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Queer Icons and Their Cats
These cat lovers are out and purr-oud!
Freddie Mercury, Sylvia Rivera, Alison Bechdel, Dusty Springfield. This book is a celebration of queer icons of the past and present and their furry feline friends. From images of lost legends such as Josephine Baker and James Baldwin, to snapshots of contemporary trailblazers like comedian Tig Notaro and fashion designer Jason Wu—these charming and eccentric photographs capture what it truly means to be a cat purr-son.
• PURR-FECT FOR CAT LOVERS: This book celebrates the love between human and cat. What better gift could you get the feline fancier in your life?
• AMEWSING ANECDOTES AND IMPAWTENT MOMENTS: Learn about the lives of the queer heroes who came before us and those who are still fighting for equality and inclusion. We're not kitten around—with watershed moments like the Stonewall riots and sweet stories of domestic bliss, this book will both entertain and inspire you.
• PHOTOS WITH CATITUDE: In these purr-ecious photographs, you'll get to see your heroes in unguarded moments expressing love for their pets. This collection of images will bring joy to any cat lover's heart.
Perfect for:
• LGBTQIA+ cat lovers and the people who shop for them
• Anyone interested in learning more about influential queer figures—and their pets!
Freddie Mercury, Sylvia Rivera, Alison Bechdel, Dusty Springfield. This book is a celebration of queer icons of the past and present and their furry feline friends. From images of lost legends such as Josephine Baker and James Baldwin, to snapshots of contemporary trailblazers like comedian Tig Notaro and fashion designer Jason Wu—these charming and eccentric photographs capture what it truly means to be a cat purr-son.
• PURR-FECT FOR CAT LOVERS: This book celebrates the love between human and cat. What better gift could you get the feline fancier in your life?
• AMEWSING ANECDOTES AND IMPAWTENT MOMENTS: Learn about the lives of the queer heroes who came before us and those who are still fighting for equality and inclusion. We're not kitten around—with watershed moments like the Stonewall riots and sweet stories of domestic bliss, this book will both entertain and inspire you.
• PHOTOS WITH CATITUDE: In these purr-ecious photographs, you'll get to see your heroes in unguarded moments expressing love for their pets. This collection of images will bring joy to any cat lover's heart.
Perfect for:
• LGBTQIA+ cat lovers and the people who shop for them
• Anyone interested in learning more about influential queer figures—and their pets!
104 pages, Hardcover
First published May 4, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
July 22, 2021
Aaamaazing!!!!!!! With icons like Freddie Mercury, Elton John, George Michael, Josephine Baker and Janis Joplin, just to name a few, how could you resist? This is a work of art full of breathtaking images of celebrated and infamous
notable individuals of our time, with their beloved felines. I was captivated by the memorable photographs depicting these notorious cat lovers. Being a cat lover myself, I could not get enough. I loved learning about the lives of these influencers and their furry companions. I was fortunate to receive an ARC, but still anxiously anticipating a physical copy so I can savor all of the beautiful and stunning pictures. Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this treasure. 5 purrfect 😻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
notable individuals of our time, with their beloved felines. I was captivated by the memorable photographs depicting these notorious cat lovers. Being a cat lover myself, I could not get enough. I loved learning about the lives of these influencers and their furry companions. I was fortunate to receive an ARC, but still anxiously anticipating a physical copy so I can savor all of the beautiful and stunning pictures. Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this treasure. 5 purrfect 😻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
November 25, 2020
Jujubee and her beloved cat Priss look absolutely radiant in the cover photograph of this book. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to capture a shot like this, but if on point as it is here, it reveals a lot of the personality of both feline and owner.
In fact, a lot of the celebrity cat owners featured here (a lot of whom I had never heard of before) seem more relaxed in the presence of their furry friends, which adds a wonderfully disarming quality to many of the portraits.
Some are really old photographs, such as the sepia shot of Clifton Webb, while others are old in the sense that they show the cat owners at an impossibly young age (Elton John and George Michael spring to mind.) Others stretch the definition of ‘cat’, such as Ahohni at the Bronx Zoo with an orphaned big cat.
One of the cleverest pics is that of Sharon Needles and her careful positioning of a cat statue (there is a real pussy as well, no need to raise an eyebrow), while the severest shot is of Judith Butler, looking stern against a white staircase, with a cat positioned a few steps behind her – and looking even sterner, if that is possible.
My only complaint is that some of the portraits are clearly ‘snaps’, in the sense that there is little professionalism involved (where the poor cat has ‘green’ eye and appears to be a blob held rather gamely by their human, as if they will make a bolt for it at the slightest relaxation of the hold – which of course they will do. They are cats, after all.) Plus the fact that one can never have enough cat pics, so the limit of one per celebrity is a tad parsimonious.
