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Dec. 28th, 2019 09:37 pm
recent media
Inhaling Queer Eye media:
Naturally Tan, by Tan France - This is not revealed in Tan's book, but rather in Karamo's book - apparently Tan doesn't go by his given name "Tanveer" because if you see that name in the media, "it's always a terrorist". This is typical for Tan's book - there's so much gossip and surface stuff, but for the really deep stuff you have to go to other sources to actually find out about him. What is there is pretty interesting - he has a chapter on how 9/11 pretty much turned his world upside down, and how he spent a lot of time trying to figure out what went wrong, and why everyone seemed to have it out for him after that day. He talks very sweetly about the cowboy he fell in love with, but does not really mention how his parents reacted to it (you have to find out from other interviews that he basically hasn't even introduced him to the rest of his family yet, and it's not even clear if they've even met him). He's very proud of the French tuck; apparently prior to joining Queer Eye he became pretty successful with a modest clothing fashion company. The chapters he devotes to this is pretty interesting if you're into how fashion manufacturing works. He thinks Americans are way too passive aggressive, and thinks that women here are too obsessed with "fit and flare" silhouettes.
Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope, by Karamo Brown - This was written before he joined Dancing With The Stars and made friends with Sean Spicer. After reading it, I understand why he would try to be friends with Sean Spicer, but I think it's still dumb and misguided of him to do so. He talks about going on The Real World did a total number on him, and how afterwards, he earned money by showing up at different parties. He also talks about having a pretty addictive personality - he would get addicted to a particular drug, and once he realized it was spiraling out of control, he would remove himself from the environment and the people and basically dump all his friends in order to sober up. Anyway, he also talks about how he impregnated a friend, and how that information made its way back to him years later, and he decided to commit to actually being a father. He also talks, very sadly, about no longer having a relationship with his father because of his gayness. Oh, and I didn't know this, but apparently Karamo's parents are immigrants. I wish they had actually talked about this more during the actual show with the various heroes. It kind of reset my perception of him.
Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love, by Queer Eye - This one was the best-written of the books so far, and it's also a lot to absorb. Jonathan details so much self-destructive behavior that it's kind of heartwrenching to read. By the time I got to where he's finally stopped doing stupid things, it was a total relief. I like listening to his podcast Getting Curious sometimes, but I really have to be in the mood for it. It's like his book, fast-paced, and going a million miles a minute, and all over the place.
Anyway, all of the books are worth a read.
Naturally Tan, by Tan France - This is not revealed in Tan's book, but rather in Karamo's book - apparently Tan doesn't go by his given name "Tanveer" because if you see that name in the media, "it's always a terrorist". This is typical for Tan's book - there's so much gossip and surface stuff, but for the really deep stuff you have to go to other sources to actually find out about him. What is there is pretty interesting - he has a chapter on how 9/11 pretty much turned his world upside down, and how he spent a lot of time trying to figure out what went wrong, and why everyone seemed to have it out for him after that day. He talks very sweetly about the cowboy he fell in love with, but does not really mention how his parents reacted to it (you have to find out from other interviews that he basically hasn't even introduced him to the rest of his family yet, and it's not even clear if they've even met him). He's very proud of the French tuck; apparently prior to joining Queer Eye he became pretty successful with a modest clothing fashion company. The chapters he devotes to this is pretty interesting if you're into how fashion manufacturing works. He thinks Americans are way too passive aggressive, and thinks that women here are too obsessed with "fit and flare" silhouettes.
Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope, by Karamo Brown - This was written before he joined Dancing With The Stars and made friends with Sean Spicer. After reading it, I understand why he would try to be friends with Sean Spicer, but I think it's still dumb and misguided of him to do so. He talks about going on The Real World did a total number on him, and how afterwards, he earned money by showing up at different parties. He also talks about having a pretty addictive personality - he would get addicted to a particular drug, and once he realized it was spiraling out of control, he would remove himself from the environment and the people and basically dump all his friends in order to sober up. Anyway, he also talks about how he impregnated a friend, and how that information made its way back to him years later, and he decided to commit to actually being a father. He also talks, very sadly, about no longer having a relationship with his father because of his gayness. Oh, and I didn't know this, but apparently Karamo's parents are immigrants. I wish they had actually talked about this more during the actual show with the various heroes. It kind of reset my perception of him.
Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love, by Queer Eye - This one was the best-written of the books so far, and it's also a lot to absorb. Jonathan details so much self-destructive behavior that it's kind of heartwrenching to read. By the time I got to where he's finally stopped doing stupid things, it was a total relief. I like listening to his podcast Getting Curious sometimes, but I really have to be in the mood for it. It's like his book, fast-paced, and going a million miles a minute, and all over the place.
Anyway, all of the books are worth a read.