Member Review
Review by
Sara B, Reviewer
Radical Love by Neil Blackmore.
Thank you Netgalley for an arc for an unbiased review.
This story caught me in the first few lines and kept me until the very end.
It is based on the true events of The Vere Street Coterie, where a group of gay men were arrested, and the subsequent trials.
While a lot of people know of Oscar Wilde's arrest late in the 1800s, this episode was one of the major events in gay history in England during the 19th century, and yet not many know the history. I knew bits and pieces but this was fascinating to read as a fictional account based on the events.
It is based on narration of John Church, or Reverend John Church as he later became. It was a choice to show someone, who even by the end, I'm not wholly sure I knew what to feel about them. But ultimately he is flawed, and undoubtedly choices made are a direct reflection on his upbringing.
The whole way the narration is used though, is ultimately in my opinion, brilliant.
Although the ending, for me at least, is the weakest point of the book (I felt it slightly rushed) it certainly doesn't distract from the punchy nature of the book as a whole.
This book opens up an important part of LGBTQIA history in the UK. If you're unsure of those events, this book would definitely be one to read. While factual accounts are out there, this book pulls it together in ways that allow the story to be explored in a number of ways. It certainly has me wanting to know more on the factual side and learn as much as possible about these events. Always a good sign.
A good solid 5/5 stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you Netgalley for an arc for an unbiased review.
This story caught me in the first few lines and kept me until the very end.
It is based on the true events of The Vere Street Coterie, where a group of gay men were arrested, and the subsequent trials.
While a lot of people know of Oscar Wilde's arrest late in the 1800s, this episode was one of the major events in gay history in England during the 19th century, and yet not many know the history. I knew bits and pieces but this was fascinating to read as a fictional account based on the events.
It is based on narration of John Church, or Reverend John Church as he later became. It was a choice to show someone, who even by the end, I'm not wholly sure I knew what to feel about them. But ultimately he is flawed, and undoubtedly choices made are a direct reflection on his upbringing.
The whole way the narration is used though, is ultimately in my opinion, brilliant.
Although the ending, for me at least, is the weakest point of the book (I felt it slightly rushed) it certainly doesn't distract from the punchy nature of the book as a whole.
This book opens up an important part of LGBTQIA history in the UK. If you're unsure of those events, this book would definitely be one to read. While factual accounts are out there, this book pulls it together in ways that allow the story to be explored in a number of ways. It certainly has me wanting to know more on the factual side and learn as much as possible about these events. Always a good sign.
A good solid 5/5 stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟
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