The House of Hidden Meanings

by RuPaul

From international drag superstar and pop culture icon RuPaul, comes his most revealing and personal work to date—a brutally honest, surprisingly poignant, and deeply intimate memoir of growing up Black, poor, and queer in a broken home to discovering the power of performance, found family, and self-acceptance. A profound introspection of his life, relationships, and identity, The House of Hidden Meanings is a self-portrait of the legendary icon on the road to global fame and changing the way the world thinks about drag.
Central to RuPaul’s success has been his chameleonic adaptability. From drag icon to powerhouse producer of one of the world’s largest television franchises, RuPaul’s ever-shifting nature has always been part of his brand as both supermodel and supermogul. Yet that adaptability has made him enigmatic to the public. In this memoir, his most intimate and detailed book yet, RuPaul makes himself truly known. Stripping away all artifice, RuPaul recounts the story of his life with breathtaking clarity and tenderness, bringing his signature wisdom and wit to his own biography. From his early years growing up as a queer Black kid in San Diego navigating complex relationships with his absent father and temperamental mother, to forging an identity in the punk and drag scenes of Atlanta and New York, to finding enduring love with his husband Georges LeBar and self-acceptance in sobriety, RuPaul excavates his own biography, uncovering new truths and insights in his personal history. Here in RuPaul’s singular and extraordinary story is a manual for living—a personal philosophy that testifies to the value of chosen family, the importance of harnessing what makes you different, and the transformational power of facing yourself fearlessly. If we’re all born naked and the rest is drag, then this is RuPaul totally out of drag. This is RuPaul stripped bare.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Audiobook, LGBT, Biography, Queer, Autobiography

Paperback

First published March 6, 2024

About the author

RuPaul (born RuPaul Andre Charles) is an American drag performer, dance music singer, actor, and songwriter who gained fame in the 1990s; appearing in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. Though a catty attitude is often associated with drag queens, RuPaul intentionally displayed a "love one another" attitude to be set apart from them. Although primarily known for an extravagant drag queen persona, RuPaul has performed as a man in a number of roles, usually billed as RuPaul Charles.

Reviews

[That One Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is hard for me to put into words why it is this memoir did not resonate with me, and why I didn’t feel it succeeded. Still, this is a review, so I’ll try.

Firstly, it felt like Rupaul cared more about being quotable than about being vulnerable. His writing style was so flowery and focused on being quotable, it distracted from him actually telling his story. It felt like he was preaching about life instead of just telling us about his. There were moments throughout where it felt a bit more authentic, specifically when he was speaking about his now husband, but for the most part, there seemed to me an undercurrent of marketing over truth. I suppose, it’s on brand for Rupaul, but I’m disappointed the memoir wasn’t a bit more raw and vulnerable. Everything that happened had a quotable sentiment afterwards about life’s hidden meanings, and deep thoughts, and word play word play word play

Secondly, I think this memoir alienates Rupaul from the rest of drag culture even further than he has started to become. The memoir paints a very removed drag queen from the real drag scene of the world. Rupaul admits that drag for him was never about community or creativity but about being famous. Drag was a means to get famous and he even admits that becoming the polished “supermodel” version of Rupaul that ultimately led to his fame, was all because he saw power and money in changing. Essentially to me the memoir is about a boy who wants to be famous, and the steps they take to become famous. Drag was never about the art, the community, the defiance for Rupaul. It was a means in which he saw a path to stardom.
With this information, it’s harder for me to accept their personal narrative of being Queen of Drag. This does however, explain more about why Rupaul is so rarely in drag anymore.

I think I went in with higher hopes than I should have and this ultimately felt like a let down.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't go into 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗛𝗜𝗗𝗗𝗘𝗡 𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 looking for celebrity dirt (although there is one telling story about Madonna). Instead, RuPaul uses this memoir to reflect on his dysfunctional upbringing and the battles he fought to not only to become a star, but just to survive.

