A rare moment where I might read the next one in the series

I loved it... such an interesting cast of characters and a story you could dissect forever. I wanted more of the main characters photography backstory. Definitely some flaws in the writing but OK to overlook because the plot was so compelling, 4.5 ⭐ (I listened to the audiobook, good choice I think)

Need to read everything else Jesmyn Ward has written immediately, 4.5 ⭐

Ouuuhhh this was poetry/translated fiction at its most transgressive and bizarre, reminded me of Dennis Cooper I liked this a lot it was scaryyyy

3.5 ⭐ my least fave in the series so far but cute

I love you JVN

I'm conflicted. I love books about other books/stories but this was executed in a way that was confusing and hard to keep track of. The writing was cerebral, the truths told in this book might not be the truth. The language is often beautiful but the story goes nowhere. The connecting story of the book with the "blackouts" feels underdeveloped.

But I think this still has a lot of potential. I liked the writing better than "We the Animals", I felt it was more mature and he's definitely found his style of writing. The imagery and dialogue was haunting. The themes of the importance of lost queer history and untold queer narratives were great. But the blurb of this novel made it seem like it would follow a more linear structure, and it completely does not. I really had no idea where we were or what was going on the entire time. But the high parts of this book are so high it's hard to criticize. I'll definitely read what Torres writes next.

3.5 ⭐ still kinda deciding on 4 ⭐

The way this added nothing to any conversation....

What a beautiful story about the importance of history, generational trauma, curiosity, the need to fit in, and love. An amazing story to get lost in. Haunting and memorizing. Perfect