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summermorning's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, Racism, and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual content
devynreadsnovels's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Drug use, and Racism
anarmandameg's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, Bullying, Classism, Abandonment, Homophobia, and Sexual content
theangrystackrat's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Racism
solnit_and_sebastian's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
Beautifully written in prose, Dean Atta's The Black Flamingo is the story of a young, queer, Jamaican and Greek Cypriot boy from London. The story carries through his first year at university, wherein Michael continues his journey of self-discovery, and learns more about new and old friends that challenges some aspects of his worldview. The intersection of Michael's identities, and how he relates to his family, friends, and the world through various lenses, are a primary focus of the book. Accessible, eloquent, and cathartic, I unreservedly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Homophobia
Minor: Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, Bullying, Racism, and Alcohol
andyourstruly's review
hopeful
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I am not usually into coming-of-age novels and am especially cautious of queer coming-of-age novels because it usually spends so much time wrestling with self-loathing and/or whether or not they are queer.
Black Flamingo is really refreshing in having a protaganist who is very assured in himself and has a strong support system at home. Rather than man vs self, it's man vs society and the main character deciding how he will approach the world as someone whose identity lies at so many intersections, which is a journey I feel like we usually only catch characters like him in the "after" phase of, as the side character or inspiration in someone else's story instead of as their own protaganist.
The other thing I really like is how concise it feels. Many CoA stories make us walk through a bunch of fumbles and trauma and awkward mistakes before the protaganist is allowed to Become, and Black Flamingo doesn't make this a prominent part of Michael's journey. He makes mistakes, but the story is about Michael's coming to understand his multiple identities and how to meet a world that wants to fit him into a box, rather than the world teaching him some humility for any misplaced pride.
Black Flamingo is really refreshing in having a protaganist who is very assured in himself and has a strong support system at home. Rather than man vs self, it's man vs society and the main character deciding how he will approach the world as someone whose identity lies at so many intersections, which is a journey I feel like we usually only catch characters like him in the "after" phase of, as the side character or inspiration in someone else's story instead of as their own protaganist.
The other thing I really like is how concise it feels. Many CoA stories make us walk through a bunch of fumbles and trauma and awkward mistakes before the protaganist is allowed to Become, and Black Flamingo doesn't make this a prominent part of Michael's journey. He makes mistakes, but the story is about Michael's coming to understand his multiple identities and how to meet a world that wants to fit him into a box, rather than the world teaching him some humility for any misplaced pride.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Homophobia
Minor: Lesbophobia and Rape
Details on the minor rape CW: Contains a scene wherefrawst_disasta_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, and Sexual content
michellegrl's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
readingsofaslinky's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
5.0
So beautiful. The final pages had me crying. The perfect Bildungsroman.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Bullying, and Racism
thepostman96's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Minor: Abandonment and Cultural appropriation