While the interviews are great, the frequent ponderings by the historians on if people's personal relationships with parents/ friends/ colleagues were influenced by repressing their sexuality did remove me from the oral histories. Eg. "Reviewing Joshua's rocky transition from rural lad to city dweller, we wonder what role sexuality played in his darkening mood," or the endless "perhaps" statements that assume the realities of participants. While overall great, these parts read to me as a power imbalance between the historians and interviewees with the historians given full reign to ponder on the intricacies of people's lives in the permanent record, rather than allowing the audience to do that independently.

I think this social history book gives a really good sense of how attitudes have changed in Australia, and how how some things haven't - being LGBTIQ in regional Australia for example. This book was a fascinating read, but would have benefitted from further editing - to avoid repetition and to create a less meandering read in one or two parts.

really enjoyed this - was especially interesting seeing lgbt history and specific peoples experiences in an australian context. didn't realise when i started reading but the interviews are from 2013-15 - so some nearly ten years ago and pre-marraige equality - ie a lot has changed in these 10 years!! also a shame that they focussed exclusively on gay men and lesbians