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tahsintries's review
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Drug use, Racism, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Rape and Domestic abuse
booksthatburn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
THE BLACK FLAMINGO is a celebration of complex layered identity (specifically gay, Greek-Cypriot, and Jamaican) as Michael grows up, comes of age and, through drag, finally finds a place that fits all of him.
It leaves room for messiness, mistakes, and the strange meandering coincidences of life as we watch Michael grow up, exploring the facets of his identity and celebrating the intersections between them. It handles a lot of topics and nuance in a way that keeps the underlying messiness while reaching for something healthier and more whole with every page. There's a lot of growth in the secondary characters as well, even minor characters learn and change in meaningful and obvious ways by the time the story is over.
I loved reading this and highly recommend it.
It leaves room for messiness, mistakes, and the strange meandering coincidences of life as we watch Michael grow up, exploring the facets of his identity and celebrating the intersections between them. It handles a lot of topics and nuance in a way that keeps the underlying messiness while reaching for something healthier and more whole with every page. There's a lot of growth in the secondary characters as well, even minor characters learn and change in meaningful and obvious ways by the time the story is over.
I loved reading this and highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, Drug use, Bullying, Vomit, Violence, and Domestic abuse
manon_misheck's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? N/A
5.0
One of my recent audiobooks, The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta, was highly recommended by bookstagram friends, and it was just as wonderful as I had heard it would be!
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What a beautiful story. This book weaved together self-discovery, exploration of sexuality, gender, and race, the experience of growing up, family, and friends. Coming out is different for every person, and it was a joy to follow Michael's discovery of what life can be like when you are truly able to be yourself. The author narrated the audiobook, and it was fantastic - I couldn't stop listening!
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What a beautiful story. This book weaved together self-discovery, exploration of sexuality, gender, and race, the experience of growing up, family, and friends. Coming out is different for every person, and it was a joy to follow Michael's discovery of what life can be like when you are truly able to be yourself. The author narrated the audiobook, and it was fantastic - I couldn't stop listening!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Bullying, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Sexual content
CW: consumption of alcohol and drugs by minors, bullying, homophobia, internalized homophobia, homophobic slurs, physical assault, domestic abuse, internalized racism, racial microaggressions, racial slurs, toxic masculinity, sexism, coming out themes, dubious consent, parental abandonment, poverty themes
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