Each photograph is accompanied by a brief essay elaborating on the human’s claim to fame and their connection to the feline world. The collection is certainly eclectic, ranging from trailblazing trans porn star and producer Buck Angel (love that name!) to Matthew Mitcham, Chaz Bono and Marlene Dietrich.
Despite the assertion in the introduction that the emergence of ‘cat men’ is challenging toxic masculinity, the majority of these photographs are of women. Not that this is any issue, of course, as the authors note:
Ultimately, the nonhuman animal world is not as binary as our human society’s gatekeepers would have us believe. Animals don’t about human social constructs like gender, and they don’t discriminate based on sexuality. Cats, in particular, expect to be revered and adored by all humans …
In fact, a lot of the celebrity cat owners featured here (a lot of whom I had never heard of before) seem more relaxed in the presence of their furry friends, which adds a wonderfully disarming quality to many of the portraits.
Some are really old photographs, such as the sepia shot of Clifton Webb, while others are old in the sense that they show the cat owners at an impossibly young age (Elton John and George Michael spring to mind.) Others stretch the definition of ‘cat’, such as Ahohni at the Bronx Zoo with an orphaned big cat.
One of the cleverest pics is that of Sharon Needles and her careful positioning of a cat statue (there is a real pussy as well, no need to raise an eyebrow), while the severest shot is of Judith Butler, looking stern against a white staircase, with a cat positioned a few steps behind her – and looking even sterner, if that is possible.
My only complaint is that some of the portraits are clearly ‘snaps’, in the sense that there is little professionalism involved (where the poor cat has ‘green’ eye and appears to be a blob held rather gamely by their human, as if they will make a bolt for it at the slightest relaxation of the hold – which of course they will do. They are cats, after all.) Plus the fact that one can never have enough cat pics, so the limit of one per celebrity is a tad parsimonious.
Each photograph is accompanied by a brief essay elaborating on the human’s claim to fame and their connection to the feline world. The collection is certainly eclectic, ranging from trailblazing trans porn star and producer Buck Angel (love that name!) to Matthew Mitcham, Chaz Bono and Marlene Dietrich.
Despite the assertion in the introduction that the emergence of ‘cat men’ is challenging toxic masculinity, the majority of these photographs are of women. Not that this is any issue, of course, as the authors note:
Ultimately, the nonhuman animal world is not as binary as our human society’s gatekeepers would have us believe. Animals don’t about human social constructs like gender, and they don’t discriminate based on sexuality. Cats, in particular, expect to be revered and adored by all humans …
February 28, 2021
I just loved the cover photo of Jujubee! And I expected a lot more photos of that same caliber. Unfortunately, it turned out not to be the case. I was somewhat disappointed.
As for the queer icons, there were what I considered only a handful such as Freddy Mercury, George Michael, Chaz Bono, and Elton John. I did like the bio's that were provided for all of the people featured in the book as I got to learn more about them and their love of cats.
Not much else to say except that I would have loved more cat photos. Two stars. It was okay.
I received a digital ARC of the book. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
As for the queer icons, there were what I considered only a handful such as Freddy Mercury, George Michael, Chaz Bono, and Elton John. I did like the bio's that were provided for all of the people featured in the book as I got to learn more about them and their love of cats.
Not much else to say except that I would have loved more cat photos. Two stars. It was okay.
I received a digital ARC of the book. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
December 2, 2020
I loved this. I loved the photos, the biographies, the diversity, all of it. Famous LGBTQ folks from all walks of life are profiled, from scientists to actors to activists -- Elton John to Rachel Carson to Marlene Dietrich to Sharon Needles to Anthony Perkins and so many more. Each bio takes up one page and is accompanied by a photo of the person with their cat (or a cat). A couple of reviewers griped that lots of the photos were of the people with "random" cats but that was only the case in a couple of photos and the people were still known to be cat lovers. One person is pictured with a big cat in a zoo, but the bio noted that she spent significant time visiting animals at the zoo on a regular basis and you can see she's clearly comfortable hanging out with the animal. The photo of Josephine Baker is with a leopard but the bio said it was hers. Some of these photos are decades old so you can't really blame them for not having a perfectly posed picture with one particular cat.
Do note that most of the photos aren't the professional, posed types like the cover. The modern ones tend towards that type but many of the others just show the people relaxing at home with their cat or something like that. I like that better, but don't expect all artistic cat-and-icon images.
All three of my oldest kids would love this book. I highly enjoyed it myself. This is another book that I'd probably give as a Christmas present if it were going to be released in time.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
Do note that most of the photos aren't the professional, posed types like the cover. The modern ones tend towards that type but many of the others just show the people relaxing at home with their cat or something like that. I like that better, but don't expect all artistic cat-and-icon images.
