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laurasarmientov's review
3.0
Extremely touching and raw, Ivan puts their entire experience of reflection during the pandemic into poetic letters that should have been sent years ago. It was wonderful to read something queer and non-fiction from an elder gay who is still finding their true state of happiness. While the sole format written like letters was not for me, a lot of it felt like the narrator was dumping SOME not ALL unnecessary traumatic person details into responses to thank you letters, the stories were all beautiful nonetheless. I would have loved to know more about the letter to the TERF but I understand that her opinion is irrelevant to the purpose of the book. Ivan this was beautiful! A great example of a well executed pandemic project.
tpac's review
5.0
I never want Ivan’s books to end.
While I would generally never recommend an audio version over a real book, with Ivan’s writing, it is a gift to hear them read their own stories.
Ivan’s writing speaks to me in a way that no other author does. They both break my heart and heal it with their stories.
While I would generally never recommend an audio version over a real book, with Ivan’s writing, it is a gift to hear them read their own stories.
Ivan’s writing speaks to me in a way that no other author does. They both break my heart and heal it with their stories.
wenwanzhao's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Ivan is a beautiful writer. The care with which each of these letters is crafted is so evident with every word.
brandinos_life's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
5.0
An incredibly moving collection of over twenty exchanges written to and by Ivan Coyote - a beloved trans and nonbinary storyteller. The letters showcase a variety of Indigiqueer individuals searching for connection and understanding and is AMAZING on audio read by the author. Highly recommend listening to this incredible book. I loved how heartfelt and thoughtful the author's responses were and enjoyed the pandemic reflections sprinkled throughout.
lesbrary's review against another edition
5.0
As always, Coyote is a compassionate, thoughtful voice no matter whose letter they are answering. I actually feel like I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to listen to it even when I was too distracted to pay as much attention as it deserves, so I plan on rereading/relistening to this again very soon.
Even though it's written during the early days of the pandemic, it doesn't feel dated. The topics being addressed are just as relevant now as they were then, and I think having a little bit of distance from 2020 helped me appreciate that aspect more; I'm not sure I could have listened to/read it during 2020, if it had been released then.
Despite my comparisons to Dear Sugar and Dear Prudence, these aren't really letters with advice. They're more responses with commiserations, with stories that the original letter reminded them of, and sometimes with questions or pleas for the letter writer. They're personal, considered, and empathetic responses to all kinds of different people who have reached out to them.
If you haven't read Ivan Coyote's books before, this is a good place to start. And if you have, you won't be disappointed by picking this one up, especially as an audiobook.
Full review at the Lesbrary December 12th.
Even though it's written during the early days of the pandemic, it doesn't feel dated. The topics being addressed are just as relevant now as they were then, and I think having a little bit of distance from 2020 helped me appreciate that aspect more; I'm not sure I could have listened to/read it during 2020, if it had been released then.
Despite my comparisons to Dear Sugar and Dear Prudence, these aren't really letters with advice. They're more responses with commiserations, with stories that the original letter reminded them of, and sometimes with questions or pleas for the letter writer. They're personal, considered, and empathetic responses to all kinds of different people who have reached out to them.
If you haven't read Ivan Coyote's books before, this is a good place to start. And if you have, you won't be disappointed by picking this one up, especially as an audiobook.
Full review at the Lesbrary December 12th.
emma_k208's review
5.0
Read this book! Better yet - listen to it!! This collection of letters and stories is full of emotion and vulnerability and hope. So very beautiful.
razzberry_pi's review
Tried to get into the book but especially the parts about COVID really threw me out of it.
Its really hard to read 2020 covid optimism now in 2023/4 when it is very much still around and impacting my life but others (the author likely included) including queer elders that I look up to, have stopped masking/taking precautions, leaving behind queer disabled ppl.
Its really hard to read 2020 covid optimism now in 2023/4 when it is very much still around and impacting my life but others (the author likely included) including queer elders that I look up to, have stopped masking/taking precautions, leaving behind queer disabled ppl.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic
anniemackillican's review
3.0
I love the sentiment of this book, and it’s one that I very much relate to as a fellow gender person, but I think the style in which this book was written just didn’t mesh well with what I was looking for. Or maybe the ultra-pandemic setting of the book just made me depressed by reminding me of a time I’d much rather forget.
The stories were great, I just felt I couldn’t appreciate them as much as they maybe deserved.
The stories were great, I just felt I couldn’t appreciate them as much as they maybe deserved.
jove64's review
5.0
I have seen Ivan perform more than once. I love their stories, their voice, all of it. I have bought books at those readings and never read them, perhaps because Ivan seems so much an oral storyteller to me. Now I live in the UK. Live Ivan Coyote gigs are not a thing, even before live gigs became not a thing because of the pandemic.
This book has only been published in North America. I had a friend buy it for me. She packed it in her suitcase and brought it over in the autumn of 2021 when she came for a holiday in Scotland. She posted it to me from Ediburgh and it has sat in a pile in my living room ever since. I knew I would love this book and I was reluctant to start reading it. Maybe because I was unsure whether I had the emotional capacity. I'm not sure.
Yesterday, pondering what new book I would start, and anticipating lying in the bath reading, I picked it up. It was as good as I expected. I didn't cry as much as maybe I thought I might though it was a close run thing. I then finished it today, instead of knitting more on the sweater I'd also started and was really enjoying.
Ivan tells a good story. There is emotional depth. And truth. And compassion. Their work is beautiful to read.
The structure of this book enhances all of those things, bringing other voices into conversation with their wonderful storytelling, giving stories context. These are letters, written over years, that Ivan finally has time to respond to properly.
In the acknowledgements, Coyote says, "This book has reminded me of something my grandmother Patricia always knew and taught me from an early age: the importance of letters. Sacred and tangible and physical correspondence. I hope reading this book encourages us all to find the good stationary, and buy a new pen, and sit down and write that letter we have been meaning to for years."
I think they are on to something here. Though I'm not going to let not having good stationary stop me from trying harder to do this.
This book has only been published in North America. I had a friend buy it for me. She packed it in her suitcase and brought it over in the autumn of 2021 when she came for a holiday in Scotland. She posted it to me from Ediburgh and it has sat in a pile in my living room ever since. I knew I would love this book and I was reluctant to start reading it. Maybe because I was unsure whether I had the emotional capacity. I'm not sure.
Yesterday, pondering what new book I would start, and anticipating lying in the bath reading, I picked it up. It was as good as I expected. I didn't cry as much as maybe I thought I might though it was a close run thing. I then finished it today, instead of knitting more on the sweater I'd also started and was really enjoying.
Ivan tells a good story. There is emotional depth. And truth. And compassion. Their work is beautiful to read.
The structure of this book enhances all of those things, bringing other voices into conversation with their wonderful storytelling, giving stories context. These are letters, written over years, that Ivan finally has time to respond to properly.
In the acknowledgements, Coyote says, "This book has reminded me of something my grandmother Patricia always knew and taught me from an early age: the importance of letters. Sacred and tangible and physical correspondence. I hope reading this book encourages us all to find the good stationary, and buy a new pen, and sit down and write that letter we have been meaning to for years."
I think they are on to something here. Though I'm not going to let not having good stationary stop me from trying harder to do this.