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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Things I loved about this book. I loved that it’s NOT your standard “I’ve always known I was born in the wrong sexed/gendered body” but is instead all about the ongoing ambivalences and changing perspectives that can accompany many kinds of conversion or transformation narratives. I also loved the rereadings and reworking of Biblical stories. The discussion of dead-naming vis-a-vis Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn attending their own funeral was also excellent. Oh, and also the Golden Girls!
Things that either I’m ambivalent about or just the wrong audience for. The cleverness throughout. Sometimes it amused me and other times it felt like it was trying too hard ... or maybe I’m just too old. I found the engagement with a few classic stories (e.g. Sir Gawain) a bit tedious. Again, this probably says more about me and the space I’m in these days than it does about the book. I’m guessing people who majored in English lit might really love all of it.
If you are interested in trans and queer transformation abs storytelling, I highly recommend this book. I think it’s a masterpiece of the genre.
Things that either I’m ambivalent about or just the wrong audience for. The cleverness throughout. Sometimes it amused me and other times it felt like it was trying too hard ... or maybe I’m just too old. I found the engagement with a few classic stories (e.g. Sir Gawain) a bit tedious. Again, this probably says more about me and the space I’m in these days than it does about the book. I’m guessing people who majored in English lit might really love all of it.
If you are interested in trans and queer transformation abs storytelling, I highly recommend this book. I think it’s a masterpiece of the genre.
I had really wanted to like this book, I really had, but I ended up kind of hating myself for not being able to not finish a book and for not having the absolute intuition as to what books I would like because I had really thought this would be something I would enjoy, because this was honestly a really strenuous read. I sort of liked the bits in which the author talks straightforwardly about his transition & stuff, but the chapters that are really trying hard to be funny or whatever were honestly not doing it for me, and sort of a waste of time, whether it was going biblical or Mean Girls-y or whatever.
Aand yes, while the idea of sort of reimagining some Western canon stories from a trans perspective is smart (and yes, get ready from everything from Mean Girls to the Bible and Oedipus and Dante and Anne of Green Gables), how it's written didn't work for me, and I really didn't find most of it funny at all; the only thing that worked for me was the Jacob slash Israel thing.
The only two chapters that I really liked were "Marcus Aurelius Prepares for the New Year" and the interlude titled "Oh Lacanian Philosopher We Love You Get Up."
It's not often that I feel like a book was an utter waste of time for me, but this one unfortunately qualifies for that perfectly.
Aand yes, while the idea of sort of reimagining some Western canon stories from a trans perspective is smart (and yes, get ready from everything from Mean Girls to the Bible and Oedipus and Dante and Anne of Green Gables), how it's written didn't work for me, and I really didn't find most of it funny at all; the only thing that worked for me was the Jacob slash Israel thing.
The only two chapters that I really liked were "Marcus Aurelius Prepares for the New Year" and the interlude titled "Oh Lacanian Philosopher We Love You Get Up."
It's not often that I feel like a book was an utter waste of time for me, but this one unfortunately qualifies for that perfectly.
dan lavery is a very brilliant and compassionate genius and the funniest man alive. i was also touched by & grateful for his rigor when talking about transmasculinity, which was usually charming & satirical but always soothingly thorough. currently considering the etiquette and ethics of asking my loved ones to read this book instead of me coming out and having to have a real out loud conversation.
What a remarkable, deeply personal book, which is powerful in a way that sneaks up on you with seemingly-banal interludes that add up to a meaningful whole. I’ve been a fan of his ever since The Toast, but this is something else entirely.
couldn't bring myself to finish it, especially knowing how he treated his ex.
A bit repetitive at times but a true joy—often outrageously funny—to read and and an important emotional journey to go on.
I listened to this and while some of the text-message formatted vignettes were a little awkward, it greatly increased my enjoyment of the book. I've read lavery's writing before and it's just so much more delightful to hear the tone.
I enjoyed quite a few of the interludes and essays about the western canon. the ones that resonated most deeply were essays about his transness and relationship with womanhood, as well as the recurring stories of Israel. also liked the house hunters one.
I enjoyed quite a few of the interludes and essays about the western canon. the ones that resonated most deeply were essays about his transness and relationship with womanhood, as well as the recurring stories of Israel. also liked the house hunters one.
Wow I really wanted to like this, I'm on a mission to find trans masc memoirs I see myself reflected in, but this was so clearly written by a pastor's kid that I couldn't get past the biblical references and language - I felt like I was in a pew for another service. The author's resistance to embracing their trans identity was also painful. I'm sure this is relatable and cathartic for many folks, but it wasn't for me.
An exceptionally sensitive portrait of trans masculinity viewed through the lens of religion, relationships, mythology, and pop culture, and a damn good memoir to boot. This book gave me lots of valuable insights into my own identity, sometimes humorous, sometimes painful, and occasionally both. Although the writing wanders away with itself at times, with varying results, it wouldn't be as refreshingly honest any other way. At times the style wasn't to my taste, but since it's largely about being yourself regardless of anyone's tastes, I wouldn't change a thing about it. Highly recommended.