A review by cvbattum
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
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? No
5.0
This book was so much more than the lighthearted young adult novel I had been expecting. It's a raw, unfiltered look into a lovely young girl growing up in a world that doesn't take well to her. It's engrossing and rich, with a depth to it that hurts.
I think my main praise goes out to the prose. It's simple, but so incredibly effective at communicating several layers of emotions at once. It's written in a way that's easy to understand for younger people without shying away from horrific realities that will sometimes border on psychological horror. The message is subtle but couldn't have been screamed louder. It knows exactly what needs to be said, and what needs to be said without words. The world is so vibrant and lively that it could easily bleed into reality.
As a slightly older reader (25), this was still thoroughly enjoyable. It's a pure and raw depiction of love and growing up, and while it's aimed at a lower reading level, there's so much that goes unsaid between the lines which I'm sure can only be appreciated fully with a few more years. It's a cautionary tale if nothing else, and I feel like this should be read by anyone, period.
This comes highly recommended, and I will surely be reading it again as well.
I think my main praise goes out to the prose. It's simple, but so incredibly effective at communicating several layers of emotions at once. It's written in a way that's easy to understand for younger people without shying away from horrific realities that will sometimes border on psychological horror. The message is subtle but couldn't have been screamed louder. It knows exactly what needs to be said, and what needs to be said without words. The world is so vibrant and lively that it could easily bleed into reality.
As a slightly older reader (25), this was still thoroughly enjoyable. It's a pure and raw depiction of love and growing up, and while it's aimed at a lower reading level, there's so much that goes unsaid between the lines which I'm sure can only be appreciated fully with a few more years. It's a cautionary tale if nothing else, and I feel like this should be read by anyone, period.
This comes highly recommended, and I will surely be reading it again as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia and Homophobia