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Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'
After Sappho: Longlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize by Selby Wynn Schwartz
17 reviews
hollymileham's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
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
5.0
i am absolutely blown away. this is one of my most favourite and precious reads ever. the way it traces women/lesbian history throughout time linking everyone together is so perfect. what a romantic and lovely way to describe what it is to be sapphic. this means so much to me i could go on and on. i will never read anything like this ever again, this is one of a kind
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
Minor: War
gvstyris's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
We dreamed of islands where we could write poems that kept our lovers up all night. In our letters, we murmured the fragments of our desires to each other, breaking the lines in our impatience. We were going to be Sappho, but how did Sappho begin to become herself?
After Sappho centers a cast of white sapphic historical figures as they grapple with their position in 19th/20th century Europe. My primary takeaway from this novel - or perhaps more accurately, series of vignettes - was its appreciation for different mediums of art, particularly as a form of escapism and political/emotional expression. Schwartz's usage of first person plural pronouns to position the narrator as a Greek chorus also highlighted the communal aspect of the search for queer liberation and joy, which was another standout for me. I understand why this book is validating for so many people.
Despite that, I struggled in the reading process quite a lot. The non-linear storytelling is difficult to follow, especially as each woman's story is interconnected and their trajectories are relatively similar. I repeatedly lost interest and came close to DNFing, but persevered because the novel picked up quite significantly once we reached the First World War. I also imagine that the focus on white women was deliberate given Schwartz's academic background, but it definitely felt like a missed opportunity to me.
As someone who usually adores non-linear novels (especially if they're all vibes and no plot!), I'm a bit surprised this missed the mark for me as much as it did. Unfortunately, I've just read better, and am now craving a re-read of Girl, Woman, Other.
That being said, Schwartz's prose is gorgeous. A couple other highlights:
But some of us have always seen the modern world as a sea meant to drown us.
The only thing she feared was compromise, the soothing voice that licks down rage until it is nothing but a small smooth lump in your hand.
There is always this risk, in life, that we have our parts in a tragedy and we do not know it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Lesbophobia, and Misogyny
Minor: Rape, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Sexual assault
grace_cr1's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
This book is beautifully written, the language is varied and poetic. This book is also quite a dense and somewhat inaccessible read, it was difficult to remember the amount of people named throughout the novel and so was hard to follow. I recommend this book but its definitely a novel you have to be in the mood to read đź“š
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
juliabristow's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 for personal enjoyment, would give it a 4 for my overall opinion of it-
This was an interesting read for me, because I always love genre-defying novels, and to my knowledge, nothing has ever been done quite like this, so I have to give it props for that alone. The actual experience of reading it, though, was clunky and a bit difficult for me at times. I don't know if that's due to the wealth of literary and historical references, or the prose itself - probably both. There were several times where I had to re-read sentences and struggled to understand what I was supposed to be taking away from it. But at the same time, I think in at least some cases that was intentional, as part of the point of the stories, especially towards the first half, was to show how discreet sapphics and women in general had to live their lives in the 19th and early 20th century.
I did quite enjoy learning about all the women laid out here, and I've added quite a few things to my reading list from them. I also had no idea Virginia Woolf was queer?? and I feel like a bad lesbian for that.
Anyways, "becoming Sappho" was a really interesting concept, and to see how she inspired so many of the queer women to carve out a space in literature for themselves was, frankly, inspiring. And even though there were points where it seemed that all of the work was for nothing (during the Fascist era), the figures were undeterred because they knew no matter what they would always have Sappho, and if they needed to, they could go back to living under her guise, with more resourcefulness but equal happiness.
The last few chapters I really enjoyed as it turned almost meta, with Woolf's inception of the fictional biography and writing "little pieces of life," as she would call it. It tied together not only all of the past vignettes and fragments together, but also the novel itself, as the author seems to have taken quite a bit of inspiration from Woolf and the other writers used as characters.
Finally, one of my favorite fragments was also one of the earliest - "there are always those rare few that 'the applepickers forgot-/no, not forgot; were unable to reach'"
This was an interesting read for me, because I always love genre-defying novels, and to my knowledge, nothing has ever been done quite like this, so I have to give it props for that alone. The actual experience of reading it, though, was clunky and a bit difficult for me at times. I don't know if that's due to the wealth of literary and historical references, or the prose itself - probably both. There were several times where I had to re-read sentences and struggled to understand what I was supposed to be taking away from it. But at the same time, I think in at least some cases that was intentional, as part of the point of the stories, especially towards the first half, was to show how discreet sapphics and women in general had to live their lives in the 19th and early 20th century.
I did quite enjoy learning about all the women laid out here, and I've added quite a few things to my reading list from them. I also had no idea Virginia Woolf was queer?? and I feel like a bad lesbian for that.
