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themeanfrench's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
sad
fast-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Vomit, Drug use, Pregnancy, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, and Death
Moderate: Drug use, Grief, Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Deadnaming, Religious bigotry, Medical content, and Transphobia
novella42's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know why I got stubborn about finishing this. But my library app offered an abridged version and I was able to get through it in half the time of the full book. It was an interesting experiment from a writer's perspective, to notice what Maupin cut for the abridged version and how much more I preferred the version that omitted excess detail. I realize now that the punchy poignant quality I enjoyed in the first book was probably because I accidentally read the abridged version of that, too.
I finished it in spite of the racism and transphobia, some of which the author seemed to be attempting to address in his own way in 1980, and some of which seemed to be flying under his radar (as did all the ableism). It seemed to be aiming for lighthearted, but for me landed in melodrama. The storyline of the character with PTSD and another character with a disability were handled with textbook ableism tropes that made me feel so tired.
There were some good moments. I think, in its own way, the depiction of a trans character was more complex and respectful than I would've expected for 1980. I was glad for that, though less glad for lines like "transsexuals can't be sexist."
Anyway. It was a piece of queer history, and I do feel like I have a little more insight into why the queer community is the way it is, when books like this were one of a few rare guiding lights for many in a desert of any sort of representation.
I was going to try reading all these before watching the 2019 Netflix adaptation. I enjoyed the 1992 show, which I found streaming for free. Now I can see what the rest of the series might cost me in terms of sanity points, I think I'll just skip them and go right to the show. Elliott Page is part of that production, so it'll probably be a pretty safe bet, right?
I finished it in spite of the racism and transphobia, some of which the author seemed to be attempting to address in his own way in 1980, and some of which seemed to be flying under his radar (as did all the ableism). It seemed to be aiming for lighthearted, but for me landed in melodrama. The storyline of the character with PTSD and another character with a disability were handled with textbook ableism tropes that made me feel so tired.
There were some good moments. I think, in its own way, the depiction of a trans character was more complex and respectful than I would've expected for 1980. I was glad for that, though less glad for lines like "transsexuals can't be sexist."
Anyway. It was a piece of queer history, and I do feel like I have a little more insight into why the queer community is the way it is, when books like this were one of a few rare guiding lights for many in a desert of any sort of representation.
I was going to try reading all these before watching the 2019 Netflix adaptation. I enjoyed the 1992 show, which I found streaming for free. Now I can see what the rest of the series might cost me in terms of sanity points, I think I'll just skip them and go right to the show. Elliott Page is part of that production, so it'll probably be a pretty safe bet, right?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, Ableism, Deadnaming, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit
Moderate: Medical content and Cannibalism
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Death, Racial slurs, and Religious bigotry
bluejay21's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, and Homophobia
Minor: Abortion, Car accident, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, and Vomit
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