Reviews with content warning for Religious bigotry - Music from Another World

Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

Music from Another World by Robin Talley

12 reviews

melissafelicia's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This was a great queer coming-of-age story, but what made it more interesting was the time it was situated in and how music, especially punk music, played a big role in helping the main characters in some way (like to express their anger, rebel against their parents' rules/beliefs, meet other queer people and even realize they might be queer). I sometimes paused the audiobook to listen to some of the artists that were mentioned and I would recommend that, as it enhanced my reading experience a lot!

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caseyaboutthroughout's review

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adventurous emotional inspiring tense fast-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

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emg25's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A book full of anger and outrage and joy and hope and fight and love. On one hand, things are better than they were in 1977. Our identities and marriages are no longer illegal. But on the other hand, we’re still fighting some of the same bullshit we’ve been fighting for the last 50+ years. This book really highlights how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.

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ashleybakerwrites's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful fast-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

4.5

I really liked this one- it was a breath of fresh air after reading my last read. This is what I wanted A Scatter of Light to be. It had very similar themes, but was set in the late 70s. I loved the employment of the art and community around the plot. I also thought the found family aspect of this one was really great. It wasn't a masterpiece to me, but I really liked it. 4.5

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the_true_monroe's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing sad tense 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? No

4.75

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teaskate's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny 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? N/A

4.0

Interesting structure that I really enjoyed even though I consumed music from another world as an audiobook.I still really enjoyed the structure it was something new that was good executed.The characters were lovable and their storylines were interesting,and sad.But that’s why we’re here isn’t it.

Sharon’s coming to terms with her sexuality,and Tammy’s struggle with being her true self around other people were two of the many important and intense journals that the characters tried to defied in this book.That are really important topics we need to thematic more.Not just that but somehow for me the fact that Tammy wrote Harvey Milk in her letters that were not addressed to Sharon is really emotional.Because I am sure there are many people that can relate to Tammy but also to Sharon.On a side note I was really rotating for Evelyn and Mitch to reveal themselves as a couple,but yk we can’t have everything.

Also really interesting point of view of two teenagers in that time.How it affected their lives and how they tried to deal with it.Besides that this book has some really great quotes that’s why I think I will buy a physical copy and come back.I recommend Music from another world to everyone. :)

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radiodarkblue's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

You know when people ask you what book feels like it was written specially for you, well I think I finally found me!

‘They keep trying to stop the world from changing, but nothing they do will make them matter in the end.’

Music From Another World is an amazing YA historical novel set in the late 70’s in California at the time when Harvey Milk is about to be elected as city supervisor. It follows Tammy and Sharon’s letters and their private diaries, as they are assigned pen pals by their catholic schools and become friends through letters while the world is changing quickly around them.

I loved how it tackled religious bigotry, it was definitely not an easy read at times, because there was a lot of homophobia as our main characters are both in catholic schools and religious families, but it was very interesting though painful to see Sharon and especially Tammy dealing with constant homophobia while still being sure of who she is.

‘Just knowing Patti exists makes me feel a little less strange sometimes.’

The fact that the novel was written through letters and diary entries made it very intimate and I feel like it definitely gave something even more special to this very emotional story. The characters were amazing, I instantly connected to Tammy’s character and now cherish her fictional existence.

My favourite scenes were during the punk shows, when they gathered at the women’s bookshop and when they were protesting and supporting Harvey Milk.

‘It doesn’t matter what she thinks of me. It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks. I’ve wasted so much time being scared of her, Harvey. She’s the one who should be afraid of me.’

I don’t really know how to articulate this review as this book made me feel so much, but if you love queer history, punk music, the 70’s, friendship, brother-sister relationship, friends-to-lovers, let me tell you that you’re going to adore this novel.

‘Tonight at the show, I was watching you dance, with your eyes closed and the music pounding. You were off in your own little world, a world I can only try to imagine, and I realized something.

Well, okay, I’ve actually known it for a while.

Sharon… I want to share the world with you.’

This book is about love, solidarity and community. Books about queer history have such a special place in my heart, they make cry but they also make me so proud of being who I am, of being queer.

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morepeachyogurt's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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? No

5.0

this was so cute!!! it got kinda sad at points but that’s my jam so ! if you’re looking for a cute strangers to friends to lovers book i’d check this one out!

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stegosaurus_babe's review

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adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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elwirax's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

**3.5/5

PROS:
A true slow burn romance which I absolutely love in books

I really enjoyed the gay historical content. As someone who knows the bare bones of gay history it was great to broaden that knowledge and this book did it well.

The manner in which this was written (diary entries and letters), kinda confused me at times and I had a hard time distinguishing whose perspective I was in. However, I did think that this format made the story much more impactful and it was great seeing Sharon and Tammy bond through these letter to eachother.

CONS:
The characters were good (great bi and lesbian rep) but they weren't particular well rounded and fell flat in some aspects. For this reason I would recommend this to younger YA readers, although I know that many older readers can still get something out of this book.

The whole middle section was a bit slow to get through and while it wasn't terrible my reading experience was slightly hindered.

Some of the dialogue was too modern
which slightly threw me out of the 70s setting (was good in the sense that I could relate a bit more though).

Overall, I thought this was a fantastic book. It showcased two girls not only bonding over a shared love for punk rock but also through their own experiences and resiliance in the face of oppression. The gay history in this book was fantastic- from Harvey Milk to Anita Bryant to prop 6 to Pride marches- and I'm glad I could educate myself further on some of the most important historical moments in gay history.

That being said if not for middle section of this book and how slow it was to get through this would've been a solid 4 stars. However, I can only give it 3.5.

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