Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - Ziggy, Stardust and Me

This book was super hard. There’s a lot of violence and self-harm and racism and internalized homophobia. That said, it is set at a super interesting and important time in queer history… and by extension American history. Though fictional, it’s a part of history that we didn’t really study in school, and that certainly adds some context.

There is also a lot of music and pop-culture woven through the book, with the main characters listening to a lot of records and finding affinity with David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and Aladdin Sane, among other albums.

As of this writing I’m giving it 3.75 stars, and I’m really not sad that I read it, but it’s a heavy one, to be sure.

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hncamp's review against another edition

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emotional sad 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? It's complicated

3.0

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thekissballad's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

*Check trigger / content warnings before reading.*

I really liked this book and felt like I was experiencing the struggle and growth and self-acceptance along with Jonathan. It's a rough but beautiful journey.

I just didn't entirely like the writing style. All the 70's / hippy references and how the characters sometimes talked got on my nerves really quickly. The multiplewordsasonelongword and the onomatopoeia was way overdone and started to feel forced "for the vibes" instead of being an actual representation of the era.

I also disliked all the homophobic and racist language and actions, but understand it was needed to give an accurate representation of what Jonathan and Web would have gone through. Still don't have to like it, though.

Overall, I highly recommend as long as none of the content is triggering to you. Like I said, look up warnings before reading.

Content Warnings

the_true_monroe's review against another edition

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funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

This book was intense, sad (yet funny), and beautiful. I think despite how much was accomplished and complete/ resolved (and by complete/ resolved, I don’t mean ‘all is well and good’ but ‘okay, that answers that’) I felt there were many other characters I wanted to hear from again. I just feel like there were abrupt ‘tie-offs’ to a few side characters.

I think the variety of reactions to Jonathan and Web’s stories allows most queer people to relate on some level but it is really interesting to view with the historical and cultural lenses which are more specific to the characters, location and time period.

I have recently come to love queer historical fiction and books like this are why.

Content Warnings