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somelesbianwriter's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Ableism, Child death, Miscarriage, and Suicide
megelizabeth's review against another edition
2.5
Ugh, this book had so much potential and was then so disappointing (for me anyway). It started off strong and there are definitely aspects I really liked and appreciated - the key ones being the dream-like atmosphere, several of the relationships, the conversations around the intersex experience, and the coming-of-age thread to the narrative. It also does an excellent job of portraying the experience of missing out on girlhood, and that element truly broke me.
However, several plot strands develop which I just wasn't a fan of and which I found to really take away from the wider themes, and I particularly despised how it's portrayed as completely fine for an adult man to go after a fifteen-year-old girl. And, while I did like the dreaminess of the writing, it really threw me off that this is marketed as an adult book and yet reads entirely like YA. Like, literally just write an actual YA book!!! So, unfortunately, this did end up being a miss for me overall, which is such a shame as it touches on some really important themes and did have such great potential. :(
(I would also strongly urge that, if you're reading this review and still wanting to give this book a go, PLEASE check the content warnings - it's extremely heavy in MANY different ways!)
However, several plot strands develop which I just wasn't a fan of and which I found to really take away from the wider themes, and I particularly despised how it's portrayed as completely fine for an adult man to go after a fifteen-year-old girl. And, while I did like the dreaminess of the writing, it really threw me off that this is marketed as an adult book and yet reads entirely like YA. Like, literally just write an actual YA book!!! So, unfortunately, this did end up being a miss for me overall, which is such a shame as it touches on some really important themes and did have such great potential. :(
(I would also strongly urge that, if you're reading this review and still wanting to give this book a go, PLEASE check the content warnings - it's extremely heavy in MANY different ways!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
woweewhoa's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Medical content, and Dysphoria
Minor: Vomit, Trafficking, and Pregnancy
e_od's review
adventurous
hopeful
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
seeceeread's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
๐ญ "If everything in existence had many stories โ the real ones, and the shadow ones, and the fantastical ones โthen what was my real story?"
Born with ambiguous genitalia, Otolorin has been forced to live as a boy, despite early assertions of her girlhood. Called "Oto" throughout the text, she longs to present Lori. Slowly, she discovers talent for visual arts, a best friend, a passion for romance novels. Along the way, she dodges a lethal grandmother, an epic bully, sexual assault, a painfully neglectful mother and the tripwires of her assumed masculinity among adolescent peers. Papillon equips her with spiritual guides, a book of proverbs, a committed karate teacher, stellar academics and a surrogate father figure.
This debut feels somewhat like ๐ก๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด and ๐ง๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐. The premise is bold. Lori's day-to-day grappling with gender is written with tenderness and care. Some of the imagery and construction really sing, including out of body scenes in which Lori convenes with Yeyemi for divine courage. We could talk and talk about this one! Still, the total package is crowded, especially at the end when we move from character study to thriller (and a dash of romance): Lori hogties one of her attackers, masquerades as her sister, records key details to denounce a bad actor, then blackmails her absent father into funding a happily-ever-after. Plus her bully is actually a Terminator member of a confraternity. And her other grandmother is hurriedly revealed as a sort of fairy godmother. And her best friendship morphs into becomes a long distance romance. (๐ฉ)
Born with ambiguous genitalia, Otolorin has been forced to live as a boy, despite early assertions of her girlhood. Called "Oto" throughout the text, she longs to present Lori. Slowly, she discovers talent for visual arts, a best friend, a passion for romance novels. Along the way, she dodges a lethal grandmother, an epic bully, sexual assault, a painfully neglectful mother and the tripwires of her assumed masculinity among adolescent peers. Papillon equips her with spiritual guides, a book of proverbs, a committed karate teacher, stellar academics and a surrogate father figure.
This debut feels somewhat like ๐ก๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด and ๐ง๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐. The premise is bold. Lori's day-to-day grappling with gender is written with tenderness and care. Some of the imagery and construction really sing, including out of body scenes in which Lori convenes with Yeyemi for divine courage. We could talk and talk about this one! Still, the total package is crowded, especially at the end when we move from character study to thriller (and a dash of romance): Lori hogties one of her attackers, masquerades as her sister, records key details to denounce a bad actor, then blackmails her absent father into funding a happily-ever-after. Plus her bully is actually a Terminator member of a confraternity. And her other grandmother is hurriedly revealed as a sort of fairy godmother. And her best friendship morphs into becomes a long distance romance. (๐ฉ)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
afterglobe's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
A big thank-you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for giving me a copy of this book for an unbiased review.
5/5 - If I could rate this off the charts, I would.
How to describe this incredible novel. How to even begin. I'm still covered in goose-bumps, still wiping tears from my eyes. This is one of those novels you emerge transformed from and the world looks just a little bit different with this story in your mind.
I've never read a story with an intersex protagonist before, let alone a story that reflects an African voice. I was immediately curious about this narrative, which is why I requested the book to review. I am so glad I did.
