Books like Excuse Me, Sir!

I loved this book for it’s many revelations about closeted, conservative gay men and women who held high positions in Washington DC and the US government over many decades. Also, that it covers those who were brave enough, or in such circumstances, that they proclaimed their orientation forthrightly and publicly, and in doing so, those few heroic souls moved the USA forward toward a more open society. Kirchick ultimately shows the progress that has been made toward acceptance of homosexuals.

One of the funniest books I’ve ever read.
Gogol is a master of depicting human foibles and frailties.
He presents vivid character types, which may be seen as peculiarly Russian, however these sorts are universal among humans everywhere. A prime example is the miser Plushkin or the braggart/liar/gambler Nozdrev.
For me, one of the most amusing aspects of this novel is the tortuous digressions which take the reader down rabbit holes that might include the individual personalities of the horses that pull the hero’s carriage, or a discourse on neckerchiefs.
Another droll feature of Gogol’s writing is what the introduction describes thus: “Similes are sometimes longer and more elaborate than what they are supposed to illustrate.”
The English translation makes the novel feel colloquial and familiar to an English speaking reader.
In spite of all its good humor, the book becomes serious at moments when Gogol lets fly a profound… show more.