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thatchickengirl23's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Outing, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, and Homophobia
Moderate: Cancer, Sexism, Abandonment, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Abortion, Death of parent, and Incest
Minor: Infidelity and Forced institutionalization
erinwolf1997's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Death of parent, Cursing, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Rape, Classism, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Infidelity, Antisemitism, and Cancer
patchy_at_best's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Sexism, Biphobia, Racism, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Cursing, Cancer, Drug use, and Forced institutionalization
oddreads_nicolestins's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
No spoilers here, but it's more than just a coming-of-age story. I loved so many of the characters, but I hurt with them too. I laughed with them and I almost cried.
Highly recommend for all those who are curious and for all my southern allies/country-folk allies, LGBTQIA+, or otherwise.
Graphic: Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Antisemitism, Biphobia, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Sexism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Abortion, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Outing, and Racial slurs
Minor: Classism, Vomit, and Cancer
mollyv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I can see why it has the praise it does, to read about such a confidently queer female character in a book written in 1973 and set even earlier was really interesting. To see the struggles that came with being queer and working class in the USA at the time was also very illuminating.
However, the stance the book takes on some issues disturbed me. The acceptance of incest was particularly jarring and made me extremely uncomfortable. The several dub-con moments between the main character and others was also difficult to read and never critically discussed. The bandying about of slurs and racist opinions was also something that was not handled as well as I would have liked. There was also very weird adult/minor sexual relationships and moments which were extremely uncomfortable but not called out. Be warned it is also very sexual, this is not a criticism, but it was something I was not expecting to that extent and did find a little difficult at times, especially when the main character was a child.
Overall, as a queer woman I am glad I read it due to its importance to the community but I do not know if I could recommend it to others without a whole slew of warnings attached.
Graphic: Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Antisemitism, Misogyny, Cancer, Lesbophobia, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Outing
Minor: Infidelity, Infertility, Ableism, and Suicide