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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
I picked this up intending to just get a feel for it and then had to read the whole thing in one sitting, it was that gripping. Comics/cartoons are such a great medium for pulling the reader in, and it hurt so much to see the protagonist be denied gender-affirming care for so long. Just an excellent debut graphic novel. So happy to have nabbed it at the D&Q sale last month!
This might be the most effective use of the graphic novel as a medium I have ever read. This is a fucking masterpiece.
This memoir is incredibly tedious to read through - as real life can often be. It is also one of the best books I've ever read. Emma stated in an author's note that this was intended to mimic her experience of her life - long, drawn out, repetitive, messy - and it was EXTREMELY beneficial to my experience of the work. It would be easy to "know" what happens from a story standpoint, but to actually be present in the narrators mind and feel the story happen in real time gave me so much more perspective and understanding. I was able to be frustrated with her, and reaching some sort of conclusion or sense of peace by the end was so much more cathartic having felt what it took to get there.
Before reading this, I hadn't been very familiar with some of the reasons therapists use to gatekeep trans people from accessing gender affirming services (hormones in the case of this book but I'm sure it would affect surgeries and legal document changes as well). Even with all the hoops I had to jump through to start medical transition I never had to face discrimination like this. Emma's frustration is palpable throughout the book and gave me even more empathy for multiply marginalized trans people trying to access medical care. It also makes so painfully clear that having a therapist (or other medical professional) that actually listens to you and tries to actually understand you and your individual needs instead of just giving the same type of care to everyone. Having a bad experience with a therapist or doctor can deter people from getting the help they need. Emma's story is a good reminder not to give up on finding and fighting for the care that you need.
This memoir is incredibly tedious to read through - as real life can often be. It is also one of the best books I've ever read. Emma stated in an author's note that this was intended to mimic her experience of her life - long, drawn out, repetitive, messy - and it was EXTREMELY beneficial to my experience of the work. It would be easy to "know" what happens from a story standpoint, but to actually be present in the narrators mind and feel the story happen in real time gave me so much more perspective and understanding. I was able to be frustrated with her, and reaching some sort of conclusion or sense of peace by the end was so much more cathartic having felt what it took to get there.
Before reading this, I hadn't been very familiar with some of the reasons therapists use to gatekeep trans people from accessing gender affirming services (hormones in the case of this book but I'm sure it would affect surgeries and legal document changes as well). Even with all the hoops I had to jump through to start medical transition I never had to face discrimination like this. Emma's frustration is palpable throughout the book and gave me even more empathy for multiply marginalized trans people trying to access medical care. It also makes so painfully clear that having a therapist (or other medical professional) that actually listens to you and tries to actually understand you and your individual needs instead of just giving the same type of care to everyone. Having a bad experience with a therapist or doctor can deter people from getting the help they need. Emma's story is a good reminder not to give up on finding and fighting for the care that you need.
challenging
slow-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Transphobia
This book is very long and very intense! I’ve been assured it’s a quick read regardless but I was not in a space to commit to it and I’m not sure if/when I’ll pick it back up
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
This book made me feel seen. Like someone knew what I had been through. Both as a person with DID and a trans person. I finally felt like someone understood. I still haven’t stopped crying
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Transphobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Abandonment