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davidbowie 's review for:
Christodora
by Tim Murphy
i have a lot of mixed feelings about this book.
like, when i first started it i was kind of put off by the second chapter, the usage of the n-word (seems really unnecessary given that the author was willing to say "b-word" but had no issue spelling the n-word in full—even though i guess the whole context was that mateo liked saying it around his (white) parents because he suspected it bothered them.... but overall that whole tidbit seemed unnecessary and avoidable anyway) and came off like a white person trying to write a stereotypical view of a young black person and it was a little messy but whatever i'm white so i can't speak for anyone else. but it rubbed me the wrong way and it's a feeling i can't shake so whatever. BUT! it was only that one chapter, and that whole vibe settled down after that so i can't complain too much.
i think overall i just really loved all the diversity/inclusion in this book. adding in trans characters, for example, without it being a plot device!!! without it being so transparently for brownie points like, "LOOK I PUT A TRANS PERSON IN MY BOOK, I'M REALLY GOOD :) BTW, DID YOU NOTICE... A TRANS CHARACTER? THAT I, THE AUTHOR, A WONDERFUL ACCEPTING HUMAN, PUT IN" refreshing! i was also nervous about the treatment of addiction, but i think it was done realistically by showing that SOME people (character name withheld) aren't open-minded about addicts and think they are all lost causes, etc. but that some people are more supportive and understand that addicts need help, not to be abandoned.
likewise i'm always nervous about depiction of mental illness in books but i think it was done really respectfully here.
as far as writing goes, i was sorta "meh" the first half of the book, but then for the second half i was definitely more engaged. unlike a lot of other reviewers, i actually didn't have an issue with the timeline and i understand why it was set up the way it was. it flowed really well for me.
i would love to see a spin-off book about hector. he was, by far, the most interesting and dynamic character. i feel like the message about aids would have been more impactful had the book focused more on hector et. al. throughout the '80s timeline, and the aftermath of that (instead of being like, "and then drugs happened, the end"—but i also understand that he wasn't the main character, and the book would have been like 4,000 pages if it had gone too deep into any one story). at times the topic of aids/hiv felt like more of an afterthought to the milly/jared saga, which is a shame considering the author's background and depth of knowledge in that area.
also i hate jared. like, a lot.
anyway, can people stop comparing this to a little life? yeah, it's long, it has lgbt elements and a timeline spanning several decades. that's it. next.
like, when i first started it i was kind of put off by the second chapter, the usage of the n-word (seems really unnecessary given that the author was willing to say "b-word" but had no issue spelling the n-word in full—even though i guess the whole context was that mateo liked saying it around his (white) parents because he suspected it bothered them.... but overall that whole tidbit seemed unnecessary and avoidable anyway) and came off like a white person trying to write a stereotypical view of a young black person and it was a little messy but whatever i'm white so i can't speak for anyone else. but it rubbed me the wrong way and it's a feeling i can't shake so whatever. BUT! it was only that one chapter, and that whole vibe settled down after that so i can't complain too much.
i think overall i just really loved all the diversity/inclusion in this book. adding in trans characters, for example, without it being a plot device!!! without it being so transparently for brownie points like, "LOOK I PUT A TRANS PERSON IN MY BOOK, I'M REALLY GOOD :) BTW, DID YOU NOTICE... A TRANS CHARACTER? THAT I, THE AUTHOR, A WONDERFUL ACCEPTING HUMAN, PUT IN" refreshing! i was also nervous about the treatment of addiction, but i think it was done realistically by showing that SOME people (character name withheld) aren't open-minded about addicts and think they are all lost causes, etc. but that some people are more supportive and understand that addicts need help, not to be abandoned.
likewise i'm always nervous about depiction of mental illness in books but i think it was done really respectfully here.
as far as writing goes, i was sorta "meh" the first half of the book, but then for the second half i was definitely more engaged. unlike a lot of other reviewers, i actually didn't have an issue with the timeline and i understand why it was set up the way it was. it flowed really well for me.
i would love to see a spin-off book about hector. he was, by far, the most interesting and dynamic character. i feel like the message about aids would have been more impactful had the book focused more on hector et. al. throughout the '80s timeline, and the aftermath of that (instead of being like, "and then drugs happened, the end"—but i also understand that he wasn't the main character, and the book would have been like 4,000 pages if it had gone too deep into any one story). at times the topic of aids/hiv felt like more of an afterthought to the milly/jared saga, which is a shame considering the author's background and depth of knowledge in that area.
also i hate jared. like, a lot.
anyway, can people stop comparing this to a little life? yeah, it's long, it has lgbt elements and a timeline spanning several decades. that's it. next.