It’s summer 1977 and closeted lesbian Tammy Larson can’t be
herself anywhere. Not at her strict Christian high school, not at her
conservative Orange County church and certainly not at home, where her
ultrareligious aunt relentlessly organizes antigay political campaigns. Tammy’s
only outlet is writing secret letters in her diary to gay civil rights activist
Harvey Milk…until she’s matched with a real-life pen pal who changes
everything.
Sharon Hawkins bonds with Tammy over punk music and carefully shared secrets, and soon their letters become the one place she can be honest. The rest of her life in San Francisco is full of lies. The kind she tells for others—like helping her gay brother hide the truth from their mom—and the kind she tells herself. But as antigay fervor in America reaches a frightening new pitch, Sharon and Tammy must rely on their long-distance friendship to discover their deeply personal truths, what they’ll stand for…and who they’ll rise against.
A master of award-winning queer historical fiction, New York Times bestselling author Robin Talley once again brings to life with heart and vivid detail an emotionally captivating story about the lives of two teen girls living in an age when just being yourself was an incredible act of bravery.
Sharon Hawkins bonds with Tammy over punk music and carefully shared secrets, and soon their letters become the one place she can be honest. The rest of her life in San Francisco is full of lies. The kind she tells for others—like helping her gay brother hide the truth from their mom—and the kind she tells herself. But as antigay fervor in America reaches a frightening new pitch, Sharon and Tammy must rely on their long-distance friendship to discover their deeply personal truths, what they’ll stand for…and who they’ll rise against.
A master of award-winning queer historical fiction, New York Times bestselling author Robin Talley once again brings to life with heart and vivid detail an emotionally captivating story about the lives of two teen girls living in an age when just being yourself was an incredible act of bravery.
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I can't remember when's the last time I read a story that had me crying buckets. I'll admit that I don't know much about LGBTQ+ history or who Harvey Milk is, but a quick search on Google helped fill in the gaps, though it's not necessary to read this book. Music from Another World by Robin Talley follows a friendship between Tammy and Sharon. Both girls carry a heavy secret and come from deeply religious families. Their stories are told through letters and journal entries. Brought together by a pen pal project, Tammy and Sharon develop a friendship that spans the state of California. Tammy, a closeted Lesbian teen, writes unsent letters to Harvey Milk, who at this time is fighting for gay rights in California. Sharon, on the other hand, uses her diary to voice her inner thoughts and demons. She also bears the burden of her brother's secret; spoiler alert: he's gay. Tammy and Sharon confide in each other and come to depend on each other's friendship. The girls bond over similar interests, like punk music and Patti Smith, while divulging life-shattering secrets. Before this book, I have not read any of Robin Talley's books, but I was pulled into her story. Music From Another World is full of heartbreak and anguish, (not angst), but actual anguish. Both girls have well-rounded, but distinct personalities. While this is a work of fiction with historical elements, Talley's storytelling is realistic. The thoughts and feelings of Tammy and Sharon are told in a way that reflects their hopes and dreams, but also their fears about the trajectory of their futures. The atmosphere of anti-gay sentiments not dulled and realistically described; Talley's approach reflects the hate against and fears of the LGBTQ+ communities during an uncertain time. I don't normally read too many historical LGBTQ+ fiction titles, but I'm glad I picked this one up.
4 stars!
Click me to read an excerpt: https://bit.ly/3dsmHI7
About the Author
Robin Talley studied literature and communications at
American University. She lives in Washington, DC, with her wife, but visits
both Boston and New York regularly despite her moral opposition to
Massachusetts winters and Times Square. Her first book was 2014's Lies We Tell Ourselves.
Visit her online at robintalley.com or on Twitter at @robin_talley.
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