Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Trumpet by Jackie Kay

17 reviews

cwgrieves's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Death of parent, and Outing

rcsreads's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It's clear that if they were real people several of the characters in this book would read the Daily Mail. Some sections contain a lot of transphobic language and while the underlying story of Joss' love and marriage is full of love and acceptance the background to it comes with a trigger warning. 

The books begins with the death of famous jazz trumpeter Joss Moody and the discovery by everyone but his wife that Joss has boobies wrapped up under his suit. The story is told from various perspectives, his wife Millie, his son Coleman, various friends and an extremely annoying and unpleasant journalist. 

I liked Kay's writing style but if I put the book down between chapters I could just leave it for days. There was no momentum or need to keep going. It was at points almost like a set of short stories on a theme rather than a cohesive novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Transphobia, and Death of parent

francestea's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.0

Fascinating read and a truly original story. The audiobook is well narrated. My struggle was that the chapters jump between characters and it wasn’t a always clear whose voice it was- not sure if this was intentional or just a downside of the audiobook.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Deadnaming, Death of parent, and Transphobia

nonfictionfeminist's review

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Based on the life of Billy Tipton

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Outing, and Transphobia

Moderate: Body shaming

Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, and Racism

bina07's review

emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Racism, Outing, Dysphoria, and Death of parent

sophiewelsh's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Deadnaming, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, and Transphobia

sorcha's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Homophobia

Minor: Deadnaming, Terminal illness, and Sexual content