LGBTQ+ Annotation: Mostly Dead Things
Mostly Dead Things
by Kristen Arnett
Published June 4th 2019
by Tin House Books
ISBN: 1947793306
Hardcover, 354 pages
Synopsis:
Jessa’s life is, for lack of a better word, falling apart. After her father’s suicide in the back of their taxidermy shop, Jessa is left as the most productive member of the family household- which is saying something as most days she struggles to get out of bed. But she has no choice when she gets the news that her mother has been creating strange sexual art out of the taxidermy in the shop's display windows. Her brother Milo is no help at all as he withdraws from them all- including his daughter. There is also the tricky fact that Milo’s ex-wife, and the only woman Jessa has ever loved, Brynn, disappears from their lives at the same time.
As Jessa tries to salvage their financial future amidst the ruins of grief, she learns more about her family, her small Florida town, and herself in this touching, weird, and funny novel.
What is LGBTQ Fiction?
LGBTQ+: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, + Other non-binary or sexual identities.
LGBTQ+ fiction, regardless of genre, focuses on characters and stories of people in this community, sometimes with a focus on identity but with growing frequency, as simple human stories with a more universal appeal. In YA LGBTQ fiction there is usually a higher emphasis on identity and discovery (coming out) as is typical in coming-of age stories. In Adult LGBTQ fiction, there is more of a struggle in interacting with other communities and the relationship stories carry more universal themes.
Key Elements of LGBTQ Relationship Fiction
· Character-Driven: The focus in these stories is having characters which are of an LGBTQ+ identity as the main character in the story. Their relationships, interactions, and humanity drive the story. In Mostly Dead Things the main character, Jessa, identifies as gay, though her struggles in the story are not focused on this identity so much as her grief and navigation of her various relationships.
· Language/Style: Like other styles of relationship fiction, Mostly Dead Things has a lush and detailed wording which suits the description of Jessa’s world and her struggles with a sense of the muggy and oppressive atmosphere of Florida.
· Pacing: In the style of other relationship fictions, the pacing here is measured and allows the reader to engage with the narrator and feel her emotions as she faces her relationship struggles.
My Thoughts
This book surprised me, and most likely because I am more used to reading YA LGBTQ+ fiction with its focus on sexual identity. It was really refreshing to read an Adult LGBTQ+ novel that treated Jessa’s sexuality as an integral, but focal point of the book. The themes here were universal, and I would find this book very easy to recommend to people who like quirky, and offbeat literary fiction.
Read-Alikes
Fiction
In the Dream House
by Carmen Maria Machado
Published November 5th 2019
by Graywolf Press
ISBN: 1644450038
Hardcover, 247 pages
Stray City
by Chelsey Johnson
Published March 20th 2018
by Custom House
ISBN: 0062666681
Hardcover, 432 pages
Non-Fiction
Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls
by T Kira Madden
Published March 5th 2019
by Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1635571855
Hardcover, 336 pages
Sex Talks to Girls: A Memoir
by Maureen Seaton
Published August 7th 2008
by University of Wisconsin Press
ISBN 0299228800
Hardcover, 212 pages
This has been on my reading wish list, and now that I've read your detailed review, I'm even more determined to read it. I love quirky characters and relationship fiction, as well as the lush writing style you describe here. I wonder if it's available in audio?
ReplyDeleteI read the physical copy of this- but I do see it available as an audio version through Libby- at least at one of the libraries I have. It's a heavy but fun read.
DeleteThat synopsis is a wild ride from start to finish! You said the book's offbeat and quirky, but I'm a little confused about what the tone of this book is like. There's so many factors at play here- would you say it's more serious? Humorous? Suspenseful? Something else entirely? Do the readalikes reflect a similar tone? I've only read In The Dream House, which was very serious. Great annotation, and what a fascinating pick!
ReplyDeleteThe general tone of this book is serious- hence The Dream House as a read-alike for its tone and theme. But there are moments that are surreal and funny even as the main theme deals with grief and loss. I like this book precisely because it was unexpected, kinda gross, morose and pretty darn funny too. I mean it's set in a taxidermy shop- so that gives you some real idea of what kind of heavy stuff is discussed.
DeleteAwesome annotation! Your discussion about the difference between teen and adult LGBTQ books helped me better visualize what to expect of each respective genre. Having a fun, quirky, and relatable character-driven story is something I would definitely look for (although I'm not a huge fan of offbeat fiction, to be honest). I'm adding this to my reference list to use in future readers' advisory!
ReplyDeleteI really loved this sentence in your annotation: "In Mostly Dead Things the main character, Jessa, identifies as gay, though her struggles in the story are not focused on this identity so much as her grief and navigation of her various relationships." Really well-stated. Anyone can read the novel and relate with the quirkiness of the book and what Jessa is going through.
ReplyDeleteI love that you compared this to teen LGBTQ reads, because they do have some big differences like you pointed out! Great job on the summary, it's definitely piqued my interest and a lot of your classmate's as well! Full points!
ReplyDelete