All three of my oldest kids would love this book. I highly enjoyed it myself. This is another book that I'd probably give as a Christmas present if it were going to be released in time.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
August 28, 2021
A more accurate title might be "Queer Icons with Cats". For example, it's not clear whether the cats in James Baldwin's photo were Baldwin's cats, or if he even had cats. We are told of his love for Turkey, which had a number of feral cats.
But there are photos of E.M. Forster, Michel Foucault, Leigh Bowery, Anthony Perkins etc with cute cats. And Josephine Baker with her cheetah!
But there are photos of E.M. Forster, Michel Foucault, Leigh Bowery, Anthony Perkins etc with cute cats. And Josephine Baker with her cheetah!
November 26, 2020
Wonderful book, that gives you exactly what it says on the cover.
It contains photographs of wide range of people (and their cats) who have influenced the LGBTQ community, accompanied by a short bio of each person, what they mean to the community and how felines played a part in their lives: Great job on fitting so much info in such a short space, and still have it be comprehensive and to the point. Kudos to the writer/editor.
It contains photographs of wide range of people (and their cats) who have influenced the LGBTQ community, accompanied by a short bio of each person, what they mean to the community and how felines played a part in their lives: Great job on fitting so much info in such a short space, and still have it be comprehensive and to the point. Kudos to the writer/editor.
November 26, 2020
Uncorrected proof received via Netgalley - bear that in mind!
A small bugbear, first of all; this book would really be better called 'Queer Icons and Cats', because only about half of the cats in here actually belong to (or perhaps own, depending on your view of feline/human relationships) the aforementioned queer icons. That's not a criticism, just an observation!
This book is an interesting volume, with a photo of a famous queer person and a cat on one page and a brief description of the person (and sometimes the cat) on the other. It's really at its best when it's delving into the personalities of the cats involved; it's a sad fact that cats outshine humans in terms of beauty, interest, personality and talent in absolutely all cases, and although I'm a big fan of many of the people included in this book, the cats were definitely the best bit. Special mention to the trash-eating cat of a Michelin-starred chef. The audacity of that kitty is truly inspiring. All jokes aside, I genuinely enjoyed learning about the nuances of these people's personalities as conveyed through the lens of their interaction with our feline overlords; I think a lot can be said about a person by how they treat cats.
I also really appreciated the broad spectrum of people included here, from James Baldwin to Rachel Carson, Elton John to Bobbi Salvor Menuez - it was a great representation of how variegated the term 'queer icon' really is and should be. I think we often limit our perception of queer icons to people like Lady Gaga, Madonna and David Bowie, and don't really include the often doubly marginalised activists who actually do the work for queer liberation. This book did, and I think that's really to its credit.
The one thing that irked me somewhat was how so many of the bios in this book read a bit like resumés or advertisements. The biographies of historical figures, particularly James Baldwin, were nuanced, insightful and informative; I felt like they gave the reader both an overview of the individuals' contributions to queer culture and their personality in general. However, many of the bios of current queer people, particularly that of Frenchie Davis, were more like press releases than anything else, The writing in these ones came across like marketing copy, and it chafed a little; I don't need to be advertised to when I'm reading a book purportedly for edification or entertainment.
That said, it was an enjoyable little read, and I can absolutely see why they picked that photo of Jujubee for the cover. I kind of want it as a poster to decorate all my good rooms (the rooms my cat favours.)
A small bugbear, first of all; this book would really be better called 'Queer Icons and Cats', because only about half of the cats in here actually belong to (or perhaps own, depending on your view of feline/human relationships) the aforementioned queer icons. That's not a criticism, just an observation!
This book is an interesting volume, with a photo of a famous queer person and a cat on one page and a brief description of the person (and sometimes the cat) on the other. It's really at its best when it's delving into the personalities of the cats involved; it's a sad fact that cats outshine humans in terms of beauty, interest, personality and talent in absolutely all cases, and although I'm a big fan of many of the people included in this book, the cats were definitely the best bit. Special mention to the trash-eating cat of a Michelin-starred chef. The audacity of that kitty is truly inspiring. All jokes aside, I genuinely enjoyed learning about the nuances of these people's personalities as conveyed through the lens of their interaction with our feline overlords; I think a lot can be said about a person by how they treat cats.
I also really appreciated the broad spectrum of people included here, from James Baldwin to Rachel Carson, Elton John to Bobbi Salvor Menuez - it was a great representation of how variegated the term 'queer icon' really is and should be. I think we often limit our perception of queer icons to people like Lady Gaga, Madonna and David Bowie, and don't really include the often doubly marginalised activists who actually do the work for queer liberation. This book did, and I think that's really to its credit.
