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shay_talksbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Close Encounters Book Club July pick
Okay, I loved it!! There were dragons, feminism, rage, and we sat in that fascinating spot where history blended with magical realism.
We follow Alex as she grows from a child to a young woman, and uncovers snippets of the truth about dragons along the way. Lots of discussion around suppressing information, the treatment of women/girls in the 50s, embracing who you are and, strangely but somehow relevant, knots.
Also, Alex's Dad was possibly the best villain I've read in a long time; I absolutely despised him and if I could've entered the book to shout at him for a while, I would've 😤
I've read a fair amount of books set in this period of history, so there wasn't anything particularly 'new' to be heard on that, but it was done very well & the addition of dragons was a fresh take that I really enjoyed.
The only thing that I struggled with a little, waswho were the dragons supposed to represent? Were they the LQBT+ community that feature heavily throughout? Was it just women? Or was it any group that was excluded for who they were (race, gender, who they love, how they present etc)? That didn't feel very clear and I think I would've liked it to be.
Okay, I loved it!! There were dragons, feminism, rage, and we sat in that fascinating spot where history blended with magical realism.
We follow Alex as she grows from a child to a young woman, and uncovers snippets of the truth about dragons along the way. Lots of discussion around suppressing information, the treatment of women/girls in the 50s, embracing who you are and, strangely but somehow relevant, knots.
Also, Alex's Dad was possibly the best villain I've read in a long time; I absolutely despised him and if I could've entered the book to shout at him for a while, I would've 😤
I've read a fair amount of books set in this period of history, so there wasn't anything particularly 'new' to be heard on that, but it was done very well & the addition of dragons was a fresh take that I really enjoyed.
The only thing that I struggled with a little, was
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Misogyny
Moderate: Death of parent
drjoannehill's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Betty Friedan in The Feminine Mystique called it "the Problem with No Name": the lack of fulfilment white American women faced in the 1950s and 60s as they were encouraged/forced out of education and work outside the home to support their husband and children instead - why were they not feeling fulfilled by this, their life's calling to be a wife and mother? A problem hidden in plain sight as no one talked about it but they all felt the same and many hid a bottle of vodka among the cleaning products under the sink. Set your face and get on with it. This is not the first novel to tackle that period, but by using a magical element - as women realise they feel constrained and start to literally look up to the sky and seek out something bigger, they turn into dragons, but people pretend that nothing has happened, pretend that a woman who has "dragoned" never existed - the book attempts to show how hiding something that really cannot be hidden contributes to a strange collective trauma, confusion, and McCarthy-esque censorship. A sort of Emperor's New Clothes.
I have a big issue with this very white American viewpoint though. It's been heavily critiqued in multiple waves of feminism since, but this author doesn't pay any attention, and everyone in the book is white, maybe recent European migrants but otherwise it's like there's no race, racial differences, or even any place for people of colour anywhere in the book. There's a MINOR unnamed mention that could be about the civil rights movement. This is very odd in a book that tries to show the problems of pretending everything is ok, ignoring dissent and rebellion. I had no idea if it was just housewives who suffered and later dragoned, nor even if it was worldwide or just in the USA? Once again white middle class America is presented as the whole world. This annoys me and otherwise it would be pushing 5 stars.
Things done well: the dad - an excellent villain, he is spot on. Some definitely quotable bits about the search for knowledge. Libraries as the source of rebellion. Alex's anger is a bit confusing but perhaps accurately portrays a teenage girl unsure of how to deal with what is thrust on her, and her powerlessness, trying to figure out where to direct her blame.
I have a big issue with this very white American viewpoint though. It's been heavily critiqued in multiple waves of feminism since, but this author doesn't pay any attention, and everyone in the book is white, maybe recent European migrants but otherwise it's like there's no race, racial differences, or even any place for people of colour anywhere in the book. There's a MINOR unnamed mention that could be about the civil rights movement. This is very odd in a book that tries to show the problems of pretending everything is ok, ignoring dissent and rebellion. I had no idea if it was just housewives who suffered and later dragoned, nor even if it was worldwide or just in the USA? Once again white middle class America is presented as the whole world. This annoys me and otherwise it would be pushing 5 stars.
Things done well: the dad - an excellent villain, he is spot on. Some definitely quotable bits about the search for knowledge. Libraries as the source of rebellion. Alex's anger is a bit confusing but perhaps accurately portrays a teenage girl unsure of how to deal with what is thrust on her, and her powerlessness, trying to figure out where to direct her blame.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Lesbophobia
alsira98's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Misogyny
Minor: Homophobia
givemeyourbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Perhaps one of the best things I’ve ever read. Engaging funny beautiful rage inducing and emotional in all the best ways.
And a lesbian dragon polycule, of course.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Lesbophobia
waterwolves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
coolfijiwater's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i’m going to carry this book with me for the rest of my life, and i will continue to go back to it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders
persephonefoxx's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cancer and Homophobia
Minor: Alcoholism and Infidelity
seubecca's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Homophobia, Misogyny, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Terminal illness, and Fire/Fire injury
laurenoden's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
klabardee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I was pleasantly surprised by the beauty of this book. As someone who has a deep appreciation for dragons, the author's portrayal of dragons in a feminist context further solidified my love for these mythical creatures. Not only were the concepts and themes of the book relevant and accurate, but the literary expression and writing of these experiences was absolutely stunning. This book evoked a wide range of emotions for me, from dismay to rage to apprehension to frustration to absolute joy and transcendence. It was a beautiful and highly significant read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Pregnancy