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Whatever Happened To Queer Happiness?
'A timely probe into small acts of dissent, seeking out a wild tenderness and new sources of light.'
Jeremy Atherton Lin, author of Gay Bar
In this highly accessible, entertaining and provocative work of non-fiction Kevin Brazil combines essay and memoir to ask one of the most pertinent questions of our current whatever happened to queer happiness?
Exploring the lives of artists and writers from the past, current discourse around queerness and his own experiences, Brazil argues that art and literature needs to move away from celebrating the pain of queerness and embracing all the positive, ecstatic, collective joy that queer culture produces.
Brazil's enlivening ideas around queerness combat the isolation of individuality and shame, instead championing collectivity, commonality, and visions of shared pleasure; offering both critique and a way of remaking the world.
A timely, eminently readable and fascinating book for all readers of creative non-fiction, Whatever Happened to Queer Happiness? is a work of literature that will reverberate for years to come.
Jeremy Atherton Lin, author of Gay Bar
In this highly accessible, entertaining and provocative work of non-fiction Kevin Brazil combines essay and memoir to ask one of the most pertinent questions of our current whatever happened to queer happiness?
Exploring the lives of artists and writers from the past, current discourse around queerness and his own experiences, Brazil argues that art and literature needs to move away from celebrating the pain of queerness and embracing all the positive, ecstatic, collective joy that queer culture produces.
Brazil's enlivening ideas around queerness combat the isolation of individuality and shame, instead championing collectivity, commonality, and visions of shared pleasure; offering both critique and a way of remaking the world.
A timely, eminently readable and fascinating book for all readers of creative non-fiction, Whatever Happened to Queer Happiness? is a work of literature that will reverberate for years to come.
205 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2022
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180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 29, 2024
I feel like this did not offer anything groundbreaking enough to queer history to justify the writing. It's one thing when the writing is clunky but the payoff is there, but I didn't get that with this at all.
We are in a moment in the literary world of putting gay men through the wringer, any trauma goes. A Little Life, In Memoriam, Young Mungo, the list goes on. So I felt the the title's question was an important one.
There are definitely chapters that are well worth reading which seem more refined and stay in their lane with an accessible structure, especially when discussing gay representation within literary forms like fantasy and autobiography. These were particular chapters in which I felt were making an attempt to answer the book's question.
Other chapters veer off on tangential ramblings. I read on hoping for the connecting thread between paragraphs and chapters alike to reveal itself, and it didn't seem to happen.
I'm not sure whether the book is intended for audiences who are already familiar with queer history/theory or those with a passing interest.
While I do feel a greater insight into gay (male) intellectual movements throughout the last two centuries which is fascinating in its own right, I am still curious about the title's question, but I will continue searching for the answer elsewhere.
We are in a moment in the literary world of putting gay men through the wringer, any trauma goes. A Little Life, In Memoriam, Young Mungo, the list goes on. So I felt the the title's question was an important one.
There are definitely chapters that are well worth reading which seem more refined and stay in their lane with an accessible structure, especially when discussing gay representation within literary forms like fantasy and autobiography. These were particular chapters in which I felt were making an attempt to answer the book's question.
Other chapters veer off on tangential ramblings. I read on hoping for the connecting thread between paragraphs and chapters alike to reveal itself, and it didn't seem to happen.
I'm not sure whether the book is intended for audiences who are already familiar with queer history/theory or those with a passing interest.
While I do feel a greater insight into gay (male) intellectual movements throughout the last two centuries which is fascinating in its own right, I am still curious about the title's question, but I will continue searching for the answer elsewhere.
April 11, 2025
Well this was a bit of a slog if I'm honest.
It's like Kevin Brazil wanted to publish a load of his essays that had no real theme and put them together here under the title of Whatever Happened to Queer Happiness? I could see no real connection between the title and most of the essays to be fair, they were more just Brazil's thoughts on certain random topics. Like other reviewers, I'm not sure who Brazil was aiming these essays at. For seasoned readers of LGBTQi+ writing, the essays were pretty basic and something we've read before. For beginners, I think the essays might be okay but not the best out there.
The Dungeness chapter was mildly interesting although I'd suggest that people actually read Derek Jarman's own works instead of this essay on his Dungeness house and garden.
A disappointing read for me as I thought it would be right up my street but I would suggest looking elsewhere for quality LGBTQi+ writing.
It's like Kevin Brazil wanted to publish a load of his essays that had no real theme and put them together here under the title of Whatever Happened to Queer Happiness? I could see no real connection between the title and most of the essays to be fair, they were more just Brazil's thoughts on certain random topics. Like other reviewers, I'm not sure who Brazil was aiming these essays at. For seasoned readers of LGBTQi+ writing, the essays were pretty basic and something we've read before. For beginners, I think the essays might be okay but not the best out there.
The Dungeness chapter was mildly interesting although I'd suggest that people actually read Derek Jarman's own works instead of this essay on his Dungeness house and garden.
A disappointing read for me as I thought it would be right up my street but I would suggest looking elsewhere for quality LGBTQi+ writing.
May 1, 2023
I found this book in a queer bookshop and was a bit disappointed after finishing it.
To me, it was very unclear who the target audience of this book was meant to be. As a person who is quite knowledgeable on queer issues, this book didn't really evoke any new thoughts in me. On the other hand, if you'd be someone who wouldn't be very familiar with queer issues, some of the chapters/ essays would perhaps not be very accessible (e.g., if you haven't read Butler's work before). It's also not clear if this is targeted towards the queer community or whether it's supposed to be a book for the general public.
The chapter on science fiction was quite interesting.
For the entirety of the book, I was waiting for something to tie all the ideas and essays together and to conclude the question on "whatever happened to queer happiness", but sadly I found that the book ended quite abruptly. In my opinion, the title of the book wasn't answered properly and a lot of rambling could've been eliminated from the book. With a concluding chapter this book could've gotten an extra star from me.
