A Dish Served Cold in The Slash Pile

Jun 26, 2013 Hpstrangelove rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m

I can't really begin to even describe the ups and downs in this story. On the surface, it seems like a light-hearted coming-of-age of a privileged fourteen-year-old gay boy who has a crush on his straight best friend. But once the reader is drawn in, things get more complicated, and darker. The way slavery is a part of this society seems so logical and accepted, it's scary. It reminds me very much of the way the prison system is accepted as a part of society in Remastering Jerna (although I'll s ...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Ayanna rated it liked it

Shelves: reviewed, favorites, non-pulpy

It was good, and then it got...annoying. I think it was the (view spoiler) I mean, at first the seeming subplot was interesting, but then it quickly got...seemingly pointless.

(view spoiler) It was good, and then it got...annoying. I think it was the (view spoiler) I mean, at first the seeming subplot was interesting, but then it quickly got...seemingly pointless.

(view spoiler)

The editing was still egregious so stars off for that.

Well, I'll admit that the very end was a nice touch. Overall, it was interesting. Well-thought out. The characterization was actually quite good and morally ambiguous in a rather realistic sort of way.

Parts of it, though, I couldn't quite suspend my disbelief for. Parts that seemed like the author got a little too carried away with his world creation and started spinning more and more unlikely yarns. Still, it's good. It bears consideration, definitely, and brings up a lot of social issues. I have no idea why some people say this is a light and fluffy read because it's definitely not that.

Actually, something Singer said about prices being driven it. It reminds me of the current issues in America with outsourced manufacturing jobs. I mean, it sounds all nice and stuff to promise to "bring jobs back to America," but honestly, it's not economically feasible for the same reasons listed in this book. Granted, slavery and outsourcing don't quite compare, but the implications with abolishing both - economically, at least - translate over rather interestingly.

I really do want to give it a higher rating, but I feel like overall, it deserves a 3, even though it was rather good. Quite excellent, actually (in what terms though? Plot? Characterization? Maybe the base premise...)
It was good in that it seemed like the author actually relating something that had actually happened. A series of real events. Decreased score because sometimes the minute execution was a little lacking.

(This should feel flattered; my "future rereads" shelf used to be my favorites shelf, but now I feel the need to create a separate one because I don't feel like I'd possibly reread this for fun. Maybe if years have passed and the details grow fuzzy, but those don't count.) ...more

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