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The House of Hidden Meanings
The House of Hidden Meanings: A Memoir | RuPaul
From international drag superstar and pop culture icon RuPaul, comes his most revealing and personal work to datea brutally honest, surprisingly poignant, and deeply intimate memoir of growing up Black, poor, and queer in a broken home to discovering the power of performance, found family, and self-acceptance. A profound introspection of his life, relationships, and identity, The House of Hidden Meanings is a self-portrait of the legendary icon on the road to global fame and changing the way the world thinks about drag. Central to RuPauls success has been his chameleonic adaptability. From drag icon to powerhouse producer of one of the worlds largest television franchises, RuPauls ever-shifting nature has always been part of his brand as both supermodel and supermogul. Yet that adaptability has made him enigmatic to the public. In this memoir, his most intimate and detailed book yet, RuPaul makes himself truly known. In The House of Hidden Meanings, RuPaul strips away all artifice and recounts the story of his life with breathtaking clarity and tenderness, bringing his signature wisdom and wit to his own biography. From his early years growing up as a queer Black kid in San Diego navigating complex relationships with his absent father and temperamental mother, to forging an identity in the punk and drag scenes of Atlanta and New York, to finding enduring love with his husband Georges LeBar and self-acceptance in sobriety, RuPaul excavates his own biography life-story, uncovering new truths and insights in his personal history. Here in RuPauls singular and extraordinary story is a manual for livinga personal philosophy that testifies to the value of chosen family, the importance of harnessing what makes you different, and the transformational power of facing yourself fearlessly. A profound introspection of his life, relationships, and identity, The House of Hidden Meanings is a self-portrait of the legendary icon on the road to global fame and changing the way the world thinks about drag. I've always loved to view the world with analytical eyes, examining what lies beneath the surface. Here, the focus is on my own lifeas RuPaul Andre Charles, says RuPaul. If were all born naked and the rest is drag, then this is RuPaul totally out of drag. This is RuPaul stripped bare.
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review
IReadThereforeIBlog
Mehso-so

RuPaul Charles is a drag icon, actor, podcaster and the host and producer of an international drag show competition franchise. Although this memoir intends to reveal the real RuPaul and he talks a lot about a traumatic childhood through to the beginnings of his drag career and how he met his husband Georges LeBar, there‘s a therapy filter at play here, which creates a sense of distance so I came away feeling like I hadn‘t seen the real RuPaul.

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Amor4Libros
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Pickpick

Loved this memoir. Ru‘s life outlook is inspirational. It was great to get some insight behind the celebrity.

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dariazeoli
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After more than 7 years of using Leio to track my reading, I had to look to an alternative as the app broke sometime this spring and stats aren‘t accurate. So giving Bookly another go.

Does anyone know if there‘s a way to mark a book Finished without rating it? I‘m terrible with rating and I had to start RuPaul this morning before I could close the figurative book on this one.

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Amor4Libros
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Fresh audiobook…Love RuPaul!

kelli7990 I like him too. Maybe I should read his memoir. I‘ve watched his show RuPaul‘s Drag Race and I found it entertaining. I was laughing while watching it because of the drama and how catty the drag queens are towards each other. I need to watch it again. I feel like I need to watch something to entertain myself. 3mo
49 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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DieAReader
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Pickpick

#ReadAway2024 #Wardens2024 #BookSpinBingo

I‘ve always been curious about Ru, both his persona & the man behind it. I absolutely loved this audiobook😉📖. It is honest and raw, offering us both the story & insight behind who he is today.

CoverToCoverGirl Another one off the never ending list. 🤓 4mo
DieAReader @CoverToCoverGirl 🤓📚Slowly moving my GR count⬆️ 4mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 4mo
DieAReader @TheAromaofBooks ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 4mo
48 likes1 stack add4 comments
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StellaDz
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Pickpick

RuPaul has an outlook on life that is truly inspirational. Coming out of hardships, suffering and struggles, with a strength beyond words, it was a pleasure to listen to their story. This isn‘t a celebrity tell-all but a tale of knowing you were made to shine, and going about achieving your goals.

