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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
4.25⭐
G for gay and grandma friendly
I love when audiobooks for a book told from two perspectives have completely different narrators who can bring each part of the story to life.
Tammy and Sharon are pen pals in the 1970s. Sharon lives in San Francisco where she helps her brother hide the fact that he's gay. Tammy lives in Orange County, California close to her family's megachurch so she must hide the fact that she's gay. As they strike up a friendship through their letters, they must figure out what they're willing to take a stand on.
The epistle style letters in this book was such an interesting way to tell this story. I loved seeing Tammy and Sharon grow and change throughout this story through these letters. I loved how smart both characters were as they figured out not to just believe everything adults tell you and to stand up for themselves. The one downside was that the pacing overall for this book due to the epistle style was a little off and the ending felt pretty rushed.
But the story told was excellent and important. If you like the story of Harvey Milk and young adult fiction, then I would recommend it.
G for gay and grandma friendly
I love when audiobooks for a book told from two perspectives have completely different narrators who can bring each part of the story to life.
Tammy and Sharon are pen pals in the 1970s. Sharon lives in San Francisco where she helps her brother hide the fact that he's gay. Tammy lives in Orange County, California close to her family's megachurch so she must hide the fact that she's gay. As they strike up a friendship through their letters, they must figure out what they're willing to take a stand on.
The epistle style letters in this book was such an interesting way to tell this story. I loved seeing Tammy and Sharon grow and change throughout this story through these letters. I loved how smart both characters were as they figured out not to just believe everything adults tell you and to stand up for themselves. The one downside was that the pacing overall for this book due to the epistle style was a little off and the ending felt pretty rushed.
But the story told was excellent and important. If you like the story of Harvey Milk and young adult fiction, then I would recommend it.
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
I will never stop loving and crying over Robin Talley’s books. Music From Another World is another edition to her works of queer historical fiction. Here’s why I loved it so much: Two girls from two separate parts of California, both from religious families, both going to a catholic school, both have secrets. Sharon’s brother is gay, and Tammy is a lesbian. Both of these secrets could put an end to their lives. The story is told through letters and journal entries. Tammy and Sharon are put together through a school summer pen pal project and become best friends, confiding in each other, feeling at home with each other, bonding over punk music and Patti Smith. Meanwhile, Tammy is also writing letters to Harvey Milk, she never sends them, but they are so necessary for her because he is an openly gay man fighting for gay rights in her state. Sharon uses her diary, a way to chronicle her life without fear of someone else having to know exactly what is going on in her head. This story is at once heartbreaking and uplifting and I believe that’s what Talley tries to do in all of her books. She’s acknowledging the realities of being in the time, bringing those fears and issues to the forefront so the reader can understand just how daring and brave these characters are, and then she allows us what most real life stories at that time don’t, a happy ending. I loved this book, and I will keep reading Robin Talley because she keeps the history of queer people and their hope alive.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Music From Another World
Author: Robin Talley
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: March 31, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 17+ (love, some language, forced outings TW, some abusive language)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 304
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It’s summer 1977 and closeted lesbian Tammy Larson can’t be herself anywhere. Not at her strict Christian high school, not at her conservative Orange County church and certainly not at home, where her ultrareligious aunt relentlessly organizes antigay political campaigns. Tammy’s only outlet is writing secret letters in her diary to gay civil rights activist Harvey Milk…until she’s matched with a real-life pen pal who changes everything.
Sharon Hawkins bonds with Tammy over punk music and carefully shared secrets, and soon their letters become the one place she can be honest. The rest of her life in San Francisco is full of lies. The kind she tells for others—like helping her gay brother hide the truth from their mom—and the kind she tells herself. But as antigay fervor in America reaches a frightening new pitch, Sharon and Tammy must rely on their long-distance friendship to discover their deeply personal truths, what they’ll stand for…and who they’ll rise against.
A master of award-winning queer historical fiction, New York Times bestselling author Robin Talley once again brings to life with heart and vivid detail an emotionally captivating story about the lives of two teen girls living in an age when just being yourself was an incredible act of bravery.
Review: Overall, I thought this was a good book. I loved how the story was told and I thought all of the characters were compelling. The world building was divine and overall I really enjoyed it.
The only issue is that I felt like there were multiple occurrences of forced outings, which can be triggering, and the letters and diary entries did get a bit stale after a bit.
Verdict: It’s pretty good! Definitely recommend!
Book: Music From Another World
Author: Robin Talley
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: March 31, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 17+ (love, some language, forced outings TW, some abusive language)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 304
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It’s summer 1977 and closeted lesbian Tammy Larson can’t be herself anywhere. Not at her strict Christian high school, not at her conservative Orange County church and certainly not at home, where her ultrareligious aunt relentlessly organizes antigay political campaigns. Tammy’s only outlet is writing secret letters in her diary to gay civil rights activist Harvey Milk…until she’s matched with a real-life pen pal who changes everything.
Sharon Hawkins bonds with Tammy over punk music and carefully shared secrets, and soon their letters become the one place she can be honest. The rest of her life in San Francisco is full of lies. The kind she tells for others—like helping her gay brother hide the truth from their mom—and the kind she tells herself. But as antigay fervor in America reaches a frightening new pitch, Sharon and Tammy must rely on their long-distance friendship to discover their deeply personal truths, what they’ll stand for…and who they’ll rise against.
A master of award-winning queer historical fiction, New York Times bestselling author Robin Talley once again brings to life with heart and vivid detail an emotionally captivating story about the lives of two teen girls living in an age when just being yourself was an incredible act of bravery.
Review: Overall, I thought this was a good book. I loved how the story was told and I thought all of the characters were compelling. The world building was divine and overall I really enjoyed it.
The only issue is that I felt like there were multiple occurrences of forced outings, which can be triggering, and the letters and diary entries did get a bit stale after a bit.
Verdict: It’s pretty good! Definitely recommend!
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated