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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It gave me a glimpse into life experiences that I will never be subject to.
Lily is an amazing character. I love how we experience her awakening through her eyes and how her queerness manifests in the illicit keeping of magazine clippings and books. It paints this vivid emotional picture of how queer life was in the 50's. Her relationships are complex, grounded in realism, and endlessly emotionally painful. The best part about this book to me was experiencing her coming to an actualization of who she wants to be in a society that doesn't accept her.
The two main themes in this book that I interpreted were this theme of multiculturalism, largely explored through her parent's flashbacks, and the nature of being queer/lesbian. I was initially begrudging of the flashbacks of her parents, but as the book went on I understood their function. Showing her parents undergo a great struggle to integrate into an alien society and their desperate want for a good life for their children makes it significantly more saddening when they react to Lily the way they do. While empathy of course is not restrictive to time period (her mother could stand to learn) their position on Lily's lesbianism in regards to keeping citizenship is sadly an absolutely valid concern. This is not me agreeing with her parent's reactions, but at least the façade of reason they give makes logical sense in context of the story. Her parents are fighting a battle between American and Chinese culture, and Lily's existence threatens their attachment to both. It's horrifically sad and unjust, but I think Lo does a good job of painting it as such.
Shirley was emblematic of this struggle. She is the foil to Lily in many ways, the outward persona she has is exactly what Lily's parents want from her. Lily's ultimate refusal to play along with Shirley is the stories way to say that Lily will not be burdened by the expectations of either culture she is a part of.
Tommy then is the symbol of Lily's queerness. She serves as a representation of her journey of discovery, being the tantalizing object of curiosity in the beginning, uncomfortable figure in her first night at the Telegraph club, and ultimately the reason she realizes she loves Kath (and Kath loves her). Tommy is arrested, an act showing society's predatory nature towards Lily and those like her.
Kath is a great love interest. She is a mentor of sorts as well as a romantic companion. She has been in this world longer than Lily and can guide her through it, and her arrest signifies to Lily that she has to find her own place in the world outside of the context of those she loves.
My only complaint is that I am not entirely happy with the ending. It is certainly sweet, but I felt like it came on somewhat fast and also wasn't as emotionally poignant as I think it could have been. It is sweet she and Kath got to meet again, but I think the tragedy of Lily's experience could have been emphasized in her actual separation from Kath and could've come full circle to the conversation she has with Lana about first loves. Learning that Kath was that for her at the end of the book and yet still being separated from her leaves the story on a very punching note in my opinion.
But I don't hate the ending. It's an ending that shows society can't beat people out of who they are, and ultimately "love wins," as the colloquial saying goes. It's a pretty message and think it rings true for many people who have more similar life experiences than me to Lily.
A great great book. Worth reading for sure.
Lily is an amazing character. I love how we experience her awakening through her eyes and how her queerness manifests in the illicit keeping of magazine clippings and books. It paints this vivid emotional picture of how queer life was in the 50's. Her relationships are complex, grounded in realism, and endlessly emotionally painful. The best part about this book to me was experiencing her coming to an actualization of who she wants to be in a society that doesn't accept her.
The two main themes in this book that I interpreted were this theme of multiculturalism, largely explored through her parent's flashbacks, and the nature of being queer/lesbian. I was initially begrudging of the flashbacks of her parents, but as the book went on I understood their function. Showing her parents undergo a great struggle to integrate into an alien society and their desperate want for a good life for their children makes it significantly more saddening when they react to Lily the way they do. While empathy of course is not restrictive to time period (her mother could stand to learn) their position on Lily's lesbianism in regards to keeping citizenship is sadly an absolutely valid concern. This is not me agreeing with her parent's reactions, but at least the façade of reason they give makes logical sense in context of the story. Her parents are fighting a battle between American and Chinese culture, and Lily's existence threatens their attachment to both. It's horrifically sad and unjust, but I think Lo does a good job of painting it as such.
Shirley was emblematic of this struggle. She is the foil to Lily in many ways, the outward persona she has is exactly what Lily's parents want from her. Lily's ultimate refusal to play along with Shirley is the stories way to say that Lily will not be burdened by the expectations of either culture she is a part of.
Tommy then is the symbol of Lily's queerness. She serves as a representation of her journey of discovery, being the tantalizing object of curiosity in the beginning, uncomfortable figure in her first night at the Telegraph club, and ultimately the reason she realizes she loves Kath (and Kath loves her). Tommy is arrested, an act showing society's predatory nature towards Lily and those like her.
Kath is a great love interest. She is a mentor of sorts as well as a romantic companion. She has been in this world longer than Lily and can guide her through it, and her arrest signifies to Lily that she has to find her own place in the world outside of the context of those she loves.
My only complaint is that I am not entirely happy with the ending. It is certainly sweet, but I felt like it came on somewhat fast and also wasn't as emotionally poignant as I think it could have been. It is sweet she and Kath got to meet again, but I think the tragedy of Lily's experience could have been emphasized in her actual separation from Kath and could've come full circle to the conversation she has with Lana about first loves. Learning that Kath was that for her at the end of the book and yet still being separated from her leaves the story on a very punching note in my opinion.
But I don't hate the ending. It's an ending that shows society can't beat people out of who they are, and ultimately "love wins," as the colloquial saying goes. It's a pretty message and think it rings true for many people who have more similar life experiences than me to Lily.
A great great book. Worth reading for sure.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Last Night at the Telegraph Club tells the story of a girl realizing she is attracted to other girls. This story is beautifully told and relatable.
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
medium-paced
Szczerze trochę się rozczarowałam, że akcja zakończyła się zanim na dobre się zaczęła. Mam w głowie wiele nieskończonych pytań odnośnie ciągu dalszego... gdyż wydaje mi się, że nie wszystko zostało domknięte.
Jest coś innego w tej książce ale może również przez utożsamienie, czuje jej wyjątkowość i przywiązanie. Albo nie trudno mnie zadowolić...
Jest coś innego w tej książce ale może również przez utożsamienie, czuje jej wyjątkowość i przywiązanie. Albo nie trudno mnie zadowolić...
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Lovely sapphic historical fiction. Enjoyed the storyline, not too many major plot twists but still a good journey.
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Screaming crying throwing up
loved the romance and feelings described in the story, but it’s really not that complex, and it’s really not that deep (boring???). the characters are not complex, but the writing was nice. i’m starved for love and this was nice.