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brigade_of_beans's review against another edition
It was too triggering, lacking any form of content warnings for very graphic discussions (at least in audiobook form). At 80% in almost all stories are the same experience of hypersexual awakening, which is repetitive and feels like it is intentionally ignoring those of us who are queer with different experiences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Transphobia
katetay69's review
4.0
READS LIKE A WARM HUG ON A COLD DAY
Another great book in the Growing Up series!
Growing Up Disabled in Australia got a 5 because I had a lot to learn and I found a higher number of the stories engaging. Whereas I already have a fairly sound knowledge base of LGBTQ issues. I also found some of the stories were too similar but it was still a 'cant put it down' kind of book. I do wish there were more Intersex and Asexual stories because they are the ones I see the least of in popular culture. I was expecting to have more ah ha moments! So I did feel a bit hungry for more.
Some of my favourite chapters were of course on bisexuality;
HOW TO BE BOTH-Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen:
"I only ever saw myself with a man. I came to realise this as a symptom of internalised homophobia"
"I realised I wasn't straight but felt pressured to force my romantic life to be binary".
"I could be soft behind closed doors, perform a role I'd never known before, but in public, in a relationship, I had to seem like I was straight"
"Sometime I feel like I don't know how to be bisexual, as if there's a proper way, as if there's any milestone I have to reach before I'm allowed to carry the card"
ROB, AND QUEER FAMILY - Nayuka Gorrie on hookup culture:
"Something we don't necessarily talk about is that it can be much easier to treat men like they are disposable" "At least with men there seemed to be a mutual disrespect - no one expected to see each other again. It was easy to get sex from men, even if it was uneventful".
ST LOUIS - Oliver Reeson
" I want to tell people all the time ; there is no deadline for growing up , no submission date for your life's narrative. You can work it out now or later. You can reveal yourself in parts, or as a whole, and make revisions". "How could I grow up as a non-binary person when I did not even know the concept until I was already an adult"?
BOOBS, RAGS and JUDY BLUME - Phoebe Hart
- Phoebe talks about being a late bloomer, they wonder when they will get their period as all their friends have them. They ask their mum and she says, "Phoebe you'll never get your period because you don't have a uterus". Phoebe is told not to tell anyone (theyre 12 when this happens). This is when they first find out they are Intersex. This story reminded me how Intersex is shrouded in secrecy and their is so much shame and stigma surrounding it. I would love to see more representation of Intersex people's stories.
THE MOST NATURAL OF THINGS - Justine Hyde
I laughed so hard reading about them having sex in a backyard and getting caught by the neighbour, and then finishing off in a water bed and then discovering there was dog vomit on their arms. Too funny.
BINARY SCHOOL - Roz Bellamy
Roz talks about prayers in Jewish school, I don't want to shit on religion but I was a bit shocked the boys morning prayer was 'blessed you are god, that you did not make me a woman' and the girls was 'blessed are you, god, that you made me according to your will'. There is some serious gender dynamics to unpack here.
WHY I'VE STOPPED COMING OUT TO MY MUM - Vivian Quynh Pham
Vivian talks about how there was no word for girl that is my romantic partner in Vietnamese. This reminded me of my privileges'. It serves as a reminder to me that language is so important and how difficult it can be with the absence of it. She talks about how being a minority and coming out, the closet can be the safest place to be.
MEINMASHA - Atul Joshi
" I became a slut, I figured there was wisdom in numbers. And there was; those years showed me that we're all different colours, sizes, shapes. It was a revelation I enthusiastically embraces, and much of the shame melted away" I love and agree with this.
JACK AND JILL AND ME - Stephanie Convery
"The truth is, being bisexual means being invisible, especially if you are in a monogamous relationship, whether you paint yourself rainbow or a white picket fence".
Another great book in the Growing Up series!
Growing Up Disabled in Australia got a 5 because I had a lot to learn and I found a higher number of the stories engaging. Whereas I already have a fairly sound knowledge base of LGBTQ issues. I also found some of the stories were too similar but it was still a 'cant put it down' kind of book. I do wish there were more Intersex and Asexual stories because they are the ones I see the least of in popular culture. I was expecting to have more ah ha moments! So I did feel a bit hungry for more.
Some of my favourite chapters were of course on bisexuality;
HOW TO BE BOTH-Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen:
"I only ever saw myself with a man. I came to realise this as a symptom of internalised homophobia"
"I realised I wasn't straight but felt pressured to force my romantic life to be binary".
"I could be soft behind closed doors, perform a role I'd never known before, but in public, in a relationship, I had to seem like I was straight"
"Sometime I feel like I don't know how to be bisexual, as if there's a proper way, as if there's any milestone I have to reach before I'm allowed to carry the card"
ROB, AND QUEER FAMILY - Nayuka Gorrie on hookup culture:
"Something we don't necessarily talk about is that it can be much easier to treat men like they are disposable" "At least with men there seemed to be a mutual disrespect - no one expected to see each other again. It was easy to get sex from men, even if it was uneventful".
