Ay ay ay

The audio of this was not good. Handful of parts that repeats sentences and it really threw me off.

As for the content - with a title of “Bad Gays” I was somewhat expecting more play with history in an entertainment way but it falls short. Whilst it is undeniably satirical and humorous in part, in undoubtedly felt like a friend starting one story, detouring down 6 other stories.

I did enjoy the range of history and the range of theme discussed throughout. The constant debate between historical instances of seeing your queer self in other marginalised groups to thinking (male specific) that the prejudices won’t effect you, that there is a worst “other”.

Hopefully they re-release the audio properly edited because mine really ruined parts for me!

God, being a women is so beautiful sometimes. Female friendships are truly timeless when they’re allowed to flourish.

The story of female courage specifically wis always a story everyone can take something from. I was very happy we got to hear Ellie’s mum justify her behaviour (or attempt too) because god I did not like her, especially after the wink…

Women are complex and despite the faults of each, all we’re making their own way through what they know.

Wow this made me miss growing up & living shetland isle bad!

This was the perfect conclusion to this duology and what a duology it is!

Unbelievable it wasn’t written by a Scott! The lyricism of the writing made the book constantly feel poetic. The centre of the story is music, the power of music and having a set cadence (👀) for both books really amplified and drove that home. An incredible feat when not a song or tune was explicitly made out.

I know he had a harp and maybe that does fit better the period but I was hearing the fiddle. Constantly in the fables told growing up it’s someone (or thing) playing the fiddle by the fire, dancing wildly whilst drawing everyone in.

The twist at the end - amazing, not at all what I’d thought (and I love to make guesses throughout). Whilst it slightly felt rushed where the spirits and Jack were concerned imo, the weaving of all the stories together, finally coming together made up for it.

All the endings felt very satisfying and I didn’t mind that it didn’t have all the answers. You’re given that sense of “a new chapter” is a head.

I listened to the first book as an audio and tandem read this one. The audio is so good, they’d picked the perfect softer Scottish accent as wel. It felt like the narration to the tinkerbell films (iykyk) and I’m all for that!