Reviews tagging 'Deadnaming'

Man o' War by Cory McCarthy

20 reviews

blakeandbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

What a raw, honest, gorgeous, heartbreaking, joyful, witty, beautiful exploration of authenticity, love, and self-exploration. McCarthy not only shows you River’s experiences, but you feel them as if they were your own. Following River from their high school to college years while discovering what makes them feel the most comfortable and authentically themselves was an experience I feel so grateful to have read. Working through and processing in real time pronouns, name change, dysphoria, and more felt so authentic and true to River’s character. Watching them discover such a full and authentic life was such a joy. River and Indy’s relationship, how they come together, fall apart, and find one another again, was so complicated and beautiful and messy. The ending of the book truly reminded me that there are books that are essential in this world, and I believe this is one of them.

The ending acknowledgements from McCarthy were so kind and left me emotional. Like River, Knowing that McCarthy is also an Arab-American, nonbinary trans person, who also swam competitively, was so incredible to know how important this story was to McCarthy and his experience.

Finally, E.R. Fightmaster did an outstanding job narrating this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Deadnaming, Sexual content, Self harm, Racism, and Acephobia/Arophobia

Minor: Medical content and Islamophobia

ashaberstroh's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective 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? It's complicated

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia, Outing, Deadnaming, and Dysphoria

felishacb's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? No

5.0

This might be the best fiction book I've read about a young person exploring and discovering their gender identity. Man o' War is an own voices tale from a transmasc nonbinary author who is Irish and Arab American. 

As a cis person who is "constantly exploring the evolution of my relationship to gender as a construct, and my own indentit(ies),"* I also think this book is a generous bridge offered to cis folks. 

Cis folks and conventional tropes of heteronormativity are referred to as  'dinosaurs' or 'the way of the dinosaurs' in this book, with familiarity, exhaustion, derision, and acceptance. I can see why people who are scared of removing boxes and barriers might find this scary, but trans people (and this book) make it very clear that you are invited to expand, too. Find out what lies beneath and between the labels you did not pick 

McCarthy doesn't only show, rather than tell you, River's story in Man O' War; McCarthy's words help the reader *feel* the story. 

The metaphor and parallels with marine biology and the man of war, specifically, offer an extra layer to understand the main character's story. McCarthy talks about how this piece helped illustrate the "cultural captivity" River feels being closeted, and how McCarthy felt growing up. 

One reason this book will stick with me is the ability that McCarthy has to show the fluidity and flexibility of gender and expression in an authentic, organic way for both Indy and River. (The best names, btw!). 

McCarthy also explores how River's Lebanese mother and background play into their life. There are discussion of race, Islamaphobia and colorism while still allowing River to exist as an individual who experiences life through a variety of lenses. 

*quote from Rebecca Minor

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Homophobia, and Transphobia

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, Outing, and Sexual content

Minor: Blood, Self harm, Medical content, Sexism, Racism, Islamophobia, Confinement, and Deadnaming

anarmandameg's review

dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad slow-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: Dysphoria, Grief, Bullying, and Deadnaming

Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Abandonment, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, and Mental illness

Minor: Toxic relationship

mattyb's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Dysphoria, and Transphobia

Moderate: Mental illness, Drug use, Sexual content, Racism, Acephobia/Arophobia, Grief, Islamophobia, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, and Pandemic/Epidemic

niararain's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Vomit, Dysphoria, Xenophobia, Racism, Outing, Sexual assault, Self harm, Biphobia, Sexual content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Transphobia, Sexual violence, Acephobia/Arophobia, Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Medical content, Body horror, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment

siriface's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming and Transphobia

libscote's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative 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

4.5

River McIntyre is a teen who is angry all the time and doesn't seem to quite know why. Over the course of the book their identity unfolds in a messy yet realistic way, charting a journey that is painful to witness at times (especially as River makes choices you know will hurt them). This story of searching for identity and living an authentic life will resonate with many teens.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Dysphoria

Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, Deadnaming, and Acephobia/Arophobia

arlangrey17's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional lighthearted 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

4.5

Cory's style is the one I like least of the two in Once and Future and I was a little wary going into this one, but I slowly got used to it over time in this book. It was raw and honest, and I related to River and their story so much. 

Also, more trans swimming books please!! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Transphobia

Moderate: Outing

Minor: Animal cruelty and Deadnaming

aromarrie's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-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? Yes

4.5

i loved this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Confinement, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia

Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, and Xenophobia