A review by maxgardner
Blackouts by Justin Torres

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad slow-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

4.0

This is a poignant story that kept my attention all the way through. I loved all the blackout poems; it's a beautiful way to reclaim the narratives that were co-opted and maliciously used against the queer people who participated in these studies, and it works really well with the overarching narrative that references the works these poems are created from. The relationship between Juan and Nene is really nice—you can tell Nene looks up to Juan and wants to help him and be with him as he passes, but it's also clear that Nene needs some sense of affirmation and support from Juan as he too begins experiencing deterioration in his mind. Thought provoking, heartbreaking but also funny, I just really liked what Justin Torres did here.