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Drag Queen
In a story that crosses The Parent Trap with The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, we meet Mitchell Sayer, a stodgy, successful gay attorney. Mitchell's well-ordered life is thrown into upheaval when his socialite mother drops a double bombshell en route to a Buddhist convent. Mitchell, she confesses, was adopted - and Mitchell has an identical twin. This long-lost, separated-at-birth sibling isn't hard to find ... but he may be hard to take. For while his driver's license reads Donald Sweet, he's better known in Chicago's demimonde as Kitten Kaboodle, the gloriously gowned, stupendously stiletto-heeled star of the Tam-Tam Club's "all-girl" review. Recovering from the shock, Mitchell doffs his Armani jacket, loosens his Hermes tie, and prepares for a battle of the wills. He sees it as his mission to haul Donald out of Bob Mackie knockoffs and into the real world - or at least into flat heels. But Kitten thinks it's Mitchell who needs superego surgery, and she's just the gal to wield the scalpel.
259 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 15, 2014
4 people are currently reading
423 people want to read
About the author
Robert Rodi
210 books123 followersRobert was born in Chicago in the conformist 1950s, grew up in the insurrectionist 1960s, came of age in the hedonist 1970s, and went to work in the elitist 1980s. This roller-coaster ride has left him with a distinct aversion to isms of any kind; it also gave him an ear for hypocrisy, cant, and platitudes that allowed him, in the 1990s, to become a much-lauded social satirist.
After seven acclaimed novels set in the gay milieu, Robert grew restless for new challenges — which he found in activities as wide-ranging as publishing nonfiction, writing comic books, launching a literary-criticism blog, and taking to the stage (as a spoken-word performer, jazz singer, and rock-and-roll front man).
In 2011, excited by the rise of digital e-books, he returned to his first love, publishing new fiction inspired by the work of Alfred Hitchcock. He also organized the republishing of his seminal gay novels under the banner Robert Rodi Essentials.
Robert still resides in Chicago, in a century-old Queen Anne house with his partner Jeffrey Smith and a constantly shifting number of dogs.
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German version: Robert Rodi wurde 1956 in einem Vorort von Chicago geboren. Im Alter von 22 schloss er sein Philosophie-Studium ab. Schon vorher beschäftigte er sich mit Comedy. Sein erster eigener Roman, "Fag Hag" aus dem Jahr 1991 war ein großer Erfolg. Es folgten mehrere andere komische Romane, zahlreiche Kurzgeschichten und Sketche. Robert lebt mit Partner und Hund in Chicago.
After seven acclaimed novels set in the gay milieu, Robert grew restless for new challenges — which he found in activities as wide-ranging as publishing nonfiction, writing comic books, launching a literary-criticism blog, and taking to the stage (as a spoken-word performer, jazz singer, and rock-and-roll front man).
In 2011, excited by the rise of digital e-books, he returned to his first love, publishing new fiction inspired by the work of Alfred Hitchcock. He also organized the republishing of his seminal gay novels under the banner Robert Rodi Essentials.
Robert still resides in Chicago, in a century-old Queen Anne house with his partner Jeffrey Smith and a constantly shifting number of dogs.
.
German version: Robert Rodi wurde 1956 in einem Vorort von Chicago geboren. Im Alter von 22 schloss er sein Philosophie-Studium ab. Schon vorher beschäftigte er sich mit Comedy. Sein erster eigener Roman, "Fag Hag" aus dem Jahr 1991 war ein großer Erfolg. Es folgten mehrere andere komische Romane, zahlreiche Kurzgeschichten und Sketche. Robert lebt mit Partner und Hund in Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 25, 2011
Rating: 3.25* of five
What would you do if you discovered a) your mother decides, after burying her third husband, to enter a Buddhist nunnery, b) but she's not your real mother after all since you're adopted and c) you had an identical twin, you successful Guppie mainstreamer you? You're barely out to yourself, still less the world, even though you've told people you're gay...you act like the OCD-ridden killjoy you are! And your twin? A macho jock, a father-of-five Ozzie clone, a fellow Guppie?
