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bearpolar's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
derhindemith's review
5.0
Natalie-
The Closing Door-The trauma overshadows everything else for me. It felt like a modern play with the pacing and the big reveal.
Blessed Assurance-I wonder how much of this influenced the play Choir Boy
Infants of the Spring-This was excellently recreated in the film Brother to Brother
Smoke, Lillies, and Jade-This probably encapsulates my feelings of this period better than anything else
One Way to Heaven-Excellent storytelling, vivid imagery, and funny.
(Let's start the YA stuff)
Boy at the Window-This was huck finn and tom sawyer, but black, and I'm here for it.
Another Country-I'm surprised at how much I liked it.
Ruby-This was great and I was really into the YA story. I want to know how this ends.
Zami: A New Spelling of My Name-There was a lot more sex than I'm used to, but she writes so well.
Aye, and Gomorrah-I actually don't like this story, even though I do like the way he writes and what he has to say.
Suzie Q-Really felt like a pulp story
Symbols-Centering the man in this story of a woman recognizing herself made this weird for me, but it's probably really useful for a certain demographic.
This is How it Happened-Among the best stories in the collection. I wasn't expecting the twist, which was kind of the point.
Ecce Homo-This was sad for all the right reasons. I wish we got to hear more about the non-jewish experience in nazi Germany
Women of Summer-I loved this. I want the book, I want the movie, and then I want a remake of the movie with taraji p. henson and queen latifah
In the Life-A lovely late in life love story
Bird of Paradise-Nice, nothing special really
The Gilda Stories-My love for this author and this character is deep
Vanishing Rooms-DNF-SA
Dance of the Cranes-I love a story about people who connect with either music or dance and this was amazing.
A Hundred Days from Now-DNF-I can't with the gay dies at the end
The Color of Trees-DNF-I don't need Jane Eyre type violence
Coffee Will Make You Black-another cute YA that would totally go over well today in a netflix series like heartstopper
Captain Spring-It was well written, but I didn't connect with it. (I'm so happy I have a great relationship with my family)
Invisible Life-I know E. Lynn Harris is good and was very famous, but it felt like this was written for women
Soul Kiss-This was very well written, but very sad
The Serpent's Gift-I liked this and would love a movie
The Foundation of the Earth-I really liked this and loved how open it was, while still resolving everything.
Notebooks of Melanin Sun-another YA that was really cute and I want to know how it plays out
Sunday You Learn How to Box-This felt very like Moonlight for me. This one wasn't my experience, but it was very realistic
Traitor to the Race-I felt this in my spirit. I know all of these characters, I am all of these characters and I want to read so much more about all of these characters.
Whose Song?-DNF-SA
B-Boy Blues-It's been several years since I read this and especially since the movie came out, which was very good, I should give it some time again
Walking Through Mirrors-One of the more thoughtful coming of age stories in this collection. I like that it's narrated with an adult's voice through a child's experience. And yes, there is some SA as well.
Po' Man's Child-More trauma. well written, and felt very much like a late-stage coming-of-age.
The Closing Door-The trauma overshadows everything else for me. It felt like a modern play with the pacing and the big reveal.
Blessed Assurance-I wonder how much of this influenced the play Choir Boy
Infants of the Spring-This was excellently recreated in the film Brother to Brother
Smoke, Lillies, and Jade-This probably encapsulates my feelings of this period better than anything else
One Way to Heaven-Excellent storytelling, vivid imagery, and funny.
(Let's start the YA stuff)
Boy at the Window-This was huck finn and tom sawyer, but black, and I'm here for it.
Another Country-I'm surprised at how much I liked it.
Ruby-This was great and I was really into the YA story. I want to know how this ends.
Zami: A New Spelling of My Name-There was a lot more sex than I'm used to, but she writes so well.
Aye, and Gomorrah-I actually don't like this story, even though I do like the way he writes and what he has to say.
