Scan barcode
gethenians's review against another edition
5.0
hard to put into words how these stories made me feel, particularly as a transmasc person who has had considerable difficulty articulating my own relationship with such an important part of myself. i don't want to say that these stories made me feel "seen"--that simultaneously feels too simple, too trite, and also overly complicated. the connection i made with them felt almost instinctual; i don't know a better way to put it than that.
in particular, i wish i were eloquent enough to express how much i loved the connective tissue between time and transness in these stories--how both the passage of time and one's own transition are not linear journeys from point a to point b, but constantly evolving conversations and reflections. "rock jenny" is the most direct exploration of this, i think, but it threads throughout the anthology, particularly in the stories that with a focus on mother/son relationships ("in kind," the first story and undoubtedly my favorite, left me aching).
i would say more and say it better if it wasn't 3 in the morning, probably, but i'm still just sitting with these stories and feeling very happy that they exist. i have been trying to borrow more from libraries and this book was no exception, but i have a feeling that i will be purchasing my own copy sooner rather than later. if you want to support an absolutely exceptional trans writer, i suggest you consider doing the same.
in particular, i wish i were eloquent enough to express how much i loved the connective tissue between time and transness in these stories--how both the passage of time and one's own transition are not linear journeys from point a to point b, but constantly evolving conversations and reflections. "rock jenny" is the most direct exploration of this, i think, but it threads throughout the anthology, particularly in the stories that with a focus on mother/son relationships ("in kind," the first story and undoubtedly my favorite, left me aching).
i would say more and say it better if it wasn't 3 in the morning, probably, but i'm still just sitting with these stories and feeling very happy that they exist. i have been trying to borrow more from libraries and this book was no exception, but i have a feeling that i will be purchasing my own copy sooner rather than later. if you want to support an absolutely exceptional trans writer, i suggest you consider doing the same.
ghoulcrow's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bjlinard's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.5
pink_distro's review against another edition
4.0
geeezzz i loved this!! as the title implies, these tales bring together nature and transness, and it does so in such an honest way. it's not love letters using nature metaphors to wax poetic about trans mutuality and growth and etc (though those are nice too), its fables that totally embrace all parts of nature and transness!! the friendship, the loss, the weird, the magic, the joy, the fear, the anticipation, the humor, and above all the unknown. my favs were "rock jenny" and "archipelagos," but i found a lot in a lot of 'em.
i hope this book explodes into a whole mini genre of nature-trans-fiction. it also has me wanting to read more collections of short stories!! yall got any recs?
i hope this book explodes into a whole mini genre of nature-trans-fiction. it also has me wanting to read more collections of short stories!! yall got any recs?
rdebner's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mothernaturesbutch's review against another edition
3.0
some stand out stories for me were in kind & rock jenny. winter of men was painfully dull and long for me.
julesreadsallsorts's review against another edition
4.0
Weird. Wonderful. Confusing. Flashes of brilliance. Very visual and visceral.
Gosh, I just didn't know what to make of this book. Such a brilliantly unusal concept. I absolutely loved the theme of nature throughout and the descriptions of fauna and flora were delightful. I didn't care for the cringy weird parts of the book but I also think they make the book what it is - a brilliantly fantastical soup of evocative prose, beautiful nature scenes, folklorish storytelling and revolting creatures. Magical realism of transition stories!
An amazing discovery and a though-provoking read.
Gosh, I just didn't know what to make of this book. Such a brilliantly unusal concept. I absolutely loved the theme of nature throughout and the descriptions of fauna and flora were delightful. I didn't care for the cringy weird parts of the book but I also think they make the book what it is - a brilliantly fantastical soup of evocative prose, beautiful nature scenes, folklorish storytelling and revolting creatures. Magical realism of transition stories!
An amazing discovery and a though-provoking read.
nerhardt's review against another edition
5.0
Meant to be read somewhere beautiful, with soft light and trees and a river nearby. This book is full of all the grief love and hope that come with transitions. I love every word of it!
rshelley's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Short story collections are always hit or miss. Some of these stories are true works of beauty that capture something ephemeral and deeply complex about trans experiences, while others are bewildering, plodding, and never caught my attention. My favorite story was Rock Jenny. My least favorite was Moon Snail.