Listening to him tell his story, it's not the hyped up, over-the-top superstar you see on Drag Race. This is the vulnerable and scarred queer black boy who grew up in the South. He stresses the importance of taking what makes you different and finding a way to making it your superpower, and also how much of a role self-belief plays in finding your way. Ru had to reinvent himself over and over in order to achieve what he has, and there's a lesson in that for all of us - it's never too late to start again.

[Alright Hey (Matt) · Rating 4 out of 5]

quite a nice read and I learnt a lot I didn’t know about Ru. I feel like we only scratched the surface though. Surely this memoir could be triple the size and really give us the nitty gritty. Still, I enjoyed it and am happy I read it.

[Tara — on semi-hiatus for health reasons; will check in when possible. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ru Pau’s The House of Hidden Meanings: A Memoir is a deep dive into RuPaul's life. But this isn't the book for you if you're looking for a book about the movies they are in, the celebs they know, drag races, or award shows. It is about sobriety, generational trauma, abuse, a very traumatic childhood and finding a way through that with nothing but belief in himself. I love that we get the backstory of how RuPaul and the legendary Lady Bunny became lifelong friends, but this book was very different than I thought it would be. It was a challenging, sad read, but I'm glad I made it to the other side. Ru's story will break your heart, but it also seems to inspire, especially with their constant search and celebration of love, light and joy.

A side note that this is not celebrity gossip; this is the life and the struggles Ru went through to be the RuPaul you see today. I paired my library copy with the audio, creating an emotional and immersive experience. I cried many times throughout the struggles he endured with addiction, and when he spoke of his childhood, that was heartbreaking.; you could hear the pain and joys he experienced in his voice. I highly recommend the audio.

[Dee (in the Desert) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 fabulous stars for Ru’s new memoir - a growing up gay, Black & poor journey filled with trauma, courage & especially perseverance. The focus here is less on celebrity and stardom, and more on becoming, striving, surviving, acceptance & self awareness. We’re of a similar age, so I also really enjoyed the look back at specific time periods (plus disco, punk & New Wave). I would have liked a bit more of an ending and more of Ru’s later, more recent years, but I did enjoy & recommend.

[Sarah Watanabe · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

I have long been a fan of RuPaul’s music and a recent watcher of drag race. I was expecting to learn more about his life and delve into what led him along his career and I have to say I’m disappointed.

I think he covered a lot of his youth and adolescence fairly well but he didn’t really delve that deep into his emotions or really let the reader into his life. It was very guarded and curated and then it was summarized with a very deep and resonating statement that commentated on the experience without really reflecting deeply on it.

I also think the time frame was quite odd, only focusing on his life ascending to fame and not past age ~35. He also often glossed over deeply traumatizing or really upsetting situations (e.g. his first sexual experience). I just didn’t really see the value of writing a memoir if you’re not going to really get into it. Overall felt like this was another endeavor from our capitalistic bestie - can’t say I don’t respect the grind but wasn’t great as a reader.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm unsure about this one. RuPaul has been famous pretty much my entire life. I remember seeing the video for Supermodel on VH1 as a kid( that song still goes off). I've obviously seen Drag Race but it's been years since I've watched it. RuPaul has just always been around.

When I read a memoir I want to leave it feeling like I know this person on a personal level. With this book I just didn't feel anything about RuPaul. This book just didn't feel personal. I never felt anything on a vulnerable level. I also think it's weird that despite coming up during a pivotal moment in the history of Drag, the 70's and 80s he barely mentions the scene. Who did he look up to as a young Drag Queen? It's as if RuPaul feels like he invented Drag. It's weird.

I didn't like this book but I'd still recommend it if you want something quick to read. But it's mostly just a disappointment.

[Gerhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The awareness didn’t take long. It came on strong and clear and loud, almost instantaneously. This was where I belonged. When you hear your story told through someone else’s mouth, you know you’ve arrived at the right place.
This was where I belonged.
It felt like a fantastical trick had been played on me. Georges was the one in rehab. And yet I was also hitting rock bottom.
I had walked right into the house of hidden meanings.
I took a seat.'

