sophc's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
i devoured this book & read it in basically one sitting. i loved the pacing of the stories & how we got to see the recurrence of some characters
zuly's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
embervleo's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
dasrupa's review
5.0
Looking at the stunning painting on the cover of this book, of one perfectly manicured hand passing a joint to another perfectly manicured hand, you might wonder: could the contents possibly live up to something so irrefutably cool? Yes. The answer is yes. This collection burns so very bright. Each story left me wanting more - not at all in the sense of their being unsatisfactory or incomplete, but because each character, each relationship felt so real, so vital, that I wanted to see everything that came before and after, to follow those characters and see the ways they managed to grow, to heal, to become the selves that they yearned for. The title and the many callbacks to it throughout the book could not be a more perfect statement on radical, queer relationships - both the pressure and exhilaration that come from being able to make (and break) your own rules for how to love and be loved suffuse this beautiful book.
carrienation76's review
4.0
This is a stellar collection of queer short stories. Certainly, there's a central theme around rules, speaking to respectability, self-regulated oppression, yadda yadda. All of that is great and the critique is necessary. But there are two other threads that resonated with me:
First, several stories differentiated the act of "being out" from being part of the LGBTQIA+ community, each asking: what does it mean to be on the periphery of "your" community, to be reluctant to join or to feel omitted from it?
Second, several stories looked at the moments beyond the "classic" LGBTQIA coming out narratives. In "The Appropriate Weight," we see a man at the funeral of his ex-wife, who he divorced years prior as an act of coming out. In "Gay Tale," we meet a woman exploring her sexuality while actively avoiding every cliched queer narrative, like sleeping with the first queer person who expresses interest. All of these stories move beyond the expected, knowing full well that our subconscious can fill in those mainstreamed details without prompting.
Full disclosure: There were a few points in the early stories where I thought, "Cheezus, this writer is pReTeNtIoUs, omg." But by the end, I knew I was wrong - Manning's talent is beyond reproach.
First, several stories differentiated the act of "being out" from being part of the LGBTQIA+ community, each asking: what does it mean to be on the periphery of "your" community, to be reluctant to join or to feel omitted from it?
Second, several stories looked at the moments beyond the "classic" LGBTQIA coming out narratives. In "The Appropriate Weight," we see a man at the funeral of his ex-wife, who he divorced years prior as an act of coming out. In "Gay Tale," we meet a woman exploring her sexuality while actively avoiding every cliched queer narrative, like sleeping with the first queer person who expresses interest. All of these stories move beyond the expected, knowing full well that our subconscious can fill in those mainstreamed details without prompting.
Full disclosure: There were a few points in the early stories where I thought, "Cheezus, this writer is pReTeNtIoUs, omg." But by the end, I knew I was wrong - Manning's talent is beyond reproach.
uwubies's review against another edition
2.75
i have to stop reading short story collections i do not think they are for me
jbr471's review
emotional
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
jengro778's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
For a person who identifies as part of the LGTBQ+ community, but is not officially “out”, this book made me feel incredibly seen. I have recommended this book multiple times since I have read it. The stories themselves are small, but very important, snapshots of how a human processes their own sexuality and how the world around them processes it.