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thereadinghammock's review
Not only is the misogyny of the 1950s/1960s a major contextual element, but the way the story is being told just isn't jiving with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Gaslighting
Moderate: Grief, Cancer, Sexism, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, and Abandonment
bookishkale's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
What a book! I was pleasantly surprised by this, and I know that it was fairly popular on booktok and the like, but I don't feel like anyone truly did it justice.
The story is set up in an exciting way, where you are not fully sure what is happening until it starts, and then you want to devour it, or at least I did! The story is structured almost like a memoir, but not fully, intermixed there are academic excerpts. It's very creative, and one of the first books that attempted to do something like that, and did it well! The book is set from the 1950s to the '60s. I think this is the best period of time to set this in, because any later or early, the Author wouldn't have succeeded in curating this particular feeling around Dragoning.
The story is told from the point of view of Alex Green, who we 'see' grow up. I personally liked Alex's character, though, I did find her to be frustrating at times. However, she is a product of the people around her, and the people around her did not care for her the way she should have. I love Beatrice and her spunk, and their Aunt Marla. I loved Sonja and the Librarian whose name I can't remember. Their importance in the story was palpable, without any of them, Alex wouldn't be Alex. Overall, I would say the characters all meshed well together, their reactions to the happens of the book make sense, and they are enjoyable. However, I don't know how I feel about Alex's character development by the end of the book, however, I understand the choices that were made and it does not sour the book for me.
The only thing keeping me from rating this higher was the lack of intersectional feminism. There are virtually none, or very, very few, people of color in this book at all. I understand that this book isn't about that, and it's written in a specific time period, but you have fucking dragons in your book... I think you can add a person of color without it being out of place. It would have been so interesting to see someone from any other background talk about their experience with Dragoning with Alex. I do appreciate that there is sapphic love in this story, I don't think it could be the same without it, and I find that wonderful! I wish more exploration could have gone into transwomen and their dragoning. I just love the dragoning experience that the author portrays and I want more and more and more.
Overall, a great read, I did enjoy it and I think it only could have been better. Please check out the content warnings for this book, it can get a bit heavy at times. I buddy read this with my friend Coletta, who also enjoyed this book a lot!
The story is set up in an exciting way, where you are not fully sure what is happening until it starts, and then you want to devour it, or at least I did! The story is structured almost like a memoir, but not fully, intermixed there are academic excerpts. It's very creative, and one of the first books that attempted to do something like that, and did it well! The book is set from the 1950s to the '60s. I think this is the best period of time to set this in, because any later or early, the Author wouldn't have succeeded in curating this particular feeling around Dragoning.
The story is told from the point of view of Alex Green, who we 'see' grow up. I personally liked Alex's character, though, I did find her to be frustrating at times. However, she is a product of the people around her, and the people around her did not care for her the way she should have. I love Beatrice and her spunk, and their Aunt Marla. I loved Sonja and the Librarian whose name I can't remember. Their importance in the story was palpable, without any of them, Alex wouldn't be Alex. Overall, I would say the characters all meshed well together, their reactions to the happens of the book make sense, and they are enjoyable. However, I don't know how I feel about Alex's character development by the end of the book, however, I understand the choices that were made and it does not sour the book for me.
The only thing keeping me from rating this higher was the lack of intersectional feminism. There are virtually none, or very, very few, people of color in this book at all. I understand that this book isn't about that, and it's written in a specific time period, but you have fucking dragons in your book... I think you can add a person of color without it being out of place. It would have been so interesting to see someone from any other background talk about their experience with Dragoning with Alex. I do appreciate that there is sapphic love in this story, I don't think it could be the same without it, and I find that wonderful! I wish more exploration could have gone into transwomen and their dragoning. I just love the dragoning experience that the author portrays and I want more and more and more.
Overall, a great read, I did enjoy it and I think it only could have been better. Please check out the content warnings for this book, it can get a bit heavy at times. I buddy read this with my friend Coletta, who also enjoyed this book a lot!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Cancer, Chronic illness, Grief, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Bullying and Infidelity
The book is very in-depth with sexism and misogyny, it's kind of the whole premise of the book, if you don't feel like you can handle any amount, I would avoid it. However, from what I remember, there is no violence toward women, from what I remember. Mainly just through comments and the social structures at the time.morganpearcy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was amazing. I really can’t rave about it enough. The pace was perfect, the characters well flawed, the character development was spot on. The book explored a lot of women and women-aligning folx’s lives and all the rage that builds up over time. I was somewhat skeptical for the first few chapters as the style of writing (going from news clippings to a kid’s perspective and back) screamed YA and that wasn’t what I was expecting. However the style matured with the main character and I grew to love the book. Be prepared with tissues, something to throw besides the book, possibly something to punch and a friend with whom to discuss it. It deals with a lot of tough topics that generations as recent as my Mother’s and Grandmother’s had to deal with on a regular basis. Also as an LGBT person, the lesbian romance that was natural and not erotic or the focus really REALLY made me feel seen and squeal a lot - for the out teenage years I never got and all the could-have-been-s. I really loved the ending to the book. This was one of those books where when it ends you feel like you’ve lost a good friend and have to dial things back somewhat to heal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse and Medical trauma
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