An extra star for Mean Mother Charles.

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no intention of bashing this book, but it 100% did not meet my expectations. I don’t really care for the most part if a celebrity chooses to gloss over some of the more personal aspects of parts of their life or any traumatic experiences of their upbringing and instead focus on their journey to fame and fortune, but they have to give me something.

RuPaul was coming into his own in New York Freaking City during the time of Club Kids, the AIDS crisis, closeted lifestyles, you name it. I didn’t just want to hear how/why he decided to become the “prettiest girl in the room” – I wanted to get to know him. Although well-written, this felt more like an extended fluff piece for a publication like Vanity Fair.

The one good thing? The audio was great and it certainly helped me get more than 5 miles in while listening and attempting to . . . .

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping it would be more compelling. We certainly could use more LGBTQ+ voices. But it was as exciting or as interesting as if I had written a memoir of my own life. The material was there, but the storytelling was weak.

[Emma Griffioen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredibly written memoir full of heart, perseverance and self-discovery. I wish it didn't end before talking about Drag Race, but regardless, I was captivated throughout this whole book. Full review to come!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

RuPaul is an American drag queen, singer, television personality, fashion icon, and writer. Among other accomplishments, RuPaul produces, hosts, and judges the reality competition 'RuPaul's Drag Race', which began airing in 2009 and is still going strong. In this memoir, RuPaul writes about his family; his life; his struggles; and his road to becoming a successful entertainer.


RuPaul Andre Charles




RuPaul judging 'RuPaul's Drag Race'

RuPaul was born in 1960 in San Diego, where he lived in a little house with his parents, Ernestine (Toni) and Irving, and his three sisters. As a boy RuPaul liked to watch television, which was "a window into something greater, a portal to new worlds." Inspired by television programs, RuPaul would put on shows for his mother, impersonating Tina Turner, or Carol Burnett, or LaWanda Page (who played Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son).


RuPaul's parents Ernestine and Irving


Young RuPaul


RuPaul with his sisters Renae, Rozy, and Renatta

RuPaul's mother was a strong flinty woman who taught him independence and self-sufficiency, while RuPaul's father - who was charismatic but self-centered and a cheater - went off with his mistress when RuPaul was a boy. RuPaul saw little of his dad after that, and the loss was deeply felt by both RuPaul and his mother, who took to her bed for years when her husband left.


RuPaul's mother Ernestine Charles

Young RuPaul wasn't like most other boys. He writes, "Most queer people understand the experience of growing up feeling that you are a little bit different. But I was REALLY different.....I had been codified in the neighborhood consciousness from a young age as a sissy."


Adolescent RuPaul

RuPaul had some friends, but he felt depressed; bored at school; and trapped in provincial San Diego. By the time RuPaul was in 10th grade, he would skip class and sit in the quad smoking cigarettes until it was time to go home.

During high school RuPaul moved in with his sister Renatta and her husband Gerald, but he still cut classes and smoked weed. Soon afterwards, Gerald, Renata, and RuPaul moved to Atlanta, so Gerald could build up a business, which involved flipping luxury cars.

RuPaul observes that Atlanta was everything San Diego was not - Atlanta was progressive, cosmopolitan, and had a large Black population. RuPaul enrolled in the Northside School of Performing Arts, where he was in the chorus and took acting classes before he just stopped going to school. RuPaul then began helping Gerald with his business, driving cars back and forth across the country.


Atlanta had a large Black population

Wanting to break into show business, RuPaul worked up an act for an Atlanta public access television show called 'The American Music Show.' RuPaul notes, "The aesthetic of the American Music Show was unorthodox and raw....the guests would sing a song while playing guitar or perform a dance number or just it and chat." RuPaul and some girls he knew formed a punk rock group called 'RuPaul and the U-Hauls' and RuPaul made all the costumes. He recalls, "I'd buy cheap fabric and fashion a dress or a top from it, tie bands of fabric around my arms, make a headband."