A drag queen.
Horrors!
And that's just the first thirty pages. The book follows the formula: Hero screws up his life, makes everyone around him wretched, finds the right man and drives him away, finds redemption by embracing all he rejected before, and all beds are filled with the right parties of the second part. But that isn't a bad thing, because the outcome might not be in doubt but the scenery gettin' there's mighty nice. Just like a really good date.
What would you do if you discovered a) your mother decides, after burying her third husband, to enter a Buddhist nunnery, b) but she's not your real mother after all since you're adopted and c) you had an identical twin, you successful Guppie mainstreamer you? You're barely out to yourself, still less the world, even though you've told people you're gay...you act like the OCD-ridden killjoy you are! And your twin? A macho jock, a father-of-five Ozzie clone, a fellow Guppie?
A drag queen.
Horrors!
And that's just the first thirty pages. The book follows the formula: Hero screws up his life, makes everyone around him wretched, finds the right man and drives him away, finds redemption by embracing all he rejected before, and all beds are filled with the right parties of the second part. But that isn't a bad thing, because the outcome might not be in doubt but the scenery gettin' there's mighty nice. Just like a really good date.
July 26, 2013
There’s an old writing rule attributed to Chekhov: “If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise, don’t put it there.”
This concept deals with foreshadowing, and the fact that all details, however small, are significant and should be integral parts of the story. Well in Robert Rodi’s “Drag Queen”, the gun (in this case Blossom Dearie) isn’t fired until twenty pages before the end. (If you don’t know who Blossom is, honey, google it.)
As I read, I envisaged a few ways ‘the gun” might be fired, but didn’t predict the way it was in the end. That unpredictability, for me, is always a plus.
Written in 1995, “Drag Queen” explores the world of chicks with dicks, in the purest sense of the phrase.
Underneath the humor, the book explores a few serious themes, and has some classic quotes:
The words were spoken by Kitten Kaboodle who just happens to be the long lost identical twin brother of Mitchell Sayer an uptight, anal retentive lawyer who specialises in real estate cases.
As you can imagine, the sparks fly. From the time poor Mitchell tracks down Donald and discovers to his horror he is a drag queen, he ends up in all sorts of dire predicaments, including sucking a few cocks in a leathermen orgy, something he’d never have dreamed of doing beforehand, and tries desperately to forget afterwards.* Not that that was Kitten’s fault, more Simon an ex-boyfriend who is heavily into the scene. No Kitten was too busy chasing after one of Mitchell's college pals or trying to avoid being upstaged by another drag queen who, God forbid, mimed her songs.
I really enjoyed the story. Campy, irreverent, sarcastic and over the top, just like the people it’s talking about. Underneath there is a worthwhile message. Mitchell's adoptive mother sums it up best:
This concept deals with foreshadowing, and the fact that all details, however small, are significant and should be integral parts of the story. Well in Robert Rodi’s “Drag Queen”, the gun (in this case Blossom Dearie) isn’t fired until twenty pages before the end. (If you don’t know who Blossom is, honey, google it.)
As I read, I envisaged a few ways ‘the gun” might be fired, but didn’t predict the way it was in the end. That unpredictability, for me, is always a plus.
Written in 1995, “Drag Queen” explores the world of chicks with dicks, in the purest sense of the phrase.
Underneath the humor, the book explores a few serious themes, and has some classic quotes:
“Elizabeth the First, She’s been my real obsession. Probably the first great drag-queen role model in history.”This dialogue came after a long section where the concept that men have had heroes to model themselves on ever since the time of Homer, while it's been different for women:
“I was determined to find a forgotten iconic tradition for women, and hon, it was just not there....The few women who did achieve any real influence or power over the years had to invent themselves from scratch.”
The words were spoken by Kitten Kaboodle who just happens to be the long lost identical twin brother of Mitchell Sayer an uptight, anal retentive lawyer who specialises in real estate cases.
