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dqueen's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
charltonreads's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jcondello's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
eliocean's review
3.25
eloquent descriptions and writing, just no storyline or emotions. didn’t feel connected to the characters at all, it was like the book barely started. could’ve been gorgeous, there was potential
niionatan01's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
i wish the book had been a little longer and more fleshed out because the almost abrupt ending kinda caught me off guard in a bad way
pencilspeaker's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Racism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, War, and Suicide
literary_cherry's review
4.0
a beautiful exploration of the queer lifestyle in australia during the 1950s
septimusmith's review
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
alxjasper's review
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
zach_l's review
2.0
1.5 stars rounded up because I'm feeling generous. Allegedly this book is supposed to deal with racism, homosexuality, and life in 1950s Australia. It does none of these well. Anti-Aboriginal attitudes appear and then go away despite the author trying to make it a thread throughout the book. The main character is gay but he's so undeveloped that it's hard to care about him at all. And aside from a few, half-hearted generic descriptions of places, the book could be set anywhere. On the plus side, it's short and goes quickly so if you want to risk it, it won't take up too much of your time.