Reviews

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

rachael_amber's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring 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

4.0

teereadsbooks's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful 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? No

4.25

This was such a beautiful read. It's so real, raw, emotional, and yet so hopeful in the end. We get to ride along while we see Michael discover his identity from the time he is a child wishing for a Barbie for Christmas through to finding his drag persona in university. We get an inside look at the experiences of someone with intersectional identity as they go through the world. Michael is genuinely a shining star a world that isn't always very accepting, and he eventually discovers and accepts all that he is no matter what anyone else has to say about it. I loved this read. It's quick, but so packed full of depth and emotion. The writing style was especially unique to me, but I'm so glad I gave this story a try.

sweetrosegirl76's review

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5.0

It was a quick read. I wish I knew how to write this review, as I’ve never read a poetry book, nor have I read a book that the whole narrative is told through poetry. It is a very unique book. I loved the stories and the poems. I would totally reread this in the future as it inspires me to continue to write my own poetry and to continue to engage in meaningful exploration abut my own identity. I realize that poetry looks different. Like I knew that but it wasn’t until reading this that it sunk in. The poetry I think in is different than the poetry someone else thinks in. Everyone has their own rhythm, their own beat that they think their poems in. I had never thought about that before. Of course that concept makes sense but I really never gave any thought to beats and rhythms that weren’t mine. This book gave me a new appreciation for poetry, I think it’s opened my mind to think more about the poetry of others, their writing and speaking style. I’d like to hear how the author speaks their poems, I’d love to hear their beat, their inflection, their cadence. Where do they inflect? What words do they stress and why? How do they expresses himself? I’m thankful for the reflection this book inspired me to engage in.

I’m inspired to think about my own femininity, my sexuality, my womanhood. I really liked the last poem “How to Come Out as Gay” I thought it was very reassuring. It was encouraging, understanding, and calming.

I enjoyed the story. I wish I could read more of Michael, I want to see how he continues to become himself. His battle with his identity, learning to give himself permission to be free, accepting every part of himself... Great book

darleen0611's review against another edition

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4.0

C’est une belle fenêtre sur la réalité du personnage principal. Je ne me suis pas identifiée à celui-ci sur quelques points mais j’ai tout de même été en mesure de savourer ce roman. Très facile à lire également, la poésie qui le compose est également jolie.

m_adams's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

ojdowdeswell's review

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5.0

Though written as a novel for a YA audience, this should definitely be read by everyone.
Reflecting on themes of identity, race, sexuality and the desire to fit in, Atta's poetry is powerful and poignant.
I would also encourage anyone to see Dean read his poetry live where possible too.

emrosenq's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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

5.0

Poetry isn’t always exactly ~my jam~ but this was amazing. It’s an absolute must read for folks looking to explore the complicated feelings of identity and belonging 💕

riley_97ri's review

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4.0

This is a brilliant book about identity and what it means on a personal level, not just a communal level.
I’ve never read anything in verse before it was an interesting experience, very different but I did enjoy it. I do believe that the story could not have been told better any other way, I would go so far to say in any other form it would have suffered.
The Black Flamingo is a story about personal journey, identity written in a poignant and evocative voice, I definitely suggest it be a must read.
4.5/5

breakfastgrey's review against another edition

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3.0

An excellent read that tells an important story. I do think the span of the narrative from childbirth through college, while interesting in terms of identity development, made it hard to connect with any of the side characters, many of whom blend together by the end. Michael was a terrific lead, but outside of Daisy, I never really felt any sort of connection with the rest of the cast.

spencelikesreading's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Beautiful black and queer coming of age story. Really really beautiful