Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

381 reviews

adverb17's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

Moderate: Drug use, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual content, War, and Deportation

bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative slow-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

4.5

i liked that this book she’s light on a part of the 1950s that isn’t often covered. the historical basis of the book really shines. i enjoyed the context that the supporting characters provided so much that i wish there was more of it. i lao felt that the narrative swung too hard towards leaving things open ended. i also had the impression going in that there would be more of a mystery element to the story and that McCarthyism as it relates to the Chinese-American would be more of a focus. still it was a great book for shedding light on such under-covered topics

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, and Outing

Minor: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Alcohol, and War

madelynraabe's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, and Lesbophobia

swaggyfrog's review against another edition

hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

my time not spent reading this was spent thinking about getting back to it. i am glad to live in the time i live in now, i am grateful for the people before me whose lives were like lily hu's, and i am both excited and resentful of those who will come after me. i love you lesbians ❤️🧡🤍🩷❤️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Alcohol, War, and Deportation

Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Outing, and Classism

lizziaha's review against another edition

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

Kath my love 🥹 I found all of the stories in this book to be interesting, I was just a little perplexed by the organization of some of the inclusions. I also wanted more from each of them. I think a little expansion would’ve helped me understand the characters and their choices a little more. I did really appreciate the careful description of food in this book. It was mouthwateringly realistic. And the depiction of queer community was incredibly heartwarming. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcohol and Deportation

Minor: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Sexual harassment

sinaprst's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

the slow-burn in this is immaculate and i think i`ve never read a sweeter and more perfect first kiss scene

honestly, i´ve rarely been moved by a story that much. the characters really resonated with me and all i ever want for them is to be happy. this did not feel like "just a book" but a real story with real people and real problems.

I would also highly recommend reading the author`s note in the end as it shows just how much research has gone into this. it also helps to understand the circumstances around the story even better, especially if you´re someone like me, a 21 y/o european, who thus barely knows anything about the experience of chinese-americans and/or queer people in the US, especially San Francisco, in the 1950s.

all in all a 5/5 star read for me for sure and defintely a new favourite 

recommende reading ambience: https://youtu.be/9WamZPMt_ic?si=HK1aL0SnzQsFA7KH

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

Minor: Miscarriage

hannahpings's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, and Outing

Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Deportation

bookswtheo's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Lesbophobia

emfass's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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? No

5.0

Oh god, my heart. I loved this book. Also realized in reading it that I don't think I've read much historical fiction with queer characters at the center. I cannot fully express what it meant to me to spend time with a character coming into her queerness in the 1950s. It was heartbreaking and validating all at once. 

I also ended up loving the interludes where Lo added chapters from the point of view of Lily's parents and aunt, to give voice to the many ways immigration, racism, and living a life spanning multiple cultures affects people.

I deeply appreciate the way Malinda Lo incorporated so much research as well as inspiration from her own family to create such a realistic, respectful view into San Francisco's Chinatown in the 1950s. I also loved reading her Author's Note at the end, which gave historical context to so much of the story. 

I listened to this on audio and narrator Emily Woo Zeller was wonderful.

This is going to be one of my favorite reads of 2023.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Police brutality, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, and Deportation

Minor: Body horror, Miscarriage, and Forced institutionalization

bashsbooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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? No

5.0

Last Night at the Telegraph Club is a love-letter to butch/femme relationships and to Chinese-American culture. Its setting of 1950s San Franciso comes to life under Lo's descriptions. And there is a subtlity to Lily's changing feelings - about both Kath and Shirley - that shows Lo's fine handle on detail. The flashbacks supply important cultural context, and the timelines keep everything straight (pun intended). The author's note at the end is also very informative.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Classism, and Deportation

Moderate: Racial slurs and War

Minor: Cursing and Drug use

Note on the racial slurs: since the text takes place in the 50s, the author decided to use some terms that are now outdated or even offensive. She explains her decision to so in her author's note.