REVIEWS
Out In The Media The True Team review some of their favorites! The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Mackenzi Lee. 528 pp. Katherine Tegen Books. $18.99. By Kaylee Duff
Photo by Kaylee Duff.
Gentleman’s Guide, the New York Times Bestseller and Stonewall Honor Book, is an adventure from start to finish. Readers are taken on a journey across Europe, as protagonist Henry “Monty” Montague goes on his Grand Tour with best friend (and crush!) Percy and sister Felicity. It’s historical fiction, but still hits every mark I look for in a feel-good read. Monty’s voice is witty and engaging. It’s fast-paced, humorous and romantic. The genius behind Gentleman’s Guide falls in Lee’s unique balancing between the hijinks and the more serious themes being explored. Because on one hand, there’s the wild and scandalous adventures the trio has; Monty streaks naked through Versailles, there’s an insane amount of drinking, they’re kidnapped by fake pirates. But the characters are also discussing heavy topics such as ability/disability, race, sexuality, gender imbalances, imperialism, toxic masculinity and addiction. And it all feels completely natural. The reader is able to think about these topics while also enjoying the comedy of the situations. On a craft level, this book is about as tight as they come. With descriptions that feel like poetry and art, Monty’s authentic voice, and pitch-perfect pacing and flow, Lee’s writing is unquestionably brilliant. But above all else, Gentleman’s Guide is a queer love story. It’s a story about finding the love for oneself, about recognizing your own worth. It’s a story about falling in love with your best friend, and realizing that after everything else is gone, love and happiness alone remain. This book is perfect for readers of all ages looking to go on an adventure with characters who are full of heart, sarcasm, beauty and tenacity.
The Holiday Calendar By Chris Leaming
Debuting on Netflix in November, The Holiday Calendar is the perfect cheesy Christmas movie to get you into the holiday spirit. It follows an aspiring photographer that works for a local studio that specializes in “pictures with Santa.” Right off the bat, you get a sense that she is not exactly where she wants to be at this point in her life. One thing I love about this movie is that the main character comes from a biracial family. I feel this is one of the first (if not the first) feature films I have seen that has a white mom and black dad. As the name of the movie claims, the main character does receive a special calendar. The viewer goes on a journey with her and her friends regarding said calendar. There are definitely ups and downs on this journey, but like all great Christmas movies, everyone gets the wonderful, happy ending they needed all along. You get a feeling that Netflix followed the Hallmark Channel’s recipe for making the Ultimate Holiday Film, and I am more than okay with that. Sometimes all we need is a little bit of cheesy holiday cheer. So be sure to make your favorite cup of hot chocolate, light up the fireplace and get ready to enjoy The Holiday Calendar with your loved ones. TRUE Q MAGAZINE
Super Drag, season 1 By Jeff Skinner
Super Drag is an adult animation Netflix series. In the first episode, you will meet three coworkers — Ralph, Patrick and Donizete — at a department store. These three gay men dress up as drag queens, and are known as “super drag!” Ralph is known as Safari; Patrick as Lemon; and Donizete is Scarlett. Their mission is to take down the Evil Queen, Lady Elza. Fun fact: Ginger Ming, Shangela and Willam from RuPaul’s Drag Race voice the characters in this series! You can tell by the first episode that this is definitely a raunchy comedy, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. In the first five minutes of the show, you see Lemon letting the bad guy go just because of his gorgeous looks. When I saw that, I laughed and thought, “what a typical drag queen!” It’s super short; there’s only five episodes, and each are 30 minutes long. If you like adult animation, “inappropriate” jokes and drag queens, then Super Drag is the show for you. DECEMBER 2018 | 5
