This was read as a part of my ongoing 'read lesbian classics' books, and I will say it sure was a Lesbian Book, in a similar way that Price of Salt sure was a Lesbian Book--though obviously because it was written far earlier, the shifting location of sexuality as a category is something to track and think about here. This edition came with a fairly decent primer in the history of understanding the novel amongst queer and trans folks, so I'd recommend that alongside reading it for sure.

This was definitely interesting for tracking the way that certain tropes have followed queer people across time, as well (especially narratives of suffering and death.) It's also pretty racist (openly uses the n-word) which I don't think folks mention often (though that introductory essay does mention it, so that's got it going for it.) But overall clearly interesting to read and think about, just not overall my super cup of tea for fun.