A review by bugboi32
Tomboyland: Essays by Melissa Faliveno

3.0

There were pieces of this book that I loved. As a queer, trans, person of color that was born and raised in the midwest, I found the essays on tornados and guns to be really well written. They truly captivate both the unassuming beauty and charm of the midwest as well as the ugliness that stems from poverty, colonization, and isolation. I loved the pieces that shared the complexity of living a childless life. The author does an okay job analyzing how their race factors into their lived experiences growing up in the midwest. I did not appreciate the fatphobia. While not overt, it's quite clear that the author values lean, muscular bodies and believes that to be the marker of androgyny.

The writing is inconsistent. At times extremely well-written with beautiful sentences flowing across the page. At other times, clunky & repetitive.

Overall, I would recommend this book. It has a place. The stories of queer people in the midwest should be shared.