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aitnyre0714's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was just bored for most of the book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Racism
stevia333k's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I got triggered reading this book. So the notes here will mainly represent that I guess. I read this for a bookclub so I'm trying to figure out what I want to say from there.
Let's open with there's a ton of racism in this book, and there's this weird connection to capitalism that even though they're boho's they're still embracing as a weird sort of liberation? And then, the patriarchy isn't so much present except to say if antisemites see Christianity as with God & jews/muslims etc to be so-called satanists in order to have a perfectionism of God & the evil, then the people in this book aren't militant in decentering heterosexism's vision of their community. And then the matchmaking part at the end, like I appreciate the support that went into that but it's patriarchy war raping you at both sides.
People didn't understand the economics of gentrification yet, and how that ties to colonialism to say the least. (Which is important because the coexistences with "actually existing socialism" & the people pushed out of the normative communities will get targeted.)
I didn't live in that era so IDK how much actually pans out. IDK how much of this is me being born after the onset of the genocide against lgbt+ people & AIDS patients. IDK how much of this is the self censorship the opening & closing talks about.
This book speaks to a lot of traumas I had. Like the house I grew up in was basically stuck in the 1970's & the 1940's. To say the least, this sort of gay ghetto I thought was my only place to go & I think my family thought the same, but I'm too much of a woman & I'm not conventionally hot enough to go for it. I mean I like performing, but my trans body doesn't have a marketing niche where I can go & sell my aesthetic.
OMG this book talks a lot about aesthetics!
Fungibility kills. Not knowing the difference between what was designed by fellow humans & what wasn't, traps. Like it was something city planners were learning: skinfolk ain't kinfolk & relationships aren't fungible. So being like every lay is the same, it's toxic.
Dating & eros are exclusivity to say the least, so trying to make that into a democracy doesn't work. Trying to do love bilaterally doesn't work. This book talked a lot about drugs & suicide, and also the medical model of disability as opposed to the social model or the money model.
The sex work scenes Malone did reminded me of how people use porn & smut writing.
IDK how much of this book is talking about "The Great Gatsby" because thank God I've never read that book
The matchmaking in order to flee because no resumé... Feels tragic.
Let's open with there's a ton of racism in this book, and there's this weird connection to capitalism that even though they're boho's they're still embracing as a weird sort of liberation? And then, the patriarchy isn't so much present except to say if antisemites see Christianity as with God & jews/muslims etc to be so-called satanists in order to have a perfectionism of God & the evil, then the people in this book aren't militant in decentering heterosexism's vision of their community. And then the matchmaking part at the end, like I appreciate the support that went into that but it's patriarchy war raping you at both sides.
People didn't understand the economics of gentrification yet, and how that ties to colonialism to say the least. (Which is important because the coexistences with "actually existing socialism" & the people pushed out of the normative communities will get targeted.)
I didn't live in that era so IDK how much actually pans out. IDK how much of this is me being born after the onset of the genocide against lgbt+ people & AIDS patients. IDK how much of this is the self censorship the opening & closing talks about.
This book speaks to a lot of traumas I had. Like the house I grew up in was basically stuck in the 1970's & the 1940's. To say the least, this sort of gay ghetto I thought was my only place to go & I think my family thought the same, but I'm too much of a woman & I'm not conventionally hot enough to go for it. I mean I like performing, but my trans body doesn't have a marketing niche where I can go & sell my aesthetic.
OMG this book talks a lot about aesthetics!
Fungibility kills. Not knowing the difference between what was designed by fellow humans & what wasn't, traps. Like it was something city planners were learning: skinfolk ain't kinfolk & relationships aren't fungible. So being like every lay is the same, it's toxic.
Dating & eros are exclusivity to say the least, so trying to make that into a democracy doesn't work. Trying to do love bilaterally doesn't work. This book talked a lot about drugs & suicide, and also the medical model of disability as opposed to the social model or the money model.
The sex work scenes Malone did reminded me of how people use porn & smut writing.
IDK how much of this book is talking about "The Great Gatsby" because thank God I've never read that book
The matchmaking in order to flee because no resumé... Feels tragic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Body shaming, Death, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Excrement, Violence, Drug abuse, Rape, Pedophilia, Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Drug use, Sexual assault, Suicide, Vomit, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Body horror, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Gun violence
cinaedussinister's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I absolutely adore this book's framing device & the way it's written - definitely the best part of the book. For me, the writing style is definitely the biggest plus: Holleran *knows* how to create an image, and he's really good at capturing the essence of a community (the NYC gay community, to be exact). I also really enjoy the characterisation - each character feels different and fleshed out, even if they aren't named (thinking especially of the two framing characters here). The one place where I feel like the book could use some work is its plot. The middle of the book feels quite slow, just kind of repeated descriptions of the sluttiness of Malone and gay NYC in general, and the end just kind of putters out - there's no real climax. That's not a huge downfall - the beginning is excellent, and I still really enjoyed reading it all the way through, despite the plot's slowness, so I'd still say this is a really good book. Definitely worth reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence
Moderate: Suicide and Drug use
Minor: Racism
kaaitlinwong's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Racism
Minor: Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Physical abuse
moneyispizza's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
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