Im absolutely devastated. I cannot stop crying after finishing Beijing Comrades. I finished it last night but i cried like 5 times throughout, bawled at the end, and bawled again today. For reference: this is the first time i have ever cried over any piece of media. No book, show, movie, etc. has EVER made me shed a tear. But beijing comrades, this short novel detailing a love story between two normal people, has absolutely ruined me.
I think this is because the characters felt so, so, so REAL. The tiny little expressions, habits, descriptions of actions felt so visceral and raw and intimate. Please recommend me LGBTQ+ fiction where the characters are written intimately. (Another one i enjoyed is The Song of Achilles). The prose in Beijing Comrades seemed plain at first but i realized just how masterfully the author characterizes and describes people. The book had a very problematic main character and problematic relationship, but i liked how it wasnt afraid to explore dark themes (without delving into a dark genre). It was much more realistic than a purely idyllic or purely melodramatic relationship. It was the most refreshing and realistic and bittersweet representation of homosexuality and love as a whole i have ever read before. It was also interesting how the main character’s journey of discovering his sexuality was not the overdone trope of a “shy boy discovering himself”. Rather, it was a narcissistic and arrogant businessman. It was truly a new type of story.
Even if you dont have recommendations please feel free to just talk about the book! This book changed my life but i have no one to discuss it with (no one near me knows what it is, nor are they interested..)
by ieatchocopie