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A review by kierscrivener
Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
“When there's people around that we don't trust, we let them think we're the kinds of people who are allowed to exist. And the only kind of Librarian that's allowed to exist is one who answers to she.”
Didn't like this. I wanted to, I really wanted to. She runs away two days after her girlfriend/best friend is executed for reading 'unapproved materials' and succeeds to be so turned on by every little thing Cye did. and the character development and relationship building was sloppy. I read other reviews to see if I was alone in this and I am not.
Western isn't my genre so I shouldn't be surprised that a story so western didn't work. I could have forgiven some of it's faults if the tropes, accents and just westernness didn't aggravate me to no end. I know, I know I am reviewing a Western book, so complaining about it's westerness is kinda dumb. But there's western and then there's western. I am all there for a western lite, but this was aggressively western. So if you won't sell your soul for a western, this might be a little too much. (Are you tired of the word western yet?)
The love interest calls her 'hop a long' Must I repeat the sentence?
Gailey a queer non binary writer who wanted to infuse a western with themes of feminism and queer identity. Which was a hundred percent why I read this book. It did not work. If it had I could have forgiven every single trite moment if only they had of nailed the representation.
I did like Cye's introduction of saying 'call me they on the road and she in the city' but then they say it over and over and over again. 'Remember I am a woman' 'call me a woman' etc. When it is already established Esther has been drenched in heteronormity, she isn't even able to imagine a world where she is able to be queer and not killed. I think she's much more likely to misgender them in private then public. Especially as I don't think there is one scene where Esther even needs to refer to Cye by pronouns in front of a non librarian.
Including one nuanced scene of Cye feeling dysphoric in town or a conversation about hiding who they really are would have been a thousand times more impact the just repeating this one line. And this is a novella so everything is condensed meaning Esther only really has one conversation about her fears and identities (which is skipped/summarized) and isn't with Cye.
It is so strange, from hours of meeting the librarians she has been told directly that Cye is non binary and has gathered Bet and Leda are in a relationship and still spends 90% of the novel thinking she has to perform hetronormity in front of them. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. Focusing her internal struggle around fear rather then being able to build a connection through open dialogue between these women and enby who have experienced the same trauma.
And must I repeat her girlfriend was executed! Two days before this started. This is never explored more then on a barest surface level. Most of this is just her turned on by Cye and thinking about whether or not she's worthy to be a librarian. Which aggressively flips from feeling of uselessness to I have been here two days (and we have barely talked and when they do it's to roast me) how have I not proven myself. The internal logic just doesn't make sense.
and here's the spire on the top of this is that after a week (maybe two) of mostly failing, Cye is made head librarian and she's made the assistant. Just given it all. This is so unearned. Like she got groceries and sewed some spines.
I wanted to like it. I wanted to like it. I repeat in my darkest moments.
Didn't like this. I wanted to, I really wanted to. She runs away two days after her girlfriend/best friend is executed for reading 'unapproved materials' and succeeds to be so turned on by every little thing Cye did. and the character development and relationship building was sloppy. I read other reviews to see if I was alone in this and I am not.
Western isn't my genre so I shouldn't be surprised that a story so western didn't work. I could have forgiven some of it's faults if the tropes, accents and just westernness didn't aggravate me to no end. I know, I know I am reviewing a Western book, so complaining about it's westerness is kinda dumb. But there's western and then there's western. I am all there for a western lite, but this was aggressively western. So if you won't sell your soul for a western, this might be a little too much. (Are you tired of the word western yet?)
The love interest calls her 'hop a long' Must I repeat the sentence?
Gailey a queer non binary writer who wanted to infuse a western with themes of feminism and queer identity. Which was a hundred percent why I read this book. It did not work. If it had I could have forgiven every single trite moment if only they had of nailed the representation.
I did like Cye's introduction of saying 'call me they on the road and she in the city' but then they say it over and over and over again. 'Remember I am a woman' 'call me a woman' etc. When it is already established Esther has been drenched in heteronormity, she isn't even able to imagine a world where she is able to be queer and not killed. I think she's much more likely to misgender them in private then public. Especially as I don't think there is one scene where Esther even needs to refer to Cye by pronouns in front of a non librarian.
Including one nuanced scene of Cye feeling dysphoric in town or a conversation about hiding who they really are would have been a thousand times more impact the just repeating this one line. And this is a novella so everything is condensed meaning Esther only really has one conversation about her fears and identities (which is skipped/summarized) and isn't with Cye.
It is so strange, from hours of meeting the librarians she has been told directly that Cye is non binary and has gathered Bet and Leda are in a relationship and still spends 90% of the novel thinking she has to perform hetronormity in front of them. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. Focusing her internal struggle around fear rather then being able to build a connection through open dialogue between these women and enby who have experienced the same trauma.
And must I repeat her girlfriend was executed! Two days before this started. This is never explored more then on a barest surface level. Most of this is just her turned on by Cye and thinking about whether or not she's worthy to be a librarian. Which aggressively flips from feeling of uselessness to I have been here two days (and we have barely talked and when they do it's to roast me) how have I not proven myself. The internal logic just doesn't make sense.
and here's the spire on the top of this is that after a week (maybe two) of mostly failing, Cye is made head librarian and she's made the assistant. Just given it all. This is so unearned. Like she got groceries and sewed some spines.
I wanted to like it. I wanted to like it. I repeat in my darkest moments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Gore