Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Broadway Books (2009), 272 pages
Description
As emotional as it is funny, Swish is the moving account of one man's journey from stereotype to truth.Joel Derfner is a knitter, an aerobics instructor, a cheerleader, a go-go dancer, and a musical theater composer, but when he realizes one day that he's a walking gay cliché, he embarks on a quest for deeper meaning. Confronting the demons of his past at an LGBT summer camp, using the Internet to "meet" men (many, many men), or going undercover to a conference of ex-gays, he discovers that what he's looking for-and sometimes even finds, hidden under the surface of everyday life-is his own identity.
User reviews
LibraryThing member harahel
This odd collection that seems cobbled together by blog posts in the beginning. The first half of the book is amusing, but not captivating. The tone changes abruptly in the last section, becoming far more thoughtful and interseting.
LibraryThing member mgaulding
This author is exceptionally funny and bright. This is the third memoirs I've read recently by Southern gay boys (Mississippi Sissy and The Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy). All three equally as compelling, equally as astonishing, and equally as different from the other. Bravo Joel Derfner!
LibraryThing member satyridae
Contrary to what the jacket copy promises, this is not one long hilarious romp. It does have moments wherein I dissolved in helpless, snorting laughter though. It's much more memoir than humor, and memoir with insight and angst. I enjoyed it a lot, but found Derfner's repetitive inner self-hating
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monologue tedious at best. Show Less
LibraryThing member pussreboots
Swish by Joel Derfner is a memoir of growing up, being gay and trying to figure out what all that means at a deeply personal level.
Although the subtitle, My Quest to Become the Gayest Person Ever, implies fluff — it's not. Sure, there are moments of humor and Derfner's voice comes through as
The second chapter, On Casual Sex, isn't for the Puritan minded reader. It's frank description of numerous sexual encounters. It's a fascinating, depressing, and sometimes mind-boggling chapter. All the chapters take their stated subject with a similar, in depth, obsessed focus.
Mostly though, Swish, asks the reader to reconsider every last gender and sexual orientation stereotype. Reading through the different chapters is like watching Derfner trying each stereotypically gay thing and seeing if it will make him happy.
So did Derfner convince me that he's the gayest person ever? No. Did I enjoy reading the book? Mostly. Will I remember the book? Yes. Do I recommend the book? Yes.
Although the subtitle, My Quest to Become the Gayest Person Ever, implies fluff — it's not. Sure, there are moments of humor and Derfner's voice comes through as
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genuine throughout, but it's certainly not fluff. In terms of tone, it reminds me most of Drew Carey's memoir, Dirty Jokes and Beer.The second chapter, On Casual Sex, isn't for the Puritan minded reader. It's frank description of numerous sexual encounters. It's a fascinating, depressing, and sometimes mind-boggling chapter. All the chapters take their stated subject with a similar, in depth, obsessed focus.
Mostly though, Swish, asks the reader to reconsider every last gender and sexual orientation stereotype. Reading through the different chapters is like watching Derfner trying each stereotypically gay thing and seeing if it will make him happy.
So did Derfner convince me that he's the gayest person ever? No. Did I enjoy reading the book? Mostly. Will I remember the book? Yes. Do I recommend the book? Yes.
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LibraryThing member curious_squid
When I saw this book's title at the lending library in our building I knew I just had to read it. Amusing, snarky yet thoughtful and introspective at times. Led me to think a lot about the self doubt of others with seemingly fabulous lives.
Awards
Lambda Literary Award (Nominee — 2009)
Stonewall Book Award (Honor Book — Non-Fiction — 2009)
Language
Pages
272
Original language
English
Original publication date
2008-05-13
ISBN
0767924312 / 9780767924313