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claudevonriegan's review
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
So, I read this book as a means of helping myself figure out if I should transition or not. It helps in providing a general rundown of the transmasculine communities and the intersections with the lesbian communities as well as feminist activism. The variety of perspectives provided by the various individuals during the (much more interesting) anthology part can still feel like a drag, though. A lot of the stories start and end the same, and I honestly skimmed or just read through the editor's note to get a rundown during the last couple. At a certain point you just get the implication that the writers are rambling about nothing a different writer wasn't far more concise regarding.
All that being said, this is the first book I've read to completion in a while and amidst trying to read multiple books at once. So take that into consideration when sifting through my review. And despite my dislikes on this anthology, I recommend it!
If you're a trans man confused about transition, questioning your gender as a cis lesbian, or somewhere in between that mess full of questions and confusion--this could be a good read. Even if you don't have any stakes in transgender, lesbian, or feminist issues, the book is also somewhat intended for people outside of the communities to learn and understand. I think there might be points where jargon is just sort of assumed to be understood.
Ultimately it was an alright book but not really a pleasurable read.
All that being said, this is the first book I've read to completion in a while and amidst trying to read multiple books at once. So take that into consideration when sifting through my review. And despite my dislikes on this anthology, I recommend it!
If you're a trans man confused about transition, questioning your gender as a cis lesbian, or somewhere in between that mess full of questions and confusion--this could be a good read. Even if you don't have any stakes in transgender, lesbian, or feminist issues, the book is also somewhat intended for people outside of the communities to learn and understand. I think there might be points where jargon is just sort of assumed to be understood.
Ultimately it was an alright book but not really a pleasurable read.
helmagnusdottir's review
3.0
Some great stuff, but a lot of it was inconsistent. I think it's hard to write for other trans folks, but was still bummed by how many of these dudes opted for the most cliched language. Notable standouts were folks like Cooper, who are both writers, and men with a depth of understanding of their own lives, and their place inside spaces and communities. This book also seems to imagine (with a few exceptions) a world without trans women, except when it's quoting some of the famous trans women who have written about gender. It even goes so far as to incorrectly explain transmisogyny as something that can apply to trans guys too. Oh well. Not sure if I'd generally recommend this, but if you're a theory dork nonfiction writing transsexual like me, maybe it's interesting?
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