Spoiler-free
'Bury Your Gays' is a queer horror novel centred around the trope of the same name. This trope is that LGBT characters in media must face tragic fates, I.e death. Our main character, Misha, is a horror screenwriter in Hollywood who has been given a choice by the producers of his hit TV show. Make his two leading characters straight, or kill them off, thus burying the gays. He refuses either option, and is seemingly stalked by the monsters from his own creations.
This was a lot of fun. Corny at times, but I actually think when it leaned into the cringe, that's when it shone the brightest. This section had me creasing:
"I lean back in my seat and turn down the car stereo, which has been blasting the snarling howl of British punk band IDLES into my eardrums at an admittedly dangerous volume, and check in on myself."
It's just so funny to me that IDLES are getting a shout-out in an american horror book. The way this is written and how I imagine this scene in my head is so cringy, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't love it.
The main character, Misha, kinda sucked. I guess he was experiencing trauma for basically the entire book, so it's probably not the best timing to judge him, but still... He grained on me. I will say that some of his flashback 'inspiration' chapters were very touching and emotional. He also has good taste, given his boyfriend - Zeke. He was adorable and so perfect for Misha, as he probably would have been for anyone, to be fair.
On the other hand, the monsters which Misha wrote/created were phenomenal.
The Smoker. My damn, the visual design of this character is so vivid in my mind. Especially in regards to his eyes.
'The most unusual thing about The Smoker, however, are his eyes. He has no eyebrows, nor eyelids, and therefore his expression is hauntingly difficult to read. He can’t blink—because there’s nothing to blink with—and his gaze feels like it cuts right through you, directly into your soul."
The concept of The Smoker asking for a light, and if you don't have one, you have 5 days left to live was really cool and original. I could see this guy in a movie for sure, and I'd lap it up!
Mrs Whys! Mrs Whys... another one of Mishas' creations and another icon. I imagined her moving like a Sims character or even like that flash game QWOP, where you have to control each limb with a single keyboard key. You know, moving in that clunky way, just human enough but not fully there. The concept of her character was also really cool, but I'd let you discover that for yourself.
There is also a black lamb that was giving me major Black Phillip vibes! Of course, I was living for that!
Side note - There is a scene with a worm in this, and it made me so wriggly inside. The body horror of it all made me instantly want to rewatch The Substance, so that's exactly what I did!
This is a queer horror novel, so naturally, the theme of sexuality is prevalent throughout. There is even some asexual representation, which I greatly appreciate and isn't seen enough. The discussions around sexuality were both insightful and relatable. Here is a particular extract I enjoyed:
"Queer people found a home in my writing, and that’s enough to be proud of, but just think of what potential future could’ve blossomed if I’d been more open about my real life.
It suddenly occurs to me this is the first time I’ve accepted my own shortcomings on the topic. Being quietly out of the closet was always good enough, but as the hourglass of my life drains I can’t help considering if good enough is really what I’d like written on my tombstone.
Looming death will certainly make you wonder."
This book also makes some important commentary on Rainbow Capitalism. Too often companies try and profit off of LGBT stories, particularly involving tragedy, without a care for the actual representation. I really appreciated how Chuck Tingle approached this topic and discussed these ideas through the lens of Misha.
In terms of plot, throughout the first half, I wasn't sure what direction we were going in, but when it dawned on me what was happening, I was initially disappointed. However, as the story progressed, I think the direction it takes worked really well. It also connects to my biggest fear, so it was effective for my personal scarefactor rating.
Final thoughts
The overall premise of this book is what makes it interesting and remains to be its selling point after finishing it. So if you are even a little bit intrigued by the concept of 'Bury Your Gays', I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I'm excited to see what Chuck Tingle's other books are like now. What a fun name, Chuck Tingle.
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘 4.25 Stars
PS. The characters of The Smoker and Mrs Whys are still very much at the front of my mind. I'm obsessed.
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