A review by vincci
Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl's Confabulous Memoir by Kai Cheng Thom

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"Sometimes fiction is truer than facts, and the trouble is knowing which fictions are facts, and which facts are fictions."

Having just read I Hope We Choose Love and being a follower of Thom on social media for several years, this quote near the end of the book encapsulated how I felt as I was listening to it (audiobook) Every time I think something may have been a "fact" of Thom's life, she throws in some mermaids, magic, or another tidbit of "fiction". 

Thom is masterful in her use of imagery and symbolism throughout the book. As a dietitian by trade, I particularly noticed her use of food/hunger imagery from the very first chapter. She also uses repetition often as a way to create rhythm and build intensity. 

I thought the ending was particularly clever - I have a few days left of my loan from the library and I'm already re-listening to the book to catch what I've missed. I've never done this with another book before; that's how captivating it is. 

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