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reading_rainbow_with_chris's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
“When Women were Dragons” by Kelly Barnhill
In 1950s Wisconsin, a young girl who preferred to be called Alex lived her life in an intricate knot made up of the women in her life: her teachers, her best friend, her librarian, her cousin, her mother, and her outspoken and commanding aunt. However, when her aunt becomes one of the thousands of women who were part of the mass dragoning in 1955, Alex’s life is overturned, compelling her to find her own fire within and to grapple with how the dragons will change her world. This is an absolutely beautiful novel with layers of thoughtfulness. On the first level, Barnhill has written a terrific narrative with a style which is emotive, complex, and yet still accessible to a wide range of readers. On the second level, this is is a novel about rebellion, about the power of women to be able to find their fire and their wings in a world which all to often constrains them. In that way, this is unapologetically feminist. On a third level, this is a novel about the complexity of family, about the tension between those who we are told are family and those who are. Whether this was Barnhill’s intent, I found the questioning of traditional family structure and the alternative families explored remarkably queer and moving. Although I found myself at times wishing for an exploration of more subtle forms of patriarchy/misogyny as opposed to Barnhill’s rather direct approach, I also think perhaps this was a deliberate choice. In many ways, this novel functions as an extended fable in how clear the lines of moral/amoral/immoral are, which I think was an interesting and effective choice. On the whole, this was a perfect read for me. It will likely end up as one of my favorite books of this year and I highly recommend it for everyone, but especially for all female/feminine persons who are seeking their own fire in 2022.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Abandonment, Cancer, Sexism, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Infidelity and Death
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Abandonment, Cancer, Grief, Misogyny, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Sexism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Body horror, Physical abuse, War, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, and Dysphoria
Further warning for descriptions of menstruation.kelseyr713's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"He looked at the window, toward the sky. In a brief, wild moment, I imagined it filled with dragons. Burning houses. Burning buildings. Swallowing men whole. I imagined the entire Mass Dragoning happening again, but bigger this time—every city, every town, every block, dark wings and sharp jaws and bright scales crowding the sky. I imagined myself unleashed, unhooked, unraveled, an explosion of heat and rage and frustration. My bones felt hot. My skin felt tight. The air in my lungs seemed to sizzle."
This alternate history fiction is a love letter to women, libraries, and science. Under the surface, it’s also challenging notions of what should be considered "normal" and encouraging not ignorance and fear, but love and acceptance. I loved and devoured it.
Content warnings: homophobia, parental emotional abuse, death of parents, cancer, body horror (although I personally found the dragoning described beautifully, this may not be true for all readers).
This alternate history fiction is a love letter to women, libraries, and science. Under the surface, it’s also challenging notions of what should be considered "normal" and encouraging not ignorance and fear, but love and acceptance. I loved and devoured it.
Content warnings: homophobia, parental emotional abuse, death of parents, cancer, body horror (although I personally found the dragoning described beautifully, this may not be true for all readers).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Cancer, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Sexism
Moderate: Grief, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Body horror, and Dysphoria
Minor: Murder, Physical abuse, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
mkhertzenberg's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Good story with great meaning but did not live up to expectations, much more sad and dark than I had anticipated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Homophobia
kshertz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I friggin loved this book. It could be the time period. I love the idea of women becoming dragons spontaneously in 1955. It’s a result of anytime the woman is suppressed, or had their rights pushed away, or tried to be put in a box. There’s a few stories going on but the main is a family where the mom doesn’t spontaneously dragon but probably should have, and the aunt does. The young daughter is left to pick up the pieces and decide what she and her cousin (pretend now sister) will do. Her dad is trash. The other side is people trying to silence all the dragonings happening. There are fake centers for learning and congressional hearings. It’s just brilliant in my humble opinion. I only loved it more when I found out it was written and dedicated to Christine Blasey Ford and written after the Brett Kavanaugh hearing. I think if you’re currently enraged and feeling helpless, this book made me feel a little less alone.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Biphobia, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Murder
bubbadina's review
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity
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