ST LOUIS - Oliver Reeson
" I want to tell people all the time ; there is no deadline for growing up , no submission date for your life's narrative. You can work it out now or later. You can reveal yourself in parts, or as a whole, and make revisions". "How could I grow up as a non-binary person when I did not even know the concept until I was already an adult"?
BOOBS, RAGS and JUDY BLUME - Phoebe Hart
- Phoebe talks about being a late bloomer, they wonder when they will get their period as all their friends have them. They ask their mum and she says, "Phoebe you'll never get your period because you don't have a uterus". Phoebe is told not to tell anyone (theyre 12 when this happens). This is when they first find out they are Intersex. This story reminded me how Intersex is shrouded in secrecy and their is so much shame and stigma surrounding it. I would love to see more representation of Intersex people's stories.
THE MOST NATURAL OF THINGS - Justine Hyde
I laughed so hard reading about them having sex in a backyard and getting caught by the neighbour, and then finishing off in a water bed and then discovering there was dog vomit on their arms. Too funny.
BINARY SCHOOL - Roz Bellamy
Roz talks about prayers in Jewish school, I don't want to shit on religion but I was a bit shocked the boys morning prayer was 'blessed you are god, that you did not make me a woman' and the girls was 'blessed are you, god, that you made me according to your will'. There is some serious gender dynamics to unpack here.
WHY I'VE STOPPED COMING OUT TO MY MUM - Vivian Quynh Pham
Vivian talks about how there was no word for girl that is my romantic partner in Vietnamese. This reminded me of my privileges'. It serves as a reminder to me that language is so important and how difficult it can be with the absence of it. She talks about how being a minority and coming out, the closet can be the safest place to be.
MEINMASHA - Atul Joshi
" I became a slut, I figured there was wisdom in numbers. And there was; those years showed me that we're all different colours, sizes, shapes. It was a revelation I enthusiastically embraces, and much of the shame melted away" I love and agree with this.
JACK AND JILL AND ME - Stephanie Convery
"The truth is, being bisexual means being invisible, especially if you are in a monogamous relationship, whether you paint yourself rainbow or a white picket fence".
upbeatmick's review
4.0
Having a range of different stories and storytellers was a truly lovely experience. Plenty of favourites in this.
alyskarstark's review
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Listened to the audiobook, read by various authors.
stevenjpitt's review
Quotes:
• “The gift of being queer is in the close contact it gives you with the nature of identity, the great many possibilities for becoming and for telling stories.”
• “You can reveal yourself in parts, or as a whole, and make revisions. For better or for worse, sooner or later, life conspires to reveal you to yourself, and this is growing up.”
• “Those many Christians who still oppose sex education use the rhetoric of intimacy, innocence and faith. What they’re fundamentally about is cultivating shame.”
• “Growing up queer is questioning how you see the world - because we are repeatedly shown it is their world, not ours.”
• “So do what I am still learning to do: be honest about what you want. Be open to loving and to being loved. You’re part of something special; get here as quick as you can.”
• “The word queer [is] like a question, a question mark, a reminder. I’ve always asked questions. Have driven myself halfmad with them. I embrace the word queer. It’s a query, a reminder to ask: who are you? who might you become? I hope I don’t get to the end of that question before I die.
• “Queer is middle ground, blurred boundaries, somewhere a productive discussion might be had instead of a slogan-shouting match. Come in, let’s talk, let’s try to figure something out.”
• “The gift of being queer is in the close contact it gives you with the nature of identity, the great many possibilities for becoming and for telling stories.”
• “You can reveal yourself in parts, or as a whole, and make revisions. For better or for worse, sooner or later, life conspires to reveal you to yourself, and this is growing up.”
• “Those many Christians who still oppose sex education use the rhetoric of intimacy, innocence and faith. What they’re fundamentally about is cultivating shame.”
• “Growing up queer is questioning how you see the world - because we are repeatedly shown it is their world, not ours.”
• “So do what I am still learning to do: be honest about what you want. Be open to loving and to being loved. You’re part of something special; get here as quick as you can.”
• “The word queer [is] like a question, a question mark, a reminder. I’ve always asked questions. Have driven myself halfmad with them. I embrace the word queer. It’s a query, a reminder to ask: who are you? who might you become? I hope I don’t get to the end of that question before I die.
• “Queer is middle ground, blurred boundaries, somewhere a productive discussion might be had instead of a slogan-shouting match. Come in, let’s talk, let’s try to figure something out.”
sanmeow's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
lovely collection of essays about the queer experience. i did not grow up in australia nor do i have anything to do with it, but i am queer, so yeah this was relatable at times. definitely needed trigger warnings, though.