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A review by justinlife
Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
4.25
This is a hard book to describe but let’s go!
Paul is a twenty something shapeshifter who changes gender when he feels like it. As one would expect from someone at that age, he hooks up a lot. Not love making. Sex. Filthy, raunchy sex. With gay men. With lesbians. With people. Sometimes there’s sex with partners too. The book isn’t all sex, but when it’s written, it feels dangerous, maybe even primal, but not really arousing.
The story follows Paul as he glides through life in Iowa, Michigan, Provincetown, and San Francisco. He’s everything someone in their early 20s is- full of ego, self doubt, hormones, and living recklessly. What I found interesting is what Paul experiences as a man and as a woman and what he allows himself to experience in both genders.
At times it’s hard to read b/c the choices he makes. I mean, he is in his early 20s so we know they aren’t all great choices. Overall though, this novel is a lot of fun. It’s great to see gender and sexuality played with so effectively. If you’re a fan of queer theory, literature, and music references, there’s a feast to be had.
Paul is a twenty something shapeshifter who changes gender when he feels like it. As one would expect from someone at that age, he hooks up a lot. Not love making. Sex. Filthy, raunchy sex. With gay men. With lesbians. With people. Sometimes there’s sex with partners too. The book isn’t all sex, but when it’s written, it feels dangerous, maybe even primal, but not really arousing.
The story follows Paul as he glides through life in Iowa, Michigan, Provincetown, and San Francisco. He’s everything someone in their early 20s is- full of ego, self doubt, hormones, and living recklessly. What I found interesting is what Paul experiences as a man and as a woman and what he allows himself to experience in both genders.
At times it’s hard to read b/c the choices he makes. I mean, he is in his early 20s so we know they aren’t all great choices. Overall though, this novel is a lot of fun. It’s great to see gender and sexuality played with so effectively. If you’re a fan of queer theory, literature, and music references, there’s a feast to be had.