A review by gisellenguyen
Trans: A Memoir by Juliet Jacques

3.0

A deeply personal insight into the process of gender transition, with plenty of commentary about the cultural climate in Brighton and Manchester in the early 2000s. I particularly liked reading about Jacques' relationship with music and the local scenes, and thought she articulated quite acutely and evocatively how it feels to be dysphoric and what that means for everyday existence as a trans person. I also liked that the theoretical side of things was explained mostly in layman's terms - feminist and transgender theory can often be quite jargon-heavy, so it was a pleasant surprise to have it be so accessible.

I do feel at times the memoir was weighed down a bit with unnecessary detail (especially in dialogue), but overall, an insightful and compelling read that's critical for anyone with even a passing interest in gender politics. Also, any book that ends with a Talking Heads lyric is a-ok by me.