RuPaul early in his career


RuPaul early in his career


RuPaul and the U-Hauls

In Atlanta, RuPaul felt like he'd found his community, that he belonged, that he was understood. RuPaul writes a good deal about this period of his life, when he hung out with friends, struggled with poverty, did his show around town, worked as a go-go dancer, formed a new punk rock group called Wee Wee Pole, dated some boys, and used a lot of substances, like alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, acid, sleeping pills, LSD, etc.


Atlanta had a lively party scene


RuPaul singing with Wee Wee Pole


Wee Wee Pole


RuPaul worked as a go-go dancer early in his career

RuPaul wanted to be a success in New York City, but had to hone his act in Atlanta before he could make it big up north. RuPaul went from 'Boy George' type drag to high-femme drag, and finally found his niche. Around this time, RuPaul decided he was going to stop using chemicals and clean up his act, but the reforms didn't last.


RuPaul in the 1980s


RuPaul doing a nightclub act in Atlanta n the 1980s

RuPaul got his big break with his 1992 song "Supermodel', which changed his life in many ways. Rupaul writes, "For the first time in my life, I had some money - which is not to say I was instantly rich. But since that day, I'd never again felt the fear of homelessness or poverty."


RuPaul hit it big with his song 'Supermodel'




RuPaul became a very popular entertainer

On the downside, RuPaul's alcohol and drug use crept back little by little. RuPaul remembers, "I was doing my nightclub act, promoting my products, and shooting movies. I was exhausted all the time. And the only way I knew to feel connected to the little part of me that was still left was to get high."

Concurrently, RuPaul was searching for romantic love, which added to his stress. RuPaul mentions a number of boyfriends that didn't work out, and writes about the ups and downs of his relationship with (his now husband) Georges Lebar, which was derailed (for a time) by their mutual substance abuse.


RuPaul and Georges Lebar early in their relationship


RuPaul and Georges Lebar

The book ends before the advent of 'RuPaul's Drag Race', and before RuPaul's marriage, so (I imagine) there might be a sequel.

This memoir feels like an honest depiction of RuPaul's life, without sugar coating. RuPaul was determined to be a star from the time he was a child, and he worked hard to achieve his goals while he struggled with family problems; used alcohol and drugs; had little or no money; saw the ravages of the AIDS epidemic; had runs in with police; mourned his mother's death; and more.

I'm a fan of RuPaul's Drag Race, and I'm always struck by RuPaul's empathy for the contestants, who - as gay men (for the most part) - often suffered rejection growing up. RuPaul's own background probably contributes to his understanding and good will.


Contestants on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'


RuPaul and the 'Pit Crew' on RuPaul's Drag Race

If you're a fan of RuPaul, this is a must read. Even if you're not a fan, this is still an interesting story. My major quibble would be that some of the philosophical insights, which are abundant, feel a bit tacked on.



You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. reading vlog: https://youtu.be/9FFZU3SUmHk

a fascinating life that i feel like we didn't go into enough depth of! I think rupaul could've written like 3 memoirs of different periods in his life that this book included. loved the audiobook just felt a bit rushed

[kayla ⚖️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

mama, kudos for saying that… for spilling 😍

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehhhhhhh

i'm a big fan of RuPaul, and I'll watch/listen/read to anything he creates, but The House of Hidden Meanings was a slow go for me.

First of all, Rupaul is a fantastic audiobook narrator. If you have the chance to get this book in audio format, this is the way to go. I don't know if I would have finished it in ebook form. He is clearly used to preforming, and does a great job with emotion and inflections in his voice.

But the content...

