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adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
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:
Complicated
Last Night At The Telegraph Club follows Lily who has been nothing but a good Chinese-American daughter. When she meets Kath and starts going to the mysterious Telegraph Club she realizes she might have feelings for Kath. But it's complicated when she lives in 1954 America and she's not sure how Kath feels.
I want to preface this by saying I am neither a part of the LGBTQIA+ community nor Asian American so I will not be commenting on representation. This is an own voices novel and I trust the author is telling from her experience and her research. I will simply be commenting on my enjoyment.
I thought this book was really interesting. We don't get a lot of stories from the 1950's following people of color or people in the LGBTQ+ community let alone one that tells both stories. I think this is a really important book for younger people to pick up as it really shows how the world was towards people of color and who were a part of the LGBTQ+ community and the struggle growing up trying to learn more about yourself when everyone is against you.
I thought the character of Lily was great to follow. I loved seeing her start to bloom and become who she is. Although she is timid and scared, she still has a strength to her that is quiet but powerful. I loved seeing her relationship develop with Kath and seeing her start to accept who she is.
The writing was great in this book and it was a really easy and quick read for me. I liked that Malinda Lo added a historical section at the end speaking on the things she touched on in this book. I thought it was really well written and I enjoyed it.
Overall, if you are looking for a diverse coming of age story, pick this book up. I thought it was great and can't wait to see what Malinda Lo releases next.
I want to preface this by saying I am neither a part of the LGBTQIA+ community nor Asian American so I will not be commenting on representation. This is an own voices novel and I trust the author is telling from her experience and her research. I will simply be commenting on my enjoyment.
I thought this book was really interesting. We don't get a lot of stories from the 1950's following people of color or people in the LGBTQ+ community let alone one that tells both stories. I think this is a really important book for younger people to pick up as it really shows how the world was towards people of color and who were a part of the LGBTQ+ community and the struggle growing up trying to learn more about yourself when everyone is against you.
I thought the character of Lily was great to follow. I loved seeing her start to bloom and become who she is. Although she is timid and scared, she still has a strength to her that is quiet but powerful. I loved seeing her relationship develop with Kath and seeing her start to accept who she is.
The writing was great in this book and it was a really easy and quick read for me. I liked that Malinda Lo added a historical section at the end speaking on the things she touched on in this book. I thought it was really well written and I enjoyed it.
Overall, if you are looking for a diverse coming of age story, pick this book up. I thought it was great and can't wait to see what Malinda Lo releases next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism
Minor: Child abuse, Child death
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
sad
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
I just wish we had more of an ending. It feels like a cliffhanger almost. I know because it’s set in the 1950s that the ending is the way it is though. Loved this book. Such a good representation of so many under represented communities.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs
Moderate: Bullying, Outing, Toxic friendship
Minor: Child abuse
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Lesbophobia
Minor: Child abuse
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-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
For my first book of 2022, this book was amazing
Shirley is…. I hate her let’s just say ( if Shirley hadn’t started dating Calvin, half of this book wouldn’t have happened and everyone would have been fine!!! )
I love the build up to the romance and the telegraph club itself, the more it was brought up, the more homely it became and I love that. And characters like Lana, Claire, Paula and Tommy (who I now have mixed opinions for) make the place so well rounded and realistic.
Grace…oh my lord YOU DONT FREAKING SLAP YOUR KID FOR BEING GAY!!! also I’m just saying, I’m convinced Judy is a closeted bisexual woman, she gives off the energy several times in the book.
I’m so excited to hopefully read any more of Lo’s writing because she is brilliant :)
Shirley is…. I hate her let’s just say (
I love the build up to the romance and the telegraph club itself, the more it was brought up, the more homely it became and I love that. And characters like Lana, Claire, Paula and Tommy (who I now have mixed opinions for) make the place so well rounded and realistic.
Grace…
I’m so excited to hopefully read any more of Lo’s writing because she is brilliant :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, War
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Miscarriage
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual content, Police brutality, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Miscarriage, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
Deportation and other immigration troubles, particularly relating to the post-WWII Red Scare. Setting-typical dated language. Mentions of teacher-student relationships in a film; brief suggestive advances on a teenager by an adult. Non-graphic sex between two seventeen-year-olds and short descriptions of sex scenes in pulp novels. Police raid on a gay bar. Underage drinking and smoking. Scene where a parent slaps a child. One scene featuring an air raid drill at school and discussion of atomic bombs.
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book certainly put me through every emotion possible. One minute I was over the moon with happiness for Lily and Kath, the next I was so worried and then I was crying.
Brilliant and heartbreaking.
Last night at the telegraph club has very loveable characters and an extremely sweet lesbian (secret) romance. It has characters with historically accurate mindsets - which I magically hoped that they wouldn’t be because I was hanging on to the possibility that there would be the happiest ending for Lily and Kath. But despite this disappointment I set myself up for, the book was incredible to read and it really made me feel so much for these girls.
Brilliant and heartbreaking.
Last night at the telegraph club has very loveable characters and an extremely sweet lesbian (secret) romance. It has characters with historically accurate mindsets - which I magically hoped that they wouldn’t be because I was hanging on to the possibility that there would be the happiest ending for Lily and Kath. But despite this disappointment I set myself up for, the book was incredible to read and it really made me feel so much for these girls.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Outing
Moderate: Miscarriage, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship
emotional
reflective
sad
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
This is an incredible story. The details, from Chinatown to references to real historical figures, are fascinating. The romance between the girls is heart-wrenching, and the ending brings out full-blown tears. Needless to say, the style itself is absolutely beautiful, to my taste. Yes, there's a slow start and the book takes a long time to "rock out", but the end is all the more stunning. After all, that's exactly how it is in reality! A monotonous and repetitive everyday life and then BOOM!
I'd also like to point out that this book makes me much more angry at the way the queer community is represented by the hetero media. Here, here is our shared trauma, here are our fears, here is The History - and it all boils down to a male gay friend helping to pick out outfits... Somehow, it doesn't seem so all-encompassing and powerful when you live it. So - thank you, Melinda Lo.
By the way, there's a huge amount of references to literature on the subject at the end, so I what I'll be reading more. And Lo's other books have already been added to Read Later!
I absolutely recommend this book. Be prepared for a slow start - you just have to get through it so you have everything you could want from the book afterwards. And have tissues and valerian ready for that "afterwards" :)
I'd also like to point out that this book makes me much more angry at the way the queer community is represented by the hetero media. Here, here is our shared trauma, here are our fears, here is The History - and it all boils down to a male gay friend helping to pick out outfits... Somehow, it doesn't seem so all-encompassing and powerful when you live it. So - thank you, Melinda Lo.
By the way, there's a huge amount of references to literature on the subject at the end, so I what I'll be reading more. And Lo's other books have already been added to Read Later!
I absolutely recommend this book. Be prepared for a slow start - you just have to get through it so you have everything you could want from the book afterwards. And have tissues and valerian ready for that "afterwards" :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War
Minor: Child abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Cultural appropriation
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racial slurs, Lesbophobia
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual harassment
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, War
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
“She’s having a hard time right now because you’re not what she expected. But we’re never what our parents expected. They have to learn that lesson.”
Set in the 1950s, this is the story of Lily, a Chinese American, coming to terms with her sexuality in San Francisco. She meets her first love, Kath, in math class. This is a story about love, rejection, fear, homophobia, and finally self-acceptance.
I really enjoyed Lo’s writing style throughout this book. I do think the middle portion of this novel was slow-moving. But, the last 10 (or so) chapters had me on the edge of my seat. Overall, a well-written book that is incredibly impactful. Would absolutely recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism