Reviews

in particular. The characters are interesting, the plot vivid, yes sometimes people launch into relationships very quickly indeed ... and it wraps up neatly. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of comic book art.

I would be less keen to recommend it to people attracted to any of the other genres -- sci-fi is a "blink and you'll miss it" explanation of

multi-dimensional theory

, magical realism & fantasy are "magic when it's plot-convenient".

(Current hot take: books can't be both. Either Magic is a Thing, in which case Fantasy ... or else it's a background quirk in an otherwise contemporary or historical story, in which case Magical Realism.)

lesserjoke's review against another edition

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3.0

There's a lot to enjoy in this detail-heavy novella of queer life (and particularly its romance of two women) in 1940 San Francisco, but I wish it would provide greater connective tissue between its chapters -- and that the minor fantasy element at the start and end of the text had been better incorporated throughout. Such issues keep me at a distance from the story, as do the many bald explanations from characters to describe their society. The whole venture ends up feeling more didactic than immersive, and with author Ellen Klages not shying away from the brutality of the time, the ratio of pain to payoff is not quite to my liking. I could easily imagine other readers loving this title, but it just never gets there for me.

[Content warning for racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, domestic abuse, sexual assault, police violence, and a variety of slurs.]

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heathcliff's review against another edition

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4.0

This book was really cute, fun and gay.

quillonon's review

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hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

moh's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 stars

kmhst25's review against another edition

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hopeful mysterious relaxing slow-paced

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

2.5

Passing Strange is what I like to call Wouldn’t It Be Nice literature. The author appears to have thought: wouldn’t it be nice to write a story about San Francisco in the 40s? A lesbian love story? Something with a little magic and chalk pastels?

The problem with Wouldn’t It Be Nice literature is that it doesn’t really go anywhere. The author’s not writing for the plot, but for the happy little ideas they had in their head. It falls flat, because the author is too busy telling you about their pet loves to tell you a full fledged story.

This is half a story that I think you’re only really going to enjoy if you also happen to fall in love with the author’s pet loves and aren’t particularly looking for a plot.

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