This book mainly focuses on Rupaul's childhood and his desire to be famous. There is a lot of flowery, sound-bitey talk about Rupaul's development in his early ages, but that's really it. My favorite parts of the story were the later ones when we saw Rupaul meeting his current husband and how their relationship grew and changed, but then the story cuts off. I honestly thought it would be more current information included, not just ages 5-35.

Overall, I found it to be a worthwhile listen, but it didn't touch upon the growth of Rupaul into television or his later music career, and really skimmed over most of what it means to be a drag queen these days. I found myself wanting more.

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[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House of Hidden Meanings is RuPaul's memoir. 

I am obsessed with RuPaul's Drag Race so naturally I had to read Mama Ru's memoir. This was such a good memoir. I only really know Ru from Drag Race and I loved getting to learn more about them. I loved that Ru narrated the audiobook. It seemed like they were in the room with me. Not only does this book talk about RuPaul's life but it also goes into the LGBTQ history. Many times I found myself laughing out loud while listening to this. RuPaul is just so iconic and this book shows how special they really are. This memoir is a good mix of very serious topics to more light-hearted ones. This book just made me love RuPaul even more. You know what they say if you can't love yourself, How in the hell you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an amen?

Thank you so much, RuPaul, Harperaudio, and Librofm for the ALC of this book. 

[nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦'𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦.”

The titular text on making your own way and finding yourself. Not only is this a fantastic end-of-the-bar chat from the queen himself (best taken as an audiobook), but it’s also a cross-country narrative as strong as those that belonged to the beatniks. Because there is a carefree nature to RuPaul that has made him who he is today.

With great notes on the drag scene in between New York and Atlanta, and fun asides including Lady Bunny, this is a life painted with much love and care, kindness too. It’s a text that reminds us to be kind. It doesn’t pay to be an asshole (and maybe that’s why New Yorkers never have any money) but RuPaul shows us what you can do with it, how far it can get you, and gives freedom back to America with his coast to coast upbringing, one he brought unto himself. Truly, we do what we have to do in the way that we have to do it. Because this life is yours. No one else’s.

[Celine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sad I didn’t like this more than I did. I really like rupaul and was excited to read his memoir. To be honest it was a little dull and meandering - i was confused with people and places a lot of the time. I love his voice and enjoyed listening to him tell his story but it didn’t keep my attention enough for me to really love it. It was interesting to hear how he got to where he is now, but not my favorite storytelling.

[Tabitha - · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to @libro.fm for an ALC of this precious memoir. I find it weird to rate a memoir, but definitely 5 stars.

Not a celebrity tea book, but a story about survival in an environment set up to fail. ❤️ Highly recommend.

[Darryl Suite · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one, but if I have one complaint, it’s that it seems like Ru was holding back; like he was being intentionally withholding. I mean surely Ru went through more struggles of becoming a drag queen in the 80s and 90s than what he lets on here. It felt like so many insightful details were glossed over, making it appear that Ru’s life was much “easier” than reality would suggest.

I did like the writing from start to finish. Learning about his childhood years was definitely the highlight for me. And it was nice to see that he had a mostly supportive family (his sisters and mother).

I expect there will be a Part 2 to come. The book stops before anything RuPaul’s Drag Race related. So, if you’re looking for insight on the show, you’re not going to find that here. Perhaps this book is meant to be the first part of a duo or trilogy. That’s what I’m thinking.

This memoir is also surprisingly low on celebrity dirt. Well, except that one Madonna mention. Woof.

Enjoyed my time with this one. Wish it had gone deeper. I’m sure there were rougher times than what Ru eludes to, but I guess it’s his prerogative to not want to share it. For what it’s worth, I still got something out of it.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggle writing reviews with memoirs. It’s hard for me to judge someone personal’s experiences. However, I felt like Rupaul’s House of Hidden Meaning was very personal. On Rupaul’s Drag Race episode Booked and Blessed - the queens had to come up with their own books. Which was a great way for Rupaul to plug his own memoir. He did mention that to be successful- you have to be vulnerable and reveal a side of yourself that not everyone is familiar with. I think he nailed it was this book. This memoir read like a diary- he talked about a lot hard, heavy topics that he faced. That isn’t easy for to share- I definitely do like that I have deeper understanding of him besides what I see and of him on TV.

