Upright Women Wanted - Sarah Gailey

Fiction

Rating: 8/10

This is one of those books that fuses genres; it’s a little bit fantasy, a little bit dystopia and a little bit neo-western.

The author traverses a minefield of prejudices that many have endured: homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, patriarchy and fascism, to name a few. All through a singularly fresh perspective.

A young woman has just witnessed the public execution of her clandestine lover, for “deviance” and “the possession of unapproved materials”. She flees to escape an unwanted arranged marriage and stows away in a traveling library. In this time and place the Librarians are agents in the dissemination of state-approved materials, ensuring that no propaganda seeps through. But it quickly becomes apparent that they are insurrectionists.  And that isn’t all they are.

This magnificent author upends literary tropes with every book they have written. In this work, more than any other, their heart has been poured into every word, it’s clearly personal and all the better for it.

Footnote: I am one of those book nerds that reads everything between the covers; the dedication, the acknowledgements, all of it!  Here I am sharing an excerpt from the later as it perfectly emulates the spirit of the story.

I also owe this book and my life to my queer community. The people who saw me when I was struggling with the feeling that I was destined for tragedy. Who saw me when I was hurting other members of our queer family, and told me so.

The people who took me aside to ask if I was okay, and who took me aside to tell me I was wrong. The people who reminded me not to abandon myself for the sake of avoiding a fight.

The people who fought for me, in the past and in the present.  The people who fought for us.  The people who will fight.

This is for you.  This is for all of you. There is a place for you now and in the future.  Please be there to meet it.