Anyways, "becoming Sappho" was a really interesting concept, and to see how she inspired so many of the queer women to carve out a space in literature for themselves was, frankly, inspiring. And even though there were points where it seemed that all of the work was for nothing (during the Fascist era), the figures were undeterred because they knew no matter what they would always have Sappho, and if they needed to, they could go back to living under her guise, with more resourcefulness but equal happiness.
The last few chapters I really enjoyed as it turned almost meta, with Woolf's inception of the fictional biography and writing "little pieces of life," as she would call it. It tied together not only all of the past vignettes and fragments together, but also the novel itself, as the author seems to have taken quite a bit of inspiration from Woolf and the other writers used as characters.
Finally, one of my favorite fragments was also one of the earliest - "there are always those rare few that 'the applepickers forgot-/no, not forgot; were unable to reach'"
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Misogyny
readingbrb's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Deadnaming
Minor: Suicide, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and War
hannahbailey's review against another edition
dnf @ 45%.
Usually I catch myself a lot earlier persisting with a text I’m not enjoying, but the short vignettes kept me hopeful that the pace would pick up. This was an idea that should’ve been captivating, but sadly it was tedious and clunky to read. Exploring female artists throughout history and connecting them in fiction sounds like a great idea, but when they’re mostly aristocratic white women spouting Ancient Greek there’s a lot less for me to empathise with.
This may appeal to classicists and European historians who understand all the Ancient Greek references — unfortunately my IQ isn’t high enough for this one.
Usually I catch myself a lot earlier persisting with a text I’m not enjoying, but the short vignettes kept me hopeful that the pace would pick up. This was an idea that should’ve been captivating, but sadly it was tedious and clunky to read. Exploring female artists throughout history and connecting them in fiction sounds like a great idea, but when they’re mostly aristocratic white women spouting Ancient Greek there’s a lot less for me to empathise with.
This may appeal to classicists and European historians who understand all the Ancient Greek references — unfortunately my IQ isn’t high enough for this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Homophobia, and Violence
deedireads's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads
After Sappho was my 11th read from the 2022 Booker Prize longlist, and what a unique little book! When they say it “defies genre,” they really mean it. I’m not sure that it was really for me, but I have a boatload of respect for what Selby Wynn Schwartz has pulled off.
The book reimagines the lives of real women — mostly lesbians — who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (Sarah Bernhardt, Isadora Duncan, Virginia Woolf, etc.). Threaded throughout is a choral voice representing the amalgamation of all of them. It’s poetic, it’s imaginative — and it must have taken so much research to create.
Unless you know a lot about at least some of these women, this is definitely a “go with the flow” / “just vibes” kind of book. As per my usual, I wasn’t really able to let go and just sink into that approach. So I think I would have liked this book if I was a bit more of a history nerd. In fact, I think queer/lesbian/feminist history buffs will LOVE this one. Still, I’m impressed and can definitely see why it’s gotten critical acclaim.
After Sappho was my 11th read from the 2022 Booker Prize longlist, and what a unique little book! When they say it “defies genre,” they really mean it. I’m not sure that it was really for me, but I have a boatload of respect for what Selby Wynn Schwartz has pulled off.
The book reimagines the lives of real women — mostly lesbians — who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (Sarah Bernhardt, Isadora Duncan, Virginia Woolf, etc.). Threaded throughout is a choral voice representing the amalgamation of all of them. It’s poetic, it’s imaginative — and it must have taken so much research to create.
Unless you know a lot about at least some of these women, this is definitely a “go with the flow” / “just vibes” kind of book. As per my usual, I wasn’t really able to let go and just sink into that approach. So I think I would have liked this book if I was a bit more of a history nerd. In fact, I think queer/lesbian/feminist history buffs will LOVE this one. Still, I’m impressed and can definitely see why it’s gotten critical acclaim.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia and Homophobia
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Terminal illness and War
fionamundy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Hate crime, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
caseygracee's review against another edition
slow-paced
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Rape, and Homophobia
mmcloe's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A little disappointing on the whole, especially seeing the extensive citation of Saidiya Hartman in the acknowledgments. One of the things that makes speculative fabulation so brilliant is the capacity to illuminate the stories of those mutilated and plastered over by the archives, using storytelling to push back and heal against this mutilation.
This book's work really only focused on those who have been vindicated by the archives - the brilliant writers and early feminists who have been the subject of countless scholarly evaluations. And in doing so, the author glossed over much of the less savory aspects of these people's lives and ideologies. Overall, a relatively straight approach to historical queerness.
This book's work really only focused on those who have been vindicated by the archives - the brilliant writers and early feminists who have been the subject of countless scholarly evaluations. And in doing so, the author glossed over much of the less savory aspects of these people's lives and ideologies. Overall, a relatively straight approach to historical queerness.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism, Rape, and Homophobia