The one thing that irked me somewhat was how so many of the bios in this book read a bit like resumés or advertisements. The biographies of historical figures, particularly James Baldwin, were nuanced, insightful and informative; I felt like they gave the reader both an overview of the individuals' contributions to queer culture and their personality in general. However, many of the bios of current queer people, particularly that of Frenchie Davis, were more like press releases than anything else, The writing in these ones came across like marketing copy, and it chafed a little; I don't need to be advertised to when I'm reading a book purportedly for edification or entertainment.
That said, it was an enjoyable little read, and I can absolutely see why they picked that photo of Jujubee for the cover. I kind of want it as a poster to decorate all my good rooms (the rooms my cat favours.)
October 24, 2025
Peak literature
December 20, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the early digital copy of this in exchange for a review.
I loved reading about all the icons and the subsequent cats. There were so many people included that I hadn’t heard of and now am glad I know a little sliver of their life and work. The prospect of cat photos is what drew me to the book and it didn’t disappoint. This would make a beautiful coffee table book to dip in and out of! The only thing that is a bit misleading is that not all the cats are owned by the people highlighted, that doesn’t bother me, but it may for some others.
I loved reading about all the icons and the subsequent cats. There were so many people included that I hadn’t heard of and now am glad I know a little sliver of their life and work. The prospect of cat photos is what drew me to the book and it didn’t disappoint. This would make a beautiful coffee table book to dip in and out of! The only thing that is a bit misleading is that not all the cats are owned by the people highlighted, that doesn’t bother me, but it may for some others.
February 28, 2021
To clear my head, I'm flipping through an album of photos of queer icons with their cats, kindly provided by the publisher, as they say in such cases. The personalities range from E.M. Forster and Marlena Dietrich to drag queens and porn stars. Each photo is accompanied by a page of text about the role cats have played in their lives. The most powerful photo is of Judith Butler with her cat Pluto. And the cutest one is of Anthony Perkins in a barrel.
January 16, 2021
This is a coffee table book of famous queers, past and present, with their cats. Some are posed, as the cover is, some are from historical documents. Anthony Perkins is shown with his cat, as is Elton John. The modern icons, the ones who I have never heard of because I guess I am not keeping up with the current queer icons, look more posed, perhaps having been shot for this book.
It is interesting reading the little one page blurbs about each icon, and how they are important to queer history. And it is fun to go through history and see how cats were favorite pets of people like Freddy Mercury, who would call his cats when he was on tour.
It is rather fun that queer culture has a coffee table book, now, with LGBTQ people and their cats.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
It is interesting reading the little one page blurbs about each icon, and how they are important to queer history. And it is fun to go through history and see how cats were favorite pets of people like Freddy Mercury, who would call his cats when he was on tour.
It is rather fun that queer culture has a coffee table book, now, with LGBTQ people and their cats.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
May 4, 2021
Rating: 4/5 stars.
“Queer Icons and Their Cats” by Alison Natasi and PJ Natasi is a book celebrating LGTBQIA+ celebrities and their feline companions. This book also serves as a great introduction to LGBTQIA+ history, with the introduction providing a brief overview of related historical figures and human rights movements. I loved that the authors included celebrities of different nationalities and occupations, from singers, to artists, to actors. I just wish there were more photos of the cats! There was only one photo per person, and a few did not have any photos at all. Overall, I loved this book and I would recommend it to everyone, especially fans of cats.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book on NetGalley and have provided an honest review.*
“Queer Icons and Their Cats” by Alison Natasi and PJ Natasi is a book celebrating LGTBQIA+ celebrities and their feline companions. This book also serves as a great introduction to LGBTQIA+ history, with the introduction providing a brief overview of related historical figures and human rights movements. I loved that the authors included celebrities of different nationalities and occupations, from singers, to artists, to actors. I just wish there were more photos of the cats! There was only one photo per person, and a few did not have any photos at all. Overall, I loved this book and I would recommend it to everyone, especially fans of cats.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book on NetGalley and have provided an honest review.*
April 8, 2021
This collection of photographs is very cool. I loved seeing photos of these queer icons and their beloved felines.
The blurbs about each person were relatively short, but informative. They offered just enough information to be intriguing- I found myself wanting to read more about several of the individuals included.
If you are interested in LGBTQIA issues, learning more about some pretty awesome people, or you just want to see some adorable pictures of people with cats, check out Queer Icons and their Cats.
Queer Icons and their Cats will be released May 4, 2021.
I received an advanced review copy for free via NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The blurbs about each person were relatively short, but informative. They offered just enough information to be intriguing- I found myself wanting to read more about several of the individuals included.
