This book bit off so much and somehow managed to chew it all. It takes someone special to write a time travel book and fluidly weave in topics like geThis book bit off so much and somehow managed to chew it all. It takes someone special to write a time travel book and fluidly weave in topics like generational trauma and the afflictions of the modern age and political correctness and the unique pains that come with being mixed-race (ouch), all tied up with the most delightful and surprising found family. Graham, Arthur, Maggie - I love you all so dearly. I did get a little lost in the sauce of all the time travel logistics toward the end which had me stumbling confusedly over the story a bit. But that aside, I thought this was a wholly unique and whip-smart story that managed to be funny and romantic and heart-wrenching all at once. Excuse me while I have a little crisis over the long passage of humanity’s existence and just how tiny the blip of our lives are in the grand scheme of things!
“…I wrote it down because I need you to bear witness to it. He was here, by and with and in my body. He lives in me like trauma does. If you ever fall in love, you’ll be a person who was in love for the rest of your life.” :'(...more
How very special and tender. Andy and Nick reminded me a lot of Luc and Oliver from Hall’s Boyfriend Material, in that one character is A Mess and theHow very special and tender. Andy and Nick reminded me a lot of Luc and Oliver from Hall’s Boyfriend Material, in that one character is A Mess and the other is decidedly not, but somehow they work perfectly together. Though there’s frustration and exasperation, it manifests in a way that is overwhelmingly fond more than anything else. In this book, though, there are other undercurrents. One that is sad and heart-aching — unrequited love, fear, insecurity, shame. But also one that is indescribably warm — a safe home, friends who become family, small, hope-filled acts of defiance. In a distinctive and lovely writing style that I couldn’t help but fall into, Sebastian has painted a poignant reflection of what it was like and how it felt to be queer in the 50s (but not only, I would argue, in the 50s). I thought it was all beautifully done. I loved this book....more
HOW CAN WORDS ON A PAGE MAKE ME FEEL LIKE THIS!!!!! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO ACT LIKE A FUNCTIONAL HUMAN BEING WHEN THIS SERIES IS PLAGUING MY EVERY THOUGHOW CAN WORDS ON A PAGE MAKE ME FEEL LIKE THIS!!!!! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO ACT LIKE A FUNCTIONAL HUMAN BEING WHEN THIS SERIES IS PLAGUING MY EVERY THOUGHT...more
4.5 :( :( :( :( I don't even know how to talk about this
"I should say that at the time, Iran was the epitome of evil and to be Iranian was a heavy burd4.5 :( :( :( :( I don't even know how to talk about this
"I should say that at the time, Iran was the epitome of evil and to be Iranian was a heavy burden to bear. It was easier to lie than to assume that burden." :(
"The more time passed, the more I became conscious of the contrast between the official representation of my country and the real life of the people, the one that went on behind the walls."
"And then, there wasn't any more opposition. The protesters had been executed. Or had fled the country any way possible."...more
I wish I could gently pluck all the foxes out of this hellhole of a book and place them in another universe where they can play exy in peace all day aI wish I could gently pluck all the foxes out of this hellhole of a book and place them in another universe where they can play exy in peace all day and be happy...more
Brought me closer to my dad and his family and a history I didn’t know much about. I wish we could always learn about history, politics, and (most impBrought me closer to my dad and his family and a history I didn’t know much about. I wish we could always learn about history, politics, and (most importantly) what ordinary people endure, through this format...more
Wait this was so cute and the audiobook was !!! such a delight to listen to. The two main characters each had their own narrator and I felt like theirWait this was so cute and the audiobook was !!! such a delight to listen to. The two main characters each had their own narrator and I felt like their voices were perfectly suited to their character’s personality! I loved Ishu’s voice particularly, and her whole character. She felt very different from a typical YA cookie cutter stereotype. I also think if you’re a person of colour who grew up in a white friend group, you will probably relate to this book ...more
3.5! This didn’t emotionally sucker punch me as much as I expected, but Bill is just like me fr (overthinker, constantly thinkBuddy read with Laur :-)
3.5! This didn’t emotionally sucker punch me as much as I expected, but Bill is just like me fr (overthinker, constantly thinking about all the evil in the world, paralyzed by the thought of time passing, dwelling on how else life could have turned out, constantly questioning: what is it all for???)
“What was it all for? Furlong wondered. The work and the constant worry. Getting up in the dark and going to the yard, making the deliveries, one after another, the whole day long, then coming home in the dark and trying to wash the black off himself and sitting into a dinner at the table and falling asleep before waking in the dark to meet a version of the same thing, yet again. Might things never change or develop into something else, or new?”
And there were so many lovely little phrases: “soft little splashes of applause” “the strain of being alive” “Sundays could feel very threadbare, and raw.” “watching the river flowing darkly along, drinking the snow” so good… I love good writing...more
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