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lucyatoz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
Under the Rainbow is the second book I have finished for the 52 Book Club 2024 Reading Challenge.
When a task force of queer activists from Acceptance Across America move to live in Big Burr, Kansas, for two years, it causes a ripple, and the beginnings of a study in cause and effect in a small town labelled "the most homophobic town in America". Almost everyone in the community do not want them there, apart from Linda, who welcomes them for her own reasons.
The story is told through the eyes of a series of narrators, both residents of Big Burr and those from the task force, over the two year period, with snippets telling of raised tensions, new friendships and relationships beginning and ending, questioning their own and others identities and reconsidering what the true meaning is of community.
I borrowed this book from Taunton Library and listened to the audiobook on BorrowBox. I read this for prompt 7, at least 4 different points of view, for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
When a task force of queer activists from Acceptance Across America move to live in Big Burr, Kansas, for two years, it causes a ripple, and the beginnings of a study in cause and effect in a small town labelled "the most homophobic town in America". Almost everyone in the community do not want them there, apart from Linda, who welcomes them for her own reasons.
The story is told through the eyes of a series of narrators, both residents of Big Burr and those from the task force, over the two year period, with snippets telling of raised tensions, new friendships and relationships beginning and ending, questioning their own and others identities and reconsidering what the true meaning is of community.
I borrowed this book from Taunton Library and listened to the audiobook on BorrowBox. I read this for prompt 7, at least 4 different points of view, for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Bullying, and Homophobia
Moderate: Animal death, Car accident, Cursing, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Suicidal thoughts
abbie_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
It’s been ages since I read a book told entirely in different POVs! With the exception of one who we hear from twice, we only get a chapter with each of the characters in Under the Rainbow, a snapshot of life in Big Burr, the most homophobic town in America, told from multiple perspectives. Strangely for me, I found the chapters from the younger characters the most compelling. A few of the adults felt interchangeable, and I also felt like Laskey’s writing excelled more when she was writing from a queer POV. The chapters where she narrates from one of the homophobic residents didn’t feel as effective, though I understand why she wanted to include them.
.
The concept is this - a taskforce of queer folk from Acceptance Across America is sent to the most homophobic town in the US to try to make change. I appreciated that it wasn’t all twee and everyone became great pals by the end of it, because that’s unfortunately not how life works. The change is incremental, the task force members grow frustrated, come up against countless walls and residents unwilling to change their outdated mindsets. But the last chapter did make me happy - a reminder that even if you feel like you’re getting nowhere, standing up for what’s right can help even one person live the life meant for them.
.
Engaging - a good one to pick up if you’re feeling slumpy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Car accident, Hate crime, and Lesbophobia
gellyreads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Hate crime, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Racism, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Deadnaming, Bullying, Blood, Animal death, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Grief, Sexism, Car accident, Misogyny, Medical content, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Death, and Cursing
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Under the Rainbow is the story of what happens when a group of LGBTIQA+ activists move into the most homophobic town in America and try to bring about change. It unfolds over two years from the perspectives of 11 different characters, some activists, some townsfolk adamantly opposed to their work, and some in the middle . I enjoyed the range of perspectives but this meant the book provided breadth not depth and didn’t really offer anything new or insightful. Entertainment rather than educational unless you are a straight reader just beginning to explore LGBTIQA+ issues via literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Bullying, Lesbophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Car accident and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death
onceandfuturereads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Car accident
Moderate: Suicide attempt
amandalorianxo's review
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Centered around a small town in the middle of nowhere Kansas, we encounter various people's little snippets of their lives as a task force is sent over to assist this town in figuring out why it's been considered the most homophobic and how could a select group be able to establish acceptance? I did like the that we were able to get a peek at not only the members of the task force but also some of the community members well. I do believe that the epilogue that goes with this story could have been fleshed out more and I would have liked Karen and Avery's POV's although seeing them from other's peoples perspectives probably painted a better picture for the audience as a whole.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Minor: Car accident
amy__'s review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Hate crime, Car accident, Bullying, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Vomit, and Child death
lilymurph's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Bullying, Car accident, Physical abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Animal death, and Suicide attempt
green_girl00's review
challenging
dark
sad
medium-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Car accident, and Homophobia
travelseatsreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Under the Rainbow tells the story of small minded small town Big Bur and the events that unfold when the LGBTQ+ activist task force, Acceptance Across America (AAA), arrive in an attempt to broaden the minds of those around them.
The book is based on a collection of interconnected stories told from a series of points of views of the residents of Big Bur and the members of AAA. As each story unfolds it is clear to see that the AAA have a huge uphill battle on their hands as there is a large amount of deep rooted bigotry in parochial Big Bur. Slowly, one by one we are left into the minds and lives of those who call Big Bur home, both existing and new residents and we begin to see they all have a lot more in common than they would like to think.
I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the staunch Big Bur heads against the free thinking taskforce and found it showed a lot of the harmful stereotypes that exist. The book is full of a multitude of flippant comments such as "too pretty to be lesbians", "at least it's not two men" and "but you look like a nice girl" and I think they're thrown about deliberately to make the reader realise just how easily these type of comments are thrown about in everyday society.
The book isn't without flaws there's one particular chapter which is literally your stereotypical male fantasy of two lesbians detailed which seemed pretty gratuitous.
Books like these I think are a great starting point for conversations and to get different groups of people talking, especially those who are a little bit more reluctant to read books on the topic of the LGBTQ+ community.
I switched between the book and the audiobook and both worked perfectly. The audiobook is absolutely fantastic with a full cast for each of the characters and it really brings the flaws of some of the characters to life.
A really enjoyable look at small town views and how sometimes with work they can be changed for the better.
The book is based on a collection of interconnected stories told from a series of points of views of the residents of Big Bur and the members of AAA. As each story unfolds it is clear to see that the AAA have a huge uphill battle on their hands as there is a large amount of deep rooted bigotry in parochial Big Bur. Slowly, one by one we are left into the minds and lives of those who call Big Bur home, both existing and new residents and we begin to see they all have a lot more in common than they would like to think.
I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the staunch Big Bur heads against the free thinking taskforce and found it showed a lot of the harmful stereotypes that exist. The book is full of a multitude of flippant comments such as "too pretty to be lesbians", "at least it's not two men" and "but you look like a nice girl" and I think they're thrown about deliberately to make the reader realise just how easily these type of comments are thrown about in everyday society.
The book isn't without flaws there's one particular chapter which is literally your stereotypical male fantasy of two lesbians detailed which seemed pretty gratuitous.
Books like these I think are a great starting point for conversations and to get different groups of people talking, especially those who are a little bit more reluctant to read books on the topic of the LGBTQ+ community.
I switched between the book and the audiobook and both worked perfectly. The audiobook is absolutely fantastic with a full cast for each of the characters and it really brings the flaws of some of the characters to life.
A really enjoyable look at small town views and how sometimes with work they can be changed for the better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Outing, and Transphobia
Moderate: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Death, and Grief