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Lettin it All Hang Out: An Autobiography
by
RuPaul
,
David Cashion
A provocative glimpse into the mind of America's foremost drag queen includes the inside story of how he rose to stardom as a supermodel, plus beauty tips and more than fifty black-and-white photographs. Reprint.
Paperback
,
240 pages
Published
June 6th 1996
by Hyperion
(first published 1995)
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Community Reviews
(showing
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1,242)
This book is exactly what you think it is. It's not deep literature. It's not a psychological study. It is simply the story of a man who looks stunning in a dress.
RuPaul discusses his early years, working in the drag scene. He struggles emotionally and financially. Talks about his family. Talks about the success of his drag.
I was hoping there would be an in-depth explanation about all the secrets of the beauty of drag, but I suppose those secrets are the key to his success.
An easy read. No more ...more
RuPaul discusses his early years, working in the drag scene. He struggles emotionally and financially. Talks about his family. Talks about the success of his drag.
I was hoping there would be an in-depth explanation about all the secrets of the beauty of drag, but I suppose those secrets are the key to his success.
An easy read. No more ...more
Everybody say Love!
I seriously love RuPaul. Ru is a stunningly beautiful woman with the best pair of gams since Betty Grable. In this engaging chatty and glamorous (this book is overflowing with glamour thanks to an abundance of photos) autobiography he shares his path to fame and superstardom! Despite a few bumps, like working for Michael Alig and that VMA debacle Ru stays true to Ru and becomes the shiniest campiest diva since Liberace. How delightful it all is!
I must admit for years it has ...more
I seriously love RuPaul. Ru is a stunningly beautiful woman with the best pair of gams since Betty Grable. In this engaging chatty and glamorous (this book is overflowing with glamour thanks to an abundance of photos) autobiography he shares his path to fame and superstardom! Despite a few bumps, like working for Michael Alig and that VMA debacle Ru stays true to Ru and becomes the shiniest campiest diva since Liberace. How delightful it all is!
I must admit for years it has ...more
Mar 25, 2012
Molly
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
adult-non-fiction
,
memoir-bio
I love Ru. I didn't think this was the best writing I've ever read, and I always like more salaciousness in my memoirs, but who cares- he's so great. For a man who makes a living wearing what some could consider to be a costume, he manages to be anything but fake.
This I read when I was in Hawaii a couple of years ago. Never has a book been so funny and inspiring at the same time. Ru really does have the best message behind his story and that is love.
All of a sudden I am obsessed with RuPaul. I suppose it started when I was twelve and saw him on the MTV Video Music Awards and first learned what a drag queen was. I still remember feeling starstruck and thinking, "WHO is that gorgeous giant woman!?" I guess that feeling has been dormant until now. It all began when I was recently home with a cold and started watching RuPaul's Drag Race. I was hooked and binge watched six seasons (currently getting through All Stars and waiting for season seven
...more
I loved reading about Rupaul came to fame. I loved how honest and down to earth he is about his childhood. I would have loved if there was more about his romantic life as I felt he avoided it until the very last page.
The book was written in 95, I would love to read something recent although from watching his reality show he hasn't changed.
The book was written in 95, I would love to read something recent although from watching his reality show he hasn't changed.
Okay, I thought this book would be just a fun read, but Who has a better outlook on life than RuPaul?! Just love him!
Also, neat pics of him inside, including as a kid with a fro that takes two pages:)
Also, neat pics of him inside, including as a kid with a fro that takes two pages:)
I just have one thing to say: You better work.
#1 book. Believe.
"In this book I'm going to show you that I am just like everybody else. I hope when you are done reading this book, you'll put it down and say 'Oh my god! I've just read my own life story.' That's what I mean by letting it all hang out."
"One of the questions I am so often asked is, 'What do I call you? He or she?' And I say 'You can call me he, you can call me she, you can call me Regis and Kathie Lee, just so long as you call me.'"
"My immediate family, who were my role models ...more
"In this book I'm going to show you that I am just like everybody else. I hope when you are done reading this book, you'll put it down and say 'Oh my god! I've just read my own life story.' That's what I mean by letting it all hang out."
"One of the questions I am so often asked is, 'What do I call you? He or she?' And I say 'You can call me he, you can call me she, you can call me Regis and Kathie Lee, just so long as you call me.'"
"My immediate family, who were my role models ...more
I ordered this on Abebooks (at a pretty low price, considering how expensive it tends to be these days!) and I am so happy I did. This book was a very fun read, great anecdotes about clubbing in the 80s and 90s, and of course, really cool to see how Rupaul made it all happen for himself.
