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Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
32 reviews
onefineelephant's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
7/10. I've heard glowing reviews for this book and I don't really get the hype. I like the book well enough but I think it's far from being one of my favorites. One of my biggest criteria for if a book will get a 10/10 or be one of my favorites is if it makes me laugh and cry and this book unfortunately did neither for me.
The girls don't really get together/confess their feelings until more than half of the way through the book which is not my thing. Also, many of the flashback chapters seemed disjointed from the main story and it felt like they took away from the plot when I really wanted to know what was happening with Lily and Kath. I'm not sure if it was because of the historical fiction genre or the author's writing style, but it felt like all of the characters were at an emotional arm's length; there wasn't enough depth of emotion or communication as I personally am into. I enjoyed the exploration of queerness during this time period, especially with the added element of a person being in high school and being a non-white person.
The girls don't really get together/confess their feelings until more than half of the way through the book which is not my thing. Also, many of the flashback chapters seemed disjointed from the main story and it felt like they took away from the plot when I really wanted to know what was happening with Lily and Kath. I'm not sure if it was because of the historical fiction genre or the author's writing style, but it felt like all of the characters were at an emotional arm's length; there wasn't enough depth of emotion or communication as I personally am into. I enjoyed the exploration of queerness during this time period, especially with the added element of a person being in high school and being a non-white person.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Outing, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Cultural appropriation, War, Racism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, and Xenophobia
hannibanani29's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Outing, Racial slurs, Racism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, War, and Xenophobia
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, and Miscarriage
andromeda_1998's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Last night at the telegraph club took me by surprise. For school I had to read an historical fiction and as the raging queer that I am I chose this book to read. I wanted to read something that would mean more to me than just that one book I read for school and well…. The telegraph succeeded in that. Normally I’m not a big fan of this kind of book is just amazing.
Characters
The list of characters is really diverse and I loved it. I cannot speak for the Asian rep but I loved the sapphic love. I could really find myself in the panic that surrounds a baby gay and I wish with whole my heart that Lily’s story would have been easier. I felt a lot for her and she deserved better.
Worldbuilding
The worldbuilding is done in a very fun way. The story is played oud in the real world and it shows. If you google the locations you are able to find them and I love this!
Story
This is one of those books that is very important but before you read this please check the triggerwarnings!
Writing
The writing was beautifully done and gripped me. I had to finish this book!
Characters
The list of characters is really diverse and I loved it. I cannot speak for the Asian rep but I loved the sapphic love. I could really find myself in the panic that surrounds a baby gay and I wish with whole my heart that Lily’s story would have been easier. I felt a lot for her and she deserved better.
Worldbuilding
The worldbuilding is done in a very fun way. The story is played oud in the real world and it shows. If you google the locations you are able to find them and I love this!
Story
This is one of those books that is very important but before you read this please check the triggerwarnings!
Writing
The writing was beautifully done and gripped me. I had to finish this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Dysphoria, Transphobia, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Outing, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Adult/minor relationship, and Forced institutionalization
bibliocinephile's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
this definitely followed a rather classic gay storyline and in that sense was pretty predictable, but the style and the pacing made it so refreshing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cultural appropriation and Emotional abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
corriejn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content, Misogyny, Xenophobia, and Sexism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Outing, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, War, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Classism, and Miscarriage
vellicrow's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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 bought this book on a whim and it offered exactly what I was hoping and more. Everything about this book is perfect to me, from the relationship between Kath and Lily, the historical research that made it feel like you were right there, and the writing style that described things super well.
First, I want to talk about the amazing research put into this book. It's clear that so much research was done to make this book as historically accurate as possible, along with the author's own personal family history. I loved the end after the story where it went more into the research and history of that time and how Lily's story came to be from this. As a lesbian history nerd, I really appreciated this and it added an extra layer to the story.
I also loved the almost found family-like quality with the women that Lily meets at the Telegraph Club. Obviously, there were some microaggressions that happened at the bar, which you know instantly how Lily is affected by them, but all of the women who play main roles are kind and loving people. Lana Jackson was one of my favorite characters, and the scenes where Lily stays at her house for a little while felt so real and showed how the community banded together under this shared oppression. The author also really makes you care about Tommy, as when I read the part where she gets arrested, I felt legitimately sad about it and was worried what was going to happen to her. All of the relationships are great too, even the ones that aren't Lily and Kath's. They're well fleshed out and make the world seem more expansive around the main character, like other characters have their own lives outside of Lily's.
Lily's relationship with her family and Shirley was also very well done. A line I specifically remember was when Lily was about to tell her mom that she was actually at the Telegraph Club on purpose and she thinks, "You'll never look at me like this again." I started crying at that part because it perfectly encapsulated the grief and pain us queer people have to go through that have to deal with our families and worrying that they are no longer going to love us. Another scene is where Lily is talking with her brother and her brother says he doesn't care, she's still his sister, and that part just made me sob. The parts with Shirley where Lily is doubting their friendship because Shirley is being controlling and homophobic also were great, because in those moments you are on the side with Lily. The moments where her dad is also worrying about being deported felt very real and showed just how dangerous being Chinese during this time was.
The writing style was also, in my opinion, great. The simplicity of it was very appreciated, and it made the comparisons and poetic moments stand out so much more and hit so much harder.
I could go on and on about this book, but I'll leave it there. Overall, this book is beautiful and one of my favorites now, and I'm looking forward to reading more from the author.
First, I want to talk about the amazing research put into this book. It's clear that so much research was done to make this book as historically accurate as possible, along with the author's own personal family history. I loved the end after the story where it went more into the research and history of that time and how Lily's story came to be from this. As a lesbian history nerd, I really appreciated this and it added an extra layer to the story.
