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Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

9 reviews

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

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kaylokay_'s profile picture

kaylokay_'s review

4.5
emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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the_true_monroe's profile picture

the_true_monroe's review

5.0
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

I love reading books that focus on the impact of intersectionality (how multiple parts of someone’s identity relate to each other) on people’s life experiences, and while there are an increasing number of those, this one stood out to me as also being historical fiction. Most I have read are featured in present day or are memoirs.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club is a coming of age novel surrounding a Chinese American child of an immigrant, living in 1950s San Francisco, who realizes she is attracted to women and that there are many others like her. With McCarthyism brings both The Red Scare and the Lavender Scare to a time where racist and homophobic sentiments were already through the roof. Lily and her family and friend’s experiences portray very multifaceted and underrepresented stories in a way that readers can easily follow and become connected to the characters. 

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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calicat42's profile picture

calicat42's review

5.0
adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

A beautifully challenging story for anyone who has journeyed to love themselves and love another; to find who they are when the world says there must be something wrong. A validating story that truly details how scary and overwhelming it it can be to live an unapologetically authentic life. Although the time period falls in the 1950s, it sadly reads like a relatable story for far too many people today. That said, each moment of love, community, and unrelenting truth continued to create the hope we all need in this world. 

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kshertz's profile picture

kshertz's review

5.0
emotional informative inspiring 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: No

I don’t give a lot of 5 star ratings. But I am obsessed with this book. It’s brilliant. The time in San Francisco when gay clubs were being closed. Communism rumors were everywhere with McCarthyism. The Chinese were under suspicion and they’re living in Chinatown. All of that setting the stage for a young girl coming of age and realizing she’s a lesbian. The feelings were so authentic and felt so real to me. The racism of the time. The wonder of finding people like you. The tug to feel authentic vs. being shunned by your family and your community. I just loved every page. Definitely one of my favorites this year!

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drlove2018's profile picture

drlove2018's review

3.0
emotional reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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challenging emotional sad slow-paced

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creativeerosion's review

5.0
adventurous emotional 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: Complicated

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