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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
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:
Yes
A powerful work of speculative fiction that explores what womanhood looks like across a spectrum of gender identities. I really enjoyed the ambiguous ending. It leaves the choice up to the reader as they explore what they might have done.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm conflicted.
On the one hand, I think this book is a must-read for its explorations of gender, queerness and family. The emotion conveyed through Reese, Ames and Katrina's characters is raw, powerful and open. I found all three character equal parts fascinating and infuriating.
On the other, the writing itself is indulgent and extravagant in a way that affected the pace and experience of reading it. The internal monologues of the characters, particularly Reese in all her self-righteousness, felt far fetched and not believable. I don't feel like I'm the best placed person to explore the misogynistic tendency to describe cos women and the way they "confirm their gender through violence", however I do feel this tarred my reading experience somewhat.
On the one hand, I think this book is a must-read for its explorations of gender, queerness and family. The emotion conveyed through Reese, Ames and Katrina's characters is raw, powerful and open. I found all three character equal parts fascinating and infuriating.
On the other, the writing itself is indulgent and extravagant in a way that affected the pace and experience of reading it. The internal monologues of the characters, particularly Reese in all her self-righteousness, felt far fetched and not believable. I don't feel like I'm the best placed person to explore the misogynistic tendency to describe cos women and the way they "confirm their gender through violence", however I do feel this tarred my reading experience somewhat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Violence
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Racism
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was so highly recommended. I was excited to read it, but was somewhat disappointed...
The story concept is interesting. It comes together at the end, but the narrative feels disjointed. Some of the language seems a bit outdated for when it was written. But what makes this book challeging to me is the somewhat myopic portrayal of the characters, that makes being trans seem sad and disappointing. But then again, the portrayal of cis characters is disappointing and stereotyped too. I would have loved to see some character development to make this story believable. But, the story focused so much on the characters' histories, that we never got to see them navigate the story we were wanting to read with any depth.
Some scenes were fun read, but this book as a whole was underwhelming.
The story concept is interesting. It comes together at the end, but the narrative feels disjointed. Some of the language seems a bit outdated for when it was written. But what makes this book challeging to me is the somewhat myopic portrayal of the characters, that makes being trans seem sad and disappointing. But then again, the portrayal of cis characters is disappointing and stereotyped too. I would have loved to see some character development to make this story believable. But, the story focused so much on the characters' histories, that we never got to see them navigate the story we were wanting to read with any depth.
Some scenes were fun read, but this book as a whole was underwhelming.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read the whole piece with anxious mind until I had to finish it in one sitting. The book in itself is deeply polarizing what with the whole detransition topic and futhermore about transphobia and feminity in trans community. The characters were deeply fleshed out in their own personal terms, they were realisitic and flawed, just how they should've been. I loved it!
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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
challenging
informative
reflective
"They are together, and miles from each other, their thoughts turning to themselves, then turning to the baby, each in her own way contemplating how her tenuous rendition of womanhood has become dependent upon the existence of this little person, who is not yet, and yet may not be."
2.5/5. it's fine. i find the trans discourse to be extremely eye-opening but i feel like it lacks the kindness that i initially craved. also torrey used a lot of descriptors and i think it really messed with the flow of the book. anyways, i like amy's story and i love reading his struggle with shame and womanhood and fatherhood. he's awesome, i don't know. it makes me sad that he was treated like a punching bag from both katrina and reese. i wish we could just love each other.
2.5/5. it's fine. i find the trans discourse to be extremely eye-opening but i feel like it lacks the kindness that i initially craved. also torrey used a lot of descriptors and i think it really messed with the flow of the book. anyways, i like amy's story and i love reading his struggle with shame and womanhood and fatherhood. he's awesome, i don't know. it makes me sad that he was treated like a punching bag from both katrina and reese. i wish we could just love each other.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes