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libraryoflanelle's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
It's taken me a minute to gather my thoughts on this book: ‘A Life in Trans Activism’, partly due to fatigue, but mainly because it's one of those reads that leaves you speechless and demands some time to marinate.
This book is a perfect example of the importance of reading stories that are outside of our own lived experience. Revathi's journey as a trans woman, written down and shared with us as shared with Nandini Murali, gives us an incredible insight into a world many of us may not know much about. For example, I personally had only ever heard the word 'Hijra' in passing but had never taken the time to research further.
Within these pages, Revathi shares not only her own experience as a trans woman, including her life in the Hijra community and in life long activism, but also dedicates a significant portion to amplifying the voices of her trans masc siblings, providing them with a platform often stolen from them.
Delving deep into the intricacies of the Hijra community, Revathi shares the nuances and trauma of her upbringing, her navigation of coming out and transitioning, and her relentless struggle for safety and recognition as the woman she knows herself to be. Revathi places all of this within the wider context of societal norms and expectations, leaving the reader with what feels like a rounded image of a culture that perhaps is foreign to many.
I had a lump in my throat for the majority of the book but am so happy to have read it during the #TransRightsReadathon. I can't put into words how much respect and gratitude I have for Revathi and the other people she introduces us to. Their resilience shines through, truly illustrating the importance and power of both smaller and larger scale activism within Revathi’s own culture in India and beyond.
A heads up, due to its subject matter, this book does not shy away from heavy topics, so make sure to check CWs/TWs to keep yourself safe. If you find yourself in the right headspace, I cannot recommend this book enough.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Colonisation, Death, Rape, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Outing, Suicide, Transphobia, Abandonment, Deadnaming, Drug use, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, and Suicidal thoughts
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