially Michelle.) However, there is so, so much about drag clubs, drag contests, drag pageants, touring, and trying to survive as a working drag queen. It's also so good to see how appreciative and gracious Alaska is to the queens who came before her and those who have helped and inspired her.
A fascinating read.
November 11, 2021
as everyone around me at the moment knows, i've been going through a substantial alaska obsession for awhile now -- this book came out at the PERFECT time :) it was such a joy to read + to hear the background stories + life journey of this amazing performer!! i especially enjoyed reading her thoughts on drag + gender, her stories about growing up queer in the 90s, and all of her heartfelt reflection on her life -- mistakes, the bleak times, shameful bits, and all. i only love her more + i can't wait to see her tour next year!! ps -- all bias aside, this is a really enjoyable memoir + so well-written and designed. the photos are stunning, and the pacing was perfect!!
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