Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Pageboy by Elliot Page

127 reviews

cdace8's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative sad slow-paced

4.0

If you like raw and chaotic memoirs this is for you.

I enjoyed and didn't enjoy this book all a the same time.  I loved the story & was saddened by all the things Elliot has gone through.

This book very much felt like a conversation and the timeline jumps all over the place.

No matter what it is a brave story to tell and I will always be an Elliot Page fan :)



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epellicci's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad slow-paced

3.0

Mixed feelings about this one.

I found the narrative of the book all over the place. It was really difficult to keep track of the people and places in Elliot Page's life because the timeline jumped back and forth, and he takes tangents about history and environment which I wasn't sure I understood the relevance of. The book is also really quite graphic at times. Given the personal topic, and how low Page's mental health has been I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but it was shocking non-the-less.

Despite this, I truly admire the strength and courage that went into writing Pageboy. It is so vulnerable and yet also celebratory, and I would imagine intensely comforting to someone who may be going through questioning their gender identity or the potentially daunting process of transitioning. The book has such an authentic feel, and is a testimony to the value of finding your people and of visibility. 

Page has put in some serious work to begin healing from trauma and shame, and it felt like a privilege to be invited to witness some of that journey. 

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fluffyfox's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

3.0


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jamiejanae_6's review against another edition

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hopeful informative reflective sad tense

3.0


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hmetwade's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

2.75


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bookcheshirecat's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

3.5

“I am evolved as I freed myself from the expectations of others. These memories shape a nonlinear narrative, because queerness is intrinsically nonlinear, journeys that bend and wind. Two steps forward, one step back.” 

I liked Elliot Page since I saw him in The Umbrella Academy and was super excited about his memoir! It delves into his struggles with his sexuality, gender and his complex family dynamics. The book was hard to read at times, as Page discusses the homophobia and harassment he encountered throughout his life and career. It's told in a nonlinear narrative that jumps between different phases of his life ... sadly this didn't work for me. Nonlinear storytelling can work, but I don't think it was well-executed here. I was mostly confused as we jumped randomly between different times in Page's life, so it was difficult to keep track of things. As much as I like him as an actor and advocate, the writing left a lot to be desired. I was missing some more introspection, as the memoir didn't delve as deep as it could have!

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author2223's review against another edition

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hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

3.75


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bashsbooks's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.75

A difficult read, but an important one. Elliot Page is such a phenomenal actor and iconic celebrity, but the man can write, too. He shares his story - which is fraught with neglect, queerphobia, and sexual violence, among other traumas - with such precise descriptions, tongue-in-cheek humor, and frank honesty. I listened to the audiobook version of Pageboy, and I got the extra treat of hearing it all in his own voice. 

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emmajh91's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

4.0


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amberlfaris's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

3.0


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