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happylilkt's review against another edition
4.0
I'm rating this 4 stars but that doesn't mean you should read this. Let me explain:
Ortberg (now Lavery) is ridiculously smart and witty in ways that blow my mind. I wish I knew him in real life and only aspire to have his knowledge of classics and ability to satirize them so humorously (though admittedly the humor is at times too crass for my taste). Also there were times I *thought* we (Daniel and I) were in the middle of a humorous, satirical, self-deprecating essay together when I would realize there was actually something profound, spiritual, and sometimes very very sad underpinning all of his humor.
As for the essays themselves....
This collection is mostly about the author's (self-described) rapid onset dysphoria / gender transition (FtM) mashed with the Bible +/or a smattering of literary classics/pop culture references (esp. William Shatner and T4T relationship theories). I say this because this should give you a good idea of whether this book is for you. (My guess is it's not. It's not really for me either, but I read it anyway. But if it is for you, then you are in for a delight. More information on whether it's for you at the end of this rambling review).
Having studied the Bible as a spiritual text for most of my life, the mash up of biblical stories with the author's trans-thoughts/feelings was very interesting to me. I could see some readers being overwhelmed if they are not familiar with the Bible or if they typically read it literally. For others I expect they will be somewhat offended by its reimagination through a trans lens. I wasn't sure myself at times, but I enjoyed the exploration overall and am still processing many of the ideas.
There were a few sections that were truly undecipherable / too experimental for me. This doesn't happen very often to me but it's good to be humbled :)
If you are a lit-geek (and somewhat familiar with the Bible and Greek classics) and interested in one individual's experience (ideas & feelings -wise, not the actual medical/social steps) of transitioning, then I think you would enjoy this collection.
Contains: Profanity and sexual humor, Religious satire that some may find offensive.
Ortberg (now Lavery) is ridiculously smart and witty in ways that blow my mind. I wish I knew him in real life and only aspire to have his knowledge of classics and ability to satirize them so humorously (though admittedly the humor is at times too crass for my taste). Also there were times I *thought* we (Daniel and I) were in the middle of a humorous, satirical, self-deprecating essay together when I would realize there was actually something profound, spiritual, and sometimes very very sad underpinning all of his humor.
As for the essays themselves....
This collection is mostly about the author's (self-described) rapid onset dysphoria / gender transition (FtM) mashed with the Bible +/or a smattering of literary classics/pop culture references (esp. William Shatner and T4T relationship theories). I say this because this should give you a good idea of whether this book is for you. (My guess is it's not. It's not really for me either, but I read it anyway. But if it is for you, then you are in for a delight. More information on whether it's for you at the end of this rambling review).
Having studied the Bible as a spiritual text for most of my life, the mash up of biblical stories with the author's trans-thoughts/feelings was very interesting to me. I could see some readers being overwhelmed if they are not familiar with the Bible or if they typically read it literally. For others I expect they will be somewhat offended by its reimagination through a trans lens. I wasn't sure myself at times, but I enjoyed the exploration overall and am still processing many of the ideas.
There were a few sections that were truly undecipherable / too experimental for me. This doesn't happen very often to me but it's good to be humbled :)
If you are a lit-geek (and somewhat familiar with the Bible and Greek classics) and interested in one individual's experience (ideas & feelings -wise, not the actual medical/social steps) of transitioning, then I think you would enjoy this collection.
Contains: Profanity and sexual humor, Religious satire that some may find offensive.
nookadri's review against another edition
4.25
This book called me out in ways I was not expecting. The author really knows how to portray the struggle and inner turmoil of making such a big decision and at the sometime making you laugh. It definitely helped me identify my own fears and feelings around T. Foi terapêutico mesmo :D
aleatorizzy's review against another edition
5.0
Daniel M Lavery it seems I’ve grown quite fond of you tho there are no sexual urges or desires you come to me as a long lost friend whom I once picked apples with in papa’s orchard...