This memoir is him pre-fame. His story, growing up and finding himself in the south.

The only negative I had with this book was keeping up with all the people that Rupaul names. Yes, he writes over a time span over several years but I get lost after so many people are constantly getting introduced.

[Nadine in California · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent on audio and read by the author, of course. This book covers his early years in depth, but is much more cursory about the relative present, which leads me to believe (and hope) that he'll write a second volume. Very readable and honestly written, even if it feels a bit sanitized - which is his right, of course! Full disclosure, I am a huge Drag Race fan - the creativity, the camp, the overall sense of fun, and above all the caring and generous heart RuPaul obviously brings to everyone involved - contestants, judges and stage crew. The warmth just oozes off the screen :) I'd love to see a 'behind the scenes' mocumentary of Drag Race, with RuPaul hamming it up as a mean megalomaniac - that would be a riot!

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be clear, this is not a memoir of RuPaul's entire life. It begins in his childhood and ends shortly after his rise to fame from Supermodel with some rushed bits about recovery and falling in love. There is not one mention of RuPaul's Drag Race, or Michelle Visage, or what will ultimately be—whether he likes it or not—Ru's lasting legacy.

Because you almost get the sense that he doesn't want it to be (and by "it" I mean bringing drag into the mainstream and all of the good and bad that has come with that). And sure, when it's your memoir, you get to pick and choose which parts of your story you tell and how you tell them. I guess I was just a little disappointed with this one. This book was at times too self-congratulatory and condescending—I got tired of hearing how much of a joke the world is from someone who has profited entirely from the way it works.

I hesitate to say this, because a Black man rising to meteoric fame as a drag queen in this country is nothing short of miraculous, and Ru has his own guts, guile, and belief in himself to thank, no question. And any good drag queen (or superstar for that matter) will tell you an important key to their success is just the right amount of delusion. What "just the right amount" is, though, is the question. I can’t help but imagine Ru telling a fellow queer or POC who is struggling to make ends meet or afford healthcare, “Stop taking life so seriously!”

[Paul Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

RuPaul as a person?: 5 stars
This memoir?: a sensible 3 stars

A good read, but I was hoping for more details and insights. It gradually devolves into a laundry list of “and then this happened, then this happened, then I met this person..” I can’t help but feel like focusing on more precise moments and fleshing those out in more detail may have left more of an impact? I still enjoyed it for what it is, though.

[b. ♡]

My pop culture knowledge of RuPaul is limited to the single season of Drag Race All Stars I watched in college with one of my roommates, but even as a casual observer, I was still immediately pulled into Ru's world and moved by the emotional narration.

I love memoirs that are narrated by the authors themselves (particularly when the author is a performer/artist by trade), as you get a tenderness and vulnerability that a different narrator simply wouldn't be able to convey. The House of Hidden Meanings on audio is no exception to this, and I found myself both tearing up when Ru's voice would crack and getting hyped when he passionately described a memorable performance or career breakthrough.

A heartfelt read for fans and casuals alike, and I'm glad I was able to experience it :")

(Thank you to libro.fm for providing me an ALC of this book!)

[Nan Tolson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately could not sashay away from this memoir fast enough :-(

[Sara]

I don't rate biographies and memoirs.

Im absolutely fascinated with Rupaul and how they've grown to be this absolute juggernaut with such a choke hold over the drag industry. Growing up the only drag icons I really knew about were Lily Savage and Ru, and what made Ru all the more powerful and intriguing was that they were so beautifully and intentionally Black and gay, and proud of it. This was at a time in the 90s when representation was abysmal. So I was really interested to read a memoir from that time that promised to explore the inner monologue of Ru and their experiences. Did it meet my expectations? Not fully - this feels very stream of conscious at times, very guarded and deliberately selective in what is presented. However I enjoyed my time seeing some of RuPaul's more personal stories and experiences.

