Reviews with content warning for Murder - Brokeback Mountain

whose players show how toxic masculinity can breed internalized homophobia. it shares all the iconic scenes and dialogue with its movie adaptation, my only complaint is how short it is

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e_r_q's review against another edition

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emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"One thing never changed: the brilliant charge of their infrequent couplings was darkened by the sense of time flying, never enough time, never enough."

At times Brokeback Mountain somewhat reads like a Wikipedia summary of the movie, which is by no means the fault of this short story, considering it did come first.

But, despite its brusque pacing, Annie Proulx still finds the time for some beautifully descriptive moments. I was also surprised to find a lot of the best lines from the film were adapted directly from the text.

Brokeback Mountain created a knot in my stomach as I read it. The intense longing, and the grappling with hegemonic gender roles and sexuality, is truly gut-wrenching.

At times you could definitely tell this was written by a straight person (I'm looking at you unrealistic gay sex scenes), but Brokeback Mountain is a powerful and heartbreaking story, that feels like a perfect companion piece to Giovanni's Room.

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ivan_yume's review against another edition

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emotional sad fast-paced

Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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jeannekilcullen's review against another edition

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emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The third person pov is so important for making the setting come to life and be an active component of the story. So sad. Love the gay cowboys. Just finished crying

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chimichannika's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

I haven’t seen the movie but decided to read this book this year and am so glad I did. Two rural, low-income queer men find connection and love in one another, and are drawn to each other over the years but because of society cannot be together. Brokeback Mountain is a series of short and poignant snapshots throughout their lives with many things unsaid between them and in the narrative, but in a way that works, both from a storytelling perspective and to mirror their own relationship. At times it has beautiful moments of prose and at times is raw and gritty. In only 55 pages Proulx tells a lifelong story of compelling, heartbreaking love. It’s emotive and incredibly sad and definitely worth the read.

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alisonfaith426's review against another edition

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emotional sad fast-paced

2.0

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akane_readsyt's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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