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claire60's review
4.0
Another important book by Juno Roche, this book follows on from Queer sex, using a similar formula of interviews with key trans and non-binary people, in-between the authors personal reflections. Queer sex was the author's quest for love, this book is about their journey to love themselves including their body, as a trans woman who has had surgery. An open and honest exploration of how to have sexual pleasure, following current wisdom about finding out what you like before you can tell someone else. I particularly liked where Juno says:
"We need to ask better questions around our surgery, not just the one of 'looking real'."
followed by a list of questions that made me think about what questions might anyone have about their body and what it can and can't do.
This book makes the case in several points that Trans and non binary people are pushing the boundaries of gender but that they are not alone:
"History is full of cis folk trying to please and blend into the gender binary to no avail. It's not like we are the sole owners of dysphoria; that shit exists all around,..."
Juno goes on to say how the system (of gender) is broken and it is certainly hard to argue against that.
I enjoyed this book but found it went further than Queer sex, if that was an introduction then this is the continuation, it was like being in the room whilst people discussed queer theory, interesting, sometimes confusing and challenging, but ultimately engaging. At times I would have liked more awareness and discussion of dysphoria that exists around different body sizes and ethnicities. I really enjoy the way Juno writes and concepts and found the book thought provoking and an important addition to Trans narratives.
With thanks to Netgalley for a free ARC for an honest review.
"We need to ask better questions around our surgery, not just the one of 'looking real'."
followed by a list of questions that made me think about what questions might anyone have about their body and what it can and can't do.
This book makes the case in several points that Trans and non binary people are pushing the boundaries of gender but that they are not alone:
"History is full of cis folk trying to please and blend into the gender binary to no avail. It's not like we are the sole owners of dysphoria; that shit exists all around,..."
Juno goes on to say how the system (of gender) is broken and it is certainly hard to argue against that.
I enjoyed this book but found it went further than Queer sex, if that was an introduction then this is the continuation, it was like being in the room whilst people discussed queer theory, interesting, sometimes confusing and challenging, but ultimately engaging. At times I would have liked more awareness and discussion of dysphoria that exists around different body sizes and ethnicities. I really enjoy the way Juno writes and concepts and found the book thought provoking and an important addition to Trans narratives.
With thanks to Netgalley for a free ARC for an honest review.
leahkarge's review
4.0
A powerful and honest collection of interviews, this book gives us a lot of good for thought.
Read the full review on my blog.
Read the full review on my blog.
numberonebug's review
3.0
I wish I could like this book
The advice and guidance given by the people interviewed helped me immensely. Hearing from such a wide selection of the trans community and experience, from people who have been trans longer than I have been alive, was so insightful and inspiring and I am so grateful for that portion of the book.
Everything else, however, was weird and uncomfortable in a way that was not at all productive or interesting. The author turns their inability to find a cis partner into a political issue and continually tries to recontextualize their post-srs genitals in a way that is frankly gross to read. A large portion of the first third of this book was just a description of them getting off under a tree in their back yard, told as some powerful political moment. This fixation bled into the interviews in ways that were very difficult to read.
My advice would be to read this book, but to skim over everything outside of the interview, and if you see an attempt at recontextualization of post-srs genitals just skip that page completely.
This book needed a stronger editor who could keep the author focused.
The advice and guidance given by the people interviewed helped me immensely. Hearing from such a wide selection of the trans community and experience, from people who have been trans longer than I have been alive, was so insightful and inspiring and I am so grateful for that portion of the book.
Everything else, however, was weird and uncomfortable in a way that was not at all productive or interesting. The author turns their inability to find a cis partner into a political issue and continually tries to recontextualize their post-srs genitals in a way that is frankly gross to read. A large portion of the first third of this book was just a description of them getting off under a tree in their back yard, told as some powerful political moment. This fixation bled into the interviews in ways that were very difficult to read.
My advice would be to read this book, but to skim over everything outside of the interview, and if you see an attempt at recontextualization of post-srs genitals just skip that page completely.
This book needed a stronger editor who could keep the author focused.
booksgamesvinyl's review
5.0
y'all ever read a book and it just changes your life, even if it's only a little?
yeah, this is one of those books for me
yeah, this is one of those books for me
transmonstera's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
if you're searching for a book about how to reclaim your sexuality as a trans person this would be on the top of the list of recommendations
managedbybooks's review
*Book received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This book was very necessary and I think it's come at a good time. There are extremely powerful stories shared here and I'm honestly honored by the trust these people have given to share such intimate parts of themselves with the world.
This book was very necessary and I think it's come at a good time. There are extremely powerful stories shared here and I'm honestly honored by the trust these people have given to share such intimate parts of themselves with the world.
brnineworms's review against another edition
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