Reviews - Trans: A Memoir | The StoryGraph

127 reviews for:

I wanted to love this as I’d heard really good things but after a brilliant start the book quickly devolved into repetitive descriptions of outfits she wore, films she watched and music she listened to and I lost interest. I was hoping for something that was written more from the heart.

fridapalmars's review against another edition

4.25

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

george_and_books's review against another edition

5.0

challenging reflective medium-paced

annabelws23's review against another edition

4.0

4.5* - A little less football dialogue, and this would have been a 5* read.
(I understand why it was there, though, as Jaques is trying to dismantle the trans-stereotypes of hyper femininity/masculinity - I just find football personally a bit dull)
The interspersal of trans-theory and memoir was a clever touch, and I feel very under read/cultured in the face of Jaques breadth of cultural film and literary touchpoints!

harriets_reading's review against another edition

5.0

I was already somewhat familiar with Juliet Jacques' writing and I expected something fairly cerebral from her memoir. I found this a wonderful blend of culture, politics, personal history and trans theory. I couldn't connect to everything but I enjoyed how she conveyed her interest in films and music that I've never heard of (and I've since checked out one of the bands mentioned and will explore more in due course).

I'm also trying to learn more about trans experiences and I loved the nuance here, both showing how Jacques' relationship with her gender evolved and developed, and the challenges of sharing that experience and navigating medical support in the face of a strong prevailing narrative of what dysphoria looks like and how transition works.