Scan barcode
A review by taratearex
Pageboy by Elliot Page
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This was a deeply moving and often heart wrenching memoir. I have a physical copy of the book, but I love listening to author's read their own memoir so I did the audiobook (also then you can hear his charming Canadian accent). I also saw Elliot Page at an author event so I knew a little about this book before going in. I think as far as celebrity memoirs go this one is really up there with some of the best, the stories are engaging and told with heart and care, they are interesting and personal, and sometimes give background information that tells you more about a moment in time- a movie, or fame, etc, that is actually interesting. Additionally, his journey is one a lot of queer and trans people can relate to and I'm really grateful this book exists for younger folks to connect to. It can be quite heavy at times, definitely check content warnings.
One thing to note about this memoir is that it is told in a non-linear way- he notes this at the beginning of the book and the reason for this - that our stories and our healing are non-linear. I understand and appreciate this stylistic choice, but I will say it was often challenging and took me out of the moment. Sometimes he would start an essay and plant you in time and place and other times you were dropped into the moment in time and sort of had to just wait to get your bearings until he revealed how old he was or what movie he was working on, sometimes I'd google when a movie came out or when his coming out speech was because I couldn't really get my bearings as to when something was happening. I think I was able to stay connected to his story as a queer and nonbinary person, and as a fan, but I can see how this would be too challenging for some folks to stay engaged, I do think it's worth continuing and listening to his story, but it's definitely a challenging style choice.
Content warnings: homophobia, transphobia, eating disorder, self harm, sexual assault, stalking, suicidal thoughts, abusive parents, childhood trauma
One thing to note about this memoir is that it is told in a non-linear way- he notes this at the beginning of the book and the reason for this - that our stories and our healing are non-linear. I understand and appreciate this stylistic choice, but I will say it was often challenging and took me out of the moment. Sometimes he would start an essay and plant you in time and place and other times you were dropped into the moment in time and sort of had to just wait to get your bearings until he revealed how old he was or what movie he was working on, sometimes I'd google when a movie came out or when his coming out speech was because I couldn't really get my bearings as to when something was happening. I think I was able to stay connected to his story as a queer and nonbinary person, and as a fan, but I can see how this would be too challenging for some folks to stay engaged, I do think it's worth continuing and listening to his story, but it's definitely a challenging style choice.
Content warnings: homophobia, transphobia, eating disorder, self harm, sexual assault, stalking, suicidal thoughts, abusive parents, childhood trauma
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Homophobia, Transphobia, Bullying, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Hate crime, and Eating disorder
Minor: Blood and Vomit