If you are interested in LGBTQIA issues, learning more about some pretty awesome people, or you just want to see some adorable pictures of people with cats, check out Queer Icons and their Cats.
Queer Icons and their Cats will be released May 4, 2021.
I received an advanced review copy for free via NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 3, 2021
I feel like this will turn out being a “coffee table” book - a pretty book with nice pictures and little blurbs about some very amazing LGBTQ+ people. I was left wanting more. I felt like the book read like a long Wikipedia article: soulless and dull. The topic was so interesting, and had so much to offer! I’m queer, and I heckin’ love cats. I’m pretty much the target audience for this book but overall, it was... meh. Not a fan of this one. I wanted so much more from it.
March 22, 2021
Queer icons. Plus cats. What more could you possibly need? This book features bios of some of the greatest LGBTQ icons and their adorable feline friends. Elton John. Dusty Springfield, Freddy Mercury, Sylvia Rivera - all of them proud cat lovers because cats are the best. If you're a fan of queer icons AND cats, or just a fan of awesome people who love their cats, then you're definitely going to want to check out this book.
December 30, 2021
This is a fascinating little exploration of LGBTQ+ icons and the cats they loved, and an excellent read for us queer folks who can't get enough of our feline friends.
March 31, 2022
Love you Jujubee! Nice little book with cute cats and short biographies of famous queer people, though I thought some of the information could’ve had a little more to it. Nice quick read
November 21, 2020
So stinking cute. First I love cats so I was mesmerized but also it was so cool to read about some famous influential backgrounds while seeing a personal side to them. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 14, 2020
I received an uncorrected proof of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The nature of this book lends itself to a short review, but I really enjoyed reading this book, and can definitely see it as being a great coffee table book. I'm excited to pick up a physical copy when it is published. It's an adorable set of short artist biographies paired with photos of the artists and their feline friends.
May 9, 2021
Queer Icons and their Cats by Alison Nastasi & PJ Nastasi
Snapshots and brief biographical sketches of new and well known queer icons…with their furry feline friends. This book has forty or more personalities with even more cats photographed with them. I met authors, musicians, artists, actors, poets, philosophers, film critics, models, directors…and more and all love and adore their pets just as their cats love their humans. Great for a coffee table, as a gift for a cat loving queer friend, or for anyone interested in a glimpse into the lives of any or all of the people in this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Snapshots and brief biographical sketches of new and well known queer icons…with their furry feline friends. This book has forty or more personalities with even more cats photographed with them. I met authors, musicians, artists, actors, poets, philosophers, film critics, models, directors…and more and all love and adore their pets just as their cats love their humans. Great for a coffee table, as a gift for a cat loving queer friend, or for anyone interested in a glimpse into the lives of any or all of the people in this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
February 4, 2021
Absolutely stunning photographs with interesting dialogues about each icon.
*Digital review copy provided by the publisher & NetGalley.
*Digital review copy provided by the publisher & NetGalley.
May 14, 2021
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
I just couldn’t resist this book. I love cats (despite being allergic to them), I love LGBT books, I love photography books. So this seemed a match made in heaven and I was eager to start reading it.
In this one we meet various LGBT icons and their cats. Along with a photograph we also get some information on the icon, what they did in life, family, their cats, and other things. It was quite interesting to read especially since I don’t know a lot of the people mentioned. Some truly famous people I recognised, but others, not really. So I liked finding out about these people, discover all about them.
I loved that the cats aren’t just house cats. We also see leopards and other cats that one may not want as a pet. I loved the diversity and it made seeing each photograph even more fun. What kind of cat would be on there? A house cat? Which one? A not-so-house cat? Which one?
I loved that this book isn’t just about people who live now/are alive now. It also features LGBT icons who died. Like Freddie Mercury.
All in all a good book to read and very interesting. I love the photographs and learned about people.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I just couldn’t resist this book. I love cats (despite being allergic to them), I love LGBT books, I love photography books. So this seemed a match made in heaven and I was eager to start reading it.
In this one we meet various LGBT icons and their cats. Along with a photograph we also get some information on the icon, what they did in life, family, their cats, and other things. It was quite interesting to read especially since I don’t know a lot of the people mentioned. Some truly famous people I recognised, but others, not really. So I liked finding out about these people, discover all about them.
I loved that the cats aren’t just house cats. We also see leopards and other cats that one may not want as a pet. I loved the diversity and it made seeing each photograph even more fun. What kind of cat would be on there? A house cat? Which one? A not-so-house cat? Which one?
I loved that this book isn’t just about people who live now/are alive now. It also features LGBT icons who died. Like Freddie Mercury.
All in all a good book to read and very interesting. I love the photographs and learned about people.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
May 22, 2022
What I thought would be simply a humorous compilation of pictures ended up being an informative book on queer history and the connection between LGBTQ+ folks and our cats.