As you can imagine, the sparks fly. From the time poor Mitchell tracks down Donald and discovers to his horror he is a drag queen, he ends up in all sorts of dire predicaments, including sucking a few cocks in a leathermen orgy, something he’d never have dreamed of doing beforehand, and tries desperately to forget afterwards.* Not that that was Kitten’s fault, more Simon an ex-boyfriend who is heavily into the scene. No Kitten was too busy chasing after one of Mitchell's college pals or trying to avoid being upstaged by another drag queen who, God forbid, mimed her songs.
I really enjoyed the story. Campy, irreverent, sarcastic and over the top, just like the people it’s talking about. Underneath there is a worthwhile message. Mitchell's adoptive mother sums it up best:
"Maybe he's someone desperately trying to find a corner of the world where he can fit...Someone who shows more courage every time he walks down a street than you or I have ever had to show in our lives.Especially as Donald says about himself:
"I'm just this ordinary nothing of a man. Someone you'd never look at twice if you saw him on the street. A big gray absence of a person."*Note, I read this book AFTER sending my beta, Kate, a synopsis of "Leather+Lace"!!! But it was good to see that great minds think alike! Maybe it was just as well I wasn't born a bloke as who knows what mischief I might have got up to....
May 11, 2020
This one was a lot of fun!
January 14, 2025
CAMPY! FUNNY! Laughed out loud lots
June 17, 2014
I first read this book in the mid-nineties with all of Rodi's other work. I was glad with the recent Kindle re-issue to get a chance to read it again.
The book is a fun, feel-good kind of read that we all need occasionally. A long lost identical twin who lives a life different than you'd expect. A cute set-up and a satisfying ending. I actually liked the book more than I remembered, it's a real page turner.
There were a few, maybe 20, typos from the conversion to paper. Most harmless, a couple really egregious, and I would have appreciated a proofread before publication.
- at 11%, "sensing she'd put a food awry" should be foot
- at 47% "Not. Not mother." should be no
- at 50% "offer to each a course" should be teach
- at 51% "Let me tell you a little but about the subject" should be bit
- at 55% "Been with all kids" should be kinds, hopefully
- at 88% "He though of having a look" should be thought
- at 90% "Just sent the bill." should be send
- at 91% "for her found himself" should be he
- at 95% "And he leapt at Mitchell."" doesn't need an end quote, it's not a quotation
These and a few other errors slightly marred an enjoyable experience.
The book is a fun, feel-good kind of read that we all need occasionally. A long lost identical twin who lives a life different than you'd expect. A cute set-up and a satisfying ending. I actually liked the book more than I remembered, it's a real page turner.
There were a few, maybe 20, typos from the conversion to paper. Most harmless, a couple really egregious, and I would have appreciated a proofread before publication.
- at 11%, "sensing she'd put a food awry" should be foot
- at 47% "Not. Not mother." should be no
- at 50% "offer to each a course" should be teach
- at 51% "Let me tell you a little but about the subject" should be bit
- at 55% "Been with all kids" should be kinds, hopefully
- at 88% "He though of having a look" should be thought
- at 90% "Just sent the bill." should be send
- at 91% "for her found himself" should be he
- at 95% "And he leapt at Mitchell."" doesn't need an end quote, it's not a quotation
These and a few other errors slightly marred an enjoyable experience.
July 17, 2017
#47 A book with an eccentric character
If there are ever eccentric characters, drag queens fit the bill.
I had no idea what to expect from this books, but I was delightfully surprised. It was funny and engaging and once I really got into it, I didn't want to stop.
Also, it made me remember that I need to catch up with the latest season of RuPaul's Drag Race soon.
If there are ever eccentric characters, drag queens fit the bill.
I had no idea what to expect from this books, but I was delightfully surprised. It was funny and engaging and once I really got into it, I didn't want to stop.
Also, it made me remember that I need to catch up with the latest season of RuPaul's Drag Race soon.
January 4, 2024
I read this (and several other Robert Rodi books) in the 90s when it first came out and loved it. I was newly queer and was so happy to have things to read that were also queer.
