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deadevergreen's review
3.0
In some ways this is a diverse compilation. The stories certainly moved me in a range of directions--some fun, some heartbreaking, some harrowing. Some with a clear queer voice and some that felt (though I had trouble confirming) more about queer people than by queer people. I wish the compilation had drawn on a broader range of countries.
theaceofpages's review
challenging
emotional
3.5
If you are interested in the stories and experiences of people outside of the USA and UK (and Europe in general although this is talked about less than the former) I would definitely recommend picking this up. Is it my favourite book? No. But it does explore the experiences of queer people that are largely ignored. Some of the stories are a little uncomfortable (particularly A Boy is a boy is a and In the Way she Glides in my case) because of the topics they choose to explore - that's not to say that these make them bad of course! Just be aware that some have difficult contents.
This book does mostly contain southern African authors so although containing a diverse range of stories it doesn't necessarily have the biggest geographic diversity (I'm not sure how this changes in the second book). I also felt like it was slightly biased to mlm characters, but when I counted it up it was split about equally between mlm and wlw representation. A few of the wlw stories are more about longing rather than relationships though, which may have contributed towards this feeling. Of course there is nothing wrong with these kinds of stories though! I definitely didn't dislike them and they represent very real experiences and issues that queer women face. It just maybe made the book feel a little skewed.
I thought I'd list which stories contain which content warnings for those who need them. All are individually spoilered. I apologise if I missed any!
Graphic:
Homophobia:The Big Stick, A boy is a boy is a
Sexual violence/ rape:A boy is a boy is a
Sexual content:Pelican Boy, Chapter 13, All covered up
Moderate:
Adult/minor relationship:No actual relationship but a swim coach sexualising her students. Her main interest is 17 years old. Her age is mentioned once in passing (commenting on how her swimming costume makes her look like a five year old in a seventeen year old's body) and the students are mostly referred to as girls. I found it kind of uncomfortable
Bullying:The Big Stick
Drug abuse:Pelican Boy
Homophobia:Leaving Civvy Street, Rock - being told not to return until she marries a man, any man, Sethunya Likes Girls Better - internalised homophobia
Sexual content:Impepho - you can skip the last two paragraphs. Before this it's just two men enjoying hiking together, A boy is a boy is a
Minor:
Animal death:Sethunya Likes Girls Better
Child death:Poisoned Grief
Death: Poisoned Grief, The Bath - whole story is about the lead up in past tense
Fatphobia:Lower Main, In the Way She Glides
Gun violence:A boy is a boy is a -Main character feels threatened/intimidated by the guns of the soldiers around him, even if they are never used on him, Pinch - also be warned that the ending, while vague, is upsetting
Misogyny:A boy is a boy is a - slurs
War: A boy is a boy is a, Pinch
This book does mostly contain southern African authors so although containing a diverse range of stories it doesn't necessarily have the biggest geographic diversity (I'm not sure how this changes in the second book). I also felt like it was slightly biased to mlm characters, but when I counted it up it was split about equally between mlm and wlw representation. A few of the wlw stories are more about longing rather than relationships though, which may have contributed towards this feeling. Of course there is nothing wrong with these kinds of stories though! I definitely didn't dislike them and they represent very real experiences and issues that queer women face. It just maybe made the book feel a little skewed.
I thought I'd list which stories contain which content warnings for those who need them. All are individually spoilered. I apologise if I missed any!
Graphic:
Homophobia:
Sexual violence/ rape:
Sexual content:
Moderate:
Adult/minor relationship:
Bullying:
Drug abuse:
Homophobia:
Sexual content:
Minor:
Animal death:
Child death:
Death:
Fatphobia:
Gun violence:
Misogyny:
War:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Sexual content, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Bullying
Minor: Gun violence, Child death, Animal death, Death, Fatphobia, Misogyny, and War
canadajanes's review
4.0
Really good selection of short stories. I do wish there was a bit more geographic diversity in the collection as it felt extremely heavy with South(ern) Africa. But a good read.
estherbismarck's review against another edition
2.0
Leído para la iniciativa #BlackHistoryJuly.
2,5.
Me apena un poco tener que ponerle una nota tan baja a este libro porque es muy necesario contar historias desde el margen y sobre el margen, y hacernos ver nuevas perspectivas. Pero es que muy pocos relatos me han gustado de verdad, y otros tantos me han dejado absolutamente indiferente. Creo que muchos de ellos fallaban en el final, que era muy abrupto e inconcluso en algunos casos. Para colmo, la mayoría de los relatos se centraban en historias de gays y de lesbianas, parece ser que la B y la T del colectivo no existen: había dos relatos sobre personas trans, creo recordar, y ni uno solo sobre personas bisexuales; este es un detalle que también me ha chirriado bastante.
En definitiva, es una recopilación con la que no he conectado casi nada pero aun así reconozco su valía y su necesidad.
2,5.
Me apena un poco tener que ponerle una nota tan baja a este libro porque es muy necesario contar historias desde el margen y sobre el margen, y hacernos ver nuevas perspectivas. Pero es que muy pocos relatos me han gustado de verdad, y otros tantos me han dejado absolutamente indiferente. Creo que muchos de ellos fallaban en el final, que era muy abrupto e inconcluso en algunos casos. Para colmo, la mayoría de los relatos se centraban en historias de gays y de lesbianas, parece ser que la B y la T del colectivo no existen: había dos relatos sobre personas trans, creo recordar, y ni uno solo sobre personas bisexuales; este es un detalle que también me ha chirriado bastante.
En definitiva, es una recopilación con la que no he conectado casi nada pero aun así reconozco su valía y su necesidad.
laurafd's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
imrereads's review
emotional
reflective
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This collection really stuck with me. Anthologies are always difficult, because it's almost unavoidable that some stories just won't work for me. I felt like I really enjoyed the majority here though.
Looking through the content list, these stick out as my favourites:
- Pelican Driver by Davina Owombre
- The Bath by Wamuwi Mbao
- Jambula Tree by Monica Arac De Nyeko
- Punch by Martin Hatchuel
Looking through the content list, these stick out as my favourites:
- Pelican Driver by Davina Owombre
- The Bath by Wamuwi Mbao
- Jambula Tree by Monica Arac De Nyeko
- Punch by Martin Hatchuel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Murder, Body shaming, Death, and Lesbophobia
jules_25's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
springonion's review
2.0
I really wanted to like this book. South Africa is way less accepting of LGBT people than Europe and (at least at the school I went to there) their existence is ignored/forbidden. So, this is definitely an important book. And I did really like some of the stories. But many of them were boring, easily forgettable or not so well written.