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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Car accident, Lesbophobia
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Blood
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this story but there were a couple of small things that bothered me and had me bump the rating down. Firstly, I can't say I particularly enjoyed the references to real life people that much. I know the story is mostly historical and the setting is historically accurate for the most part but the discussion of some high-profile historical figures and how it was handled took me out of the story a bit.
Secondly - and this is a small thing -I felt that some sections of the book, particularly towards the middle of the story, were so unnecessarily dialogue heavy that it messed with the flow of the story a bit too much for my liking.
The other thing I felt a bit frustrated with is that for 2/3rds of the book, up until after the climax pretty much, the fantasy elements were barely mentioned and when they were mentioned they seemed to be mostly used as magical deus ex machina. For most of the book, I was reading it and wishing there were no fantasy elements in it whatsoever and I would have liked it more. Towards the end of the story I finally understood what role the fantasy elements had to play and though I really loved that plot-twist, I can't help but feel that I wanted it to have been somewhat teased earlier on in the story and for that kind of magic to play at least a small part somehow earlier on in the story or at least for some vague foreshadowing to take place so everything tied together more nicely.
All things considered though, the story was still beautiful and not at all what I had expected from the summary. I really liked all the characters and love how they each got to feature in the story. I thought the non-linear structure was also clever and it worked really well for this story. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how the story unfolded for the most part and I enjoyed reading this.
I really enjoyed this story but there were a couple of small things that bothered me and had me bump the rating down. Firstly, I can't say I particularly enjoyed the references to real life people that much. I know the story is mostly historical and the setting is historically accurate for the most part but the discussion of some high-profile historical figures and how it was handled took me out of the story a bit.
Secondly - and this is a small thing -I felt that some sections of the book, particularly towards the middle of the story, were so unnecessarily dialogue heavy that it messed with the flow of the story a bit too much for my liking.
The other thing I felt a bit frustrated with is that for 2/3rds of the book, up until after the climax pretty much, the fantasy elements were barely mentioned and when they were mentioned they seemed to be mostly used as magical deus ex machina. For most of the book, I was reading it and wishing there were no fantasy elements in it whatsoever and I would have liked it more. Towards the end of the story I finally understood what role the fantasy elements had to play and though I really loved that plot-twist, I can't help but feel that I wanted it to have been somewhat teased earlier on in the story and for that kind of magic to play at least a small part somehow earlier on in the story or at least for some vague foreshadowing to take place so everything tied together more nicely.
All things considered though, the story was still beautiful and not at all what I had expected from the summary. I really liked all the characters and love how they each got to feature in the story. I thought the non-linear structure was also clever and it worked really well for this story. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how the story unfolded for the most part and I enjoyed reading this.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Fun with so many period specific details! The magic feels a little shoehorned in but I love a story that gives everyone a happy ending.
I loved this so much! Just enough magic, characters I cared about, fascinating history--the really traumatic stuff that queer people went through was referenced but not really shown, which was kind of a relief. I am glad the world of the book didn't pretend everything was starlight and lovely dinner parties, but seems like I have been encountering so much brutality in the stories I've been reading and watching (movies and real life, sigh), I was glad not to have to experience more here.
“Passing Strange” by Ellen Klages is a lightly fantastic tale of life in San Francisco’s lesbian culture in the 1940s. A wistful romance, in part. A mystery as well. Framed by modern bookends steeped in the culture of geeky collectables. It’s a quick and engrossing read and is an excellent example of how the same world-building techniques essential to SFF are put to good use in period settings.
In one important way it reminds me strongly of “Wakulla Springs”, the Hugo and Nebula shortlisted novella Klages co-authored with Andy Duncan. Both are essentially historic stories where the fantastic elements are not so much secondary as very lightly overlaid. Where the story could have been told without fantastic elements at all, although it would be a different story in that case. In the present case, it would have been a story more in line with the lesbian pulps and might have required a more tragic or at least bittersweet ending. Instead (and I don’t particularly consider this a spoiler), the fantasy elements allow the characters to slip sideways into a happy ending, with a touch of poetic justice in the epilogue.
I’m not entirely sure what the technical definition of “magical realism” is, but it seems to be the appropriate description. I enjoyed it. If you do too, keep your eyes peeled for Klages’ upcoming collection Wicked Wonders.
In one important way it reminds me strongly of “Wakulla Springs”, the Hugo and Nebula shortlisted novella Klages co-authored with Andy Duncan. Both are essentially historic stories where the fantastic elements are not so much secondary as very lightly overlaid. Where the story could have been told without fantastic elements at all, although it would be a different story in that case. In the present case, it would have been a story more in line with the lesbian pulps and might have required a more tragic or at least bittersweet ending. Instead (and I don’t particularly consider this a spoiler), the fantasy elements allow the characters to slip sideways into a happy ending, with a touch of poetic justice in the epilogue.
I’m not entirely sure what the technical definition of “magical realism” is, but it seems to be the appropriate description. I enjoyed it. If you do too, keep your eyes peeled for Klages’ upcoming collection Wicked Wonders.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
3.75 stars
Great historical fiction with a dash of fantasy. I wished the magical elements were more present and fleshed out throughout the entire novella. They mostly felt like convenient plot devices to move the story where it needed to go. But still interesting!
Great historical fiction with a dash of fantasy. I wished the magical elements were more present and fleshed out throughout the entire novella. They mostly felt like convenient plot devices to move the story where it needed to go. But still interesting!
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism