Book Report - Last Night at the Telegraph Club
I recently read Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo, a coming-of-age book with a Chinese protagonist in her last year of high school, set in 1950s San Francisco. I don't think I've read a book with a Chinese American lesbian protagonist before, and having a Chinese background myself, I appreciated the depiction of intersectionality.
Like Lily, my ethnicity has been the focal point of first interactions. I've been asked if I speak English, had people tell me how much they love Chinese culture or cuisine, and bring up other Chinese people they knew, all unprompted. Like her, my parents have stressed about how my queer tendencies reflect poorly on me, and been ashamed at having me as their daughter. I don't think they've told any people in their life about my transition yet, and it's been over two years.
The titular Telegraph Club! I wish such a place existed in my city. There are some queer meetups throughout town, but nothing like how lesbian bars are described in books. I've decided to visit a sapphic dance social out of town in a couple weeks that might give me just a taste. A space where everyone could be into you? Where you can flirt, and dance, where the question of "is she gay?" is already answered? I hope it goes splendidly.
