This is an intense novel. It made me realize how much relative safety and acceptance I have as a queer and trans person living in the bay area in this day and age. The police brutality, rape, and suicide happening to the queer community that Leslie wrote about feels important and painful to take in, and to know that that is how it has been and how it still is in many communities across the globe.

Aiano introduced me to this book just before covid started. There is a story of a queer woman living through an apocalyptic epidemic. I remember bringing this book to read with Amira and Wei-Li by the tree that got cut down by the marina. What struck me about the story, was that the character just was queer, it wasn’t a coming out story.

One of the best books I’ve ever read. Even in a list of my favorite books. I read this in a book club sort of thing with Ben Cook, and really appreciated having someone to discuss the chapters and themes with. Telling the experience of urban indigenous youth and community networks, I remember the understanding of the city that I live in in a different way, by seeing it through Orange’s eyes and writing.

Ok I don’t remember that much about this book except how intense it was! And that I both loved getting to understand more about the vietnam war through a non-american lens, and also the intensity of political warfare and upheaval. But I also remember the end torture scenes to be, harrowing. But this book definitely follows a long-standing love of getting to know a different culture and time/place through the narrative of a story.

Ok. what I remember most is that they drink water out of the tank of a toilet, and realizing that that water never actually comes in contact with sewage. weird thing to remember but true.