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alayamorning's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Transphobia, Grief, and Homophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
sofipitch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Misogyny
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
luca_18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Death, Grief, Homophobia, and Murder
sukriti's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.omemlette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
kimveach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Grief, Murder, Outing, Rape, and Toxic friendship
beanjoles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As a queer person I was so affected by this story, as it not only portrays how difficult it is to come to terms with the reality of one’s true depths and desires, but also how much harder that was to do only half a century ago. Gay men have always had it particularly tough; the way western society defines masculinity is rigid and ruthless — it treats homosexuality as a threat, as if loving another man somehow makes you less of one.
Things have certainly been changing, but not so drastically that I didn’t immediately understand David’s fears. David deals with these fears in what I would consider a cowardly way, and he bitterly harms those around him through his inability to choose whether conventional ideals of “morality” matter more to him than what he knows to be true in his heart. But in his shoes, would I not do the same? It’s easy now, speaking from the 21st century, to say that of course I’d follow my queer little heart. Back then, before even the gay liberation movement, that kind of countercultural stance would have been quite difficult to maintain. Many did, to be sure, but I’m sure many did not dare.
Anyway, back to the book. I’ll definitely be thinking on it for quite a while, and I wouldn’t be surprised to return some day for a reread. For now, I think I’ll be sad and then go hug my partner and be grateful that I am not in the same position as David (or Giovanni!).
Graphic: Grief and Infidelity
Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
maddyj153's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Grief
milliebrierley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, and Outing
curatoriallyyours's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Murder, Outing, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Vomit, and Xenophobia
I was not a fan of the casual sexism and transphobia, and I can’t decide if it’s a deliberate airing of questionable ideas by the author to prompt reflection in the reader (this book would have been a shock at the time it was published), a mirror of the values of the time or the genuine feeling of the author.