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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
funny
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Colby professor Jenny Boylan tries, over the course of 300-some pages, to set herself up as one of The Good Ones in this trans autobio for cis people. Endlessly othering any working class people she encounters (including the scant few other queer people she deigns to mention) without once examining how her own race and class shelter her from any meanigful consequence of transness or womamhood. "The New Yorker" is mentioned many times. A breezy but fundamentally disappointing read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Dysphoria
Moderate: Deadnaming, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
Honestly, I think I've read enough books about being trans so this book didn't really do much for me.
That being said, this is one of the better books on the topic that I have read, so if you're looking for an autobiography about being trans and transitioning, this is not a bad place to start.
That being said, this is one of the better books on the topic that I have read, so if you're looking for an autobiography about being trans and transitioning, this is not a bad place to start.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
This was my first take at trying to read more queer books this year. And what a choice.
I had a bit of trouble with the narration at the beginning. There were scenes that didn't quite make sense to me (Nora, Gammie and her "friend", for example). But I found my way and I enjoyed it so much.
I loved the exploration of gender that Jenny did, and her honesty when dealing with it. I found her journey inspiring and, I am going to say it, lucky. She was always surrounded by people that loved her, people that stuck around, people that got over their own prejudices and just loved her. She also had the support of her family (only her mother at that point, but still) and her work environment. And ultimately, she had the funds to support her transition seamlessly and with no major bumps in the road. And I wish that were the case for all transgender people everywhere. I loved reading about this particular experience, but I know this doesn't represent the experience of all transgender people, every person is different and has a unique journey. This book only made me want to read more and more queer accounts of gender, family, transitions, and existing in the world.
I will say something about the afterword, because the edition I read was an anniversary one, with an afterword by Russo, Jenny's best friend. And I couldn't have cared less about a privileged white man's perspective on a transgender woman's journey. I ended up skipping it. I did appreciate Grace's account.
I had a bit of trouble with the narration at the beginning. There were scenes that didn't quite make sense to me (Nora, Gammie and her "friend", for example). But I found my way and I enjoyed it so much.
I loved the exploration of gender that Jenny did, and her honesty when dealing with it. I found her journey inspiring and, I am going to say it, lucky. She was always surrounded by people that loved her, people that stuck around, people that got over their own prejudices and just loved her. She also had the support of her family (only her mother at that point, but still) and her work environment. And ultimately, she had the funds to support her transition seamlessly and with no major bumps in the road. And I wish that were the case for all transgender people everywhere. I loved reading about this particular experience, but I know this doesn't represent the experience of all transgender people, every person is different and has a unique journey. This book only made me want to read more and more queer accounts of gender, family, transitions, and existing in the world.
I will say something about the afterword, because the edition I read was an anniversary one, with an afterword by Russo, Jenny's best friend. And I couldn't have cared less about a privileged white man's perspective on a transgender woman's journey. I ended up skipping it. I did appreciate Grace's account.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced