A Sweet Glimpse into a Vanishing World

This is a sweet yet unsentimental exploration of a world that is vanishing, or perhaps has already vanished. The story vividly evokes the essence of what it feels like to be young and embark on one's own journey. It is told in an endearingly unaffected voice that draws the reader in and makes them feel as if they are a part of the story.

The author's ability to capture the nuances of youth and independence is truly remarkable. The descriptions are so vivid that one can almost see the scenes playing out in front of their eyes. It is a charming and engaging read that will leave you with a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time.

Overall, this is a wonderful book that I highly recommend. It is a beautiful tribute to a world that is quickly disappearing and a reminder of the importance of following one's dreams and taking risks. Love it!!!

4.5/5 (rounded up)

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this remarkable book, which features a new Foreword and Afterword.

This book truly stands as a significant work of queer literature. The story takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, making you feel as if you are listening to a friend share their tales at a party. It is presented in a casual and matter-of-fact manner, yet it remains deeply interesting.

The narrative revolves around two best friends and their adventures across America as they search for love, the sense of home, encounter numerous troubles, and discover a family. Prepare to shed tears.

I eagerly anticipate the release of the new version of "Tramps like us" in 2025 and will happily obtain a copy for myself.

Like Chelsea Girls, this work is somewhat of a novel and somewhat of a memoir.

It delves into the life of a young queer guy during the 70s and 80s.

The narrative offers a unique perspective on the experiences, challenges, and joys that this individual faced during that particular era.

If you have an appreciation for Michelle Tea's writing style, then you should definitely give this a try.

It might just provide you with a similar literary experience and allow you to explore a different world through the eyes of the protagonist.

The story is likely to be filled with vivid descriptions, engaging characters, and a captivating plot that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

So, don't hesitate to pick up this book and discover the story of this young queer guy in the 70s and 80s.

I'm truly overjoyed that I managed to get my hands on this book.

Locating a second-hand copy at a remotely reasonable price was an extremely arduous task since it is out of print.

This book, in my opinion, accomplishes something truly remarkable.

It delves deep into the creation of queer space and queer moments by means of sensory writing.

The author has a unique ability to paint vivid pictures in the reader's mind, using words to evoke all the senses.

Through this, the book creates a space where queer experiences are not only visible but also palpable.

It allows the reader to step into a world that might be unfamiliar, yet is filled with rich emotions and experiences.

This use of sensory writing makes the book not just a read, but an immersive experience.

It forces the reader to confront and understand the queer perspective in a way that is both intense and enlightening.

Overall, I believe this book is a must-read for anyone interested in queer literature or the power of writing to create new and unique spaces.

What a wonderful, beautiful read!

Told in the form of small episodes that take place in the life of the protagonist, the novel truly sucks you right in. It's as if you're right there alongside Joe and his friends, sharing snippets of a life with a friend and reminiscing on common memories. The writing is simple and accessible, yet never simplistic. It is full of sentiment and weight in its vulnerability. The openness in which the events are shared with the reader makes us become the confidants Joe tells his story to or the spectators of this troubled, happy-sad life we're being shown. I adored the manner in which music is always present through each episode. Since music is such a big deal to me too, it was great fun to find names I used to listen to at about the same time. I'm from a younger generation, though. While the characters were in their late 20s, early 30s listening to Sisters of Mercy and Siouxie, I was 15, 16 and enjoying the very same songs. I may have screamed a little when the Prince gig happened or when Madonna visited the store Nick owned.

The characters felt so real and so close that it was impossible for me not to forge an emotional bond with them all. Even those who sort of annoyed me a little, like Ali sometimes did, became my friends through the reading, my found family. It was really both heartwarming and heartbreaking to witness their bonds and the way they cared and looked after each other in the midst of what was such a dreadful time with the full force of the AIDS epidemic and the lack of knowledge there was about it. To say my eyes watered quite a bit through those final chapters would be an understatement. I had to pause to wipe my tears, for it felt far too close to home, those losses. It's a book I would recommend to anyone as a portrait of a time younger generations won't know and older generations won't know either, unless they moved in certain outskirts of society. It's a must-read for the beauty of the contents and the historical context.

