You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
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
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
BIG BIG WARNING:
This book is not easy to read. The violence isn’t always graphic, but it’s overwhelming in sheer volume.
That being said: i generally enjoyed my time reading this book.
This book is not easy to read. The violence isn’t always graphic, but it’s overwhelming in sheer volume.
That being said: i generally enjoyed my time reading this book.
what i loved:
- the letter in the beginning (that starting letter got me through some of the harder parts to read, particularly in the first third of the book.)
- the last few chapters (ROADTRIP, ROADTRIP, ROADTRIP!!!) I love that it ended on a hopeful note!
- i liked ruth
- some of the descriptions of the butches/the love Jess has for them (very tender and vulnerable)
- UNIONS!!!!!!!!! (That's Jess's glove)
- overall vibe: Heartwrenching at times but sooooooooo good!
Things i didnt like quite as much:
- a lot of the characters felt interchangable and 2 dimensional( i often forgot who is who)
- how the violence felt like it was there just to be there and how for the first third of the book it was either that something terrible happened or Jess was having a good time just for something terrible to happened (after a while it felt a little repetitive)(almost stopped reading because ove how many timess people were raped)
I will be honest i probably wouldn't have stuck with it if this wasnt lent to me by one of my best friends. It took me three months to read it and i think that was the perfect pace for me to process everything and ultimately enjoy the story.
This was a hard read for me but nontheless a very rewarding one. <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence
Moderate: Child abuse
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
Heart-wrenching; I weeped throughout and yet completed it with a lingering sense of hope amidst all the pain of this story. This was honestly really challenging to read at times, not because it wasn't well-written (the total opposite), but because it was so agonizing to continue witnessing the abuses and hurt that our protagonist Jess endures. And yet it always comes back to love, strength, and solidarity with those in community that saves us. Wow wow wow.
A must-read for any queer or trans person (or ally) to learn more about queer history and the people who built the foundations of our liberation movement today. Beautiful and emotional.
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A must-read classic of both queer literature and labor organizing literature. I could feel myself changing as I read it, with my roots growing back to those communities who paid in blood for the opportunities we have now and my face towards the future
challenging
emotional
reflective
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 am not in a good place to read this right now. Will definitely return to it.
Fucking wow. What a book for this moment. Not just in the world but in my life too. A true example of reading the right book at the right time…
The personal struggles that Jess faces are both universal to everyone and extremely specific to the type of person she is; friendships, relationships, betrayal, oppression, abuse, violence and liberation. She is so much herself and is brave even when she’s protecting herself from loneliness. I can learn a lot from this strong character who is just trying to get by in a hostile world.
Blues is right.
The personal struggles that Jess faces are both universal to everyone and extremely specific to the type of person she is; friendships, relationships, betrayal, oppression, abuse, violence and liberation. She is so much herself and is brave even when she’s protecting herself from loneliness. I can learn a lot from this strong character who is just trying to get by in a hostile world.
Blues is right.