Queer: A Novel by William S. Burroughs Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Queer: A Novel
Book Review: An enjoyable, insightful read.
Summary: 4 Stars
Queer is an unfinished novel set in Mexico City in the late 1940s, where "Lee" (Burrough's surrogate) is trying to "kick the Chinaman all the way out". In the introduction, Burroughs, tries to explain his emotional state:
"When the cover is removed, everything that has been held in check by junk spills out. The withdrawing addict is subject to the emotional excesses of a child or an adolescent, regardless of his actual age."
Lee bares a raw neediness that is all too human; he is a grown man in the throws of a schoolboy's infatuation. He makes a fool of himself struggling to impress an indifferent youth named Allerton, who acquiesces occasionally enough to egg Lee on. However, these moments of devil-may-care outrageousness are when Burrough's incredibly dark humor steals the book. For those of a certain bent, Queer contains several "cackle-out-loud moments" in what Burroughs calls his "routines" - free association storytelling of thoroughly perverse nature. The phrase "Corn Hole Gus' Used-Slave Lot" should convey enough, without giving away the punch lines.
It seems as though this book might be about sex, but I found it to be much more about desire. For sex, but also for reciprocity. For that reason, even those who are not "queer" may well enjoy it. Burroughs' cast of characters and scenes in the early part of the book show an underside of Mexico City that is likely long gone. And don't skip the introduction. Burroughs' stories about campesinos are almost too savagely silly to believe.
Book Review: An interesting voyage
Summary: 4 Stars
Queer is simply the follow up from Junky. It starts out in Mexico City around the same time that Junky ends. Lee is in the process of quitting junk, and is desperately trying to find a lover. He spends alot of his time trying to gain the interest of Eugene Allerton. Struggling to hold on to Allerton's attention, Lee offer's for Allerton to join him on a trip to South America in search of the telepathic drug Yage. One thing that I love most about Burrough's is his travels. He goes so many new places and meets so many strange people. This book does alot of that. It's really interesting. A very easy read too. I recomend it to anyone.
Book Review: Another Type of Drug
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book earlier today, and I have just finished reading it. Of course it is not hard to read a 134 page book in a few hours, but what a moving experience it was! This was the second Burroughs book that I have read, the first being Junky, and like Junky this book is straight forward and brutally honest. Lee reminds me of a high school kid pining away over the girl of his dreams. But of course Burroughs is not a kid, and he is not pining overe a girl. It is almost painful reading this book, seeing how obsessed Lee is with the man he desires. He goes out of his way several times just to be with Allerton, and one unkind word from Allerton can destroy's Lee's ego. It is really a quite sad, and quite real sight to behold.This is a really good book that shows how much lust and desire can almost ruin a person. Also, as many have stated before, Burroughs does a wonderful job of describing 40s era Mexico city and several places in south america. Also the introduction is very awesome giving a short but poignant look at how Burroughs started writing. A good book check it out.
Book Review: BRILLIANT WRITING
Summary: 5 Stars
The 1985 introduction by the author is very poignant and valuable for a clear understanding of the novel. Especially the admission that it was the accidental death of his wife by his own hand that motivated and formulated his writing. Although Junky: The Definitive Text of Junk (50th Anniversary Edition) is great, Queer reveals a more human side to his work where one can actually empathize with the main character. His descriptions of Mexico City in the late 1940s and his circle of friends, many of whom were fellow American expatriates, lend a special air of magic to the writing. The flashes of humour are always unique and refreshing, eg. the amusing story of his fantasy trip to the "Upper Ubangi." A brilliant work whose many charms I intend to delve into again and again.Book Review: Burroughs' best book.
Summary: 4 Stars
This is my favorite book by Burroughs. It is more introspective than "Junky" and more coherent than his famed cut-up works. It also has a softer, more personal feel than "Junky." This book tells of Burroughs' love affairs with men during a time when such things were not out in the open yet, which would explain why it was published so late. It also gives interesting historical portraits of Mexico, New York City, and other various places.If you like picareque novels, this is one of the finest.