December 21, 2020
This was the first book I read by Robert Rodi and loved it. So much so I got the others. Its a well paced story and such a fun read.
July 2, 2018
I remember reading Drag Queen sometime in the early 00s, freshly out of the closet; it was a cute little satire that vaguely resembled real life at the time. Re-reading it as a queer adult, one who is now comfortable in who and what he is, I found this both a refreshing reminder of the fun of my early gay days and a more sobering reminder of the inherent danger we all felt back then. Not that there isn't some level of inherent danger today, especially given the current political climate in the country, but I do like to think we've come some way since Drag Queen was originally published, and I generally don't think twice about holding my boyfriend's hand out in public.
Drag Queen is a comedy of errors as Mitchell Sayer, an attorney at an established law firm, discovers he has a long lost twin brother. However, Donald is everything that Mitchell is not: he's flamboyant, in-your-face, and a drag queen. As each brother tries to reconcile their feelings about the other, circumstances bring them to an unexpected finale that challenges each brother's very core and brings them ever closer together.
Rodi captures each brother's personalities perfectly; Mitchell is so scared of being too gay, Donald is terrified of being normal. These may be read more as stereotypes now, but there is some definite truth in what each brother is feeling - and this is where Rodi shines as a writer. He gives an honest voice to the fears that many gay men, then and now, feel about who and what they are, and while he covers everything in the laughable shine of satire so that it doesn't seem so terribly bad, these are truths we have all at one time or another faced or are currently facing now. The fear of being found out, the fear of being harassed both physically and emotionally; these are all things that have been at the root of so many men not coming to terms with who they are or letting their friends or family get too close.
After I re-read Drag Queen, I discovered that Rodi wrote several novels chronicling the trials and tribulations of being gay in the 90s and I'm going to go back and start at the beginning of these stories and read my way thru them, both for a chuckle but also as a reminder of how far we've come and how far we still have to go.
Drag Queen is a comedy of errors as Mitchell Sayer, an attorney at an established law firm, discovers he has a long lost twin brother. However, Donald is everything that Mitchell is not: he's flamboyant, in-your-face, and a drag queen. As each brother tries to reconcile their feelings about the other, circumstances bring them to an unexpected finale that challenges each brother's very core and brings them ever closer together.
Rodi captures each brother's personalities perfectly; Mitchell is so scared of being too gay, Donald is terrified of being normal. These may be read more as stereotypes now, but there is some definite truth in what each brother is feeling - and this is where Rodi shines as a writer. He gives an honest voice to the fears that many gay men, then and now, feel about who and what they are, and while he covers everything in the laughable shine of satire so that it doesn't seem so terribly bad, these are truths we have all at one time or another faced or are currently facing now. The fear of being found out, the fear of being harassed both physically and emotionally; these are all things that have been at the root of so many men not coming to terms with who they are or letting their friends or family get too close.
After I re-read Drag Queen, I discovered that Rodi wrote several novels chronicling the trials and tribulations of being gay in the 90s and I'm going to go back and start at the beginning of these stories and read my way thru them, both for a chuckle but also as a reminder of how far we've come and how far we still have to go.
March 15, 2014
Drag Queen by Robert Rodi is incredibly charming; it is the perfect combination of humorous and thought provoking. I am always looking for the odd and controversial and I found it within this book.
A quick backround, Michael ,a gay law attorney, is told within a 15-minute conversation with him mom that he was adopted and had a long lost twin. Michael searches for his long lost twin and within another 15 minute conversation finds Donald, who invites him to meet him at the Tam Tam club. Michael arrives to found out Donald is actually Kitten a drag queen superstar. This doesn’t settle very well with the control freak hyper masculine Michael. Which is where the crazy begins!
As a female reader I was transfixed. Rodi gave me a view into the “underground” gay community from drag queens to leather orgies. He then takes these two extremes and tells a story about the melding of both.
Rodi’s comedic timing was spot on, whenever it got too heavy there was always a bit of humor to bring you back, either in the form of an erratic boss, aunt, mother or sister
Rodi’s characters where lovable and I was rooting for both within the story. They developed together as characters, Kitten became more open and sentimental and Michael became a more accepting genuine person. I LOVED being a part of that journey.
On a side note, cover art is spectacular I really want to blow it up and display it. There were a couple grammatical errors, simple things like missed periods and letters nothing too egregious or distracting.
Also a shout out to First Reads and Robert Rodi for allowing me to read the book and give my opinion. Thanks.
A quick backround, Michael ,a gay law attorney, is told within a 15-minute conversation with him mom that he was adopted and had a long lost twin. Michael searches for his long lost twin and within another 15 minute conversation finds Donald, who invites him to meet him at the Tam Tam club. Michael arrives to found out Donald is actually Kitten a drag queen superstar. This doesn’t settle very well with the control freak hyper masculine Michael. Which is where the crazy begins!
As a female reader I was transfixed. Rodi gave me a view into the “underground” gay community from drag queens to leather orgies. He then takes these two extremes and tells a story about the melding of both.
Rodi’s comedic timing was spot on, whenever it got too heavy there was always a bit of humor to bring you back, either in the form of an erratic boss, aunt, mother or sister
Rodi’s characters where lovable and I was rooting for both within the story. They developed together as characters, Kitten became more open and sentimental and Michael became a more accepting genuine person. I LOVED being a part of that journey.
On a side note, cover art is spectacular I really want to blow it up and display it. There were a couple grammatical errors, simple things like missed periods and letters nothing too egregious or distracting.
Also a shout out to First Reads and Robert Rodi for allowing me to read the book and give my opinion. Thanks.
June 10, 2014
Mitchell Sayer (Mitch, prominent gay attorney), is informed by his mother Bettina Varney that he has a twin brother. She/her 2nd husband Chester adopted Mitchell.
His mother is kind of out in left field & wants to join a Buddhist nunnery.
He tracks down his long lost sibling & low/behold Donald Sweet (he/she) is a transvestite & works at Tam-Tam club as Ms. Kitten Kaboodle (doyenne of despair). The boys also have 2 sisters.
There are lots of delightful fun loving Tam-Tam club employees or affiliates to meet: Barbarella Fitzgerald, Zoe Briggs, Rondell Davis, Reginia, Gordy, Wesley, Pierre, Carlotta (bouncer), Simon, Jennifer, Jerrold (talent agent), & Skye Atchenson (outlandish weekly).
How will their friendship turnout? What will happen to their mother?
Cool book cover, awesome pictures, great font & writing style. A very well humorous written could be true-to-life eye awakening fun filled exciting book. It was very easy to read/follow & never a dull moment from start/finish. No grammar errors, repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of frightening & unique scenarios & a great set of characters to keep track of. A book you won’t want to put down. This would make a great real life family dysfunctional (or normal) type movie or mini TV series. No doubt in my mind a very easy rating of 5 stars for this book.
Thank you for the free Autographed book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
His mother is kind of out in left field & wants to join a Buddhist nunnery.
He tracks down his long lost sibling & low/behold Donald Sweet (he/she) is a transvestite & works at Tam-Tam club as Ms. Kitten Kaboodle (doyenne of despair). The boys also have 2 sisters.
There are lots of delightful fun loving Tam-Tam club employees or affiliates to meet: Barbarella Fitzgerald, Zoe Briggs, Rondell Davis, Reginia, Gordy, Wesley, Pierre, Carlotta (bouncer), Simon, Jennifer, Jerrold (talent agent), & Skye Atchenson (outlandish weekly).
How will their friendship turnout? What will happen to their mother?
Cool book cover, awesome pictures, great font & writing style. A very well humorous written could be true-to-life eye awakening fun filled exciting book. It was very easy to read/follow & never a dull moment from start/finish. No grammar errors, repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of frightening & unique scenarios & a great set of characters to keep track of. A book you won’t want to put down. This would make a great real life family dysfunctional (or normal) type movie or mini TV series. No doubt in my mind a very easy rating of 5 stars for this book.
