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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed the vast majority of this book, which actually surprised me. I'm not the biggest fan of romance or historical fiction, but this one drew me right in. The combination a few things really caught me. The history I care a lot about and know enough about (Prop 6, Harvey Milk, etc.). The punk music that I've listened to and connected with long before reading the book, coupled with the descriptions of the punk scene and small shows that made me miss them all the more. I liked the way the story was told, through alternating diary entries and letters, which again surprised me; books with multiple first-person narrators often throw me off. I caught on to this one really quickly, though, and honestly didn't mind that aspect of it. The plot was alright, and I did enjoy all the twists and turns, even if some of them were predictable. I also appreciated that the author didn't shy away from having more (way, way more) than one gay character.
As for the downsides, I was a little disappointed at the lack of depth in the characters? I felt like they all deserved a bit more development, but to be fair I'm a very character-driven reader. The only other thing I was unsure about was how heavy-handed the historical events were laid in - it all coincided with the story extremely conveniently, but I'm willing to suspend my disbelief. It's fiction.
This was my first Talley book and I don't know if I'll read more, but it was a good introduction and I definitely enjoyed it! A good break from all the heavy stuff I've been reading recently.
As for the downsides, I was a little disappointed at the lack of depth in the characters? I felt like they all deserved a bit more development, but to be fair I'm a very character-driven reader. The only other thing I was unsure about was how heavy-handed the historical events were laid in - it all coincided with the story extremely conveniently, but I'm willing to suspend my disbelief. It's fiction.
This was my first Talley book and I don't know if I'll read more, but it was a good introduction and I definitely enjoyed it! A good break from all the heavy stuff I've been reading recently.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is much better than Pulp. But, full of rampant homophobia so if you have any triggers related to that, please be careful.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Inkyard Press in exchange for an honest review. (although I already had a paper copy of it on my bookshelf!)
I was sucked in by the Patti Smith reference on the blurb, but as a general fan of Talley's previous books, this was always going to be high on my TBR pile!!
Written in the form of letters to each other, or in their respective diaries, it gets a little 'sorry, who am I reading right now' - and I swapped out from the ARC pretty early on due to formatting issues, and opted for my paper copy.
I felt it was a little clunky in places, and I'm not sure if it's because of the style, or because the characters just weren't well rounded? Other than the main characters, the parents, the siblings and the Aunt just seem a little flat?
Otherwise, it's a typical Talley novel, a 'will they, won't they' with added 1970s politics and LGBTQIA+ awesomeness
I was sucked in by the Patti Smith reference on the blurb, but as a general fan of Talley's previous books, this was always going to be high on my TBR pile!!
Written in the form of letters to each other, or in their respective diaries, it gets a little 'sorry, who am I reading right now' - and I swapped out from the ARC pretty early on due to formatting issues, and opted for my paper copy.
I felt it was a little clunky in places, and I'm not sure if it's because of the style, or because the characters just weren't well rounded? Other than the main characters, the parents, the siblings and the Aunt just seem a little flat?
Otherwise, it's a typical Talley novel, a 'will they, won't they' with added 1970s politics and LGBTQIA+ awesomeness
This completely amazing book tells the story of two teen pen pals in 1977, one of whom, Tammy, is a closeted lesbian. Tammy and Sharon, who lives in San Francisco, are matched through the California Pen Pal Project. Each attend strict religious schools, where the idea of being lesbian is an utter and complete sin. The story is told entirely through their letters, Sharon's diary entries, and Tammy's diary, which takes the form of letters to gay rights activist Harvey Milk. The two have their religious teachings to guide them, but Sharon is dealing with learning that her brother, Peter, is gay, and Tammy, of course, is working out her feelings about her sexuality. Through their letters, the two find a friendship and honesty they have no where else, especially as the anti-gay movement in America becomes stronger and stronger .
This story is powerful and beautiful. I can’t think of a better book for these difficult days. I completely fell in love with Tammy and Sharon and their complicated, real lives. It took me a moment to adjust to the format of the book, which, as mentioned is told entirely in epistolary form. Once I did, I was off and running and never looked back.
"I've never fit. Not at school. Not at church. Not anywhere, really." ~Sharon
This is historical YA fiction at its absolute best--Talley's story is heartbreaking and touching. Reading about Tammy and Sharon, you realize that we've come a long way in terms of gay rights, yet it hurts knowing so many kids still feel as lost and scared as Tammy when coming out. The book has a terrifying relevance in these divided times. (For instance, Tammy's religious zealot aunt and her powerful anti-gay church--plop them in 2020 and we're off and running.)
"I'm getting out of this place, Harvey. Even if I only manage to do it in my head." ~Tammy
Watching Tammy and Sharon's friendship form over their letters is amazing; somehow Talley conveys so much through that format. These two come to life before our very eyes, and we become completely invested in these two vulnerable yet utterly strong and amazing young women. Their story is hopeful and heartbreaking and touches on religion and gay rights in such powerful ways. I found it to be timely, complex, and incredibly wonderful. We need more books like this in the world, and Tammy and Sharon will stay with me for quite some time.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Inkyard Press in return for an unbiased review. This book is available 3/31 and you can visit my blog to be a part of the blog tour for this wonderful title!
