eener's review against another edition
mysterious
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Soooo many layers to my appreciation of this book, definitely looking forward to reading allll of this author's work :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, Racial slurs, and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Transphobia
booksinthesun's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
lydialesnevich's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
im so confused but somehow i know it was good
melhara's review against another edition
This audiobook and its narration failed to capture my interest.
meetmeinmalkovich's review against another edition
4.0
I have mixed feelings.
On the one hand I really enjoyed it, as the overall impact of the story is so much deeper than the pages let on.
On the other hand, I honestly felt like it left off on a cliffhanger more than once (basically at the end of the first two parts and then again at the finale) and I hate those.
Well, maybe hate is a strong word, but I truly dislike them. I just wanted more, and in a greedy way I probably could have turned hundreds more pages if it meant I was able to read more about Boy, Snow, and Bird.
On the one hand I really enjoyed it, as the overall impact of the story is so much deeper than the pages let on.
On the other hand, I honestly felt like it left off on a cliffhanger more than once (basically at the end of the first two parts and then again at the finale) and I hate those.
Well, maybe hate is a strong word, but I truly dislike them. I just wanted more, and in a greedy way I probably could have turned hundreds more pages if it meant I was able to read more about Boy, Snow, and Bird.
lehine's review against another edition
2.0
Popsugar 2023: A book you bought from an Independent Bookstore.
It was well written and interesting, but felt extremely incomplete. There were a lot of concepts thrown together that weren’t given much room to breathe, especially towards the end. The abrupt transphobia also destroyed the admiration I had for the earlier writing.
It was well written and interesting, but felt extremely incomplete. There were a lot of concepts thrown together that weren’t given much room to breathe, especially towards the end. The abrupt transphobia also destroyed the admiration I had for the earlier writing.
robotswithpersonality's review against another edition
I feel like I read pieces of a vision that didn't quite coalesce, but then, the nature of the ending, as much as the rest of the book, may have been designed specifically to unsettle the reader, which is not my preferred form of story telling.
Certainly mid-twentieth century historical with heavy racial tension, and other identity issues worked in, is an all new take on a snow white retelling - though this 'retelling' is more akin to adopting certain elements and twisting until they're recognizable.
I haven't read own voices' reviews, but based on my knowledge of feminism and LGBTQIA+ history, I could see people finding the threads of a child of SA seen as othered/evil/damned, and a victim of SA and lesbian deciding to become an (incredibly abusive) man after trauma would not be well received. Any whiff of the idea that a transgender identity is the result of a mental illness is pretty damaging to any hard fought recognition trans people have today.
Certainly the idea of a person who experiences trauma acting out in unhealthy ways and blaming their child for their misfortunes is not new, neither is the idea that a child who experienced frequent abuse by a parent is unable to establish health relationships later in life. The question then is why rehash such miserable truths?
What makes this even messier is it feels like those points/that reveal then overrun the detailed reflections the author provides throughout the narrative on racism, how black people and biracial people historically and modernly oppressed and persecuted reacted to that reality, the limited choices available, how one generation without context might condemn an earlier one, how hate might internalize.
I feel like I should read Passing and/or The Vanishing Half for a clearer view of this issue in narrative form.
And the mirror and mimic thing? Just so, so creepy. If the point was to make me feel uncomfortable, mission accomplished. If the idea was to leave the reader with clear, if disturbing realities, I feel like maybe it got muddled?
Certainly mid-twentieth century historical with heavy racial tension, and other identity issues worked in, is an all new take on a snow white retelling - though this 'retelling' is more akin to adopting certain elements and twisting until they're recognizable.
I haven't read own voices' reviews, but based on my knowledge of feminism and LGBTQIA+ history, I could see people finding the threads of a child of SA seen as othered/evil/damned, and a victim of SA and lesbian deciding to become an (incredibly abusive) man after trauma would not be well received. Any whiff of the idea that a transgender identity is the result of a mental illness is pretty damaging to any hard fought recognition trans people have today.
Certainly the idea of a person who experiences trauma acting out in unhealthy ways and blaming their child for their misfortunes is not new, neither is the idea that a child who experienced frequent abuse by a parent is unable to establish health relationships later in life. The question then is why rehash such miserable truths?
What makes this even messier is it feels like those points/that reveal then overrun the detailed reflections the author provides throughout the narrative on racism, how black people and biracial people historically and modernly oppressed and persecuted reacted to that reality, the limited choices available, how one generation without context might condemn an earlier one, how hate might internalize.
I feel like I should read Passing and/or The Vanishing Half for a clearer view of this issue in narrative form.
And the mirror and mimic thing? Just so, so creepy. If the point was to make me feel uncomfortable, mission accomplished. If the idea was to leave the reader with clear, if disturbing realities, I feel like maybe it got muddled?
kurale's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Spoiler
Clearly inspired by those early 20th century white-passing narratives. For the first half of the book I was so captivated. Once the perspective switched to Bird’s I was a bit less so. I think I struggle with most child perspectives. But the “twist” at the end was nauseating. I couldn’t believe the transphobia. It ruined so much of it for me…Do not read this book if you are trans or experience gender dysphoria.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia