Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
Ortberg's self-described "memoir-adjacent" work is smart, amusingly deprecating, and not overly concerned with interrogating Ortberg's sense of self, purpose, or his decision (or eventual reluctant side-step) to transition. While not every one of his chapters resonated with me, the ones that hit the mark, Really hit the mark, and had me working to stifle my laughter at work. He pokes fun at the traditional trans memoir, while not altogether ignoring the fact that this work is partially that. You will not find the metaphor of "Mermaids/Centaurs/Sirens/Sphinxes/Butterflies/Snakes/Werewolves/Any Other Cryptid" applied to being trans, but you will have his experience compares to biblical stories, Mythology, The Golden Girls, Pretty in Pink, Existential philosophy, and Cosmopolitan Magazine. The references are numerous and varied, and many (I admit) went over my head. Even though I left feeling like I was in dire need of a complete reading list to be at least as well-versed as Ortberg, I also finished the book glad to have read something so un-genre-able and still enjoyable.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Often fairly incoherent, but with frequent brilliance despite this. I oddly get the impression that the parts I found incoherent would be found brilliant by others and vice versa. When I could work my way through the layers the humour and understanding was wonderful. I shall be returning to this book again to try and winkle out more of it's gems.
I read the audiobook, and though Lavery has an excellent voice, I think the audiobook probably suffers from the lack of page architecture, containing multiple conversations in the format:
A: says something
B: says something else
Without character voices these quickly become tedious and hard to follow.
I read the audiobook, and though Lavery has an excellent voice, I think the audiobook probably suffers from the lack of page architecture, containing multiple conversations in the format:
A: says something
B: says something else
Without character voices these quickly become tedious and hard to follow.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Transphobia, Abandonment
Minor: Medical content
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
if you're trans this book will call you out but like, in a helpful way.
This was weirdly uneven. I LOVE Daniel Lavery's Toast-era work, and I think he's great, but there were whole chapters of biblical parody that I had to skip because I didn't understand it. There were maybe two chapters that I really loved. I liked getting insight into the transition process, but it wasn't what I was expecting from this book.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
I stumbled upon this book by accident, and I love it too pieces! It's so funny and heartfelt and it fit this weird intersection of growing up with Bible stories and classic literature and being queer now, so how about we queer Bible stories and classic literature. I'm definitely reading the other books of the author now, too. He just grabs me by the sadness and turns it into something I can laugh about.
When this book is funny, it is hilarious, esp. when it references ye olden trans days. Also meaningful - so connection, much feelz.
Some of the literary stuff is cool too, but when it gets really high-falutin', I start skimming. I paced this book out, both because I didn't want to read it all up, but also, it was too boggy to read all at once.
Lots of stickies for the parts I want to go back to.
"We're gonna have to surger your Top."
Some of the literary stuff is cool too, but when it gets really high-falutin', I start skimming. I paced this book out, both because I didn't want to read it all up, but also, it was too boggy to read all at once.
Lots of stickies for the parts I want to go back to.
"We're gonna have to surger your Top."
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
This book is bizarre, at times confusing, equally full of fascinating insights and very niche references. It's a bit repetitive in some aspects, sometimes very quick to read and sometimes hard to get through, but ultimately it's pretty good and I'll probably reread bits of it.
was legitimately good you just have to really understand the bible to get what most of the essays are about and i Don't :/
I did the rare, terrible thing. I put it down and said, "Nope." The content was fine. I just can't stand the writing style. I kept stopping and saying, "What?" Maybe it's because I'm not a millennial or whatever generation this corresponds to. It's a shame because the author is the man behind the most recent iteration of the Dear Prudence column on Slate which I enjoy. He is trans, so I think his story might be important to those with a common experience. I wanted to hear his story. I just couldn't follow the writing. There are too many other books on my list to get to.