Justin Torres’ Blackouts is a compelling exploration of memory and identity through fragmented narratives. Praised for its lyrical prose and innovative structure, the novel captivates but may challenge readers with its nonlinear storytelling and abstract themes. While celebrated for its emotional depth, the complexity might alienate those preferring conventional plots.

Readers who appreciate complex narratives exploring identity, memory, and trauma will enjoy Blackouts by Justin Torres. Comparable to works like Beloved by Toni Morrison and The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, this novel appeals to those fascinated by rich, lyrical prose and profound emotional depth.

Blackouts by Justin Torres follows an unnamed narrator, referred to as “Nene,” who visits his dying friend Juan Gay at "the Palace," where they explore their intertwined pasts and histories. Through their conversations and Nene's flashbacks, they delve into queer identity, LGBTQ+ history, and the life and work of Jan Gay, a pivotal lesbian sexologist. In their interactions, themes of trauma, institutional violence, and the reclamation of suppressed histories emerge. The novel also uses mixed media, including redacted pages from the real-life study Sex Variants: A Study of Homosexual Patterns.

Mysterious / Contemplative / Emotional / Melancholic

**Nene**  
The novel's narrator, a gay Puerto Rican man, who reflects on his past experiences and relationships while caring for his elderly friend Juan in a psychiatric hospital. He experiences dissociative episodes and grapples with his identity and role as a guardian of queer history.

**Juan Gay**  
A gay Puerto Rican man living in a building called "the Palace," who spends his time with Nene after decades in psychiatric hospitals. Juan, a model for Zhenya Gay in his childhood, focuses on preserving queer histories and guides Nene in this effort.

**Liam**  
Nene’s only long-term boyfriend with whom he worked on a farm in Virginia. Their relationship ended after Liam discovered Nene's involvement in sex work, which Nene had kept a secret.

**Norwood**  
A former client of Nene's, an older man who hired him to pose in diapers, leading to a relationship marked by an age gap and an imbalance of power. Their interactions highlight the complexities and challenges of navigating boundaries within sex work.

Justin Torres

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “The Palace”

Part 1 Blackouts Part 1 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “The Variants”

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Part 3: “The Kinship”

Part 3 Blackouts Part 3 Summary & Analysis

Part 4: “The Palace at 4 a.m.”

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Part 5: “El Caldero”

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Part 6: “The Cage of Voices”

Part 6 Blackouts Part 6  Summary & Analysis

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