Customer Reviews

Drag Queens at the 801 Cabaret

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I just finished reading this book and was very impressed with how well the authors bring you into the lives of the draq queens at the 801. I have been to Key West many times and have been to several of the drag shows at the 801. While reading the book I felt like I was there sharing in the experiences and lives of the 'girls' who do so much good for their community and for the gay community. This book is a must read for all people...gay, straight bi etc. (especially if you don't know much about this facet of the LGBT community). You will get a kick out of all the antics, gain a better understanding of drag queens, and will grow to appreciate & love all of the girls covered in this book. Also...If you love Key West then you will love this book. The authors really express the mood and spirit on this island that makes so many tourists wish they were locals.

I met Susi at the 801 cabaret. Her show "Hush" was the best drag I've seen in years! And I'm from Louisville Kentucky, home of the Connection, and I'm told one of the best drag bars known to gay man. I told her how much I loved the show and she told me about the book.
When I returned from Key West I ordered 2 copies from Amazon. The book tells the stories of the drag queens at the 801 Cabaret. Not always glamorous but fun to read and oddly insightful. When I returned to Key West I took the books and had her Autograph them. I gave one to my brother for his birthday.

Two profs write 211 pages describing the details including the antics of this fabulous Key West club at the 801 Cabaret. The narratives are descriptive of the relationships between the drag queens, the personal histories of each of them, and vivid descriptions of their performances. You'll be entertained, however, I personally wish they went into more complex detail as to their repeated reiterrations at the end of each chapter that drag queens are questioning gender, femininity, masculinity, etc. We already know this. How about breaking down what all this means instead of quickly glossing over it in the last chapter?