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raesengele's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
ambenicole418's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I read this book for an English class at uni and I thought it was decent. It’s no where near my favorite book, but it was interesting enough. However, my biggest gripe with this book is when it comes to its reception, specifically the way people praise this book as great LGBT+ rep where gay people weren’t portrayed as villains and Joel comes to accept his homosexuality. I feel like I read a completely different book because Randolph (the eccentric queer uncle) was clearly a sexual predator and Joel (and Joel’s father) were his victims.
Randolph, a 30 year old man, lured Joel, a 12 year old little boy, to his house with forged letters, kept him from speaking with his aunt (the only other adult in Joel’s life) so he couldn’t leave, and used him as a sexual replacement for his dad (who he shot and paralyzed). If that’s not kidnapping and grooming idk what is! Not to mention Joel spends like 90% of this book trying to run away and escape Randolph. This book read more as a tragedy where Joel comes to accept that he’s going to be trapped in this house pleasuring Randolph for the rest of his life than this great story of coming out and acceptance to me. I feel like everyone ignores the blatant grooming and pedophilia in this book, and praises it for “great LGBT rep” when the way Capote lumps pedophiles and gay people together is more offensive than anything. If I didn’t know Truman Capote was gay I would’ve thought this book was just homophobic propaganda from a time where homophobia was rampant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment