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Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
5 reviews
zydecovivo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I first saw this book on Goodreads. I believe it was recommended after finishing a different LGBTQ historical fiction book. While I was starting to write off all historical romance books due to my boredom with the genre, Most Ardently has given me hope to keep trying.
As the title specifies, the book basically follows the premise of Pride & Prejudice. However, our narrator is Oliver, a trans man struggling to find his way in Regency society while still in the closet. I think this layer of complexity is what I needed, both to reinvigorate my interest in historical romance and to better enjoy Pride & Prejudice. Basically all of my dislikes of the source material were resolved. This includes: Lydia being forced to marry Wickham, Mr. Bennett seeming uncaring & aloof towards his children, Elizabeth never really spending time with Darcy before “falling in love”, and Mr. Collins and Wickham never facing any repercussions. All of these are fixed. In fact, the Wickham/Lydia subplot is basically entirely removed (thank goodness). I do think the resolution and ending came a bit quickly, and there wasn’t really a resolution as far as how Oliver and Darcy will continue their relationship. But it’s still a historical romance, so who cares?
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and think it would be a great discussion to compare the two stories in a classroom setting. I’m now going to try more of the Remixed Classics series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming
Moderate: Misogyny, Body shaming, Homophobia, Dysphoria, and Transphobia
novella42's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-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? No
4.75
This might be the most intense and effective depiction of gender dysphoria and euphoria I've ever read as a cis person.
I read and loved A Lady for A Duke, an original love story with a transfemme protagonist who used the chaos of Waterloo to escape her old life. That book had many of the same elements of this one, and I don't suppose it's fair to compare the very different stories. But there was something especially effective about setting this in the framework of a classic that gave it an extra kick.
There's just something about writing this particular story within that of a familiar, famous character in a time period where gender roles were even more rigid than they are today. It was powerful to read the dysphoria and euphoria of Oliver's internal experience, set against the backdrop of all our expectations that come with the story of Pride and Prejudice.
Jane Austen's version of Elizabeth Bennett has become a very particular kind of role model for femininity and for a certain kind of feminist, and that framework provided a kind of fuel to the fire of this story. Over the course of the book I became acutely aware of nuances of my own social programming and emotional baggage I brought to the story. It was a relief to acknowledge them and let them go.
Oliver's discomfort and constant pain was visceral but gracefully depicted. Seeing his happiness at even the smallest affirmation was a profound relief and a joy to read.
Highly recommend this.
I read and loved A Lady for A Duke, an original love story with a transfemme protagonist who used the chaos of Waterloo to escape her old life. That book had many of the same elements of this one, and I don't suppose it's fair to compare the very different stories. But there was something especially effective about setting this in the framework of a classic that gave it an extra kick.
There's just something about writing this particular story within that of a familiar, famous character in a time period where gender roles were even more rigid than they are today. It was powerful to read the dysphoria and euphoria of Oliver's internal experience, set against the backdrop of all our expectations that come with the story of Pride and Prejudice.
Jane Austen's version of Elizabeth Bennett has become a very particular kind of role model for femininity and for a certain kind of feminist, and that framework provided a kind of fuel to the fire of this story. Over the course of the book I became acutely aware of nuances of my own social programming and emotional baggage I brought to the story. It was a relief to acknowledge them and let them go.
Oliver's discomfort and constant pain was visceral but gracefully depicted. Seeing his happiness at even the smallest affirmation was a profound relief and a joy to read.
Highly recommend this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Deadnaming, Body horror, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Transphobia
Moderate: Classism, Suicidal thoughts, and Outing
Minor: Bullying
jneverland's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Outing, Body shaming, Transphobia, Dysphoria, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
koredayaddams42's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is one of the best books I’ve read all year and perhaps within my entire life. The remix of the historical and classic fiction with queer themes and topics without the pretentiousness of classics or historical fiction. The authors take on the characters is quite amazing and hope inspiring, including their forward and afterward that connects the story to both their own life and historical accuracy when it comes to queerness and LGBTQIA+ people. This is definitely a great read and if one is interested in historical fiction, classics, queer and LGBTQIA+ stories/characters, sociocultural hegemonies and challenging them, love, hope and courage in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, then this is a good fit as a read for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Homophobia
Transphobia, homophobia, and body dysmorphia are the main triggers one might find in this book. However the author approaches these with the care and compassion that can be found with someone who has gone through the issues themselves, and they even say explicitly the same in the forward.justinekorson's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this audiobook!
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
If you love Pride and Prejudice (2005) and you're part of the LGBTQIA+ community then I'm certain you will love this story!!! I may be biased because I love every Pride and Prejudice story that I've ever read (so far at least) but each iteration is so stunning and different, while at the same time honoring the source material, that it's hard not to love it.
Oliver and Darcy are perfect together and I loved how strong and brave they both were to move about in a world that isn't kind to queer people. I have to admit that I was very teary eyed during much of the bottom half of the story, especially with the scene between Mrs. Bennet and Oliver.
I loved that Wickham AND Mr. Collins were both the villains in the end and were rightfully humiliated. In some renditions of the story, they never seem to meet the full consequences of their actions. I was also very glad that Wickham didn't end up marrying Kitty as he normally does.
I was looking forward to Lydia, Kitty and Mary's reactions to meeting their brother but that wasn't part of the story unfortunately. I like to imagine that they were giggling and squealing and generally very excited. I also thought Charlotte might make one final appearance to reprimand Mr. Collins but she didn't which I guess is fine in the end.
Overall I loved this story and it's characters and everyone's easy acceptance of Oliver. It was beautiful and heartwarming and I can't wait to read more Remixed Classics/read more novels from Gabe Cole Novoa!!
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
If you love Pride and Prejudice (2005) and you're part of the LGBTQIA+ community then I'm certain you will love this story!!! I may be biased because I love every Pride and Prejudice story that I've ever read (so far at least) but each iteration is so stunning and different, while at the same time honoring the source material, that it's hard not to love it.
Oliver and Darcy are perfect together and I loved how strong and brave they both were to move about in a world that isn't kind to queer people. I have to admit that I was very teary eyed during much of the bottom half of the story, especially with the scene between Mrs. Bennet and Oliver.
I loved that Wickham AND Mr. Collins were both the villains in the end and were rightfully humiliated. In some renditions of the story, they never seem to meet the full consequences of their actions. I was also very glad that Wickham didn't end up marrying Kitty as he normally does.
I was looking forward to Lydia, Kitty and Mary's reactions to meeting their brother but that wasn't part of the story unfortunately. I like to imagine that they were giggling and squealing and generally very excited. I also thought Charlotte might make one final appearance to reprimand Mr. Collins but she didn't which I guess is fine in the end.
Overall I loved this story and it's characters and everyone's easy acceptance of Oliver. It was beautiful and heartwarming and I can't wait to read more Remixed Classics/read more novels from Gabe Cole Novoa!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Transphobia, Sexism, Homophobia, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Outing
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