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A review by stephaniekane
Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl's Confabulous Memoir by Kai Cheng Thom
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This is a very generous four stars because to be honest I did not *love* the experience of reading this book BUT I did find myself internally screaming, "THIS IS A PLAY. THIS JUST NEEDS TO BE A PLAY." And that's saying something cause 90% of the time when I read books I am adapting it in my head to either a film or a prestige mini series, rarely a play. So if any non-profit new play development oriented theatre company wants to throw some money at this property and commission the writer to adapt her work, employ an all trans/GNC cast and creative team, and make some theatrical magic, please do it! All I ask is a special thanks for the idea in the program .
Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl's Confabulous Memoir by Kai Cheng Thom is, first and foremost, not a memoir, and I don't appreciate being misled by the title. Putting that initial annoyance aside, Thom has created a mythical world filled with poetic language and poetic justice, flowing in between prose, poetry, dialogue, and epistolary segments (in the play the epistolary segments would be direct address, I have the whole thing planned out). With locations like the City of Gloom and the Street of Miracles, it takes place everywhere and nowhere, providing a universality and allowing the reader to insert their city (or an imaginary city of their choice) in the places she describes. At times, this felt a little juvenile because so much inspiration is derived from the tropes of fairytales, and I do feel like the reading level of the book is most appropriate for YA readers, although it does deal with mature subject matter, such as self harm, sexual assault, and the ongoing systemic injustice that is the murder of trans women of color.
At the end of the day, this is a book by and for trans girls, specifically trans girls of color, and that's incredible and honestly off the top of my head I don't think I've read anything by a trans writer before in my life, and that's embarrassing for me and for the literary world, but this is my first step to remedying that gap. Thom writes the most badass, beautiful, and complex trans characters, and I (a cis woman), felt so connected to the narrator's desire to create her own narrative, break out of the box society has put her in, and just figure out who she is. It is a coming of age story, after all. So, while the book wasn't for me, I still appreciate it for what it is and what it can be.
Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl's Confabulous Memoir by Kai Cheng Thom is, first and foremost, not a memoir, and I don't appreciate being misled by the title. Putting that initial annoyance aside, Thom has created a mythical world filled with poetic language and poetic justice, flowing in between prose, poetry, dialogue, and epistolary segments (in the play the epistolary segments would be direct address, I have the whole thing planned out). With locations like the City of Gloom and the Street of Miracles, it takes place everywhere and nowhere, providing a universality and allowing the reader to insert their city (or an imaginary city of their choice) in the places she describes. At times, this felt a little juvenile because so much inspiration is derived from the tropes of fairytales, and I do feel like the reading level of the book is most appropriate for YA readers, although it does deal with mature subject matter, such as self harm, sexual assault, and the ongoing systemic injustice that is the murder of trans women of color.
At the end of the day, this is a book by and for trans girls, specifically trans girls of color, and that's incredible and honestly off the top of my head I don't think I've read anything by a trans writer before in my life, and that's embarrassing for me and for the literary world, but this is my first step to remedying that gap. Thom writes the most badass, beautiful, and complex trans characters, and I (a cis woman), felt so connected to the narrator's desire to create her own narrative, break out of the box society has put her in, and just figure out who she is. It is a coming of age story, after all. So, while the book wasn't for me, I still appreciate it for what it is and what it can be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Violence
Minor: Self harm and Sexual assault