This book made me feel like I was having a strange and wonderful conversation with a friend with all the pop culture dissections and tongue-in-cheek reflection. The sarcastic personas of Aphrodite, Lord Byron, etc go from scathing to desperate, and I was constantly surprised by the care behind the jokes and impressions. There's a constant sense of searching for descriptors and vocabulary to make sense of situations and experiences that was refreshing; you get the feeling that you Know where Lavery is, the way you might Know yourself but now have trouble articulating exactly how you got there. Lavery does this through memories and the analysis of media and vignettes I can only call literary collages all mixed together in a beautiful little stew. I have rarely laughed so much as a book that then turns around and knocks me to my knees with emotion. I can't stop thinking about this quote, from a section where Lavery takes on persona and it starts so satirical, so onstage performace that when it dissolves into this kind of desperation it overtook me:
"I mean, if I were thirty years younger—if I were twenty five years younger—if I were eighteen years younger—God, if I were just ten years younger—if I were a year and a day younger—if I were a month younger—if you'd asked me just five minutes ago, four and a half even, if I'd picked up on the first ring instead of the third, I'd transition. Hell, I'd transition. Oh my God, I wish I could transition. Ask me again, but sooner. Come back yesterday. Come back a week ago. What good are you to me now, when I'm—this? Where were you when there was still summer in my heart? Come back a month ago, a decade, but come back to before I had to forgive you. Just come back and ask again; I'll wait if it takes forever this time."
This book made me feel like I was having a strange and wonderful conversation with a friend with all the pop culture dissections and tongue-in-cheek reflection. The sarcastic personas of Aphrodite, Lord Byron, etc go from scathing to desperate, and I was constantly surprised by the care behind the jokes and impressions. There's a constant sense of searching for descriptors and vocabulary to make sense of situations and experiences that was refreshing; you get the feeling that you Know where Lavery is, the way you might Know yourself but now have trouble articulating exactly how you got there. Lavery does this through memories and the analysis of media and vignettes I can only call literary collages all mixed together in a beautiful little stew. I have rarely laughed so much as a book that then turns around and knocks me to my knees with emotion. I can't stop thinking about this quote, from a section where Lavery takes on persona and it starts so satirical, so onstage performace that when it dissolves into this kind of desperation it overtook me:
"I mean, if I were thirty years younger—if I were twenty five years younger—if I were eighteen years younger—God, if I were just ten years younger—if I were a year and a day younger—if I were a month younger—if you'd asked me just five minutes ago, four and a half even, if I'd picked up on the first ring instead of the third, I'd transition. Hell, I'd transition. Oh my God, I wish I could transition. Ask me again, but sooner. Come back yesterday. Come back a week ago. What good are you to me now, when I'm—this? Where were you when there was still summer in my heart? Come back a month ago, a decade, but come back to before I had to forgive you. Just come back and ask again; I'll wait if it takes forever this time."
cocopopsmonkey's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
I hadn't realised I enjoyed this book until I was towards the end of it. A delightful retrospective on trans-ness, religion and the intersection of those in the authors life. The writing bounces from personal anecdotes to stylised retellings of myths and biblical verses, all of which are refreshing contrasts of previous chapters while seguing into each other neatly.
I recognise, sadly, that most memoirs will not be like this; this will be a treasured gem of a fictional/biographical blend.
I recognise, sadly, that most memoirs will not be like this; this will be a treasured gem of a fictional/biographical blend.
tildahlia's review against another edition
4.0
I can confidently say I am nowhere near as smart as Lavery, as truly so many of the references in this book (literally, biblical or otherwise) went right over my head but I nonetheless loved the humour and creativity of this book so much. He'd probably hate to know I loved the transition/memoir content the most - particularly his ambivalence around transition and identity as a man (loved the joke of trans men being men, but good). Lots of laugh out loud moments and furiously underlined passages. Danny Lavery is a gem.