I learned about so many different icons who I never realized were LGBTQ+. I also learned there are statistics to somewhat backup the stereotype of queers and cats.
Overall this is was such an enjoyable read with photos and stories that brought the biggest smiles to my cat-loving lesbian face.
I learned about so many different icons who I never realized were LGBTQ+. I also learned there are statistics to somewhat backup the stereotype of queers and cats.
Overall this is was such an enjoyable read with photos and stories that brought the biggest smiles to my cat-loving lesbian face.
May 3, 2021
I love cats and this was a fun look into the lifes of celebrities and their cats. Not the greatest thing I've ever read but definitely perfect for cat lovers.
May 7, 2021
An interesting coffee table book about famous LGBT people and their relationships with felines. Some of the pictures are delightfully beautiful.
January 22, 2021
2.5 stars
This review is based on an ARC ebook received for free from NetGalley. I am not being paid to review this book and what I write here is my own opinion. My rating scale is below.
review
I am absolutely the person who will squeal delightedly when strangers want to show me photos of their cats on their phones in shopping lines or waiting rooms, so I can be lured into just about any activity if cat pictures are promised. The opportunity to learn more about cat-loving queer figures also struck me as one not to be passed up.
I am mostly pleased that I took advantage of this opportunity, because not only were there cat pictures (as promised!) but there were so many interesting queer icons profiled in this book. Each icon gets about a brief page of biographical information which also includes their relationship to folks of the feline persuasion (some of these biographies felt more like resumes, to be honest, and were pretty dry, but others were not). Natasi seems to have made an effort to put together a broad cross section of (often intersectional) LGBTQ folks, reaching back more than a century in some instances as well as highlighting contemporary figures.
The photos do not always depict the human subject’s actual pet(s). That was kind of disappointing, actually. Surprisingly, the portraits are not necessarily flattering to human or cat, either, but it is nice to see folks in more candid moments than their official portraiture typically presents. I rather wonder how the photos were selected. (Yes, every image is credited in the back of the book, but I’m not curious enough to compare photographer and subject for each picture, though it is at least possible to do so.) There were, of course, professional photographs as well, or at least ones which were obviously more deliberately staged. These were more flattering, but I think less interesting.
As many nice things as I have to say about the book, this is very much a book to be read over a long period of time, rather than all at once. Reading this all at once was a bit like reading a hagiography, which can be interesting and informative, but also a bit of a grind. It would be a great gift or addition to a library collection, and invites readers to do further research on their own due to the brevity of each icon’s entry (an impulse made easier by an extensive suggested reading section). This is an ideal coffee table book, or a bathroom book (this is not a snub, perfect bathroom books are very hard to find).
rating scale
1 star - I was barely able to finish it. I didn't like it.
2 stars - It was okay. I didn't dislike it.
3 stars - It was interesting. I liked it.
4 stars - It was excellent. I really liked it.
5 stars - It was extraordinary. I really hope the author wrote more things.
This review is based on an ARC ebook received for free from NetGalley. I am not being paid to review this book and what I write here is my own opinion. My rating scale is below.
review
I am absolutely the person who will squeal delightedly when strangers want to show me photos of their cats on their phones in shopping lines or waiting rooms, so I can be lured into just about any activity if cat pictures are promised. The opportunity to learn more about cat-loving queer figures also struck me as one not to be passed up.
I am mostly pleased that I took advantage of this opportunity, because not only were there cat pictures (as promised!) but there were so many interesting queer icons profiled in this book. Each icon gets about a brief page of biographical information which also includes their relationship to folks of the feline persuasion (some of these biographies felt more like resumes, to be honest, and were pretty dry, but others were not). Natasi seems to have made an effort to put together a broad cross section of (often intersectional) LGBTQ folks, reaching back more than a century in some instances as well as highlighting contemporary figures.
The photos do not always depict the human subject’s actual pet(s). That was kind of disappointing, actually. Surprisingly, the portraits are not necessarily flattering to human or cat, either, but it is nice to see folks in more candid moments than their official portraiture typically presents. I rather wonder how the photos were selected. (Yes, every image is credited in the back of the book, but I’m not curious enough to compare photographer and subject for each picture, though it is at least possible to do so.) There were, of course, professional photographs as well, or at least ones which were obviously more deliberately staged. These were more flattering, but I think less interesting.
As many nice things as I have to say about the book, this is very much a book to be read over a long period of time, rather than all at once. Reading this all at once was a bit like reading a hagiography, which can be interesting and informative, but also a bit of a grind. It would be a great gift or addition to a library collection, and invites readers to do further research on their own due to the brevity of each icon’s entry (an impulse made easier by an extensive suggested reading section). This is an ideal coffee table book, or a bathroom book (this is not a snub, perfect bathroom books are very hard to find).
rating scale
1 star - I was barely able to finish it. I didn't like it.