Lily's relationship with her family and Shirley was also very well done. A line I specifically remember was when Lily was about to tell her mom that she was actually at the Telegraph Club on purpose and she thinks, "You'll never look at me like this again." I started crying at that part because it perfectly encapsulated the grief and pain us queer people have to go through that have to deal with our families and worrying that they are no longer going to love us. Another scene is where Lily is talking with her brother and her brother says he doesn't care, she's still his sister, and that part just made me sob. The parts with Shirley where Lily is doubting their friendship because Shirley is being controlling and homophobic also were great, because in those moments you are on the side with Lily. The moments where her dad is also worrying about being deported felt very real and showed just how dangerous being Chinese during this time was.
The writing style was also, in my opinion, great. The simplicity of it was very appreciated, and it made the comparisons and poetic moments stand out so much more and hit so much harder.
I could go on and on about this book, but I'll leave it there. Overall, this book is beautiful and one of my favorites now, and I'm looking forward to reading more from the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Alcohol
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: War
talonsontypewriters's review
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Child abuse, Misogyny, Outing, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and War
Minor: Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Suicide, Violence, and Adult/minor relationship
Deportation and other immigration troubles, particularly relating to the post-WWII Red Scare. Setting-typical dated language. Mentions of teacher-student relationships in a film; brief suggestive advances on a teenager by an adult. Non-graphic sex between two seventeen-year-olds and short descriptions of sex scenes in pulp novels. Police raid on a gay bar. Underage drinking and smoking. Scene where a parent slaps a child. One scene featuring an air raid drill at school and discussion of atomic bombs.baponthecob's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? No
5.0
I don't even know how to describe what this book means to me. I haven't seen that much queer Asian representation in media, so it was amazing to see that here. Especially her family's reaction to her coming out.
I think it's more heartbreaking that everyone in Lily's life who disapprove simply don't understand. They love her and just want the best for her. Her parents, her aunt. Even Shirley must have cared about her. But that doesn't change how traumatic an experience this was for Lily. She was never really heard.
I was really pissed off at Lily's mom for getting mad at her for running away. How can you make your home an unsafe space for your child and then be mad that she doesn't want to be there? I love Lily's brother for offering to beat people up for her though.
The epilogue was bittersweet to me because she's still close with her family, but to me, it's clear that they still don't like the fact that she's gay. And yet, she's found a way to keep in touch with Kath and they're together again. She can be in both worlds, but not at the same time. It's sad, but I guess I would rather see it positively: she's able to find a way to be queer, successful, and happy despite the obstacles.
I was really pissed off at Lily's mom for getting mad at her for running away. How can you make your home an unsafe space for your child and then be mad that she doesn't want to be there? I love Lily's brother for offering to beat people up for her though.
The epilogue was bittersweet to me because she's still close with her family, but to me, it's clear that they still don't like the fact that she's gay. And yet, she's found a way to keep in touch with Kath and they're together again. She can be in both worlds, but not at the same time. It's sad, but I guess I would rather see it positively: she's able to find a way to be queer, successful, and happy despite the obstacles.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Racism, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Miscarriage, and War
sarah984's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
This is a coming-of-age novel about a young Chinese American lesbian in 1950s San Francisco. There is a romance, but the book is much more focused on themes of belonging, self-discovery and community. The main character is at a sort of crossroads where it is dangerous to be herself: her family sees it as a risk to be a lesbian not just because of 1950s homophobia but because homosexuality is associated with communism and as Chinese Americans they are already automatically tarred with that brush; when she's in gay spaces she tends to be the only Asian and is treated like a sideshow attraction even by people who are kind to her.
The ways that Lily discovered that there were people like her who could lead full lives really rang true to me (Lily realizing women could kiss each other from reading pulps at the drug store is also an interesting tie in to Malinda Lo’s own work considering that she was writing mainstream LGBT YA in the pretty sparse early 2000s market) and despite the traumatic things that happen overall the book has an optimistic tone that I liked.
The ways that Lily discovered that there were people like her who could lead full lives really rang true to me (Lily realizing women could kiss each other from reading pulps at the drug store is also an interesting tie in to Malinda Lo’s own work considering that she was writing mainstream LGBT YA in the pretty sparse early 2000s market) and despite the traumatic things that happen overall the book has an optimistic tone that I liked.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Outing, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Xenophobia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, and Violence
Adult/minor relationships are speculated on by some characters and appear in a sensational newspaper article, but there are no relationships like that on the page.scorpioness's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
In my opinion, Lo does a really good job of slowing down to describe the setting at the right times, we all know that author that uses too many descriptors and the book ends up not being enjoyable. especially on the last page, the way that Lo uses descriptive language is very good.
I was totally engulfed in the plot, but I didn’t give it 5 stars because Kath’s character fell a little flat. She has like 2 personality traits: wanting to be a pilot and being a lesbian. In that area, I thought that Lily’s characterization was beautifully brought together, all her intersecting identities coming together in the end and all of them being prominent.
I was totally engulfed in the plot, but I didn’t give it 5 stars because Kath’s character fell a little flat. She has like 2 personality traits: wanting to be a pilot and being a lesbian. In that area, I thought that Lily’s characterization was beautifully brought together, all her intersecting identities coming together in the end and all of them being prominent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Outing, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cultural appropriation, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, and Miscarriage
The d-slur is also used, or**nt*l and an outdated offensive term for Black people was used If you are thinking to yourself and you’re queer “oh duh homophobia it’s a queer book set in the 50’s” please please consider what that actually means; the homophobia is really intense and can trigger trauma, please if you’re queer really prepare yourself for that