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2.98k reviews for:
Stone Butch Blues: 20th Anniversary Author Edition
Leslie Feinberg, Leslie Feinberg
4.67 AVERAGE
2.98k reviews for:
Stone Butch Blues: 20th Anniversary Author Edition
Leslie Feinberg, Leslie Feinberg
4.67 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
I was quite daunted to start this novel, both because of its length and what I’d heard of the bleak and horrific contents. And certainly some appalling things happen to Jess, the protagonist of this largely autobiographical fiction, and she is miserable a lot of the time. But Feinberg’s writing drew me in and carried me along so well that neither it’s heft nor its depths put me off at any point once I’d started reading.
This book deserves to be a classic. It tells a seldom told story from within an obscure group in a little-known city at a particular point in the twentieth century. Every detail is very particular. And that helps to make its message and the experience it describes universal.
I knew that it would focus on women whose sexuality and gender appearance are nonconforming, a group who are heavily underrepresented in fiction, but I wasn’t aware of the extent to which racial and class injustice would also feature. It is a brilliant working class novel about factory jobs, lack of healthcare, trade union struggles. From early on and throughout, Jess has friends of other races whose oppression and value is highlighted. And her friends also include gender nonconforming people who were assigned male at birth, too.
There are awful people who do horrific things (generally white, cis, straight males, many of them cops), but one of the things which makes this an uplifting read is the kindness and humanity of many of the other people. Just when Jess is at her lowest, a stranger or acquaintance will be thoughtful and selfless.
At first I felt there was a narrative distance, but soon realised that the lack of emotional expression in the prose is actually an important part of the Stone Butchness of the title. And in fact that didn’t stop this being a very moving read. My eyes were damp on several occasions while reading this, which is unusual for me.
This book deserves all the accolades it has received over the years.
This book deserves to be a classic. It tells a seldom told story from within an obscure group in a little-known city at a particular point in the twentieth century. Every detail is very particular. And that helps to make its message and the experience it describes universal.
I knew that it would focus on women whose sexuality and gender appearance are nonconforming, a group who are heavily underrepresented in fiction, but I wasn’t aware of the extent to which racial and class injustice would also feature. It is a brilliant working class novel about factory jobs, lack of healthcare, trade union struggles. From early on and throughout, Jess has friends of other races whose oppression and value is highlighted. And her friends also include gender nonconforming people who were assigned male at birth, too.
There are awful people who do horrific things (generally white, cis, straight males, many of them cops), but one of the things which makes this an uplifting read is the kindness and humanity of many of the other people. Just when Jess is at her lowest, a stranger or acquaintance will be thoughtful and selfless.
At first I felt there was a narrative distance, but soon realised that the lack of emotional expression in the prose is actually an important part of the Stone Butchness of the title. And in fact that didn’t stop this being a very moving read. My eyes were damp on several occasions while reading this, which is unusual for me.
This book deserves all the accolades it has received over the years.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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
i forget how invested i get when i read. this was a hard read just because of the pain that dripped from the pages, but running from that pain would’ve kept me from the joy. and there’s a lot of joy. it also never occurred to me before that butch4butch might not have been seen as gorgeous the way i see it now, and honestly, this is why we need community
I read this for a gender studies class (2015). It was terribly compelling from the moment I began reading the first page. What makes Feinberg's writing work is hir use of raw, pure, unedited emotion. My heartstrings were tugged again and again. I ached for Jess: for the love and the pain they experienced.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Uff, esta lectura es una batalla tras otra. Una historia que te golpea, que te duele y que cicatriza (y te marca). Te empuja al abismo de la identidad, del cuerpo que no encaja y de la lucha.
La vida de le protagonista está marcada por la violencia pero también por la dignidad y el amor. Recomiendo muchísimo su lectura!
La vida de le protagonista está marcada por la violencia pero también por la dignidad y el amor. Recomiendo muchísimo su lectura!
wow, this is the best. thank god for this book.
from the afterword of the 2003 edition: "Never underestimate the power of fiction to tell the truth." this is the most beautiful work of history.
maybe it's weird to call a book "necessary" but this is one of those books that makes you think ohhhhh that's why we write books.
from the afterword of the 2003 edition: "Never underestimate the power of fiction to tell the truth." this is the most beautiful work of history.
maybe it's weird to call a book "necessary" but this is one of those books that makes you think ohhhhh that's why we write books.