A rambling novel that delves into the coming of age of a young gay man. Instead of a tightly structured plot, it presents a series of moments and scenes from his life. This unique approach was quite enjoyable, as it felt like listening to stories shared by a friend.

I was truly captivated by the characters and the concept of the found family. The novel spans a significant period, from pre-AIDS to after. What made it especially interesting was that it covered the 70's and 80's, a time often overlooked in many novels I've read that typically focus on the post-AIDS epidemic era. It was fascinating to see how the AIDS epidemic slowly infiltrates the story and impacts the lives of the characters.

If you have a penchant for queer fiction, this novel is definitely worth your time. It offers a unique perspective and a touching exploration of love, identity, and community.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC!

Some books you pick up and immediately realise that this is going to hurt. And oh boy, was this expectation proven to be right in this case.

"Tramps like us" invites the reader to witness the journey of narrator Joe. He navigates through the US, various cities, a formative decade (the 1980s), and his own drive to find a home among misfits. With glimpses of his past, the narrator eases the reader into his present and allows them to tag along on a wild ride through the entirety of the United States. He makes friends, falls in and out of love, finds home among the unexpected company, and always finds the high side of life (pun intended). He allows us, the readers, to bear witness to wonderful moments of companionship, heartbreak, loneliness that only few can relate to, and the twists and turns of a life not lived on a linear schedule.

The factual style of storytelling the narrator uses, yet never creates a distance to the reader, is really impressive. Even without much descriptive writing, I quickly fell in love with this band of outcasts, minorities, and misfits. Through Joe's eyes, a clear and precise picture of this family he found in various cities is painted. Members add to the bunch and some leave to their own fates.

This clear, concise storytelling contrasts with an unreliable narrator influenced by substances, heightened emotions, and on the journey to find love and companionship. It's fascinating how easily I was dragged into this foreign world and started to understand more about what formed the narrator, his troubles and strengths.

This is a story of friendship, celebrating the high life in darker places, finding new people, a non-blood related family, heartbreak, loneliness, searching for substitutes, temporary friendship and companionship, uprooting life, never standing still, depression, life-altering diseases, and life-ending pacts. It's also a story of utter tragedy and, at points, comedy. It's a story of life fully lived.

I would love to talk about this book endlessly, but I'd probably just repeat the same points. That's why I truly recommend reading it yourself. I wasn't ready for the final chapter and it left me sobbing.

As a final note, I thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing a digital copy before its re-release. To the author, I express my utmost gratitude not only for a copy but for the book itself, for sharing his story through Joe, and for letting us witness his life with all its bends and twists. I hope you're well and surrounded by love for many more years. Thank you.

This book was an absolute emotional rollercoaster, and I just couldn’t put it down.

I was completely drawn into Joe’s journey as he grows up, leaves his small town, and builds a found family. It’s a powerful exploration of the ups and downs of adolescence, and the search for who you really are along the way.

What really spoke to me, though, was how the music of the time was seamlessly woven throughout the story. There’s something truly powerful about how music shapes our identities, and I adored how Joe connected his life to the songs and sounds around him.

The parts about the AIDS crisis were difficult to read, but they were so important. I couldn’t help but reflect on the author’s afterword, where he mentioned how little the AIDS crisis is discussed nowadays—and that really hit me hard. So many queer lives were lost, so many stories were never told. This novel brings those stories to life in a way that feels both raw and necessary.

I truly loved this book. It’s destined to be a queer classic, one that will stay with me for a very long time.

It’s a story that combines the power of personal growth, the significance of music, and the importance of remembering a tragic chapter in history. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally engaging read.

I truly desired to have a liking for this book. The concept underlying it seemed quite interesting. However, to be completely honest, I had a great deal of difficulty in getting through it to the end.

The most significant problem for me was the writing style and the pacing. The writing did not have a smooth flow. Some of the descriptions felt not only entirely off but even rather absurd. One particular description that really stood out (in a negative sense) was: “The mirrored disco ball spun specks of light all over the place, which reminded me of flakes of oatmeal before it’s cooked.” That is just a single example, but there were numerous lines like that which yanked me out of the story rather than drawing me in.

The pacing and the structure were also rather chaotic. It was arduous to obtain a clear understanding of the timeline or how much time was elapsing in different segments of the main character’s life. Everything felt a bit of a jumble.

What disappointed me the most, though, was how emotionally unengaging it was. There are certain intense moments, such as scenes of sexual assault early on, but I still felt completely detached from the characters and the events. I wanted to be concerned, but I simply wasn't.

Overall, I believe this book held a great deal of potential, but the way it was executed did not work for me in the slightest.

Thank you to NetGalley and MCD for this ARC!

“Tramps Like Us” is a semi-autobiographical novel that delves into the partially fictionalised life of author Joe Westmoreland. It takes us on a journey from his upbringing in 1960s and 70s Missouri to his travels across the United States, residing in places like New Orleans and San Francisco. Along the way, we witness the narrator, Joe, discover his identity as a gay man, learn about his likes and dislikes, form friendships and relationships, and yes, engage in a fair amount of drug use. Despite the numerous scenes of him and his friends hopping from club to bar and back again, the core of this novel lies in the story of queer individuals and social outcasts uniting and creating their own family units and support systems that endure even in the face of death.

As someone born in the 2000s, I can scarcely fathom the gay experience of the 70s and 80s. However, I truly appreciate the way this book presents both the joys and sorrows of that era. It showcases how many people were ostracised by their families and how they found new ones, highlights the allure of drugs and partying while also revealing their draining effects, and demonstrates a wide range of ways to navigate (and sometimes succeed in) life.

Of course, one cannot discuss a gay-themed book set in the 80s without mentioning AIDS. Although this book does address and illustrate the impact of the burgeoning AIDS epidemic on the narrator and his friends, I wouldn't say it's the central focus. Nevertheless, it becomes a significant part of the last 20% or so as the narrative reaches the mid-80s. These final sections filled me with equal parts dread and heartbreak, yet also with genuine warmth as we observe these characters caring for one another during the final months of someone's life, going to great lengths to be there for the sick and for each other. Since I hold friendships in higher regard than any other relationships, reading these scenes was of utmost importance to me.

Another aspect that I believe is crucial to this book's identity is the numerous references to music - the music the narrator enjoys, the music his friends like, the tunes playing in the clubs and bars they frequent, and the concerts they attend. Unfortunately, I have almost no knowledge of 60s-80s New Wave (?) music, but if you do, I suspect this book will resonate even more strongly with you, especially in terms of nostalgia.

Really, the only thing I feel compelled to mention before someone reads this book (and I think everyone should) is its writing style. I tend to favour more elaborate prose, so the very simplistic writing style with short sentences was a bit of a challenge for me to get used to. However, if that's your preference, you'll likely breeze through this book even faster than I did.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about queer life in the 70s/80s, one person's experience of the AIDS epidemic, or if you have a passion for this era's music and desire a fun (but also heartbreaking, remember that) trip down memory lane.

This book really sucked.

From the very beginning, it failed to capture my interest. The plot was dull and predictable, lacking any real excitement or innovation.

The characters were one-dimensional and unlikable, making it difficult for me to form any sort of connection with them.

The writing style was also a major let-down. It was choppy and lacked flow, making it a struggle to get through even a few pages at a time.

I found myself constantly skimming over paragraphs, hoping to find something of value, but to no avail.

Overall, this book was a complete waste of my time and money. I would not recommend it to anyone, not even my worst enemy.

I'm truly disappointed that I bothered to pick it up in the first place.

Sad,

Powerful,

Poignant,

Intense and so much more.

These are just some of the words that come to mind when thinking about this remarkable piece of work. Thanks to NetGalley for providing the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy). It has allowed me to embark on a journey through the pages of this story, experiencing a wide range of emotions along the way. The author has crafted a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking, drawing the reader in from the very beginning and keeping them hooked until the very end. Each character is vividly brought to life, their struggles and triumphs palpable. The story itself is filled with twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. It is a truly unforgettable read that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a book that will touch their heart and leave them with a lasting impression.