The book is written in clear, poetic prose that with elements of magical realism and quotes that linger with you, such as the beautiful statement from Yeyemi - "You are the stuff my stars are made of." The vulnerable style makes it impossible not to fall in love with Lori or to feel every punch that life lands her. I read audiobooks to multitask on creative projects and it was pointless to even try with this one, because I was in tears for the majority of this narrative.
Through this emotional journey, I also learned a lot. I learned about Nigerian culture, about what it means to be intersex, what it looks like to belong to the LGBT community within elite Nigerian circles, etc. The book felt not only like Lori's discovery of herself but my own discovery of a world I was completely ignorant of.
I will also say that this book reminded me strongly of "A Little Life" and "Young Mungo" which are also novels that tackle the difficulties facing LGBT youth and unflinchingly examine the violence and vulnerability of those seeking out their identities and remaining so incredibly GOOD in the face of all the corruption and evil that the world spills out upon them. "An Ordinary Wonder" has that same celebration of unbreakable love and friendship and beauty in a world that is often ugly and unkind.
This book is powerful, this story is necessary. And I for one will read anything that Papillon writes in the future, because I don't expect to ever read a story like this one ever again. This book is an absolute marvel, an ordinary wonder.
5/5 - If I could rate this off the charts, I would.
How to describe this incredible novel. How to even begin. I'm still covered in goose-bumps, still wiping tears from my eyes. This is one of those novels you emerge transformed from and the world looks just a little bit different with this story in your mind.
I've never read a story with an intersex protagonist before, let alone a story that reflects an African voice. I was immediately curious about this narrative, which is why I requested the book to review. I am so glad I did.
The book is written in clear, poetic prose that with elements of magical realism and quotes that linger with you, such as the beautiful statement from Yeyemi - "You are the stuff my stars are made of." The vulnerable style makes it impossible not to fall in love with Lori or to feel every punch that life lands her. I read audiobooks to multitask on creative projects and it was pointless to even try with this one, because I was in tears for the majority of this narrative.
Through this emotional journey, I also learned a lot. I learned about Nigerian culture, about what it means to be intersex, what it looks like to belong to the LGBT community within elite Nigerian circles, etc. The book felt not only like Lori's discovery of herself but my own discovery of a world I was completely ignorant of.
I will also say that this book reminded me strongly of "A Little Life" and "Young Mungo" which are also novels that tackle the difficulties facing LGBT youth and unflinchingly examine the violence and vulnerability of those seeking out their identities and remaining so incredibly GOOD in the face of all the corruption and evil that the world spills out upon them. "An Ordinary Wonder" has that same celebration of unbreakable love and friendship and beauty in a world that is often ugly and unkind.
This book is powerful, this story is necessary. And I for one will read anything that Papillon writes in the future, because I don't expect to ever read a story like this one ever again. This book is an absolute marvel, an ordinary wonder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Religious bigotry
qi_'s review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
each of the characters was so well crafted and all had their own complexities. there was so much depth even in character that weren't most essential and even characters that we were supposed to dislike. i loved being able to spend time in the mind of Oto and they're a truly unforgettable character. it was so refreshing to see such an underrepresented perspective and really broaden my horizons. it's such an important perspective that i hope many people will experience once it starts to hit the shelves.
the writing was lyrical and Buki Papillon described each scene and setting with such detail and care. i loved how some of the African culture was woven into the writing and imagery such as certain sayings, metaphors or experiences that Oto held onto.
i did think that the dual timeline was a little bit unnecessary. it did provide contrasts and parallels however, i did find the structure a little jumble and confusing at points. personally, i would have preferred a linear structure with flashbacks only if necessary (at certain points i can see where it should be used). i did feel like some parts of the middle dragged out a little and felt a little tedious, not adding much to the impactful storyline.
the narration in the audiobook was very well done. Adjoa Andoh did such a good job and really brought the characters to life. stressing words and speaking just as how i would imagine the characters would. especially in more heart breaking scenes their voice-acting really shone through. impressed with the commitment to varying voices and accents.
overall, very strong and impressive debut. i think that this is such an important story to tell. each reader will get something out of it whether it be relating to struggles with gender identity, complex family relations, the experience of bullying or just the feeling of uncomfortable in your own skin prison
the writing was lyrical and Buki Papillon described each scene and setting with such detail and care. i loved how some of the African culture was woven into the writing and imagery such as certain sayings, metaphors or experiences that Oto held onto.
i did think that the dual timeline was a little bit unnecessary. it did provide contrasts and parallels however, i did find the structure a little jumble and confusing at points. personally, i would have preferred a linear structure with flashbacks only if necessary (at certain points i can see where it should be used). i did feel like some parts of the middle dragged out a little and felt a little tedious, not adding much to the impactful storyline.
the narration in the audiobook was very well done. Adjoa Andoh did such a good job and really brought the characters to life. stressing words and speaking just as how i would imagine the characters would. especially in more heart breaking scenes their voice-acting really shone through. impressed with the commitment to varying voices and accents.
overall, very strong and impressive debut. i think that this is such an important story to tell. each reader will get something out of it whether it be relating to struggles with gender identity, complex family relations, the experience of bullying or just the feeling of uncomfortable in your own skin prison
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Outing, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
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