Potato Queen [Paperback]

Rafaelito V. Sy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 30, 2005

Potato Queen starts off in Manila, Philippines, where a young Juancho Chu is living vicariously through reruns of US television sitcoms and dreaming of a life in the less oppressive land of America.

As a young man, Juancho makes his way to San Francisco to establish a life for himself in the United States. While working at a travel agency ironically selling tours to "exotic" locales like the Philippines, Juancho works toward his US citizenship.

It’s not long before he begins making friends and discovering the gay nightlife that San Francisco has to offer. Along comes Gerald, a white man who is attracted to Asian men – a "rice queen." Juancho finds that he is usually attracted to white men, thus dubbed a "potato queen."

Juancho and Gerald seem to be perfect for each other, but complications along the way include a variety of very willing Asian men and a surprisingly down-to-earth white porn star.

Will Juancho and Gerald remain "just friends?" Will Juancho secure the US citizenship he has always dreamed of? Will he actually meet the porn star he used to watch on the big screen in dark movie houses?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a novel about East and West, immigration, homecoming and homeleaving, an odyssey in quest of the true sexual self." -- Lamar Herrin author of THE LIES BOYS TELL

"...a world of loyal friendship, disloyal love, and racial tension and obsession with unusual honesty, intensity, and style." -- Alison Lurie, Pulitzer Prize winning author of FOREIGN AFFAIRS and FAMILIAR SPIRITS

"A rich, compelling and incisive story." -- William Jack Sibley, author ANY KIND OF LUCK

"J'adorable!" -- Carson Kressley, QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY

"POTATO QUEEN is a wonderfully lyrical tale filled with detailed imagery and spot-on glimpses of realistic relationships." -- Dave Benbow author of DAYTIME DRAMA and MALE MODEL

"Rafaelito Sy confidently and effectively severs the hinges on Asian stereotypes, sexual confessions and cultural platitudes." -- William Jack Sibley author ANY KIND OF LUCK

"Very funny! It's what Desperate Housewives would be if it were set in The Castro." -- RuPaul

About the Author

Rafaelito V. Sy was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. He has also lived in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Paris, Boston, and New York. He earned his B. A. in English from Tufts University and his M. F. A. in Creative Writing from Cornell University, where he taught the personal essay and creative writing. He currently resides in San Francisco. Potato Queen is his first published novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 267 pages
• Publisher: Palari Publishing (July 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1928662064
• ISBN-13: 978-1928662068
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,606,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful yet captivating coming-of-age narrative, November 11, 2005

By 

Bob Lind "camelwest" (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Potato Queen (Paperback)

The focus of this narrative novel is Juancho Chu, a young gay Filipino man who moves to San Francisco, finds a job at a travel service that specializes in Asian travel, and commences looking for a boyfriend. Juancho is a self-admitted "Potato Queen" ... a gay Asian who is attracted mostly to mature white men. (It's just a coincidence I read this shortly thereafter finishing and reviewing another called "Rice Queen", which is about mature white men attracted to young-looking Asian men, which are also common in this book. In a sense, this book puts the other better in perspective.) Juancho quickly meets another "PQ" in the person of his coworker Rowell, and Rowell's "RQ" ex-lover/best friend Gerald, and they form the core of a group of friends that explores San Francisco's gay nightlife together.

This is a coming-of-age story, in the sense that Juancho's search for love and acceptance is really starting within himself, as he strives to be more self-assured, open to others, and be more certain of what he wants out of life, same as his American friends are finding out for themselves. The book gives interesting cultural and class insights regarding Juancho's native country, which help the reader to understand Juancho's emotional journey toward acceptance. Although the author is also Filipino, there is no way to tell how much of this is autobiographical. But the story Mr. Sy tells is relatively captivating and emotional, suggesting more than a detached involvement in Juancho's progress and revelations. His progress is summarized poignantly in Juancho's final line, which reads: "I would rather be alone in America, than a freak in my country."

Not exactly light reading, but thoughtful and interesting nevertheless.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Potato Queen is an Inspiring Triumph, September 5, 2005

By 

J. Caprioli "News Commentator" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Potato Queen (Paperback)

Rafaelito Sy masterfully captures the heart of a man in search of love and his own identity. From his beginnings in the Phillipines to his adopted home in San Francisco, the main character, Juancho Chu, is vividly portrayed by the author. The insight into Juancho's soul and those of the people that come and go in his life is inspiring, moving and entertaining. Sy skillfully bridges cultural gaps, giving insight into Filipino-American culture and Asian-Americans in the gay community. He reels us into these worlds, usually plagued by stereotypes and assumptions, and shatters preconception, revealing the truth as we accompany Juancho in his search.

This entertaining first novel looks to be the initial triumph for this inspiring writer. A must read!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Race and Romance in the Gay Community, August 11, 2005

By 

Eric Brandt (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Potato Queen (Paperback)

I feel that Potato Queen is a poignant Asian-American story about class, immigration, and racial identity in the gay community. The relationships between Asians (mostly Filipinos) and Caucasians represent the struggle that people of color have in order to assimilate into a community that prides itself for its unity. Yes, the characters are sad - racial segregation and objectification are hardly any cause to be happy - but more than that, they are hopeful and loving. Through lush details and lyrical prose, the author effectively conveys strong and complex emotions. A fresh perspective on an often unspoken issue.