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isabelryen's review against another edition
2.5
A lot of people in my class hated this because it plays into a lot of queer stereotypes; I think that is a totally fair critique but I do think the author’s note at the end offers much more nuance
kadyhart's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rronnniii's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
flowerbinsh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Read this for my Queer Genre class.
Before I get started, I just want to say that for pure enjoyment, this novel would've been more of a 3.5 star probably. Due to the extreme amount of violence, however, I don't think I could rate it that highly. I am aware that this violence was written for two reasons. Firstly, it was illegal to write anything that made queer love seem "desirable"; therefore, it had to be messy and tragic. Secondly, I know that the author (as mentioned in the afterward) was going through an extremely rough time with her sexuality and the social tensions of the time.
I think if I read this on my own with absolutely no context of the political climate of the time, I would've hated it. Knowing the reasons behind the novel made this slightly more enjoyable. It was so interesting to read about how queer women were portrayed by other queer writers during the 1950s. I don't think I'll dive back into this genre, but it was fun to learn about.
Before I get started, I just want to say that for pure enjoyment, this novel would've been more of a 3.5 star probably. Due to the extreme amount of violence, however, I don't think I could rate it that highly. I am aware that this violence was written for two reasons. Firstly, it was illegal to write anything that made queer love seem "desirable"; therefore, it had to be messy and tragic. Secondly, I know that the author (as mentioned in the afterward) was going through an extremely rough time with her sexuality and the social tensions of the time.
I think if I read this on my own with absolutely no context of the political climate of the time, I would've hated it. Knowing the reasons behind the novel made this slightly more enjoyable. It was so interesting to read about how queer women were portrayed by other queer writers during the 1950s. I don't think I'll dive back into this genre, but it was fun to learn about.
infusedchai's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
gay people i want better for you!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Sexual violence, and Alcoholism
Minor: Racism
writtenontheflyleaves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Women in the Shadows by Ann Bannon (third in the Beebo Brinker series) 👥
🌟🌟🌟
👥 The plot: Two years into their relationship, the love between the beautiful but repressed Laura and swashbuckling butch Beebo appears to have died. Resentment, jealousy, and violence brews between them, intensifying when Laura falls for dancer Tris and is offered a chance at a "normal life" - or the appearance of one - through marriage to her gay friend Jack.
Ann Bannon is known as the queen of lesbian pulp fiction, writing novels that "defined lesbian fiction for the pre-Stonewall generation" and WHEW this was a wild ride.
"Toxic" doesn't even begin to cover the relationships in this book. Spoiler alert ⚠️ do not read any further if you can't stomach hearing about animal death ⚠️ but Beebo MURDERS a DACHSUND as an attempt to recapture Laura's affections. And when Laura finds out about it, it works?????
Even looking past the pet murder, there's a lot in this book that is shocking now but was mainstream in 1959. Racism, domestic violence, internalised homophobia, ignorance of bisexuality. This novel runs on the assumption that there is something fundamentally tragic and dramatic about not being white and/or straight, something we have (arguably) moved away from today.
But as an artefact of LGBT history, I found this book interesting. Bannon says in the afterword that she isn't proud of everything she wrote here, but that she was trying to "pull back the curtain" on the idealised life she had built up in her previous novels. I can see that. She certainly shows the rigidity of 50s society, particularly in the character of Jack, who wants so badly to be a "real man", which to him means being a husband to a woman and having a child. The book demonstrates that none of the freedoms we have today were guaranteed; before activists demanded change to the fabric of society, an open and authentic life as an LGBT+ person was all but impossible. I think the sense of tragedy that comes across in this book is a somewhat understandable response to that limitation (though killing a dachshund certainly isn't!!!!)
👥 Read it if you're interested in the history of lesbian literature or in pulp fiction. This was a pacey read and I am seeking out the others in the series!
🚫 Avoid it if you're not in a place to read about animal death, homophobia, biphobia, domestic violence, or gay suffering of any kind - this book is packed with it.
🌟🌟🌟
👥 The plot: Two years into their relationship, the love between the beautiful but repressed Laura and swashbuckling butch Beebo appears to have died. Resentment, jealousy, and violence brews between them, intensifying when Laura falls for dancer Tris and is offered a chance at a "normal life" - or the appearance of one - through marriage to her gay friend Jack.
