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A review by inceptionistbooks
Frankissstein by Jeanette Winterson
2.0
This one is quite frustrating. It was certainly thought provoking. The parts focused on Mary are beautifully written, some lines you could cry over, and more over with empathy.
Then we come to Ry's parts. He deserved better. Every other character, even the so-called love interest, is just blatantly transphobic. At the beginning I thought it was done to point out how stupid it makes the character look, but then it just continues? Not a moment where even if one of them apologizes for it or at least someone who opposes them. So it is quite difficult to decifer if the characters are exposing their transphobia or the author. In the best case Winterson was clueless.
While the ideas explored in this book were as I already mentioned thought provoking, the whole discussion around them was done rather clumsily imo. Of course, an author doesn't need to provide definitive answers. But if you try to tackle heavy topics like misogyny, racism and transphobia, a little more care would be appreciated.
Then we come to Ry's parts. He deserved better. Every other character, even the so-called love interest, is just blatantly transphobic. At the beginning I thought it was done to point out how stupid it makes the character look, but then it just continues? Not a moment where even if one of them apologizes for it or at least someone who opposes them. So it is quite difficult to decifer if the characters are exposing their transphobia or the author. In the best case Winterson was clueless.
While the ideas explored in this book were as I already mentioned thought provoking, the whole discussion around them was done rather clumsily imo. Of course, an author doesn't need to provide definitive answers. But if you try to tackle heavy topics like misogyny, racism and transphobia, a little more care would be appreciated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia