The autodidact cultural critic has written an exhilarating and evocative memoir of his youth, the unstable fortunes of his family, and the diverse artistic tribes of NY before the catastrophe that was AIDS. Layered memories by an eloquent storyteller, whose slightly detached tone make him a fine companion on this deeply personal trip – which begins with his teenage wanderings around the snow-covered burnt-out remains of his family home: “What exactly I was looking for was not altogether clear”. But he gives us clarity, compassion and irony in spades.