2 stars - It was okay. I didn't dislike it.
3 stars - It was interesting. I liked it.
4 stars - It was excellent. I really liked it.
5 stars - It was extraordinary. I really hope the author wrote more things.
January 19, 2024
Ultimately, the nonhuman animal world is not as binary as our human society's gatekeepers would have us believe. Animals don'tcare about human social constructs like gender, and they don't discriminate based on sexuality. Cats, in particular, expect to be revered and adored by all humans, and in return, provide companionship, cuddles (if you're lucky), and hours of heartwarming entertainment. — Introduction(Alison and PJ Nastasi)
Warnings: mentions of death, homophobia, AIDS
This is a bit of a something and nothing book. It is a cute collection of photos, a mix of professional and personal but it lacks focus. In the introduction Alison and PJ Nastasi do a very good job of explaining why cats and queer icons, the alignment and bond between them. As a book idea it is sound. It just hasn't quite worked in execution.
There are some celebrities where it just felt like a little too much speculation on their identity. Some like Holly Woodlawn appear not to have had their own cats, rather were photographed with some professionally (though Woodlawn's is a stunning photo). The stand out stories included for me were Dusty Springfield (post life priorities in the right places), Josephine Baker (I need a good bio of her like yesterday) and Lynn Conway (the best revenge is living your best life). I respect the choice to include Ramon Novarro the photo is stunning, he was a truly handsome man who outshines that cat and his story is a stark reminder of the realities of queer life.
If you like cats and want to see a snapshot behind the veil of some queer lives this is a book you may like. I would advise looking for it in a library first.
A representative gif:
February 22, 2021
**I received an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley and would like to thank the author and/of publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review it**
First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover
The title and cover photo of Jujubee (a drag queen I recognize from RuPaul's Drag Race) made this an immediate grab for me when I saw it on NetGalley (disclaimer for receiving a free copy below).
Since I'm writing this before downloading it, my only concern is that books with pictures don't always translate well on e-readers. That wouldn't be the book's fault and I would note that in my review but I really hope that's not the case because I'm really looking forward to this book.
My Opinion
I enjoyed this book. It's very clear what to expect so it's always a little tough to review...if the book looks interesting to you, you won't be disappointed because the authors do a good job with the concept and material.
There was an interesting statistic about pet ownership in LGBTQ households vs. straight households. A 2007 survey found that 71% of LGBTQ households owned pets compared to 63% of straight households, and that LGBTQ are more likely to own cats (63% vs. 52%). I don't want to draw too many conclusions from that stat alone but the theory that pets bring unconditional love and that's something that LGBTQ people may be less likely to receive from humans did make sense to me, unfortunately.
The pictures were good and clear with a mix of color and black/white. The icons weren't all familiar to me, with a range from different ages and time periods, and the authors were respectful and gave lots of information about their accomplishments. The 'queerness' may have been the reason for their inclusion in the book but it wasn't exploited or told in a salacious way. The spin about the pets made it more than "Wikipedia" entries and it really showed the research by including quotes when possible. I will note that most interviews and photos were not specifically for this book so I can't speak on if 'experts' would feel the same as I do about the information being new and unique but I think the tradeoff of being able to include such a wide range of people is worth it.
As a note since I mentioned it in my 'First Impressions', there were 2 mistakes with my copy that I'm not factoring into my rating but am noting. The photo of Clifton Webb was missing/omitted and the information about Ossie Clark was unfinished (it still had editing notes in the text).
Find all my reviews at: https://readingatrandom.blogspot.com
First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover
The title and cover photo of Jujubee (a drag queen I recognize from RuPaul's Drag Race) made this an immediate grab for me when I saw it on NetGalley (disclaimer for receiving a free copy below).
Since I'm writing this before downloading it, my only concern is that books with pictures don't always translate well on e-readers. That wouldn't be the book's fault and I would note that in my review but I really hope that's not the case because I'm really looking forward to this book.
My Opinion
I enjoyed this book. It's very clear what to expect so it's always a little tough to review...if the book looks interesting to you, you won't be disappointed because the authors do a good job with the concept and material.
There was an interesting statistic about pet ownership in LGBTQ households vs. straight households. A 2007 survey found that 71% of LGBTQ households owned pets compared to 63% of straight households, and that LGBTQ are more likely to own cats (63% vs. 52%). I don't want to draw too many conclusions from that stat alone but the theory that pets bring unconditional love and that's something that LGBTQ people may be less likely to receive from humans did make sense to me, unfortunately.