Additionally, the book heavily focused on things relating to gay men and how that affected the queer community at large, but I would've appreciated an even more nuanced approach and more diverse essays.
To me, it was very unclear who the target audience of this book was meant to be. As a person who is quite knowledgeable on queer issues, this book didn't really evoke any new thoughts in me. On the other hand, if you'd be someone who wouldn't be very familiar with queer issues, some of the chapters/ essays would perhaps not be very accessible (e.g., if you haven't read Butler's work before). It's also not clear if this is targeted towards the queer community or whether it's supposed to be a book for the general public.
The chapter on science fiction was quite interesting.
For the entirety of the book, I was waiting for something to tie all the ideas and essays together and to conclude the question on "whatever happened to queer happiness", but sadly I found that the book ended quite abruptly. In my opinion, the title of the book wasn't answered properly and a lot of rambling could've been eliminated from the book. With a concluding chapter this book could've gotten an extra star from me.
Additionally, the book heavily focused on things relating to gay men and how that affected the queer community at large, but I would've appreciated an even more nuanced approach and more diverse essays.
December 26, 2024
Whatever happened to it, it's not in this book
September 27, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
An enjoyable work of non-fiction. Some parts weren’t as accessible as others but it was a very interesting read.
An enjoyable work of non-fiction. Some parts weren’t as accessible as others but it was a very interesting read.
June 29, 2023
Spotted this in the library pride month display and having heard so much about it, I picked it up. The book is a selection of essays on various aspects of queer art and culture. For a book that is concerned with exploring queer happiness this is often a grim, depressing read, most of the essays are not at all 'happy', which would be fine if the title didn't set up different expectations. I was hoping for a conclusion at the end but instead got a disjointed ramble about various songs. That said the chapter on science fiction was fascinating and the chapter on Derek Jarman was a delightful reminder of what an important figure he was. So worth reading for those chapters but don't expect an answer on where queer happiness has gone or where it might be.
February 17, 2025
Beginning was so interesting, the rest as well but it felt chaotic
November 25, 2025
This book is a collection of essays that are mostly unrelated but fit nicely around the theme of queer happiness, some other reviews call it 'chaotic' but I did not find it to be.
It is very easy to read, it mostly kept me company on a short train journey and I raced through it. The thoughts posed are poignant, and the selection of examples given are nicely expanded. Many of the thoughts expressed will be familiar to queer readers but the examples given are diverse and spark further thought and exploration.
I was a little disappointed at the slight gay male focus, as a queer book perhaps a little more on gender euphoria and trans people or lesbians and other women in the community but as the author is a gay man and this book is mostly his own experiences and interactions this is understandable. Perhaps another queer happiness book could collect essays from a variety of people.
Would highly recommend to all queer people especially, and anyone who wants to know more about queer art and literature.
It is very easy to read, it mostly kept me company on a short train journey and I raced through it. The thoughts posed are poignant, and the selection of examples given are nicely expanded. Many of the thoughts expressed will be familiar to queer readers but the examples given are diverse and spark further thought and exploration.
I was a little disappointed at the slight gay male focus, as a queer book perhaps a little more on gender euphoria and trans people or lesbians and other women in the community but as the author is a gay man and this book is mostly his own experiences and interactions this is understandable. Perhaps another queer happiness book could collect essays from a variety of people.
Would highly recommend to all queer people especially, and anyone who wants to know more about queer art and literature.
June 1, 2023
This was definitely one of the most unusual works of literature I've read: the writing changing between essay and autobiography so frequently it bordered on confusion.
As a queer person reading this, it was both relieving and frustrating that no real answer was reached for what constitutes queer happiness. I don't think there is a right answer but regardless.
I loved the section emphasising the importance on friendship and as someone from Kent the section on Dungeness was so soothing to read.
As a queer person reading this, it was both relieving and frustrating that no real answer was reached for what constitutes queer happiness. I don't think there is a right answer but regardless.
I loved the section emphasising the importance on friendship and as someone from Kent the section on Dungeness was so soothing to read.
March 6, 2025
Collection of interesting essays mixed with personal memoir which focuses more on the ‘gay’ side of queerness.
Might have benefited with an epilogue/conclusion/closing with a synthesis of his ideas. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable to read.
Might have benefited with an epilogue/conclusion/closing with a synthesis of his ideas. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable to read.
October 12, 2022
Some good essays (science fiction one and art one very thought provoking), some a bit rambling and not accessible
November 6, 2023
I really enjoyed this read, a birthday gift from a friend. The pre-word on crowds and the final chapter on music, which i read while playing a playlist of the songs mentioned, particularly felt quite magical. I loved the discussion of Hamad Butt's 'Familiars', of Derek Jarman, and the interplay of power in Tillmans' work.
I can see the criticism that it may have resonated a lot more with me, another white cis gay man, than it may a lot of other areas of the community; some areas tinged on pretentious to the point of needlessly inaccessible for people who haven't consumed a lot of queer media, but I was happy enough to be taken along for the ride.
Had very interesting things to say about art and fiction. Gave me lots of works I want to read or consume afterwards. (although it would have been nice to have photographs in the text, particularly I can imagine for the chapter on Tilmans)
I can see the criticism that it may have resonated a lot more with me, another white cis gay man, than it may a lot of other areas of the community; some areas tinged on pretentious to the point of needlessly inaccessible for people who haven't consumed a lot of queer media, but I was happy enough to be taken along for the ride.
Had very interesting things to say about art and fiction. Gave me lots of works I want to read or consume afterwards. (although it would have been nice to have photographs in the text, particularly I can imagine for the chapter on Tilmans)
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews