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patches_of_purple's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
kyrajade's review
4.0
I can't say that I knew what was going on all of the time but this memoir is so engaging that I enjoyed being along for the ride. Warning for intelligble academic language at points.
mlau's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
zoolmcg's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Being on a streak of reading non-fiction this month, I thought I'd take a go at this book. I'd seen it in my library almost every visit, and I really liked the cover, title, and blurb, so I knew I was going to enjoy it. Lavery presents a groundbreaking memoir of the transfeminine experience, introducing mystery and metaphor to illustrate her life and philosophy.
The fist thing that struck me as wonderful was her writing style. The prose is easily consumable and flows on the page, making every annecdote feel wonderfully narratively constructed. The use of letters and extracts makes it feel epistolery-like; a construction of stories and events that build up to make a full picture.
The only thing I will say is that often, th etangents passed me by. I don't want to say they were unnecessary, because I'm sure they meant a lot to Lavery while writing this book, but I personally didn't understand a lot of them. The one that confused me the most was the last one, where she deconstructs Dickens' bibliography. It just felt like a literature essay in the midst of gender analysis - I couldn't see how it fit, and therefore it slowed down my reading pace into the back end.
I'd recommend this to anyone interested in trans memoir. It's a great piece of work that examines many transition experences and anxieties, and it's nice to hear about members of your community who are out there thriving, recovering, and doing the things that they love.
The fist thing that struck me as wonderful was her writing style. The prose is easily consumable and flows on the page, making every annecdote feel wonderfully narratively constructed. The use of letters and extracts makes it feel epistolery-like; a construction of stories and events that build up to make a full picture.
The only thing I will say is that often, th etangents passed me by. I don't want to say they were unnecessary, because I'm sure they meant a lot to Lavery while writing this book, but I personally didn't understand a lot of them. The one that confused me the most was the last one, where she deconstructs Dickens' bibliography. It just felt like a literature essay in the midst of gender analysis - I couldn't see how it fit, and therefore it slowed down my reading pace into the back end.
I'd recommend this to anyone interested in trans memoir. It's a great piece of work that examines many transition experences and anxieties, and it's nice to hear about members of your community who are out there thriving, recovering, and doing the things that they love.
atreenamedjulia's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Was this real? Did I enjoy it? I’m not entirely sure to be honest. It’s possible I just had the weirdest sex dream of my life which included a graphic description of finger limes. Got a little too academic for me at times though so I didn’t always “get” it.
finnthehuman217's review
5.0
Sonofabitch this fucking book is one of those you have to have a clear mind to read. It goes in and out of fiction, reality, the author’s brilliant brain, it’s just beyond words. It talks about penises and sex a lot so if you’re not into that stuff lol move along. Please give this woman all of your money for this book. This book is one that talks to us trans women who have qualms about what their future of bottom surgery. But this book is very creative and is like the definition of creative nonfiction!!! Please read this!
valentina_legge's review against another edition
I like her, but I had no idea what was going on nor what she was referring to... Not for me, or maybe not for right now.
naecocificap's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.25