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A review by bumblemee
Camp - Queerfeldein führt auch ein Weg by L.C. Rosen
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.25
A lot of things I liked, some things I have mixed feelings about.
I really liked how diverse the cast was. It managed to spread a little awareness for different struggles of different identities, even if it was just a few sentences. That was included easily, which was cool. Everything theatre and stage production was great, too! As well as the setting itself, where queer kids can just be themselves in a safer space accompanied by queer adults. It's just great. I would've loved this when I was a teenager. Oh, and I also liked the sex positivity.
Randy was a likeable protagonist, he's funny and very dramatic (a lot of exploding stars inside of him and the world applauding him while having sex or something? .. a man of big words). Sometimes I wanted to shake him, though. I know that him changing and hiding things about himself is the premise of this book, but it was still frustatring sometimes. His stoic determination to continue with this ludicrous plan of his, my god. Especially because he barely knows Hudson at all - yeah, he's an allosexual/alloromantic teenager, so maybe that's just normal, but it seemed so weird to me, because it's very different from what I experience. I don't really get why Randy is so set on Hudson, even though Hudson says and does things that should ring some alarm bells for Randy. Randy explains his reasoning, we get to see scenes from the past that shaped Randys perception of Hudson, but I don't know if I understand how that weighs out the experiences he has when actually getting to know Hudson. (Again, maybe just normal teenager behavior that contradicts how I would've acted as a teenager.)
I don't know how much I want to go into Hudsons character here. He has problematic views of course, which lead him to behave according to them, but since that is the center point of his character arc, I don't think there's much to say other than: prepare for internalized homophobia and some blatant toxic masculinity and infuriating statements as a result. Personally, I had empathy for him and I liked seeing him grow, but I understand everyone who can't look past that, since a lot of queer people have their own trauma from people who behaved like Hudson. (Hudson's trauma doesn't excuse shitty behavior and so on.)
I really liked how diverse the cast was. It managed to spread a little awareness for different struggles of different identities, even if it was just a few sentences. That was included easily, which was cool. Everything theatre and stage production was great, too! As well as the setting itself, where queer kids can just be themselves in a safer space accompanied by queer adults. It's just great. I would've loved this when I was a teenager. Oh, and I also liked the sex positivity.
Randy was a likeable protagonist, he's funny and very dramatic (a lot of exploding stars inside of him and the world applauding him while having sex or something? .. a man of big words). Sometimes I wanted to shake him, though. I know that him changing and hiding things about himself is the premise of this book, but it was still frustatring sometimes. His stoic determination to continue with this ludicrous plan of his, my god. Especially because he barely knows Hudson at all - yeah, he's an allosexual/alloromantic teenager, so maybe that's just normal, but it seemed so weird to me, because it's very different from what I experience. I don't really get why Randy is so set on Hudson, even though Hudson says and does things that should ring some alarm bells for Randy. Randy explains his reasoning, we get to see scenes from the past that shaped Randys perception of Hudson, but I don't know if I understand how that weighs out the experiences he has when actually getting to know Hudson. (Again, maybe just normal teenager behavior that contradicts how I would've acted as a teenager.)
I don't know how much I want to go into Hudsons character here. He has problematic views of course, which lead him to behave according to them, but since that is the center point of his character arc, I don't think there's much to say other than: prepare for internalized homophobia and some blatant toxic masculinity and infuriating statements as a result. Personally, I had empathy for him and I liked seeing him grow, but I understand everyone who can't look past that, since a lot of queer people have their own trauma from people who behaved like Hudson. (Hudson's trauma doesn't excuse shitty behavior and so on.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Grief