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zamziva's review
challenging
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really didn't like this book at first. At times Sarah Schulman's writing just wasn't hitting the spot. I'm not sure I'm a fan of her writing really, and I really disliked that there would be consecutive chapters told from the same point of view and happening almost immediately after each other - why not make it just one chapter?!
But either way I got wrapped up in it. By the fourth or fifth chapter I kinda blazed through it.
People in Trouble follows Molly, a young lesbian activist, Kate an artist and Peter a light technician/designer for the theatre. The first few chapters of the novel follow Kate who is having an affair with the much younger Molly, and Peter - her husband. Peter is unbearable. I hate him - god - he is vile. He is the epitome of privileged, annoying, white cis-men and goddamit I wish I didn't have to read his perspective because he gave nothing to the story. Kate was at times interesting to read but it was pretty depressing as she's a bisexual woman who is just awful to Molly and Peter and just can't accept being a bit of a lesbian. Molly was the only bearable point of view, which other reviewers echo, and gave a lot of insight into the organising and activism of "Justice" (based on Act Up).
I personally avoid books that just follow people's relationships and not much happens, but the parts of the story that explored AIDs activism, gentrification and queer experiences were what hooked me. I wouldn't recommend this as a "must-read" unless you like depressing love triangles with gross straight men who believe in the "gay agenda" when gay men are literally dying. I am interested in reading Schulman's other works, maybe more her non-ficiton, as I found some of her prose clunky and lacking.
But either way I got wrapped up in it. By the fourth or fifth chapter I kinda blazed through it.
People in Trouble follows Molly, a young lesbian activist, Kate an artist and Peter a light technician/designer for the theatre. The first few chapters of the novel follow Kate who is having an affair with the much younger Molly, and Peter - her husband. Peter is unbearable. I hate him - god - he is vile. He is the epitome of privileged, annoying, white cis-men and goddamit I wish I didn't have to read his perspective because he gave nothing to the story. Kate was at times interesting to read but it was pretty depressing as she's a bisexual woman who is just awful to Molly and Peter and just can't accept being a bit of a lesbian. Molly was the only bearable point of view, which other reviewers echo, and gave a lot of insight into the organising and activism of "Justice" (based on Act Up).
I personally avoid books that just follow people's relationships and not much happens, but the parts of the story that explored AIDs activism, gentrification and queer experiences were what hooked me. I wouldn't recommend this as a "must-read" unless you like depressing love triangles with gross straight men who believe in the "gay agenda" when gay men are literally dying. I am interested in reading Schulman's other works, maybe more her non-ficiton, as I found some of her prose clunky and lacking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Homophobia
Minor: Death and Cultural appropriation
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