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This is the first and last time that I will voluntarily listen to an audiobook that is 19 hours and 45 minutes in length. Thank god, I made it. Final impressions to follow.
Does this book really count as nonfiction if it gave me nothing but vibes and uniquely millennial cringe humor?
Reading through this collection of essays was like walking through a minefield wherein 80% of the hidden explosives were inert. From interchangeably using lesbian, queer, and sapphic (without clarity) to purposefully erasing the bisexual / pansexual identities of publicly queer celebrities, Girls Can Kiss Now offers a frustratingly narrow and reductive perspective on queerness and sexuality.
Early on in the book, the author admits to not being an expert in any of the topics she tackles, including the history of pop culture (specifically the rising visibility of lesbians in pop culture), despite having built an entire career on pop culture commentary. Good on her for having that much self-awareness. But sucks for her readers because this book will give them next to nothing.
Make no mistake. There is definitely nothing intersectional about these essays. In contrast to how it's marketed, Girls Can Kiss Now presents very rigid, oftentimes binary boundaries: lesbians vs. the rest of the world, famous people vs. general population. And the (arguably) willful lack of nuance can get quite frustrating. Other sources of frustration include several unnecessary references to Harry Potter (without mentioning that its author is an unapologetic TERF), invasive speculation on whether Taylor Swift is queer, and the constant exclusion of transgender and nonbinary folk.
The flaws and limitations of Gutowitz's debut are plenty and glaring. Criticism is definitely justified and well-deserved. However, I was not upset on a personal level - mainly because I've learned to set the bar incredibly, embarrassingly low for white queer people. I went into this with no expectations and with very little faith in the author, only to be proven right. And in doing so, I was able to remain engaged with the limited material and possibly even found some enjoyment in millennial nostalgia.
In summary:
❌ DO NOT read this book if you're sincerely seeking knowledge and meaningful insights on lesbians, pop culture, and/or lesbians in pop culture.
✅ DO consider this book if you're working late at night and want to put on something in the background to feel less lonely and less bored. Kind of like The Big Bang Theory but in audiobook format.
Recommended with (lots of) caution.
[ trigger/content warnings: ]
Reading through this collection of essays was like walking through a minefield wherein 80% of the hidden explosives were inert. From interchangeably using lesbian, queer, and sapphic (without clarity) to purposefully erasing the bisexual / pansexual identities of publicly queer celebrities, Girls Can Kiss Now offers a frustratingly narrow and reductive perspective on queerness and sexuality.
Early on in the book, the author admits to not being an expert in any of the topics she tackles, including the history of pop culture (specifically the rising visibility of lesbians in pop culture), despite having built an entire career on pop culture commentary. Good on her for having that much self-awareness. But sucks for her readers because this book will give them next to nothing.
Make no mistake. There is definitely nothing intersectional about these essays. In contrast to how it's marketed, Girls Can Kiss Now presents very rigid, oftentimes binary boundaries: lesbians vs. the rest of the world, famous people vs. general population. And the (arguably) willful lack of nuance can get quite frustrating. Other sources of frustration include several unnecessary references to Harry Potter (without mentioning that its author is an unapologetic TERF), invasive speculation on whether Taylor Swift is queer, and the constant exclusion of transgender and nonbinary folk.
The flaws and limitations of Gutowitz's debut are plenty and glaring. Criticism is definitely justified and well-deserved. However, I was not upset on a personal level - mainly because I've learned to set the bar incredibly, embarrassingly low for white queer people. I went into this with no expectations and with very little faith in the author, only to be proven right. And in doing so, I was able to remain engaged with the limited material and possibly even found some enjoyment in millennial nostalgia.
In summary:
❌ DO NOT read this book if you're sincerely seeking knowledge and meaningful insights on lesbians, pop culture, and/or lesbians in pop culture.
✅ DO consider this book if you're working late at night and want to put on something in the background to feel less lonely and less bored. Kind of like The Big Bang Theory but in audiobook format.
Recommended with (lots of) caution.
[ trigger/content warnings:
Spoiler
lesbophobia (external and internalized); homophobia; transphobia; use of slurs aimed at queer folk; forced outing; fetishization; sexualization; invasive speculation about people's sexuality; bisexual / pansexual erasure; graphic recounting of rape and sexual assault; misogyny and rape culture; mentions of anxiety; mental health during COVID-19; multiple references to Harry Potter
I picked this up for the entertaining title (You are Eating an Orange. You are Naked.), but I definitely stayed for the yearning. Marupok ako. Bye.
