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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
As most of the 3-4 star reviews will point out, this books shines the most when it discusses the transgender experience. It is intimate, it is funny, and it is poignant in all the correct places. However, this book suffers by not focusing in on these thinkpieces and instead shifting over to referential essays which can be disengaging if you are unaware of the source material. I found myself skimming some of these sections (the urge to leave this book as a DNF was strong), but the engaging chapters regarding Ortberg’s personal life and perspective would often pull me back in. Any trans person who has a taste for the classics should consider reading this, but this is maybe a skip for those who aren’t interested in the nitty gritty of religious, historical, and pop culture references. Regardless of my gripes with the book, I will definitely find myself quoting excerpts from it in the future.
Didn't finish! This was just 110% Not For Me. I think you'd need a theology degree to understand all the biblical references. To me it all falls flat, though I can appreciate the sentiment behind many of the essays.
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Early on in this book, I was a little bit in love with it. Ortberg’s imagination, grounding in classic literature, and sheer ability to write all won me over. A bit further into the book, I began to find his self-deprecation grating and whiny. Then, what makes his perspective unique started to make it too strange for me to share it without a lot more work than it’s worth.
no doubt that this is a deeply important and well-written trans memoir that distances itself from the term "memoir" by exploring trans identity in relation to pieces of media that resonate with the author. that being said, a lot of the things ortberg draws inspiration from flew right over my head, and felt a little disjointed at times. i did really like the chapter on hans christian anderson, though, and the writing style is wonderful. important one to read if you're trans, and especially if you're transmasc
funny
reflective
medium-paced
This book takes such an innovative approach to memoir, using bible stories, Greek classics, The Addams Family, and The Golden Girls to describe Lavery's evolving relationship to his gender. His experience was *not* one of always believing he was a boy. How do you describe longing for something you didn't know was possible? How do you know if your feelings of discomfort in your body can be chalked up to a culture of misogyny or to gender dysphoria? These are the questions Lavery tackles with enviable wit and wisdom, and a playful push against all sorts of traditional narratives. Some of the parables he worked from remained opaque to me, but I think most readers will be able to find their way into at least a few.
I've read Lavery's work in The Toast and followed his Dear Prudence columns and podcast. This book draws on both those styles, while also employing a more personal and vulnerable approach that I craved even more of. (Although, next time I hear someone talk about wanting to write a memoir but being afraid of over-disclosing, I'll point them to this book, which somehow goes deep without sharing much in the way of family background or life events beyond the one at the story's center.)
The last chapter is one of the most poignant, and feels like a bit of a cliffhanger for a future memoir (or maybe I just know too much from following Lavery and his wife Grace on Twitter), and I hope he writes it.
I've read Lavery's work in The Toast and followed his Dear Prudence columns and podcast. This book draws on both those styles, while also employing a more personal and vulnerable approach that I craved even more of. (Although, next time I hear someone talk about wanting to write a memoir but being afraid of over-disclosing, I'll point them to this book, which somehow goes deep without sharing much in the way of family background or life events beyond the one at the story's center.)
The last chapter is one of the most poignant, and feels like a bit of a cliffhanger for a future memoir (or maybe I just know too much from following Lavery and his wife Grace on Twitter), and I hope he writes it.
I adore this author for continually writing things that feel entirely new. This collection starts and ends sublimely, with humor and insight and great feeling. It gets a little bogged down in the middle by becoming overly obscure. At times it feels like the author is writing something only he could understand the resonance of. But in another way it’s sort of beautiful to watch him having such an intimate conversation with himself. A little difficult to get through, but glad I stuck with it and grateful that such an original book exists in the world.
3 stars only because a lot of the references missed me. Overall, very clever, hilarious and made me realize i maybe want top surgery. Highly recommend!
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced