Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - Last Night at the Telegraph Club

Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

48 reviews

blurry_pages's review

3.5

challenging inspiring sad 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: Complicated

Content Warnings

aussiewren's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

liomee's review

4.0

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I wish there had been about 25% more of this story, it ended a bit abruptly for my taste, but I really enjoyed this book and it made me cry and laugh while reading.
A very underrepresented perspective into asian (american) lesbian and queer experiences during the McCarthy era and intersecting with the persecution under the Chinese Exclusion Act and later the Chinese Confession Program and the Red Scare.

Content Warnings

kghunter's review

4.0

emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad 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: Complicated

Content Warnings

bellascho's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective 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

Lily is a teenager growing up in Chinatown, California during the early 50s. She has always known there is something different about her, but until recently she hasn’t quite been able to figure out what. One day while walking home she discovers as ad for Tommy Andrews, male impersonator and she’s completely hooked. She carries the ad with her everywhere until one day another girl from her class, Kathleen, sees it when she accidentally drops it in the bathroom. From their the girls form a tentative friendship until they finally decide to go to the Telegraph Club, where Tommy is performing, together. There Lily is introduced to a whole new world, one she could never imagine of women being confidently in love with women. She wants that so bad she aches, but also knows the consequences of anyone in her family ever finding out. All the while Lily is also working to make her friends and parents understand her desire to become a computer to help rockets go to space, something she can only really talk to her Aunt Judy about who already works as a computer. Lily and Kath deepen their friendship and try to learn how to balance who they are, their dreams, and their relationships at school and home.

This book was amazing. I was enraptured the entire story and it was so well written. While the audience is teenagers it never feels like the author is censoring her story or dumbing down these queer experiences. Learning to find pride in your queerness is integral for everyone, especially young teens who are often stuck in situations that make them feel ashamed or like they need to change themselves. Lily is an amazing example of how much that pressure can get to you and what it feels like to have a family you know will not accept you.

Despite all this in the end Lily refuses to lie about who she is just for comfort, she has found pride and love and she will not give it up.

I found this story very heartwarming while also being realistic to 50s life.

Lily and Kath do not find acceptance when they are found out, but it’s ok because they have found communities to always be accepted in, and they will always have each other.

I also really enjoyed that the author chose to make Lily someone who wants to be a computer. Lily does not only struggle because she is a lesbian, she has a nuanced life and desires and being a lesbian is not the first thing she has been pushed down for.

Content Warnings

geminisoul's review

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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: Yes

I absolutely adored this book. It was lovely getting to watch Lily grow into her own throughout the book. It really felt like I could have been peaking into the life of a real girl during that time period.

Content Warnings

minxninja's review

4.0

emotional hopeful reflective 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: Yes

I enjoyed the characters and the writing style, however it is a YA book so not as challenging as I'd like it to be. Besides all that, a solid book that makes you feel, especially if you're queer too. Emotional, raw and real. I enjoyed it. Solid book.

Content Warnings

bisexualbookshelf's review

4.0

emotional reflective tense 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: No

Malinda Lo’s Last Night at the Telegraph Club is a poignant, beautifully written novel that captures the complexities of coming of age as a queer Chinese American girl in 1950s San Francisco. The story follows Lily Hu, a shy and academically gifted teenager, as she navigates her burgeoning feelings for Kath, a fellow student, against the backdrop of a society steeped in racism, xenophobia, and homophobia.

Lo’s depiction of 1950s San Francisco is richly detailed, and the historical context is woven seamlessly into the narrative. I was particularly struck by how the book explores the intersection of race and sexuality. Lily’s identity as a Chinese American is constantly under scrutiny, both by the dominant white society and within her own community, which is further complicated by her emerging queer identity. The pressure Lily feels to conform to the expectations of both white supremacy and heteronormativity is palpable and heartbreaking, adding layers of depth to her character and her story.

The Telegraph Club, a lesbian bar that becomes a sanctuary for Lily and Kath, serves as a vibrant, almost magical setting where Lily begins to explore her identity. Lo captures the thrill and terror of this exploration with exquisite sensitivity. The club scenes are filled with queer joy, but they are also tinged with the ever-present danger of being discovered. I was also moved by how Lo portrays Lily’s queer awakening as a process of gradual self-discovery. The scene where Kath subtly comes out to Lily, described as an “opening,” was particularly touching. It’s a moment of possibility, and while Lily doesn’t fully accept it at first, she doesn’t reject it either, reflecting the slow, often painful journey of coming out.

However, the novel also doesn’t shy away from the darker realities of the time. The fear of the Red Scare looms large, with Lily’s family facing the threat of deportation due to their Chinese heritage. This fear adds another layer of tension to Lily’s life, as she must navigate the dangerous waters of being both queer and Chinese in a society that mistrusts both. The scenes depicting the harsh realities of the Red Scare and its impact on immigrant families were chilling, highlighting how xenophobia and anti-communist rhetoric were weaponized to marginalize entire communities.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club is a story of first love, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to live authentically in a world that demands conformity. Lo’s writing is lyrical and evocative, capturing the angst, joy, and uncertainty of Lily’s journey with remarkable tenderness. While the novel is set in a specific historical context, the themes of identity, belonging, and resistance resonate deeply with contemporary readers. It’s a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go, in the fight for queer liberation and racial justice.

📖 Recommended For: Fans of historical fiction, those interested in exploring the intersection of race and LGBTQ+ identity, readers who appreciate richly detailed settings and character-driven stories.

🔑 Key Themes: Identity and Self-Discovery, Forbidden Love, Racial and LGBTQ+ Marginalization, 1950s America, Cultural and Historical Heritage.

Content Warnings