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jayisreading's review against another edition
4.5
When I found out that Hazel Jane Plante had another novel coming out last year, I was thrilled. I absolutely loved her debut novel, so I had high hopes. I admit that I didn’t love Any Other City as much as Little Blue Encyclopedia (for Vivian), though that isn’t to say that I thought it was bad by any means (quite the contrary). Plante delivers a compelling story about messy trans feelings and beautiful trans worldmaking through a fictional memoir written by a trans indie rock musician, Tracy. Process is at the center of this novel, whether it be the process of songwriting, healing from trauma, or trying to make sense of gender and sexuality. Process is not straightforward, which is demonstrated in the nonlinear narrative of this fictional memoir. Process is also not clearcut, and the goal is frequently hidden, even lost. I would definitely say that this was done deliberately because trans life can be difficult to follow. However, part of the process is trusting it, and Plante asks the reader to have faith in her, in her protagonist, in trans women, and to hear her/their story/ies.
I truly look forward to Plante’s next piece of writing, whatever that may be, because I know she will continue to deliver something heartfelt and stunning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Dysphoria and Suicide attempt
Minor: Suicide, Death, and Transphobia
amobrien's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved the inventive storytelling in this fictional memoir of a trans indie rock musician. It had a focus on art and trauma and was fantastically written, full of raw emotion. I enjoyed the formatting of the story told in two parts, Side A and Side B. If you love literary character-driven books focusing on queer stories, I would highly recommend this for you.
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Dysphoria
tbrnichols's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Really enjoyed the contrasts between the two parts in both substance and tone. The first part felt a lot more like Tracy is an observer to profound and glamorous things while the second feels much more lived in, like experiences that define the day to day, rather than a shock that threatens to shatter the system. That contrast rang quite true for me in that the before transition times seem to only be recalled when gender was drawn to the surface whereas after transition, every day life seems real and memorable for Tracy. And I found the second part to be a nice antidote to the feelings of inadequacy that the first arose in me, but the second part reminds that the banal experiences of queer life can be beautiful in their banality. And that queer joy has value regardless of it's profundity or the ways in which it gets channeled for art.
I do find the tendency to reference both real and fake cultural works to be a bit distracting? Like that there's a subgame of reading the book of trying to guess which allusions are real and you should go listen to/watch/read them and which aren't so you shouldn't waste your time looking them up is a bit annoying to me.
I do find the tendency to reference both real and fake cultural works to be a bit distracting? Like that there's a subgame of reading the book of trying to guess which allusions are real and you should go listen to/watch/read them and which aren't so you shouldn't waste your time looking them up is a bit annoying to me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
juliabristow's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
if hazel jane plante has one million fans, i am one of them. if hazel jane plante has one fan it is me. if hazel jane plante has zero fans i am dead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Suicide attempt and Transphobia
interrobang's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
gosh i just loved this one
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dysphoria and Suicide attempt
Minor: Cultural appropriation
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