This book was surprisingly inspiring - a couple of real gems that made me glow with happiness. Worth a read - it's so fun! If you can find a copy....
This book was surprisingly inspiring - a couple of real gems that made me glow with happiness. Worth a read - it's so fun! If you can find a copy....
I loved this book. Ru-Paul is a wonderful human. This bit of honesty was insightful, encouraging, and FUN. we are let in on some industry bits, a success story, humility and pride. Recommended pleasure reading.
really wanted to love this book, but there isn't too much i didn't already know within. plus, some of the self-aggrandizing, while expected, and even celebrated, got a teensy bit tiresome.
I love RuPaul! I read the entire autobiography in his voice and it incredible to learn about his life journey. "If you don't love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else?"
I've been a RuPaul fan since I first saw her on television. I just thought she was a magical creature, and, as it turns out, she pretty much is! This book was definitely written in the mid-90s, but it's all Ru! The end gets a little bit preachy, but overall it's a great message from someone who could have turned out really messed up but who, instead, has an amazingly positive outlook on life, is a real go-getter, is truly uplifting, and is the glamazon supermodel of the world. Everybody say, "Lo
...more
Without getting too personal, my life has been in flux for some time. Reading RuPaul's book helped me put some aspects in perspective. Seriously. It's not a self-help book but he has good common sense advice for those lacking in that precious gene.
This was a welcome and fun read. There are some serious parts because his life hasn't always been fun but he sees the lessons in everything and applies what he's learned to having a joyful, healthy good time.
This was a welcome and fun read. There are some serious parts because his life hasn't always been fun but he sees the lessons in everything and applies what he's learned to having a joyful, healthy good time.
This was about you'd expect. There's a lot more to it than there is to
Workin' It!
, and I learned a lot about RuPaul's career than I didn't know. Because it's RuPaul, there's a lot of advice about the value of self-affirmation. There isn't, however, much about his personal relationships, besides those he had/has with his parents. He barely mentions any romance at all, so it does seem a little more superficial than it could have been.
The tone is so personal you feel like a voyeur. But very warm and positive in addition to being frank.
It also feels very young compared to the Ru you see on TV in Drag Race who rarely reveals personal things and is all refined-persona-on-display. It's got that "I'm in my mid 30s now and I have so much more figured out than I did in my 20s vibe.
It also feels very young compared to the Ru you see on TV in Drag Race who rarely reveals personal things and is all refined-persona-on-display. It's got that "I'm in my mid 30s now and I have so much more figured out than I did in my 20s vibe.
Fabulous look at Ru's early life. I particularly relished the insight into his early adventures with a young Lady Bunny and others, tearing up the streets of Atlanta and Manhattan in the 80s. Also, the various lists of RuPaul's Favourite Things are a great look back at the early 90s camp zeitgeist.
Aug 25, 2007
Leslie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
RuPaul fans
Shelves:
sexuality
,
africanamerican
I've always admired RuPaul, like when she wore that sequined Rebel flag dress. I also liked her song "supermodel". Over six feet tall, she has a very commanding presence! RuPaul tells her story of growing up in Atlanta and of being a drag queen. I can't get enough of her.
Very interesting to read about RuPaul's upbringing and history leading up to her breakout success in the 90s, but it's pretty glossy when it comes to Ru's personal life and it feels dated. An updated edition could probably fix these minor complaints, though!
This book let me pretend that I was hanging out with Ru, maybe drinking some coffee, conducting the world's most laid-back interview. I wish that had really happened, of course, but this book is the next best thing. LOVE HER.
See full review here:
http://thesteadfastreader.blogspot.co...
Fabulous. Conveys a positive image while looking into the life of a Superstar. Bravo, RuPaul.
Fabulous. Conveys a positive image while looking into the life of a Superstar. Bravo, RuPaul.
This book is an amazing biography of RuPaul. From RuPauls early music with the groups RuPaul and the U-Hauls to wee wee Pole and RuPauls favorite movies this book doesn't quit. The pictures are great too.
kind of dated at this point, this was "Supermodel" era RuPaul. it was interesting enough, with some wisdom to share. not as exciting or funny as I think RuPaul is in front of the camera, however.
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The hard work he put into his career is evident, while this book revealed his spiritual side. He is the whole package and deserves every success in the world.
this book was interesting. the writing isn't incredible, but it's genuine. i enjoyed the inside look into RuPaul's history and experiences.
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RuPaul (born RuPaul Andre Charles) is an American drag performer, dance music singer, actor, and songwriter who gained fame in the 1990s; appearing in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. Though a catty attitude is often associated with drag queens, RuPaul intentionally displayed a "love one another" attitude to be set apart from them. Although primarily known for an e
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