We Play Ourselves by Jen Silverman

[+ Lucky]

This novel about a young, queer playwright who takes a big tumble in life was quite interesting. The theater aspect is top notch, but there are other themes involving a gay couple, a movie in the making, and the protagonist's relationship with a variety of people that kept me reading. Overall, one accomplishment of the novel was to understand better why the use of the word "queer" is an apt description of sexual otherness. Young people not wanting labels as gay or lesbian are more comfortable being described as queer. This appropriation of the word goes a long way to mitigate its use as an insult. I never thought I would come to accept that!