Last Night at the Telegraph Club – Malindo Lo
100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: [adapted from the dustjacket] America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Red Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father — despite his hard-won citizenship — Lily and Kath risk everything to let their love see the light of day.
Expectation: Typical YA fare with an historical angle.
Reality: An insightful and entertaining celebration of queer Asian American history and first love.
Recommended For: Fans of historical fiction, even if they don’t love young adult novels.
Why I Read It: It was one of 2021’s most buzzed about books on #Bookstagram.
My Take:
In the author’s note, Malinda Lo said she wanted to write a story that celebrated being Chinese American and a lesbian “in spaces that often do not allow both to coexist.”
Mission accomplished.
I was completely charmed by this genre-busting novel set in 1950s San Francisco, amid the Red Scare and anti-homosexuality sentiment.
Lo leveraged history in a meaningful way to address intersectionality and the experiences of people, like 17-year-old Lily Hu, who often found themselves in the margins among peers, family and society.
This is one of the more unique queer YA stories I’ve read, balancing genre tropes (first love, first dance, etc.) with situations that were frustrating (through our modern-day lens) but true-to-the-time realities.
It’s a reminder that while many queer people feel under attack today, it’s nothing compared to the “good old days,” when homosexuality was criminalized, bar raids were frequent and all women — but especially women of color — were primarily marginalized and stereotyped.
History often only acknowledges the contributions of white, cis-gendered men — and queer history is no different. I appreciate that Lo used “Telegraph” as an outlet to bring forward queer Asian American history.
Honestly, even if you’re not interested in this novel at least read the author’s notes, which is a Cliff’s Notes treasure trove of information about Chinese language, the political and social realities of 1950s America and San Francisco, Chinese immigration and assimilation in the United States and, of course, lesbian history.
While there are many heavy themes and topics discussed in “Telegraph,” it’s also a sweet coming of age story.
There is universal relatability in Lily’s fear and thrill of attending her first gay bar and beginning to recognize her same sex attraction. For me, it was the underwear section of the Sears catalog, for her it was photos a male impersonator in the newspaper, Katherine Hepburn in pants and two female pilots.
My main complaints: it is predictable and a tad long. Up until the end, Lo had done a good job balancing multiple storylines, but some plots — specifically the flashbacks with her parents and aunt — felt unfinished. Also, the final chapters, while authentic for the 1950s, were not satisfying.
Still, the STEM-positive plot, love story between Lily and Kath and celebration of an underrepresented group in queer literature make this a must read for those looking to learn more about non-white experiences.
I have a copy of the eBook, which includes historical photos in the author’s note, but I primarily listened to this on a road trip with my husband, who also enjoyed it. Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller, she did a great job of balancing Lily’s innocence and naivety with the realities that begin to change life as she knows it. I particularly enjoyed her performance as Tommy Andrews, a male impersonator who is a key player in Lily’s sexual awakening.
Rating (story): 4/5 stars
Rating (narration): 4/5 stars
Formats: Audiobook (library loan)
Dates read: May 1 – May 8, 2022
Multi-tasking: Good to go. Lo makes it easy to follow along, but you may find yourself zoning out at certain sections.
