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ev1's review
3.0
a fascinating read. whilst i think this will be difficult for some people to get through, and even more-so for most to discuss, i'm glad that it exists.
morris mixes gorgeous prose with some very questionable ideas regarding gender, race and class. i'm not going to touch on the topic of whether this is 'good representation' because i think that's a juvenile, liberal discussion. this book, rather, focuses on the more important discussion of liberation which many conversations surrounding identity could do well to adjust to.
i don't particularly love jan's narrative voice which did make this, especially the parts that didn't age so well, a little eye-rolly. one part i find seldom discussed is where jan muses on how her writing on people far excels her writing on place since 'transitioning' which i couldn't disagree with more. the most enjoyable parts of this memoir are the glimmering, glittering fragments describing places and experiences. the lowest points are her attempts at musing on the condition of others.
i'm really glad to have read this. some lines i will return to for the rest of my life, others i have undoubtedly already scrubbed from my mind.
morris mixes gorgeous prose with some very questionable ideas regarding gender, race and class. i'm not going to touch on the topic of whether this is 'good representation' because i think that's a juvenile, liberal discussion. this book, rather, focuses on the more important discussion of liberation which many conversations surrounding identity could do well to adjust to.
i don't particularly love jan's narrative voice which did make this, especially the parts that didn't age so well, a little eye-rolly. one part i find seldom discussed is where jan muses on how her writing on people far excels her writing on place since 'transitioning' which i couldn't disagree with more. the most enjoyable parts of this memoir are the glimmering, glittering fragments describing places and experiences. the lowest points are her attempts at musing on the condition of others.
i'm really glad to have read this. some lines i will return to for the rest of my life, others i have undoubtedly already scrubbed from my mind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Racism and Transphobia
nanc_282's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Conundrum is a tricky book to review. In lots of ways it is a groundbreaking story of gender transition, wonderfully written, and deeply informative. On the other hand, it is filled with privilege and prejudice that mean reading it involves dealing with racist, classist and gender stereotypes that may have been prevailing views in mid-twentieth century white middle class Britain - but are still offensive. It took me a long time to read this short book as a result. What would usually have been a few hours stretched into a few days as I had to put it down and walk away. Even so, I finished it because as a first hand narrative, Jan’s story is worth reading. She is a brilliant writer. Parts of the book are five star, and other parts not! Hence a 3 star rating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Classism and Sexism
Minor: Body shaming
viki_vamp's review
fast-paced
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Transphobia, and Classism
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Sexual harassment
transguyrudy's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
Although I can appreciate Conundrum's legacy, this is a fairly uncomfortable read for me due to several sections full of rank racism and imperialism. I struggle to imagine these viewpoints being reasonable in the years after Stonewall, and Morris seems to be completely apathetic to trans people less privileged than herself. It feels more like an extended expression of extraordinary privilege than a particularly useful study of life for trans people. Not for me, I'm afraid.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria
Moderate: Racism, Colonisation, and Xenophobia
Minor: Medical content, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
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