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brnineworms's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Trans Power is an uncomfortable book. I mean this in multiple ways. It’s honest, off-the-cuff, and, dare I say it, raw. But this intimacy goes further than candid discussions of feelings and identity – Roche describes their genitals and masturbation in explicit detail, and they invite their interviewees to do the same. This isn’t a one-off occurrence, it’s virtually the backbone of this entire book. In that sense I suppose it’s a direct sequel to Roche’s previous book Queer Sex (which I haven’t read). With a title like that, however, you know what you’re getting yourself into.
I don’t mean to sound sex-negative. Unapologetic trans embodiment and trans joy ought to be uplifted, not baulked at. It may not have been what I was expecting, but I can appreciate it for what it is.
This book really elicits the freedom to transgress. I particularly liked the last two interviews with Amrou and E-J Scott; the two of them were so insightful and self-assured.
This book really elicits the freedom to transgress. I particularly liked the last two interviews with Amrou and E-J Scott; the two of them were so insightful and self-assured.
Trans Power is one of those books where I’m not sure I like it but I am glad it exists. I’ve heard of cis people picking it up hoping it’ll educate them and being rather thrown off. I can’t say I blame them. I wouldn’t recommend this to a cis person wanting to learn the basics, but I might recommend it to trans people looking for other perspectives on what it means to be trans (particularly nonbinary perspectives) and unfiltered discussion of trans bodies and sexuality.
“I like the thought that we as trans are a prefix to some change that is brilliantly underway but as yet unresolved and partially unrecognisable.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Dysphoria, Body shaming, and Sexual content
Moderate: Racism, Terminal illness, Addiction, Death, Drug use, Grief, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Bullying, Chronic illness, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Rape
Minor: Cancer, Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Outing, Slavery, Suicide attempt, and War
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