Praise for GAY MEN DON’T GET FAT by Simon Doonan:
"Simon Doonan is one funny gay nugget."
—Chelsea Handler
"If I were really short, gay, and way funnier than I am now, I would try to pass myself off as Simon Doonan."
—Malcolm Gladwell
"Simon Doonan is the Auntie Mame every up-and-coming future legend should have, the gay best friend who always gives it to you straight."
—RuPaul
"Simon writes like a lethal combo of Robert Benchley and Dorothy Parker. I laughed so hard while reading this book I nearly split my Spanx."
—Joan Rivers
"The most un-tragic book about being gay ever written."
—John Waters
"Dining with Mr. Doonan is like lunching with the 'Jersey Shore'-era grandnephew of Oscar Wilde....there are times when his thoughts on the sexual orientation of food can be unexpectedly eye-opening."
—Jeff Gordinier, The New York Times
"[D]eliciously mischievous wit...Doonan is the David Sedaris of the style universe."
—Christopher Muther, The Boston Globe
“Blisteringly funny.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“[Gay Men Don’t Get Fat] will certainly have you laughing until your sides hurt.”
—Alyssa Vingan, Marie Claire
“In addition to educating those not-in-the-know, Doonan regales readers with tongue-in-cheek commentary and witchy barbs that bespeak a more militant Joan Rivers.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The sense of humor … is matched by a very real motivation to empower women.”
—Kerry Pieri, Harper's Bazaar
Slate style columnist and former window dresser dishes on everything from the sartorial to the sensationalist. Doonan (Eccentric Glamour, 2008, etc.) may have dedicated his generous collection of humorous, autobiographical essays to "the straight women of the world," but they're definitely not his target audience. His commentary addresses the gay male community ("French women…with penises") and often scorns their heterosexual counterparts upon whom, he writes, the arts of fashion, appearance, fine dining, culture and etiquette are completely lost. Doonan touches briefly on a wooly childhood in London, raised by a family "more Munsters than Partridge." He was a compulsive youngster captivated by gossipy tabloids; in adulthood, he bungled several attempts at successful street hustling before finding a life in Hollywood. The "pixie-sized" author refers to himself as a "poofter" with a penchant for all things flowery. His "gay canon" of must-see media and a buzzword glossary complement a hilarious, fork-tongued chapter on gay and straight foods. Doonan offers precious perspectives on the unique companionship proffered by a "fag hag," random lesbian life, divas worthy of gay adulation and the "car-crash recklessness" of overly flamboyant personalities like fashion maven Bobby Trendy ("Suzie Wong meets Caligula"). The outspoken raconteur reveals little on the subject of personal vulnerability (barring an episode of homophobia on the street), but he admits feeling intimidated by the hefty, hirsute "bear" subculture. Exploring more sensitive terrain would have balanced out the tartness of his visceral observations, though many are blisteringly funny. Just when the onslaught of arms-akimbo posturing finally starts to wane, Doonan delivers his best advice yet: "Don't sit at home clutching your pearls in the dark." Nutty silliness best appreciated by its intended audience.
