Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Black Flamingo

Uplifting, emotional, and thought-provoking, I was swept away by the words and the story, and I wish it hadn't ended. I didn't even realize how much time had past until I looked at the clock wondering why there weren't more pages in this story. The Black Flamingo explores themes of identity, race, and sexuality. There is so much feeling in the pages, I don't know how to express the emotions that I went through while reading this. Michael is trying to figure out who he is, and where he fits in the world. It starts with him as a young child, and follows him as he goes to university and finally culminates in him doing Drag for the first time. I will read anything Dean Atta writes, and I wish I had read this sooner.

This is a MUST READ.

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vampire_burrito's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring fast-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

3.5

Really the only problem with this book, was that I read it in one day, which left me with very little time to connect to the character and really appreciate the story. My only other complaint was that the ending felt a little bit incomplete but I'm think I'm realising that I'm not the biggest fan of open (although it is probably incorrect to call it that, as there is a definite conclusion) endings. Apart from those two minor criticisms, I did really like this book, especially the parts about growing up queer in Britain and being a queer teenager in general. It is a book I would love to return to and maybe annotate.

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chilivanilli28's review

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emotional lighthearted 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

3.5

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