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elizabeth_henry's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Abortion
scurvotron's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse and Pedophilia
ddrosche's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Pedophilia, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Abortion
morenowagain's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
jackbifrost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Racism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Racial slurs and Abortion
ericaw212's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Self harm, and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape and Terminal illness
novella42'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
I was surprised how progressive it was for its time, and grateful for the glimpse into queer history. I'm a sucker for found family tropes and recognized Mrs. Madrigal in quite a few of my own friends.
It was also a reminder of a time in my life when some friends and I took a budget trip to San Francisco, sleeping on couches and eating dehydrated soup rations just to be able to see the city. I felt like I was there again. The city came through almost like its own character. It was the comfort I needed, with one exception.
There was one component of the book that was racist and which was not handled well. (Spoiler for this book and a little for book two as well.)
character in the first place. When Maupin brings the character back in the next book, he doubles down on the lack of consequences, letting her off the hook entirely and painting her as still slightly exotic. It left a bad taste in my mouth and is the reason I took off a star.
As a side note, I was bored enough and nostalgic enough over the city setting that I found the 1993 miniseries streaming free online and watched all eight episodes in two days. It was *remarkably* faithful to the material, staying close to the author's writing in a way I think modern miniseries don't bother with. I want to read the rest of the series so I can then watch the rest, especially the 2019 Netflix miniseries with Elliot Page and a lot of the original actors.
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Rape, Sexism, and Grief
Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Fatphobia, Abortion, and Alcohol
cleo_reads's review against another edition
2.5
This novel started as a serial in a newspaper and that shows in the short chapters and also in the insane number of plot twists and reveals. It also started out surprisingly straight given that I read it because it's a queer classic - but it gets very queer as it goes on.
This is set in the 70s and was written in the 70s. To me it feels like a book that was ahead of its time in its sympathetic portrayal of LGBT characters but kind of behind ours in some ways, especially in terms of dealing with race and sexual abuse / harassment. Although not as far behind our times as we'd maybe like to believe.
Most of the characters are white and the casual racism is shocking and also written in a way that shows that the author doesn't approve of it. But
Trigger warnings:
More details on the thing that ruined the story for me:
Moderate: Child abuse
undeniableemg'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? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, and Alcohol
marioncromb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Drug use, Racism, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, and Abortion