A review by storykath
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Lily is an Asian American teen living in San Francisco's Chinatown in the 1950s. Last Night at the Telegraph Club follows her as she discovers her sexuality, navigates racism, and deals with the widespread fear of communism in her community.
I loved practically everything about this book. Coming-of-age stories are hit or miss for me, but Lily's narration was charming, realistic, and immersive. She's a believably flawed teenager who's discovering herself and the world around her in a way that makes everything she describes seem fresh and interesting. I was totally invested in Lily's worldview while also being aware of the fact that there were bigger things she wasn't seeing or registering. Very skillfully written!
The flashback chapters in different characters' perspectives took me by surprise, and overall they didn't add much to my enjoyment of the book. I would often put the book down when I got to these chapters, partly because it was a natural stopping point and partly because I was disappointed not to be continuing Lily's story. These chapters did provide a helpful look into Lily's family's backgrounds and perspectives, but I wonder if these could have been incorporated in a different way that didn't pull me out of Lily's narrative so starkly.
Altogether, the writing style, the characters, the subject matter...they all worked together so well and created a story that drew me in and got a grip on my heart. I'm incredibly excited to reread this one and relive Lily's journey.
I loved practically everything about this book. Coming-of-age stories are hit or miss for me, but Lily's narration was charming, realistic, and immersive. She's a believably flawed teenager who's discovering herself and the world around her in a way that makes everything she describes seem fresh and interesting. I was totally invested in Lily's worldview while also being aware of the fact that there were bigger things she wasn't seeing or registering. Very skillfully written!
The flashback chapters in different characters' perspectives took me by surprise, and overall they didn't add much to my enjoyment of the book. I would often put the book down when I got to these chapters, partly because it was a natural stopping point and partly because I was disappointed not to be continuing Lily's story. These chapters did provide a helpful look into Lily's family's backgrounds and perspectives, but I wonder if these could have been incorporated in a different way that didn't pull me out of Lily's narrative so starkly.
Altogether, the writing style, the characters, the subject matter...they all worked together so well and created a story that drew me in and got a grip on my heart. I'm incredibly excited to reread this one and relive Lily's journey.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Alcohol, Racism, and Misogyny
Minor: Police brutality, Toxic friendship, Racial slurs, and Miscarriage