Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

Under the Rainbow by Celia Laskey

4 reviews

lucyatoz's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

4.0

Under the Rainbow is the second book I have finished for the 52 Book Club 2024 Reading Challenge.

When a task force of queer activists from Acceptance Across America move to live in Big Burr, Kansas, for two years, it causes a ripple, and the beginnings of a study in cause and effect in a small town labelled "the most homophobic town in America". Almost everyone in the community do not want them there, apart from Linda, who welcomes them for her own reasons. 

The story is told through the eyes of a series of narrators, both residents of Big Burr and those from the task force, over the two year period, with snippets telling of raised tensions, new friendships and relationships beginning and ending, questioning their own and others identities and reconsidering what the true meaning is of community.

I borrowed this book from Taunton Library and listened to the audiobook on BorrowBox. I read this for prompt 7, at least 4 different points of view, for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024. 
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stacy_85's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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katiewhocanread's review against another edition

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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
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thevietvegan's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book follows the lives of a few people in a town and makes you fall in love with a lot of the characters and then switches to characters that kinda suck (but like as a good contrast to humanize or to show that their bigotry is more deeply rooted in their own insecurities).

It's sad to see a glimpse of how a lot of people feel about LGBTQIA+ people but I really enjoyed getting to know this small town and how people grew from the experience of having two years of exposure to people outside of their cis-het bubble. I wish I saw more into some of the characters lives (like Zach and Avery, instead of of just updates in passing from another character's perspective).

Overall, a really good and hopeful read. Lots of trauma, but healing, growth, and self-discovery.
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