The audiobook is also read by RuPaul which adds to the feeling of sitting down with them to listen.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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StellaDz
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My 15 hour allowance for Spotify audiobooks (dumb) is back so let‘s finished the last LGBTQ audiobook with the absolute Queen!!

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JenniferEgnor
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Pickpick

This is the first of Rupaul‘s books I‘ve read. I remember being entranced by him when I was a child; I loved seeing him on tv. Today, my husband and I frequently watch his Drag Race, and love going to drag shows. This memoir taught me things about Rupaul I didn‘t know, and I loved how real and direct it was. His early days were wild and filled with partying. He found his peoplx, created his own kind of drag, and took the first steps that⬇️

JenniferEgnor would lead him to become the global star he is today. We all know how good he looks, no matter what he‘s wearing. His suits are an homage to his mother, who not only always believed in him, but believed there would be no other motherfucker alive like him. She was right. 6mo
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JenniferEgnor
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The story in my family went like this: When my mother was pregnant with me, she went to see a psychic, who told her that the baby she was carrying was a boy and that he was bound to be famous. With that in mind, she gave me the name Rupaul because, as she put it, “Ain‘t no motherfucker alive with a name like that.” Fame, for me, was less a dream than a predestination.

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JenniferEgnor
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The big lie of our lives is that we are powerless—that we need something else, like a job, or a partner, or fame, or the dopamine hijack of a hit of cocaine, or the chilly metallic weight of a gun—to grant us power. We mistake easy pleasure, or a rush of adrenaline—for power. But real power isn‘t a high: It‘s something else, grounded and secure. Much as we seek power in every corner of our lives, it‘s always already in us; it‘s impossible to be⬇️

JenniferEgnor powerless if you recognize that you yourself are power. Life is power. Finding that power within yourself—that‘s the hard part. 6mo
14 likes1 comment
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BkClubCare
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I won! 🙌 🏆 🎀 🎖️ 📚❗️

Thank you so much @wanderinglynn ❤️ Email has been sent. I just might have a drawing to give it ON after I read it; twould be a Litsy-Giveathon-Trail! Yes, be watching this space (BkClubCare 🌎) for info as it all unfurls…😆

Meshell1313 Congrats! And awesome idea!!! 🎉❤️ 7mo
BkClubCare @Meshell1313 - thanks! 7mo
29 likes1 stack add2 comments
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wanderinglynn
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🎉 Congrats @BkClubCare 🎉

Send your mailing to: lynn@wanderinglynn.com
and I‘ll get this in the mail to you!

Thank you to everyone who entered my #RuGiveaway

Meshell1313 Congrats! 🎉 👏🏻 7mo
Deblovestoread Congrats! 🎉🎉🎉 @BkClubCare 7mo
BkClubCare 🤩 😮 🤯 WOW! 7mo
46 likes3 comments
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Twocougs
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Bailedbailed

I appreciate his honesty about his history. I just got tired of his constant references to drug culture. I know that is an important part of his past but not something I‘m interested in reading about.

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wanderinglynn
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There‘s still time to enter my #RuGiveaway! Enter by 8 pm EDT Thursday!

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Meshell1313
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#RuGiveaway @wanderinglynn is hosting a giveaway! Would love to read this! See original post to comment to enter! 🎉🤞🩷

wanderinglynn Thanks for sharing! 7mo
38 likes1 comment
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Deblovestoread
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@wanderinglynn is hosting a giveaway of the tagged book. Go check out her post for the details.

wanderinglynn Thanks for sharing! 7mo
AshRob22 I can‘t wait for this one. I‘m actually going to try the audiobook next week! 7mo
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wanderinglynn
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#RuGiveaway 🎉

I have 2 copies! I got one for going to his book tour & the second from his book club. So I‘m giving away the second brand new hardback!

To enter, simply comment below.

For a second entry, share this post & tag me!

Open internationally.

Giveaway closes at 8pm EDT on Thursday, April 11.

shortsarahrose So cool! 7mo
ElizaMarie Have you read it yet? Its on my unofficial TBR :) 7mo
wanderinglynn @ElizaMarie I‘m about 1/2 through. I find it really interesting and insightful. 7mo
See All 11 Comments
ElizaMarie @wanderinglynn I am a huge fan of #DragRace ;) My baby boy, JuJuB is named after her. (watching that season when I got him). 7mo
marleed Oh I listened to the audio and it was great. What I‘m left with is how important it is for Ru Paul to surround himself with kindness. Imagine if everyone was motivated by kindness. 7mo
wanderinglynn @marleed the world would be a much better place. 7mo
Deblovestoread Would love to read this one! Thanks for the opportunity 🥰 7mo
TheKidUpstairs I'm so intrigued by this one! I keep seeing it on "best of the year so far" lists ? 7mo
BkClubCare I would love to read this 😍 7mo
Meshell1313 Ooh so fun and generous! This has been on my wishlist for awhile! Thanks for the chance! 7mo
PageShifter This looks interesting 🧐 7mo
47 likes11 comments
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MsLeah8417
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️

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britt_brooke
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An intimate portrait of RuPaul‘s life, but I wanted a higher page count! It‘s not his first book, so maybe I‘ll check the backlist. Regardless, Ru shares his story how he pleases, and I respect that. It‘s thoughtful, raw, honest, and undeniably entertaining. Perfect cover; fabulous narration.

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marleed
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Pickpick

If you‘d love a RuPaul tell-all story about wild nights with drugs at the best clubs, this book might disappoint you. RuPaul is not in the business of trashing people. This is his origin story, how he stepped into his identity, the freedom he found through drag, his realization that he too had a long-time addiction and how he addressed it, his need for kindness, a his love for his family and Georges. 👇

marleed And did I buy my grandson RuPaul Little People? Why, yes I did! 8mo
Fr3NcHtOaSt My girlfriend also has the RuPaul little people 8mo
marleed @Fr3NcHtOaSt The set is so 🥰 and it‘s all about kindness and acceptance so, yeah. Canon carries are the 2 figures in pink which is a hoot. 8mo
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britt_brooke Excellent review! And the Little People are so cute! 🤩 7mo
marleed @britt_brooke oh thanks! We love those Little People. There is a purple woman in drag to match the pink. Canon likely has 75+ Little People figures and some have been renamed because they look strikingly like IRL people in our world. But he likes the ‘bridesmaids‘ best - the pink and purple drag figures - at least for this month. It cracks us up! He also has Keith Richards which he seems to believe is a grandpa! 7mo
britt_brooke @marleed 😆😆 7mo
willaful Ru Paul Little People! And Keith RIchards! I'm dying! 😂 5mo
75 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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ShananigansReads
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Pickpick

SN: my sister said his cover picture looks like Montel Williams and now I can‘t unsee it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

#ShananigansReads24

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Cortg
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Pickpick

I really loved RuPaul‘s story. It‘s one about belonging, finding your tribe and your place in life. Growing, maturing and becoming who you are. I hear you RuPaul, today‘s technologies and lifestyles are a far cry from the Limelight days. ❤️

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wanderinglynn
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If RuPaul‘s book tour comes near you, I highly recommend going. What an amazing, fabulous, & inspiring evening.

Prairiegirl_reading I LOVE Rupaul!! I wish he were coming anywhere near me. Have already listened to the book and wish there was more!!! 8mo
wanderinglynn @Prairiegirl_reading I‘m definitely going to listen to the audio version. I might to an audio read. 8mo
ShananigansReads So jelly you got to go. I just checked out the audiobook this morning. Can‘t wait to finish my current read so I can listen. 8mo
72 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Sara_Planz
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Pickpick

I keep going back to the significance of the cover. This is not RuPaul the Drag Queen or RuPaul the Pop Star or RuPaul the Model. This is RuPaul in his own skin, his own story, his own soul. I was not expecting the amount of introspection this memoir contained, but I loved how it was mixed with the humor and wit that RuPaul is known for. The book is a message of how self-acceptance and love can bring you everything you ever dreamed of.

Cortg I started the audio yesterday and woke up thinking of the opportunities I‘ll have throughout my workday to pop my airpods in and listen ❤️ 8mo
42 likes2 stack adds1 comment