[Stacy (Gotham City Librarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

“Magic, I saw for the first time, was a choice. And it must be created.”

I’ve always been captivated by the star power of RuPaul. Both in and out of drag, he makes it look effortless and exudes a natural magnetism and charm. This was better than many other autobiographies I have read. Smooth, poetic prose. A well told, coherent narrative. Basically, a lovely read.

“Much as we seek power in every corner of our lives, it’s always already in us; it’s impossible to be powerless if you recognize that you yourself are power. Life is power. Finding that power within yourself—that’s the hard part.”

This is a deeply personal and honest memoir. Ru talks about his childhood, past traumas, heartbreaks, and the work he put in on his journey to success.

“You’re nobody until somebody hates you.”

Ru did not have an easy path to stardom. He always believed that he was destined for something big, but he really had to go through it to get there. Periods of struggling as an unhoused individual in NYC, using alcohol and cocaine to stay up all night and hit the clubs to promote his act, etc. Lady Bunny was a real friend for telling Ru that he was becoming transparently drunk on stage and ruining his own act, because that was the wake up call that he needed to stop.

“I have always believed that kindness is the highest form of intellect.”

Many reviews say that this memoir is lacking and that there’s so much more that could have been included, but I think it’s important to note that Ru has written other books. I also strongly disagree with the statement that this “lacks vulnerability.”

I especially loved reading about Ru’s relationship with his mother. It was complicated at times, but also touching and beautiful.

“Money made things easier—much easier. But no matter how poor I’d been, I had never felt as impoverished as the rich people I knew who had no imagination, whose capacity for fun was stunted.”

There are moments when Ru’s ego overshadows the story a bit and borders on grandiose, but I can forgive that. I think if anyone has earned the right to have a vast wealth of confidence, it’s RuPaul. And it all ends on an inspirational note.

But I’ll still never fully forgive Ru for sending Ben DeLaCreme home instead of Darienne Lake in Season 6.

Biggest TW: Drug and alcohol abuse, Domestic abuse, Hate speech

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was such a pleasure to read. I loved how connected and genuinely RuPaul walks through his formative life history. Hearing about his family and his upbringing and the stages and styles he went through in his life was fabulous. And hearing it in audiobook form with his own voice just added to the experience. 5 stars for me because it left me thinking after I was done and because I immediately reached out to people to recommend it. My only wish would have been for more photos!

[Floflyy · Rating 2 out of 5]

RuPaul fait du RuPaul. Il déballe dans cette autobiographie les mêmes poncifs que dans son émission : le pauvre petit black d'Atlanta qui a réussi coûte que coûte par lui-même à devenir la superstar qu'il est. Et je dis ça en ayant vu chacune des saisons de Drag Race. Plusieurs fois.

Mais a l'écrit ça ne fonctionne pas avec moi : le selfmade man américain, totalement depolitisé au passage et hyper lisse, c'est chiant.

Quelques passages m'ont plus divertis quand il raconte la contre-culture New Yorkaise, les premiers shows dans des bars un peu miteux. Il arrive a être un minimum honnête puisque l'on comprend vite qu'il était pas hyper fréquentable : volage en amitié, cherchant à tout prix a briller et se lançant dans le drag avec pour unique but de se faire remarquer.

Ce n'est pas un livre qui célèbre les drag Queens ou l'art du drag. RuPaul lui-même n'en est pas une. Il questionne peu le genre lui-même, à l'écran ou à la télé. Il reste politiquement correct et n'a pas de traditions de sororité avec des drags outre que Lady Bunny.

Si il essayait d'écrire moins de proverbes et être plus ouvert ça pourrait être touchant mais il en résulte seulement un amas de citations que ta tante pourrait poster sur Facebook.