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andromeda_1998's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Last night at the telegraph club took me by surprise. For school I had to read an historical fiction and as the raging queer that I am I chose this book to read. I wanted to read something that would mean more to me than just that one book I read for school and well…. The telegraph succeeded in that. Normally I’m not a big fan of this kind of book is just amazing.
Characters
The list of characters is really diverse and I loved it. I cannot speak for the Asian rep but I loved the sapphic love. I could really find myself in the panic that surrounds a baby gay and I wish with whole my heart that Lily’s story would have been easier. I felt a lot for her and she deserved better.
Worldbuilding
The worldbuilding is done in a very fun way. The story is played oud in the real world and it shows. If you google the locations you are able to find them and I love this!
Story
This is one of those books that is very important but before you read this please check the triggerwarnings!
Writing
The writing was beautifully done and gripped me. I had to finish this book!
Characters
The list of characters is really diverse and I loved it. I cannot speak for the Asian rep but I loved the sapphic love. I could really find myself in the panic that surrounds a baby gay and I wish with whole my heart that Lily’s story would have been easier. I felt a lot for her and she deserved better.
Worldbuilding
The worldbuilding is done in a very fun way. The story is played oud in the real world and it shows. If you google the locations you are able to find them and I love this!
Story
This is one of those books that is very important but before you read this please check the triggerwarnings!
Writing
The writing was beautifully done and gripped me. I had to finish this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Dysphoria, Transphobia, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Outing, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Adult/minor relationship, and Forced institutionalization
dmbooks's review
adventurous
emotional
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality, Homophobia, Transphobia, Xenophobia, and War
quinn24's review
emotional
informative
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Xenophobia, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Biphobia
Minor: Alcohol and Transphobia
kylajaynebooks's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
I saw so much of myself in Lily, my heart breaks for her and is cheering her on all at the same time. I loved this book I cannot wait to read it to pieces
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Transphobia, Outing, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Homophobia
hannahmayhere's review
emotional
sad
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Biphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, and Forced institutionalization
questingnotcoasting's review
emotional
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
4.0
I really enjoyed this. I love coming of age novels and this was such an interesting one. The level of detail Lo has included means the book has a really vivid sense of place and time and I felt completely immersed in the setting of 1950s San Francisco. It's an emotional but hopeful story and while the romance isn't the main plot line, I thought it was really sweet. I also loved Lily as a character. She's thoughtful and brave and I often found myself thinking about her when I wasn't reading. I'd read a couple of Lo's other books but this is definitely my favourite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Miscarriage, Police brutality, and Racial slurs
Minor: Transphobia
lilifane's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? It's complicated
4.0
I basically didn't do anything today but reading this book until I finished it.
It's a queer coming of age story from the perspective of Lily Hu, a Chinese American girl in 1950s San Francisco. The books not only shows the life of Chinese people in the US at that time but also what it meant to be queer, and in Lily's case what it meant to be both. Lily has been a good Chinese daughter all her life until she discovers her fascination for the male impersonator Tommy Andrews and the queer night club, the "Telegraph Club". Through her classmate Kath she gets the chance to explore this new fascination but she has to keep it a secret from everyone else in her life.
I absolutely loved Lily's and Kath's story, it developed so slowly and delicately and shyly and was just so nice to follow. A warning though, you spend so much time in Lily's head with her thoughts and feelings, that the last quarter of the book or so is just painfully emotional. I cried non stop while reading because of the all the things that were happening.
What I didn't enjoy much was Lily's Chinese friends group, they were the worst. And although I like the idea of inserting a few chapters from different points of view to show more of Lily's family, these chapters were kind of boring and weren't relevant to the main story at all. I wish they had helped me to understand the family members and their relationship with Lily a bit more. (Aunt Judy's chapters were going in that direction but I wish there was still more.)
It's a queer coming of age story from the perspective of Lily Hu, a Chinese American girl in 1950s San Francisco. The books not only shows the life of Chinese people in the US at that time but also what it meant to be queer, and in Lily's case what it meant to be both. Lily has been a good Chinese daughter all her life until she discovers her fascination for the male impersonator Tommy Andrews and the queer night club, the "Telegraph Club". Through her classmate Kath she gets the chance to explore this new fascination but she has to keep it a secret from everyone else in her life.
I absolutely loved Lily's and Kath's story, it developed so slowly and delicately and shyly and was just so nice to follow. A warning though, you spend so much time in Lily's head with her thoughts and feelings, that the last quarter of the book or so is just painfully emotional. I cried non stop while reading because of the all the things that were happening.
What I didn't enjoy much was Lily's Chinese friends group, they were the worst. And although I like the idea of inserting a few chapters from different points of view to show more of Lily's family, these chapters were kind of boring and weren't relevant to the main story at all. I wish they had helped me to understand the family members and their relationship with Lily a bit more. (Aunt Judy's chapters were going in that direction but I wish there was still more.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Transphobia, Xenophobia, and Sexual content
snowhitereads's review
emotional
informative
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.0
I read Last Night at the Telegraph Club for this month’s #SapphicStoriesBookclub!
This is a story about friendship, finding your own voice, family and first love.
The author has given us a thoroughly researched novel about and what it meant to be queer and asian in the 50’s, where xenophobic, homophobic, Anti-Chinese and downright racist sentiments were extremely prevalent.
Moreover, the author includes brief explanations of research and resources at the end of the book. I think those were very important to get the whole picture of the story and to learn more about LGBTQ+ and USA history overall
To say that I really loved this story is an understatement.
I loved the reflections on the "first times" as a queer person and how exciting and hopeful, but also secretive, and scary they can be.
I especially loved the description of the first night in the Telegraph Club. It was so vivid and personal, it reminded me so much of my first time at a gay bar and feeling like I found a safe haven.
This book left my little sapphic heart very full, so I can’t recommend it enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, and Xenophobia
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