Reviews

This is up there with one of the best books I’ve ever read. So many poignant moments, if a book could ever make me cry it would be this one. Beautiful beautiful. Nadine is a real one for putting this on our Gender Trouble Syllabus.

clar_a's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

emalinehoward's review against another edition

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Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

lavrendy's review against another edition

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3.0

An emotional read about a closeted trans musician’s legacy after he dies.

The angry son’s chapters were a bit much for me, but his attitude makes sense considering when it takes place and that it’s based on a true story.

baezel's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring 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

Possibly my favourite book ever. It explores the grief and mourning of a jazz musician outed as trans at his death. How our memories and understanding of each are changed in grief is explored through different perspectives on trans people, black people, people we've loved. It shifts perspective from those who loved the musician to those who don't know him. It balances the cruelty of some people with the accidental and unthinking kindness. No one is purely bad and no one is purely good. Its written beautifully though, and set a good chunk in Scotland.

abbypikett's review

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challenging reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective slow-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? Yes

4.0

Brilliant character study but the writing held me at a distance emotionally.

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