Ann Bannon is known as the queen of lesbian pulp fiction, writing novels that "defined lesbian fiction for the pre-Stonewall generation" and WHEW this was a wild ride.
"Toxic" doesn't even begin to cover the relationships in this book. Spoiler alert ⚠️ do not read any further if you can't stomach hearing about animal death ⚠️ but Beebo MURDERS a DACHSUND as an attempt to recapture Laura's affections. And when Laura finds out about it, it works?????
Even looking past the pet murder, there's a lot in this book that is shocking now but was mainstream in 1959. Racism, domestic violence, internalised homophobia, ignorance of bisexuality. This novel runs on the assumption that there is something fundamentally tragic and dramatic about not being white and/or straight, something we have (arguably) moved away from today.
But as an artefact of LGBT history, I found this book interesting. Bannon says in the afterword that she isn't proud of everything she wrote here, but that she was trying to "pull back the curtain" on the idealised life she had built up in her previous novels. I can see that. She certainly shows the rigidity of 50s society, particularly in the character of Jack, who wants so badly to be a "real man", which to him means being a husband to a woman and having a child. The book demonstrates that none of the freedoms we have today were guaranteed; before activists demanded change to the fabric of society, an open and authentic life as an LGBT+ person was all but impossible. I think the sense of tragedy that comes across in this book is a somewhat understandable response to that limitation (though killing a dachshund certainly isn't!!!!)
👥 Read it if you're interested in the history of lesbian literature or in pulp fiction. This was a pacey read and I am seeking out the others in the series!
🚫 Avoid it if you're not in a place to read about animal death, homophobia, biphobia, domestic violence, or gay suffering of any kind - this book is packed with it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Racial slurs, Violence, Racism, and Homophobia
dxdem's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Lesbophobia
annaavian's review against another edition
1.0
This one was the hardest to go through out of the Beebo Brinker books. I haven’t read about a more miserable and twisted relationship in a long time. So much self-hatred, homophobia, racism and domestic violence make up for a heavy and not very enjoyable read.
laurenjade's review against another edition
2.0
When I got a used copy of The Beebo Brinker Chronicles this summer, my friend warned me not to read Women in the Shadows. "It's just racist and bad," she said. But, since I'd previously read Odd Girl Out, Beebo Brinker, and I Am a Woman, I was curious about this one.
Man, I should have heeded my friend's warning. Granted, Ann Bannon novels are pulpy and pre-Stonewall, but this particular one is fucked up beyond belief. While Beebo may have been problematic yet somewhat charming in the other novels, here she is a violent sociopath. Instead of being curmudgeonly but lovable, Jack Mann has now become grossly manipulative in his quest to go straight. We're introduced to a new character, Tris, who is not only self-hating about her lesbianism, but is a tragic mullato to boot. And poor old Laura Landon continues to be the blank vessel through which the other characters project their fantasies and pathologies. While the other Bannon novels offer glimpses of an exciting yet illicit queer life, the only message here is: to be gay is to be anguished and irredeemable.
Man, I should have heeded my friend's warning. Granted, Ann Bannon novels are pulpy and pre-Stonewall, but this particular one is fucked up beyond belief. While Beebo may have been problematic yet somewhat charming in the other novels, here she is a violent sociopath. Instead of being curmudgeonly but lovable, Jack Mann has now become grossly manipulative in his quest to go straight. We're introduced to a new character, Tris, who is not only self-hating about her lesbianism, but is a tragic mullato to boot. And poor old Laura Landon continues to be the blank vessel through which the other characters project their fantasies and pathologies. While the other Bannon novels offer glimpses of an exciting yet illicit queer life, the only message here is: to be gay is to be anguished and irredeemable.
caedocyon's review against another edition
1.0
This book is hella traumatic. I had to put it down for a moment several times. Not really what I thought I was getting into. I only finished it because it seemed like I needed the context in order to read the next book.
It's interesting as a primer in how homophobia can make gay people destroy themselves without straight people having to lift a finger. (Domestic violence, alcoholism, self-hatred... what fun!)
Mostly, though, Laura is too stupid to believe.
It's interesting as a primer in how homophobia can make gay people destroy themselves without straight people having to lift a finger. (Domestic violence, alcoholism, self-hatred... what fun!)
Mostly, though, Laura is too stupid to believe.