The pictures were good and clear with a mix of color and black/white. The icons weren't all familiar to me, with a range from different ages and time periods, and the authors were respectful and gave lots of information about their accomplishments. The 'queerness' may have been the reason for their inclusion in the book but it wasn't exploited or told in a salacious way. The spin about the pets made it more than "Wikipedia" entries and it really showed the research by including quotes when possible. I will note that most interviews and photos were not specifically for this book so I can't speak on if 'experts' would feel the same as I do about the information being new and unique but I think the tradeoff of being able to include such a wide range of people is worth it.
As a note since I mentioned it in my 'First Impressions', there were 2 mistakes with my copy that I'm not factoring into my rating but am noting. The photo of Clifton Webb was missing/omitted and the information about Ossie Clark was unfinished (it still had editing notes in the text).
Find all my reviews at: https://readingatrandom.blogspot.com
April 28, 2021
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Queer Icons and Their Cats is a stylish and affectionate look at beautiful kitties and their dedicated humans. Due out 1st June 2021 from Chronicle Books, it's 112 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.
This is an illustrated collection of 40 LGBTQ+ icons and the kitties they adore. The chapters are arranged alphabetically and include an array of actors, musicians, artists, writers, and cultural icons alongside their beautiful animal companions (mostly cats, but there are a few canines who are included alongside their feline siblings). The pictures are accompanied by short and informal blurbs about the artists and what they're best known for. The accompanying photos are mostly taken from public archives and aren't "coffee table book" polished... in fact most are quite informal and a number of them appear to be from the subjects' personal collections. Each of the short biographies is accompanied by a photo of the subject and one or more cats.
A number of the subjects are sadly departed; many are still with us. I loved that the authors made the salient and touching point that our cats are one of the most unacknowledged social support networks for LGBTQ+ people.
Four stars. This would make a good selection for gift-giving for cat loving friends and acquaintances.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Queer Icons and Their Cats is a stylish and affectionate look at beautiful kitties and their dedicated humans. Due out 1st June 2021 from Chronicle Books, it's 112 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.
This is an illustrated collection of 40 LGBTQ+ icons and the kitties they adore. The chapters are arranged alphabetically and include an array of actors, musicians, artists, writers, and cultural icons alongside their beautiful animal companions (mostly cats, but there are a few canines who are included alongside their feline siblings). The pictures are accompanied by short and informal blurbs about the artists and what they're best known for. The accompanying photos are mostly taken from public archives and aren't "coffee table book" polished... in fact most are quite informal and a number of them appear to be from the subjects' personal collections. Each of the short biographies is accompanied by a photo of the subject and one or more cats.
A number of the subjects are sadly departed; many are still with us. I loved that the authors made the salient and touching point that our cats are one of the most unacknowledged social support networks for LGBTQ+ people.
Four stars. This would make a good selection for gift-giving for cat loving friends and acquaintances.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
April 15, 2021
I read the digital edition of this book, so I'm not sure what the measurements of it are, but it would make a lovely coffee table book. I can definitely picture it at my salon among their magazines and books. If you are looking for a long, serious portrayals of LGBTQ+ icons, this isn't the right book. It's much more for fun and light reading. I say hooray for that! We need books about queer joy, and pictures of queer icons plus cats is a good start.
A mini-bio accompanies each portrait, and through this book I learned about some really intriguing icons I didn't know about before now, namely Mimi Simic, Lynn Conway, and Ophelia Pastrana. Several of my favorites appeared, as well, like Jes Tom, Freddie Mercury, and Tig Notaro. I do wish it was longer and included more of my favs, like Megan Rapinoe, Janelle Monae, Tove Jansson, and Gillian Anderson, but there's no way a book could ever really cover all the queer icons in the world, or their cats.
This book would make a great gift for every cat lover and LGBTQ+ activist in your life, and there's probably a good amount of overlap there (as the book suggests). It'll be coming out right before pride month, so look for it at your local bookstore displays.
I was provided a digital arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A mini-bio accompanies each portrait, and through this book I learned about some really intriguing icons I didn't know about before now, namely Mimi Simic, Lynn Conway, and Ophelia Pastrana. Several of my favorites appeared, as well, like Jes Tom, Freddie Mercury, and Tig Notaro. I do wish it was longer and included more of my favs, like Megan Rapinoe, Janelle Monae, Tove Jansson, and Gillian Anderson, but there's no way a book could ever really cover all the queer icons in the world, or their cats.
This book would make a great gift for every cat lover and LGBTQ+ activist in your life, and there's probably a good amount of overlap there (as the book suggests). It'll be coming out right before pride month, so look for it at your local bookstore displays.
I was provided a digital arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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