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A review by onimichael
Airy Nothing by Clarissa Pattern
5.0
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was incredible! I didn’t know I wanted a queer Shakespearean period piece until I read it, but now that I have, it’s like eating a very filling meal.
The language used and the transition between the faerie world and the real world made it a bit difficult to understand what was going on at some points, but once you get past that, it really is an enchanting story. John and Jack are both lovable characters, but I felt like I resonated with John a lot more as a trans individual. (Note: His pronouns are he/him throughout the novel, so I’ll refer to him as such.) I was put off at first about the ambiguity of his gender identity - not knowing exactly what his experiences were made me question how much I could really relate to him - and I decided to read him as a trans man. However, I’ve decided I actually like that ambiguity. It adds to John’s character because you get to see him more for who he wants to be rather than how he may have originally been. Additionally, I think the potential for someone to read John as a trans woman, a trans man, genderfluid, etc. depending on how they see him is very positive for any trans readers who want someone to relate to (just like I did).
I also enjoyed how John’s experience with gender tied into the theater plot, since he was able to see men dressed as female characters and the blending of gender. I appreciate the author’s choice to use Twelfth Night as the main play of the novel, since it is about a women who dresses as a man - basically a mirror of John, which made the story much more rounded out.
I would love to see more of Pattern’s writing in the future. They really do have quite a way with words that feels unique from other authors, and I’d jump at the chance to have another experience like this!
This book was incredible! I didn’t know I wanted a queer Shakespearean period piece until I read it, but now that I have, it’s like eating a very filling meal.
The language used and the transition between the faerie world and the real world made it a bit difficult to understand what was going on at some points, but once you get past that, it really is an enchanting story. John and Jack are both lovable characters, but I felt like I resonated with John a lot more as a trans individual. (Note: His pronouns are he/him throughout the novel, so I’ll refer to him as such.) I was put off at first about the ambiguity of his gender identity - not knowing exactly what his experiences were made me question how much I could really relate to him - and I decided to read him as a trans man. However, I’ve decided I actually like that ambiguity. It adds to John’s character because you get to see him more for who he wants to be rather than how he may have originally been. Additionally, I think the potential for someone to read John as a trans woman, a trans man, genderfluid, etc. depending on how they see him is very positive for any trans readers who want someone to relate to (just like I did).
I also enjoyed how John’s experience with gender tied into the theater plot, since he was able to see men dressed as female characters and the blending of gender. I appreciate the author’s choice to use Twelfth Night as the main play of the novel, since it is about a women who dresses as a man - basically a mirror of John, which made the story much more rounded out.
I would love to see more of Pattern’s writing in the future. They really do have quite a way with words that feels unique from other authors, and I’d jump at the chance to have another experience like this!