Thank you for the free Autographed book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
January 1, 2010
My favourite Robert Rodi book!
Kitten Kaboodle and his (or perhaps that should be her?!) brother are both so likeable and identifiable that it is really hard to pick a sick - simply go along for the ride and see where this sibling relationship ends up.
If nothing else the 'beefcake' in this book is all man and while there are no sex scenes to steam up the windows at night, I doubt there will be a gay man who reads this book that will not have wistful thoughts about how lucky Kitten is to snag such a hunk (however briefly).
Kitten Kaboodle and his (or perhaps that should be her?!) brother are both so likeable and identifiable that it is really hard to pick a sick - simply go along for the ride and see where this sibling relationship ends up.
If nothing else the 'beefcake' in this book is all man and while there are no sex scenes to steam up the windows at night, I doubt there will be a gay man who reads this book that will not have wistful thoughts about how lucky Kitten is to snag such a hunk (however briefly).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2013
The Ultimate Drag Queen Novel
Okay, to be fair, there aren't nearly enough novels featuring drag queens in lead roles, so the competition isn't exactly fierce. Still, this is the best. Robert Rodi does a great job of crafting solid characters while avoiding stereotypes, and he keeps the comedy coming at a brisk pace. He also manages to trot out the old twins trading roles cliche and imbue it with new life. A fast, fun read.
Okay, to be fair, there aren't nearly enough novels featuring drag queens in lead roles, so the competition isn't exactly fierce. Still, this is the best. Robert Rodi does a great job of crafting solid characters while avoiding stereotypes, and he keeps the comedy coming at a brisk pace. He also manages to trot out the old twins trading roles cliche and imbue it with new life. A fast, fun read.
August 12, 2014
The character development was pretty interesting and kept me going, but it started off really slow and almost made me put down the book to never look back.
I'm glad I kept reading, however I did come to the realization that it's a fairly light read that doesn't really go too much in depth and really is predictable. No surprises here for the average reader.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I'm glad I kept reading, however I did come to the realization that it's a fairly light read that doesn't really go too much in depth and really is predictable. No surprises here for the average reader.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
February 16, 2020
3 stars is a bit generous (2.75, perhaps), but this book had its moments. Ample predictability. Some outcomes were unrealistic. Very much a product of the 90s. Raised some questions about gender performance and identity but definitely kept the world of Chicago and drag incredibly small. The writing style is underwhelming and there are some obvious typos, but some of the relationships have heartwarming features.
July 19, 2008
Fun premise: a straitlaced gay lawyer finds out he was adopted, and his (heretofore unknown) fraternal twin is a drag queen. Rodi sits back and sets some sparks a-flyin' between them. Mildly amusing, but still I wish the flames had licked even higher.
June 11, 2015
Although this book was filled with stereotyped characters, the author's use of language and the (slightly predictable) but incredibly campy path those characters take, as well as the underlying messages of acceptance make this a delightful and enjoyable read.
February 6, 2010
Its a fun book. Kinda predictable or formula or something... but a "light read" and easy on the mind.
December 24, 2010
fun read, though I could see what was coming a mile off
October 22, 2012
I loved this book. I was given it by a very dear friend and it did remind me of him and make me laugh out loud!!
May 19, 2015
Even though I was in love with this book and its characters by the end, I'm changing my five-star review to four just because it was a bit slow to get off the ground.
November 4, 2015
I loved this book so much!
May 16, 2024
Funny and campy and fun, shot through with the slightest twinge of exposure therapy if you consider yourself under-exposed to queer history and radicalism
March 20, 2007
Even better than Fag Hag!
May 2, 2017
This was an enjoyable fun fast read. I enjoyed this one a lot more than I thought I would. Plus, it took place in Chicago which made it even better. I gave it four stars, even though it had a somewhat slow start and one of the main characters took almost the entire book to be even a little likeable. Some of the terminology is out dated by today's standards (I believe this was written in the mid 1990s) but the positive sentiment remained. Four stars and best reads pile.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews