Cover Image: The Queens' English

The Queens' English

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Member Reviews

A valuable book cataloguing some important words and phrases from the LGBTQIA+ community for reference and learning, understanding their origin (especially the ones that have made their way into the mainstream so we can acknowledge where they come from and take care not to misappropriate them), preserving a particular time and space of a culture, and celebrating the power of words and a shared language. While being laid out like a dictionary makes sense, for me I think it would have been helpful if it was grouped in categories (such as having different phrases grouped together, sexual identities, gender identities, etc.). But even so, it is a beautiful book to keep and refer back to for definitions that come from the community who created them.

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This book was outstanding! I loved the way that Davis was able to include such diverse terms in such a genuine and hilarious manner, while also maintaining the importance of using and understanding these words.

I think that as a queer person, having handbooks such as this is extremely important, as it can serve as a tool to help educate yourself and even others around you. As Davis says, language is constantly changing, and having resources such as this book can be beneficial in a variety of ways. I also loved the way that Davis included so many illustrations along with their definitions, as it really made the book a lot more interactive.

This book is an excellent tool for so many people that touches bases on so many different parts of queer culture. I think that more books like these should be available to younger people and older people alike, whether they’re queer or straight. Overall, I really enjoyed Davis’ work, and am happy to have gotten a copy of this from NetGalley.

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‘The queens English’ dictionary was as fun and informative as I thought it would be. It was so colourful and the way each definition was formatted was engaging and definitely educational. I’m a part of the LGBT+ community, and there was so much I didn’t know, had never heard of, or heard but didn’t understand and i learnt SO much!

I don’t have too much to say, as it’s exactly what it says on the tin, expect if you’d like to learn some new words (always fun) definitely give this one a read!

I only had one issue, which was the watermark across each digital page. While I understand why, it did make it hard to read.

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<img src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media/vc/3f4c3956-b602-4c48-8035-d4dd0d78dc2e.__CR0,0,1940,600_PT0_SX970_V1___.jpg" alt="description"/>

Thank you SO MUCH NetGalley for allowing me this ebook copy to review.
I will be pre-ordering the hardcover copy of The Queens' English for myself and will be gifting this to friends and family throughout the year!

The Queens' English is a glossary of words, terms, and phrases used in the LGBTQ+ community. This reference guide is as vibrant and colorful as the language itself. I love so many things about this. First, the eye catching way each page is put together, like a typical glossary with term and definition but also with information about where the term originated and often further insight into the origins and background. It offers little snippets on how the word or phrase is used and which community it originated from.

From the publisher:
<img src="https://edel-images.azureedge.net/ea/RH/images/illustrations/original/9780593135006_IL_1_06fbd.jpg?width=1000" />

Not only was I able to learn what the queens on Rupaul's Drag Race was talking about when they use the term "boots" but I also learned the terms for different genders and sexual identities and what they mean. This information is presented in an effortless and fun way but it offers an opportunity for a better understanding of how important the lingo is. Many of these words and phrases had been used in the past to demean people in the LGBTQ+ community but have been reclaimed by them and are now used to empower. With some terms, it is still inappropriate for those outside of the LGBTQ+ community to use those words because of the painful history.

Along the way - there are longer passages discussing important facts about the LGBTQ+ community such as the History Lesson about the Ballroom Scene that gives an insightful look at where many of these terms originated.

<img src="https://edel-images.azureedge.net/ea/RH/images/illustrations/original/9780593135006_IL_4_2114a.jpg?width=1000" />

My review cannot begin to do this wonderful book justice. I can't recommend this highly enough. Pre-order it today. Gift it to a friend.

"Tens! Tens across the board!!"

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An incredibly detailed and visual dictionary that I would recommend to young members of the LGBT community, or more likely so, their parents or guardians. Not only does it cover almost all identities, it covers slang and its history as well. What a wonderful resource.

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