somekindofmiriam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ielliie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Homophobia
yenracniltiac's review against another edition
4.0
I didn’t know what to expect going into this book but the fact that it was written in prose intrigued me. Within pages I was attached to the main character and was deeply invested in his story. The author did an amazing job of telling his story in such a beautiful and eye-opening way. Highly recommend!
strawberriessuhh's review against another edition
5.0
Oh! Em! Gee!
So good. I loved the search for identity, the hardships black, queer people face. The hardships LGBTQ face. Dealing with internalized homophobia and growing from it and learning that it is harmful to not only yourself, but others.
As a pansexual, I hear so many people ask the annoying question: “so, you, like, sleep with pans?” I love how Dean Atta takes the questions queer people hear the most and challenge it. He makes people understand the hardships of being a black, queer male. It’s, it’s everything the world needed to hear.
10/10 recommend this book.
Please read it.
So good. I loved the search for identity, the hardships black, queer people face. The hardships LGBTQ face. Dealing with internalized homophobia and growing from it and learning that it is harmful to not only yourself, but others.
As a pansexual, I hear so many people ask the annoying question: “so, you, like, sleep with pans?” I love how Dean Atta takes the questions queer people hear the most and challenge it. He makes people understand the hardships of being a black, queer male. It’s, it’s everything the world needed to hear.
10/10 recommend this book.
Please read it.
fynsstars's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it a lot, but I don't think it is extremely memorable. That said, I do recommend it.
My expectations:
This book didn't entirely live up to the expectations I had put on it, though this is entirely my fault.
Characters:
- Micheal: I really liked the exploration of his character, which is good, because that is the goal of this book.
Fave character:
My favourite character was Daisy. I liked her character arc, as it is something I have struggled with a lot in my life.
Pacing:
The pacing was perfect to me.
My expectations:
This book didn't entirely live up to the expectations I had put on it, though this is entirely my fault.
Characters:
- Micheal: I really liked the exploration of his character, which is good, because that is the goal of this book.
Fave character:
My favourite character was Daisy. I liked her character arc, as it is something I have struggled with a lot in my life.
Pacing:
The pacing was perfect to me.
mariethelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
This was amazing. I loved everything about it. So educational and wonderful and heartbreaking.
caitirin's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audiobook version of this story, narrated by the Author Dean Atta. I really loved that Dean was able to record this so that I could hear his words in his own voice, especially because this was a work of poetry. I sometimes feel like I don’t know how to read poetry, too much of me wants to just race through it and treat it like a novel, just text getting into my brain to get the story. It feels like poetry has to be eaten differently if that makes any sense.
Black Flamingo tells the story of Michael, a half-Jamaican, half Greek Cypriot boy growing up in London being raised by a single mother. His father is a ghost of a presence in his life, although his father’s family welcomes him into their midst and he has a good relationship with his Uncle B. Michael is a gentle boy and as he grows up we get a perspective of what it means to be a gentle mixed race boy growing up in a world where he is often told that he is not enough, not black enough, not greek enough, not straight enough, not hard enough. Michael’s journey of self discovery is lovely to watch. Another reviewer mentioned that they kept waiting for something bad to happen, and I felt myself doing the same. We’ve been raised (if you’re like me) to expect that there must be compulsory tragedy, violence, and pain in all queer stories. We’re just meant to triumphantly rise above it like super humans (which is such bullshit, but that’s a rant for another time).
I loved the unflagging support and love he has in his mother. She doesn’t waiver in making sure that he understands that he is just as he is meant to be and that’s okay. We see her struggling to provide for her two children with limited funds and distant family.
Listen to this in audiobook if you can, it’s fantastic.
Black Flamingo tells the story of Michael, a half-Jamaican, half Greek Cypriot boy growing up in London being raised by a single mother. His father is a ghost of a presence in his life, although his father’s family welcomes him into their midst and he has a good relationship with his Uncle B. Michael is a gentle boy and as he grows up we get a perspective of what it means to be a gentle mixed race boy growing up in a world where he is often told that he is not enough, not black enough, not greek enough, not straight enough, not hard enough. Michael’s journey of self discovery is lovely to watch. Another reviewer mentioned that they kept waiting for something bad to happen, and I felt myself doing the same. We’ve been raised (if you’re like me) to expect that there must be compulsory tragedy, violence, and pain in all queer stories. We’re just meant to triumphantly rise above it like super humans (which is such bullshit, but that’s a rant for another time).
I loved the unflagging support and love he has in his mother. She doesn’t waiver in making sure that he understands that he is just as he is meant to be and that’s okay. We see her struggling to provide for her two children with limited funds and distant family.
Listen to this in audiobook if you can, it’s fantastic.
marissaevonne's review against another edition
5.0
Dean Atta is now one of my favorite authors! This book is so amazing! Atta touches on race, sexuality, gender, police brutality, and so much more! This is one of the best queer coming of age books I’ve ever read! I’m so excited to have traveled with Michael from the age of six to the age of 19!
I do wonder about Sienna’s character. I’m my opinion, she should’ve left the club with Lennie and Michael seeing as how they were only targeted because they’re Black. She decided to stay in the club and is so unaware of the blatant racism…Or she knows the security guards were racist and didn’t care..? I don’t know, but I was shocked that Lennie and Sienna seemed to be together later on in the novel.
I am a little bummed that Jack turned out to be so shitty towards Michael in the end. However, I am happy Michael got the chance to stand up for himself!
I do wonder about Sienna’s character. I’m my opinion, she should’ve left the club with Lennie and Michael seeing as how they were only targeted because they’re Black. She decided to stay in the club and is so unaware of the blatant racism…Or she knows the security guards were racist and didn’t care..? I don’t know, but I was shocked that Lennie and Sienna seemed to be together later on in the novel.
I am a little bummed that Jack turned out to be so shitty towards Michael in the end. However, I am happy Michael got the chance to stand up for himself!