Synopsis:
Misha is a jaded scriptwriter working in Hollywood, and he’s seen it all. All the toxic personalities and coverups, the structural obstructions to reform, even dead actors brought back to screen by CGI – and finally, maybe, the hint of change.
But having just been nominated for his first Oscar, Misha is pressured by his producers to kill off a gay character in the upcoming season finale—”for the algorithm”—on the same day he witnesses to gruesome death-by-piano of treasured animator (and notorious creep) Raymond Nelson.
Success, it seems, isn’t the answer to everything.
With the help of his best friend and paranoid database queen, Tara, and his boyfriend, Zeke, Misha has face down his traumatic childhood and past mistakes. But in a paranoid industry that thinks nothing of killing off talent, it’s not so simple to find a way to do what’s right.
Review:
A novel that balances horror and heart, Chuck Tingle’s “Bury Your Gays,” is for anybody who has ever felt under-represented, overlooked or ignored. Throughout this anti-capitalist, queer, “Hollywood horror,” Chuck pulls on heartstrings, churns stomachs and causes fits of laughter between grimaces. “Bury Your Gays,” has certainly earned its place amongst Tingle’s other titles (sitting proudly betwixt “Helicopter Man Pounds Dinosaur Billionaire Ass,” and “My Ass Is Haunted By The Gay Unicorn Colonel,”) and I can not wait to see how he proves that LOVE IS REAL next.
This time we follow Misha Byrne, a Hollywood horror writer, who has reached a difficult point in his career. The final of his hit show “Travellers,” is rapidly approaching, and it is finally time for the two protagonists to confess their long-simmering love to one another- or so he thought. Unfortunately, “everyone loves a queer tragedy,” so, his studio demanded that he kill the couple off immediately after. He is offered an ultimatum, they stay alive and straight, or he must bury his gays (if you will). This difficult decision shockingly becomes the least of his worries when he begins being stalked by some very familiar faces- faces from his very own filmography. When his character “The Smoker,” places a curse on him, and “Lady Why,” wreaks havoc on his flight, Misha must consider the lengths the studio is willing to go to for ratings. Is this simply an elaborate ruse, is he truly facing the supernatural, or is it something else entirely?
The character of Misha is one of the best, bringing humour and heart to this hair-raising horror. We read from his perspective, peppered with flashbacks, which help explain many of his decisions. Having struggled with his identity both then, and now, the choice he faces is particularly difficult for him, having dealt with the effects of queer erasure in the media and homophobia. As a result of this there are times in which he feels ashamed of his sexuality and unsure of himself. His moments of self doubt resonate powerfully, illustrating the psychological toll of societal stigma upon personal identity. Ultimately however, he directs his “fuck ‘em,” attitude straight at Hollywood, commenting on its perpetuation of stereotypes and erasure of nuanced queer narratives. His relatable narrative voice, but also his flaws and anxieties demonstrate that queer folk are not any different from anyone else, and they are certainly not the enemy.
The real enemy is in fact the algorithm. A creativity crushing and originality stifling plague, particularly in relation to publishing, AI has been absolutely detrimental, for artists, for editors, for writers. In “Bury Your Gays,” Tingle begins to explore the sinister implications and ramifications of what can happen when this technology is wielded by the wrong people, and how it can be (and already is being) used to suppress creativity and endanger creatives. It, of course, has no place in these industries.
I’ve yet to read Camp Damascus, a crime I know, although based off of Anna and Josh’s reviews, it sounds like Bury Your Gays is a continuation of Tingle’s signature creative but vomit inducing body horror. Echoing Clive Barker in grisly passages reminiscent of classic gore-fests such as “The Thing,” Chuck certainly does not hold back. His vivid and vile descriptions are offset by his sarcastic and satirical approach to Hollywood culture, meaning readers are permanently unsure as to whether they’ll be giggling or gagging when they turn the page.
To conclude, Bury Your Gays is a novel that demonstrates love is real, and life is worthy of celebration. It reads like a gorey, queer goosebumps had a love child with a gorey, queer “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” and as you’d imagine, it’s a very fun time, with some very important messages. Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC, “Bury Your Gays,” will take over the world July 9th 2024.
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