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This story is powerful and beautiful. I can’t think of a better book for these difficult days. I completely fell in love with Tammy and Sharon and their complicated, real lives. It took me a moment to adjust to the format of the book, which, as mentioned is told entirely in epistolary form. Once I did, I was off and running and never looked back.
"I've never fit. Not at school. Not at church. Not anywhere, really." ~Sharon
This is historical YA fiction at its absolute best--Talley's story is heartbreaking and touching. Reading about Tammy and Sharon, you realize that we've come a long way in terms of gay rights, yet it hurts knowing so many kids still feel as lost and scared as Tammy when coming out. The book has a terrifying relevance in these divided times. (For instance, Tammy's religious zealot aunt and her powerful anti-gay church--plop them in 2020 and we're off and running.)
"I'm getting out of this place, Harvey. Even if I only manage to do it in my head." ~Tammy
Watching Tammy and Sharon's friendship form over their letters is amazing; somehow Talley conveys so much through that format. These two come to life before our very eyes, and we become completely invested in these two vulnerable yet utterly strong and amazing young women. Their story is hopeful and heartbreaking and touches on religion and gay rights in such powerful ways. I found it to be timely, complex, and incredibly wonderful. We need more books like this in the world, and Tammy and Sharon will stay with me for quite some time.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Inkyard Press in return for an unbiased review. This book is available 3/31 and you can visit my blog to be a part of the blog tour for this wonderful title!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I probably didn't like this as much as I liked Pulp, but it was still entirely readable. This YA lesbian adventure is rather more of a romance than Pulp, which focused more on coming of age. It stars two teenagers in Christian high schools in California in the late 1970s. Their schools randomly assign them as pen pals as part of a summer project, and the book is meant to take the form of letters and diary entries.
My main problem with it was honestly the format. I know it's novel convention going back to Richardson or something, but I never quite believe that teenagers write diary entries that recount the day's events in perfect fiction prose. I prefer my found document sources more mixed and creative. I believed the prose style a little more in the letters where narrative and storytelling was a bit more of a thing, but the diary entries consistently had me shaking my head. I also found that the two girls sounded pretty samey. I felt like the distinction between the voices worked better in Pulp.
Anyway, once I'd suspended that bit of disbelief, the story was pretty fun. One of the girls is in Orange County, in the middle of the campaign to support Anita Bryant (the book opens on the night of the gay ban in Miami) even though she knows she's gay and dreads anyone finding out. The other girl lives in Dan White's district of San Francisco, and has a gay brother who slowly draws her into the scene in the Castro. Both girls become involved in the punk scene over the summer, one going to live shows, the other listening to every record she can get her hands on. Patti Smith features heavily in song, and we get walk ons from historical figures like Harvey Milk.
I liked that there was a balance of perspectives on what the gay scene at the time was like. The girl in San Francisco finds the Castro itself unwelcoming because the lesbians seem to be elsewhere, but the feminist co-op bookstore is more her speed. The girls have differing family and economic backgrounds, views of religion, and personalities. Though the samey voices somewhat swamps the last one until they meet in person.
The romance itself is a little overtaken by "OMG! JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER!" teen drama, but it's not too bad. Mostly, it's really sweet, and slightly melodramatic.
My main problem with it was honestly the format. I know it's novel convention going back to Richardson or something, but I never quite believe that teenagers write diary entries that recount the day's events in perfect fiction prose. I prefer my found document sources more mixed and creative. I believed the prose style a little more in the letters where narrative and storytelling was a bit more of a thing, but the diary entries consistently had me shaking my head. I also found that the two girls sounded pretty samey. I felt like the distinction between the voices worked better in Pulp.
Anyway, once I'd suspended that bit of disbelief, the story was pretty fun. One of the girls is in Orange County, in the middle of the campaign to support Anita Bryant (the book opens on the night of the gay ban in Miami) even though she knows she's gay and dreads anyone finding out. The other girl lives in Dan White's district of San Francisco, and has a gay brother who slowly draws her into the scene in the Castro. Both girls become involved in the punk scene over the summer, one going to live shows, the other listening to every record she can get her hands on. Patti Smith features heavily in song, and we get walk ons from historical figures like Harvey Milk.
I liked that there was a balance of perspectives on what the gay scene at the time was like. The girl in San Francisco finds the Castro itself unwelcoming because the lesbians seem to be elsewhere, but the feminist co-op bookstore is more her speed. The girls have differing family and economic backgrounds, views of religion, and personalities. Though the samey voices somewhat swamps the last one until they meet in person.
The romance itself is a little overtaken by "OMG! JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER!" teen drama, but it's not too bad. Mostly, it's really sweet, and slightly melodramatic.
It's a better YA novel relating to queer history in the 70's and the developing friendship between pen pals. A little sappy in some parts but overall I enjoyed it.