Final impressions to follow.
Recommended!
Final impressions to follow.
Recommended!
Romantic, lush, and just the right hint of dramatic, Daughter of the Moon Goddess was a divinely cinematic reading experience. I respectfully demand a film/series adaptation.
Final impressions:
• A solid YA fantasy debut with sweeping worldbuilding, gorgeous prose, and a twist-y, arduous journey.
• While I was expecting a straightforward, linear story wherein a distraught daughter fights her way to reunite with her exiled goddess of a mother, I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns - and even backslides - as Xingyin forged a new destiny for herself. Plus, the multiple side quests and adventures!
• From a storytelling standpoint, I appreciated that Xingyin's journey spanned years and brought her across multiple celestial and mortal realms. I thought it was a great approach to introducing this fantastical world without losing sight of Xingyin's ultimate goal of saving her mother. In doing so, the story felt both personal and expansive.
• Much of the story was propelled forward by filial piety, duty, and honor - and I'm personally a sucker for family-centered stories.
• Sue Lynn Tan's descriptive prose brought me to my knees. It definitely swept me off my feet and allowed myself to get lost in the cutthroat elegance of the Celestial Kingdom.
• Onto the weaker points:
- While Xingyin was a heroine that's easy to root for, she unfortunately fell into the pitfalls of being presented as a typical YA "strong" female lead. I also felt that, despite growing up as the story progressed, her narrative voice remained largely unchanged.
- Perhaps my biggest frustration is that for a YA romantic fantasy, Daughter of the Moon Goddess failed to deliver a compelling romance. Especially with the insertion of - what I maintain was - an absolutely unnecessary love triangle.
• Despite my short list of reservations about this book, I immensely enjoyed the experience. I think that I picked up Daughter of the Moon Goddess at the right time because it gave me what I desperately needed: adventure, character drama, and tons of atmosphere.
• I believe that the best way to enjoy Daughter of the Moon Goddess is to close your eyes, suspend disbelief, and allow yourself to be whisked away into beautiful, lush, magical escapism. (This isn't to say that the worldbuilding or plot was lacking. I just think that it's best not to ask too many questions and just go with the flow. Because once you do, I promise that you're in for a treat!)
Recommended!
Final impressions:
• A solid YA fantasy debut with sweeping worldbuilding, gorgeous prose, and a twist-y, arduous journey.
• While I was expecting a straightforward, linear story wherein a distraught daughter fights her way to reunite with her exiled goddess of a mother, I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns - and even backslides - as Xingyin forged a new destiny for herself. Plus, the multiple side quests and adventures!
• From a storytelling standpoint, I appreciated that Xingyin's journey spanned years and brought her across multiple celestial and mortal realms. I thought it was a great approach to introducing this fantastical world without losing sight of Xingyin's ultimate goal of saving her mother. In doing so, the story felt both personal and expansive.
• Much of the story was propelled forward by filial piety, duty, and honor - and I'm personally a sucker for family-centered stories.
• Sue Lynn Tan's descriptive prose brought me to my knees. It definitely swept me off my feet and allowed myself to get lost in the cutthroat elegance of the Celestial Kingdom.
• Onto the weaker points:
- While Xingyin was a heroine that's easy to root for, she unfortunately fell into the pitfalls of being presented as a typical YA "strong" female lead. I also felt that, despite growing up as the story progressed, her narrative voice remained largely unchanged.
- Perhaps my biggest frustration is that for a YA romantic fantasy, Daughter of the Moon Goddess failed to deliver a compelling romance. Especially with the insertion of - what I maintain was - an absolutely unnecessary love triangle.
• Despite my short list of reservations about this book, I immensely enjoyed the experience. I think that I picked up Daughter of the Moon Goddess at the right time because it gave me what I desperately needed: adventure, character drama, and tons of atmosphere.
• I believe that the best way to enjoy Daughter of the Moon Goddess is to close your eyes, suspend disbelief, and allow yourself to be whisked away into beautiful, lush, magical escapism. (This isn't to say that the worldbuilding or plot was lacking. I just think that it's best not to ask too many questions and just go with the flow. Because once you do, I promise that you're in for a treat!)
Recommended!
A little messy, but this book was thought-provoking and I had a great time.
Full thoughts to come (as they are).
Full thoughts to come (as they are).