Suzie Q-Really felt like a pulp story
Symbols-Centering the man in this story of a woman recognizing herself made this weird for me, but it's probably really useful for a certain demographic.
This is How it Happened-Among the best stories in the collection. I wasn't expecting the twist, which was kind of the point.
Ecce Homo-This was sad for all the right reasons. I wish we got to hear more about the non-jewish experience in nazi Germany
Women of Summer-I loved this. I want the book, I want the movie, and then I want a remake of the movie with taraji p. henson and queen latifah
In the Life-A lovely late in life love story
Bird of Paradise-Nice, nothing special really
The Gilda Stories-My love for this author and this character is deep
Vanishing Rooms-DNF-SA
Dance of the Cranes-I love a story about people who connect with either music or dance and this was amazing.
A Hundred Days from Now-DNF-I can't with the gay dies at the end
The Color of Trees-DNF-I don't need Jane Eyre type violence
Coffee Will Make You Black-another cute YA that would totally go over well today in a netflix series like heartstopper
Captain Spring-It was well written, but I didn't connect with it. (I'm so happy I have a great relationship with my family)
Invisible Life-I know E. Lynn Harris is good and was very famous, but it felt like this was written for women
Soul Kiss-This was very well written, but very sad
The Serpent's Gift-I liked this and would love a movie
The Foundation of the Earth-I really liked this and loved how open it was, while still resolving everything.
Notebooks of Melanin Sun-another YA that was really cute and I want to know how it plays out
Sunday You Learn How to Box-This felt very like Moonlight for me. This one wasn't my experience, but it was very realistic
Traitor to the Race-I felt this in my spirit. I know all of these characters, I am all of these characters and I want to read so much more about all of these characters.
Whose Song?-DNF-SA
B-Boy Blues-It's been several years since I read this and especially since the movie came out, which was very good, I should give it some time again
Walking Through Mirrors-One of the more thoughtful coming of age stories in this collection. I like that it's narrated with an adult's voice through a child's experience. And yes, there is some SA as well.
Po' Man's Child-More trauma. well written, and felt very much like a late-stage coming-of-age.
angelreadsthings's review against another edition
4.0
This is the book I wish someone had handed me when I first came out. It is one of the most validating books I've read as a Black bisexual writer, due both to the eclectic mix of Black writers and narratives and the section introductions that took into consideration Black, feminist, and LGBTQ+ political and literary movements individually and interactionally. I'd highly recommend this book be used in English classes in both secondary and post-secondary schools because of the power it has to affirm Black SGL/LGBTQ+ students (particularly writers) and to challenge the limited narrative about Black experience and writing that exists in English classes.
choirqueer's review against another edition
5.0
This book was incredible, full of excellent stories from a century of brilliant writers. I appreciated the introductory backstories about each of the writers, which inspired me to look up many of them and seek out other things they've written. I loved the diversity of stories that were included, covering a wide range of genres, styles, and emotional impacts. I would highly recommend this book.
As it is a significantly lengthy anthology, I enjoyed working my way through it over the course of about 10 months.
As it is a significantly lengthy anthology, I enjoyed working my way through it over the course of about 10 months.
nebsullivan's review
4.0
I discovered a few things about myself in reading this book. I typically don’t enjoy short stories because I prefer the deep character and plot development that is typical of novels. Therefore, my rating is a reflection of this preference and not due to the book itself. I found that I do, however, enjoy short nonfiction pieces and my interest gravitated towards the short explanatory portions that highlighted the political struggles and literary trends of each literary movement. Also, I found that I much preferred the contemporary pieces which took on difficult and heartbreaking issues in a brave and deeply vulnerable way.
justabean_reads's review
3.0
As with most anthologies, it's a mixed bag. The historical essays were great for setting up the context, but then the inclusion of stories written before 1950 was very slim, and not much more before 1980 either. I also wish there had been more short stories and fewer novel excerpts (especially ones depicting graphic rape and on-page gay bashing leading to death). However, I also found a lot of great new-to-me authors, and revisited some old favourites.
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