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198 reviews for:
At 30, I Realized I Had No Gender: Life Lessons from a 50-Year-Old After Two Decades of Self-Discovery
Shou Arai
3.35 AVERAGE
198 reviews for:
At 30, I Realized I Had No Gender: Life Lessons from a 50-Year-Old After Two Decades of Self-Discovery
Shou Arai
3.35 AVERAGE
This was a cute and easy-to-read autobiographical manga. Written and drawn by an intersex transgender Japanese person who uses he/him pronouns. He takes us through slice of life adventures throughout his journey of self discovery. The accounts are frank and honest, and don't shy away from hard topics like the difficulties of being trans in Japan, to taboo subjects like kinks. Japan's LGBT culture is both similar and different than Canada's, so this little book was educational and important in my own continuing learning and understanding of our international LGBT community.
Overall, I had a good time getting to know a fellow person with no gender and his simple but impactful stories of his life.
Overall, I had a good time getting to know a fellow person with no gender and his simple but impactful stories of his life.
fast-paced
Made me realize that I’ve never thought about the future and aging as a trans person, especially one that doesn’t fit into gender “roles” all that well, as much as I did when reading this book. It feels like most people, should they decide to stay somewhere in the middle, would ask the same questions Arai was asking, so in that sense, it was extremely valuable to see his tips and musings on gender presentation as he reached middle age. How should you dress, how would people perceive you and your much younger partner, what it would’ve looked like had you never transitioned, and so on.
I liked the book overall, but wish they explored the differences in dynamics and perspectives between Arai (trans & intersex) and his partner (cis gay man) a little more.
That’s okay, however, as the book still covered various subjects and situations ranging from some of Arai’s personal life skits to different “advice corner” questions from his trans readers and friends. They also interviewed another manga artist couple (one of whom has ADHD), so that was quite interesting — even though their works haven’t been translated into English yet.
The only downside for me personally was that the whole book is written in a 4-koma format, so if you are not used to the style or episodic storytelling (all stories are just 2-4 pages long), it might be somewhat difficult to concentrate on as you keep reading. But maybe that’s just my brainweirdness!
(Edit: it made me so relieved to see Arai’s partner being into plushies and all things cutesy even though he is 32 — means there is hope for me yet, hahah.)
I liked the book overall, but wish they explored the differences in dynamics and perspectives between Arai (trans & intersex) and his partner (cis gay man) a little more.
That’s okay, however, as the book still covered various subjects and situations ranging from some of Arai’s personal life skits to different “advice corner” questions from his trans readers and friends. They also interviewed another manga artist couple (one of whom has ADHD), so that was quite interesting — even though their works haven’t been translated into English yet.
The only downside for me personally was that the whole book is written in a 4-koma format, so if you are not used to the style or episodic storytelling (all stories are just 2-4 pages long), it might be somewhat difficult to concentrate on as you keep reading. But maybe that’s just my brainweirdness!
(Edit: it made me so relieved to see Arai’s partner being into plushies and all things cutesy even though he is 32 — means there is hope for me yet, hahah.)
informative
reflective
slow-paced
It wasn't quite what I expected. I didn't think the focus would lie so heavy on relationships. I thought it would be more day to day things but I guess being in a relationship is a normal day-to-day thing for most people. There was a lot of sexual stuff too, some of it had me raising my eyebrows but to each their own. There was some helpful stuff in this book though, things that I feel I could add to my toolbox.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infertility, Dysphoria
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
I did not like the storytelling style.
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
My first read-back-to-front manga.
I caught on to reading the various cells correctly, and was fascinated by the way the faces changed (reminded me of Speed Racer when the expostulating wide mouth just happened) even when they seemed out of step with the words.
The topics were interesting and the interview was, too.
I caught on to reading the various cells correctly, and was fascinated by the way the faces changed (reminded me of Speed Racer when the expostulating wide mouth just happened) even when they seemed out of step with the words.
The topics were interesting and the interview was, too.
informative
fast-paced
very funny book. age difference between the author and their partner gave me pause several times and there was one weird instance of a racist portrayal of an indian person that made me pause again. not to mention fatphobia… and … certain fetishes that i didn’t think were relevant. i was so confused why they ended the book talking about a couple w a 35 year old gap who’re into incest play LOL
i think it’s worth a read but yeah kinda weird spots here and there
i think it’s worth a read but yeah kinda weird spots here and there