Now that I have left uni and don't have to read for my dissertation anymore, I am actually enjoying reading as a hobby for the first time really. One of the books I have really enjoyed reading lately is Lawrence Chaney's first book, Drag Queen of Scots: The Dos and Don'ts of a Drag Superstar.
If you don't know who Lawrence Chaney is, they are a Scottish drag queen who won RuPaul's Drag Race UK Season 2 and I have been a fan since watching the show. I have also seen Lawrence Chaney perform live which was fabulous.
I haven't really read a biography until this one and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so I had to share my thoughts with you.
What was the book about?
The book does what it says on the tin. It is an autobiography mixed with advice for drag queens who want to start out. As Lawrence was only 24 at the time of writing, the book is about their childhood, teenage years and how they got into drag, and ultimately winning Drag Race.
Related: Women don't owe you pretty book review
After watching Lawrence Chaney KILL IT all of season 2, it was so interesting to read about their childhood. As with many drag queens, they were bullied throughout most of their childhood, mostly for being gay, being fat or being Scottish. Although it was hard to read about, Lawrence made light of this and in the end, the bullying lessened at school due to their sense of humour. Being funny and making fun of themself was a way out of being targeted and I resonate with this a lot.
After that Lawrence wrote about getting into drag and gender identity. They said at one point that they are still on a journey with gender so even though I have heard Lawrence be referred to as he/him out of drag and she/her in drag, I am using gender-neutral pronouns in this post such as they/them/theirs.
The book had a lot of content about mental health but it was a light read due to a balance of talking about important subjects whilst also injecting comedy into the book.
Should you read this book?
The answer is 100% yes! Even if you are not into RuPaul's Drag Race, it's still so interesting to read about how an ordinary person pursues their dreams and becomes a drag superstar.
Related: 5 books I wish I'd read sooner
Have you read this book?
4 comments
I don't watch Drag Race but I'd definitely be interested in reading this! It sounds great and I'm a huge fan of non-fiction, especially from real people with advice intertwined!
ReplyDeleteDrag race is one of my favorite shows and Lawrence is amazing! This is on my list of books to read
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really interesting book (and life) to read about. I've watched the US Drag Race (not the UK version) and always loved seeing the creativity, drive and dreams of the Drag Queens who were taking part. Thanks for this review!
ReplyDelete"Drag Queen of Scots" by Lawrence Chaney explores the vibrant world of drag culture, blending humor and history. With the support of professional essay writing service in UAE, delve into this captivating memoir that celebrates identity, self-expression, and the power of embracing one's true self.
ReplyDelete