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kappafrog's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.0
I almost gave up on this book because I was so grossed out by all the hygiene and dental details early in the book. However, I'm glad I stuck with it. Baxter turned out to be a really endearing main character, and I liked getting to know him better. He was so sweet with Esme. I loved that he was interested in science fiction, and reading about his struggles due to his race and sexuality was really compelling. At first I thought the writing style was over-wrought, but once I got into the rhythm of it, it really worked with the hallucinatory journey Baxter was on. I loved the ending too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Racism, Homophobia, Medical content, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Body horror, Grief, Hate crime, and Racial slurs
Minor: Vomit, Alcohol, Suicide, and Blood
jordanws's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.5
This is a beautiful book. The style is very unique - I listened to the audiobook version which was a treat. It is written in first person present tense for the most part, which adds a sense of immediacy to the text. The story highlights a little-known part of Canada's history, and includes believable and outlandish characters. Highly recommended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Death
paronomaniac's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Homophobia, and Sexual content
clemrain's review against another edition
emotional
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Sexual content, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Violence, Torture, Grief, Alcohol, Medical content, Death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent
jennikreads's review
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Sexual content
criticalgayze's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.0
Largely, The Sleeping Car Porter is incredibly affecting. The claustrophobia and deprivation seeps out of the page and leaves its reader both uneasy and compelled. The book was full of sly references and powerful imagery and metaphor that made clear the reason why it won last year's Scotiabank Giller Prize.
The first third of the book was the most powerful to me in these areas. The book almost feels like a thriller in the way that you tear through those opening pages because you want to get through to allow yourself a hopeful reprieve from the tension Baxter is experiencing.
I did find that the book begins to lose this tension as the devices become repetitive. I know this is likely the point as it highlights the drudgery and constant low-simmering danger a Queer person and a person of color would face in the work place, especially in the incredibly specific close quarters service industry that is train work; however, when the novel starts on such a strong note of disquiet and worry, it feels like a loss of the earily successful storytelling.
Without giving things away, the novel renewed my engagement by the end, and I found Baxter to be a really indelible main character in the vein of so many of the main characters in the canon of classic gay fiction.
The first third of the book was the most powerful to me in these areas. The book almost feels like a thriller in the way that you tear through those opening pages because you want to get through to allow yourself a hopeful reprieve from the tension Baxter is experiencing.
I did find that the book begins to lose this tension as the devices become repetitive. I know this is likely the point as it highlights the drudgery and constant low-simmering danger a Queer person and a person of color would face in the work place, especially in the incredibly specific close quarters service industry that is train work; however, when the novel starts on such a strong note of disquiet and worry, it feels like a loss of the earily successful storytelling.
Without giving things away, the novel renewed my engagement by the end, and I found Baxter to be a really indelible main character in the vein of so many of the main characters in the canon of classic gay fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Classism, Sexual content, Outing, and Homophobia
Minor: Vomit
vedia's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content
monnibo's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Outing, Homophobia, and Racism
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