All tagged social commentary

Don’t Forget the Girl – Rebecca McKanna

At first glance, Rebecca McKanna’s “Don’t Forget the Girl” may seem like another mystery thriller critiquing true crime culture – and to an extent, it is – but it stands out with its sharp edges and an unexpectedly poignant queer love story. This adds depth, transforming what could have been a straightforward thriller into something more personal and thought-provoking.

Bury Your Gays – Chuck Tingle

While not aiming for highbrow literature, it offers a perfect mixture of astute social commentary, a dash of camp and a fair amount of meta grievances. We may not know the true identity of Chuck Tingle, but it’s fair to say that like R.F. Kuang and “Yellowface,” he has a proverbial axe to grind with the entertainment machine. 

Hi Honey, I'm Homo!: Sitcoms, Specials, and the Queering of American Culture – Matt Baume

An interesting retrospective on how sitcoms helped pave the way for broader queer acceptance, with “Hi Honey, I’m Homo!” Matt Baume offers a mostly lighthearted read for fans of pop culture and LGBTQIA+ history.

Through original and sourced research, the author traced the often fraught path to introduce positive portrayals of queer people to the masses, but this isn’t the kind of behind-the-scenes tell-all that will help elevate the book beyond its niche target audiences.

Come & Get It – Kiley Reid

Expectation: A racially-charged exploration of college life in the Southern United States. 

Reality: A dissection of capitalism from the perspectives of different students, professors and resident advisors delivered with biting commentary and razor-sharp dialogue.

Punching the Air – Ibi Zoboi

Expectation: An exploration of criminal justice inequities framed around the true story of one of the “Central Park jogger” teens.

Reality: While the verses are beautiful, the story and characterizations fell victim to typical YA tropes versus breaking new ground.

Yellowface – R. F. Kuang

Expectation: A timely and highly literary story about plagiarism and diversity set against the backdrop of the publishing industry.

Reality: A dark, shocking and highly engrossing novel that dismantles so many hot button issues in less than 400-pages. Unfortunately the last third lost steam.