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memydogandbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book emotionally destroyed me!!
[AD: kinda because my friend got an ARC from the publisher and she passed it on to me! Publisher is 4th Estate]
SYNOPSIS:
A coming-of-age story about a transgender woman in working-class Madrid. The protagonist navigates her identity and the harsh realities of her surroundings, finding solace in a vibrant downtown community but facing violence and difficult choices.
MY THOUGHTS:
- Elegantly written and translated
- Poignant, heartbreaking and hopefully
- Beautiful exploration of identity, belonging and sisterhood
- Devasting but there is hope, I promise
- This book had me on an emotional rollercoaster and will sit with me for a long time after reading!
- A must-read, PLEASE pre-order, add it to your TBR or request if from you library.
[AD: kinda because my friend got an ARC from the publisher and she passed it on to me! Publisher is 4th Estate]
SYNOPSIS:
A coming-of-age story about a transgender woman in working-class Madrid. The protagonist navigates her identity and the harsh realities of her surroundings, finding solace in a vibrant downtown community but facing violence and difficult choices.
MY THOUGHTS:
- Elegantly written and translated
- Poignant, heartbreaking and hopefully
- Beautiful exploration of identity, belonging and sisterhood
- Devasting but there is hope, I promise
- This book had me on an emotional rollercoaster and will sit with me for a long time after reading!
- A must-read, PLEASE pre-order, add it to your TBR or request if from you library.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Violence, and Transphobia
ramreadsagain's review against another edition
challenging
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? No
4.5
Before you get the chance to define yourself, others trace your outline with their prejudices and their aggressions.
Thank you to the publisher for this advance review copy via NetGalley.
This is an incredibly emotional and moving coming of age story of a young trans girl growing up in a working class area of Madrid in the 80's and 90's, with the rippling effects of Franco's dictatorship still felt in the culture and attitudes of the population.
The translation is phenomenal, while still feeling so Spanish. I grew up in Spain and seeing depictions of the culture I'm familiar with was weirdly comforting in a way that I often don't get from books set in the UK.
The book is truly beautiful, a love letter to women, queer family and community, but also a book with a lot of pain and anger within it. I really loved it and will think about it often.
Read during the 2024 Trans Rights Readathon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Misogyny
minniepauline's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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
4.0
This book is a beautiful portrait of a time and a place, as well as being a beautiful and painful coming-of-age story. The unnamed protagonist is a little girl in a little boy’s body, who watches and learns from the women around her. Five at the beginning of the novel, as she grows and her body develops her experience of her life begins to split more firmly into two pieces. In telling her story, she describes the people along the way who have helped her to define herself, either by giving her examples of ways she’d like to be, or by pushing her firmly back into her closet, as she says. She is a keen observer, and her language, poetic and lyrical at first, becomes more clear as she becomes more clear in herself.
I feel that I’ve gained a lot of insight into what it’s like to grow up as a trans woman. Especially in a working-class neighborhood in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s. As painful as it is, at times, to read, it’s never over-the-top or gratuitous, but simply feels true.
There is no plot here, and I think a little bit of one might have helped me to feel less bogged-down toward the middle of the novel, but the beginning and end make up for it.
Thank you to HarperVia for allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel.
I feel that I’ve gained a lot of insight into what it’s like to grow up as a trans woman. Especially in a working-class neighborhood in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s. As painful as it is, at times, to read, it’s never over-the-top or gratuitous, but simply feels true.
There is no plot here, and I think a little bit of one might have helped me to feel less bogged-down toward the middle of the novel, but the beginning and end make up for it.
Thank you to HarperVia for allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Hate crime
torismazarine's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Deadnaming, Grief, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Alcohol, Cancer, Addiction, Classism, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness
Minor: Rape, Lesbophobia, and Murder
isabelvegga's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.25
La contraportada del libro describe la novela como «cruda y feroz pero también poética y conmovedora» y no puedo estar más de acuerdo.
💙
“Mi máscara era una tras la que esconderse, una de vergüenza y miedo, una que a esa edad no debería necesitar, siquiera conocer.”
“Que la violencia machista se dispensa con independencia de lo que hagamos o dejemos de hacer las mujeres era algo que todavía no había aprendido.”
“Eran pequeñas afirmaciones que se iban acumulando y que parecían describir a otra criatura que no era yo. (…) las recibía como avisos de la vergüenza que supondría negarlas.”
“Me di cuenta de que el miedo me afectaba de un modo particular, manteniéndome en un estado perpetuo de inmadurez por alejarme de toda experiencia significativa.”
“Nunca llegué a entender por qué la diversión de unos pasaba por encima de la humillación de otros.”
💚
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer and Suicidal thoughts
soparosa's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Man, i don't like rating anything with 5 stars but this book definitely deserves it. Read it if you're in the mood for crying, if you are trans or know someone who is, if you're interested in Madrid, if you're currently making an effort to see a light at the end of the tunnel, or if you just feel like it. Any reason is a good reason to read it because whatever your motive is; it will speak to you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence, and Transphobia
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Deadnaming, and Sexual content
Minor: Self harm, Ableism, Dysphoria, and Domestic abuse
josecrg's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming and Hate crime
jo_an's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Transphobia
danidamico's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Quedé absolutamente enamorada de este libro. Es una novela compuesta por diversos fragmentos y escenas de la vida de nuestra narradora, una mujer trans que creció en el barrio obrero de San Blas (Madrid) durante los años 80s y 90s. Nos va llevando de la mano, nos invita a recorrer sus experiencias en distintos momentos de su vida. La narradora ya sabe desde muy pequeña que es mujer, pero debe atravesar un proceso de muchos años hasta poder aceptarse a sí misma y mostrarse abiertamente ante un mundo que puede ser tremendamente cruel. Algo que amé de la novela, además del hermoso estilo de la escritura y la sensibilidad que transmite, es el hecho de que es diferente a otras historias trans - travestis que he leído. En primer lugar, trata sobre una mujer trans a la que le cuesta muchísimo poder aceptarse, algo que siento que no se ve tanto en libros, series o películas, y por otro lado, si bien el libro tiene sus momentos tristes, evita caer en la tragedia total. La mala costumbre es un libro muy luminoso que elige terminar en una nota de esperanza, no sin un gusto agridulce, pero definitivamente lejos lejísimo de la miseria definitiva, de lo desgarrador sin salida. Sufrimos junto a la narradora, pero sabemos que va a estar bien. La abrazamos en su dolor y ella también nos da algo a nosotros, nos rodea con su calidez. Nos comparte su historia.
Alana Portero escribe con una pasión y una vulnerabilidad increíbles, logra mezclar un universo poético y mítico con la vida coloquial del barrio. Y este texto no es sólo sobre la protagonista, esta es otra cualidad preciosa que tiene: un espíritu colectivo. También es sobre las Margaritas, las Eugenias, las Paulas, los Antonios y los Jays.
Alana Portero escribe con una pasión y una vulnerabilidad increíbles, logra mezclar un universo poético y mítico con la vida coloquial del barrio. Y este texto no es sólo sobre la protagonista, esta es otra cualidad preciosa que tiene: un espíritu colectivo. También es sobre las Margaritas, las Eugenias, las Paulas, los Antonios y los Jays.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Hate crime, and Incest
Moderate: Cancer and Police brutality
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