ARGONAUT BOOKS

Join us for a relaxed chat about a different queer book every month! The queer book club is about exploring modern and classic queer literature, essays, poetry, history and more. A free-form discussion group where all are welcome!

Our book this month is 'Revolutionary Acts' by Jason Okundaye

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In this landmark work, Jason Okundaye meets an elder generation of Black gay men and finds a spirited community full of courage, charisma and good humour, hungry to tell its past - of nightlife, resistance, political fights, loss, gossip, sex, romance and vulgarity. Through their conversations he seeks to reconcile the Black and gay narratives of Britain, narratives frequently cleaved as distinct and unrelated.

Tracing these men's journeys and arrivals to South London through the seventies, eighties and nineties from the present day, Okundaye relays their stories with rare compassion, listening as they share intimate memories and reflect upon their lives. They endured and fought against the peak of the AIDS epidemic, built social groups and threw underground parties; they went to war with institutions (and with each other) and created meaning within a society which was often indifferent to their existence. Revolutionary Acts renders a singular portrait of Britain from the perspective of those buffeted by the winds of marginalisation and discrimination.

It is a portrait marked by resilience and self-determination, inspired by the love and beauty Black men have found in each other.

FAQs

How long does each book club last?

Each book club is an hour and a half, ending around 8.30pm.

Do I have to finish reading the book before coming along?

Ideally, but no! If you can't, or don't want to, finish the book, we still want to hear your thoughts. We will however spoil every aspect of the book during discussion.