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the_true_monroe's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I have had this book on my to read list for 10 years. This was filled with so much more hope, love and acceptance and happiness than I thought it would have been which is why I think I held off a decade on reading it. The extreme challenges of being gay in the early 1980’s and prior decades are very clear but what also is clear are how the times were changing and what that looked like for these girls who were exploring and recognizing their true selves.
I listened to the 2008 audiobook which includes a wonderful interview of the author and is so eye opening to listen to as 25 years had passed since the book was published at that point and now an additional 16 years have gone by and I wonder how Nancy’s answers would have been today especially since she mentioned in that interview hoping for more transgender representation which we indeed do have today, although an increase in attacks on the trans and LGBTQIA+ community including queer youth- another group she focused on in the interview.
I listened to the 2008 audiobook which includes a wonderful interview of the author and is so eye opening to listen to as 25 years had passed since the book was published at that point and now an additional 16 years have gone by and I wonder how Nancy’s answers would have been today especially since she mentioned in that interview hoping for more transgender representation which we indeed do have today, although an increase in attacks on the trans and LGBTQIA+ community including queer youth- another group she focused on in the interview.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cursing, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Pregnancy
analenegrace's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Annie on My Mind was a love story that was really a Window to both the Lesbian and Homophobic cultures of the 1980s. Annie and Liza's love story was the central point of the story, but I think what's more important about the book is the reactions of all of the various secondary characters as they find out about the girls' relationship.
I really enjoyed seeing Liza and Annie's relationship through Liza's reflections and how childlike wonder allowed them to find each other and fall in love. Although I loved the reflective part, the changing between first and third person from reflections in the letter to Liza at MIT was a bit jarring. I also really loved the descriptive aspects of the book, the author really captured the way people looked and acted quite well, my favorite was, " Those two old women, whale and pilot fish, eagle and sparrow, heads back, mouths open wide, eyes shining, singing as if they were both desperately trying to be fifteen years old again," about Poindexter and Baxter.
The teachers' relationship was beautifully written as a picture of what lesbians dealt with in, seemingly, the 1960s, 70s, and into the 80s and the many sacrifices they had to make to continue being together. The details we get at the end of their history, as well as the hints about their life together in their house, showcase what difficult choices had to be made at this time.
The reactions of all the other surrounding characters, either blind ignorance, religious homophobia, or well-meaning homophobia, also provided insight into the changing of the times, as we see much older characters react aggressively, like Baxter and Poindexter, middle-aged characters react by ignoring it like Liza's parents or the Board of Trustees, or the students at Liza's school either asking about their sex life, recommending therapy, or having a "love the sin hate the sinner" mentality, it shows the changing of generational reactions to LGBTQ+ people and what this looked like in the 1980s.
All in all, I quite enjoyed Annie on My Mind, but perhaps more as a history lesson than as a romance novel!
I really enjoyed seeing Liza and Annie's relationship through Liza's reflections and how childlike wonder allowed them to find each other and fall in love. Although I loved the reflective part, the changing between first and third person from reflections in the letter to Liza at MIT was a bit jarring. I also really loved the descriptive aspects of the book, the author really captured the way people looked and acted quite well, my favorite was, " Those two old women, whale and pilot fish, eagle and sparrow, heads back, mouths open wide, eyes shining, singing as if they were both desperately trying to be fifteen years old again," about Poindexter and Baxter.
The teachers' relationship was beautifully written as a picture of what lesbians dealt with in, seemingly, the 1960s, 70s, and into the 80s and the many sacrifices they had to make to continue being together. The details we get at the end of their history, as well as the hints about their life together in their house, showcase what difficult choices had to be made at this time.
The reactions of all the other surrounding characters, either blind ignorance, religious homophobia, or well-meaning homophobia, also provided insight into the changing of the times, as we see much older characters react aggressively, like Baxter and Poindexter, middle-aged characters react by ignoring it like Liza's parents or the Board of Trustees, or the students at Liza's school either asking about their sex life, recommending therapy, or having a "love the sin hate the sinner" mentality, it shows the changing of generational reactions to LGBTQ+ people and what this looked like in the 1980s.
All in all, I quite enjoyed Annie on My Mind, but perhaps more as a history lesson than as a romance novel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Misogyny and Toxic friendship
Minor: Ableism and Sexual content
finleyfrogreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Bullying and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual content, Medical content, and Religious bigotry
kumishona's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Toxic friendship