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A review by readingrobin
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
God I adore how Andrew Joseph White writes rage. Though it's coupled with a kind of weariness, an exhaustion towards a world that will not make room for you, accommodate you, or change its perceptions, there's also an energy that inspires revolution. Silas is an engaging lead, guided by a skittish inner voice to not make trouble, to avoid anything that would do him harm (and for an autistic trans man in the late 19th century that's quite a lot), and to keep his head down as much as possible. He tries to navigate a society of mediums that is built on patriarchy and the subservience of women, who are treated little better than broodmares. When his attempt to escape his family and pursue his dream of becoming a doctor, naturally it all goes wrong and lands him in a women's sanitarium.
It's a tough book to read at times, what with the mistreatment of the women within the sanitarium, body horror, the dismissal of trans identities and autistic behaviors, but there are still moments of softness that help to ground things. I loved Silas' relationship with Daphne and how their shared experiences help them to connect and open up to each other.
Historical inaccuracies aside, it's still a captivating read. I don't think it was created to be entirely factual. Hell, the ending author's note urges this book to be seen as a fantasy, as the history of the misuse of women's bodies for surgical experimentation includes mainly non-white women, and gives further reading to get more acquainted with the topic. I really appreciated that, since this book is more of a vessel to give life and words to living as a trans/autistic person rather than a history lesson. As someone who falls along both those spectrums, I definitely could relate to multiple experiences.
The raw emotion behind White's writing style is what really fuels the book and kept me reading at a breakneck pace. It's energizing, uncomfortable at points, but it makes you feel a stirring in your gut. Whether that be emotional resonance or a churning at the gruesome events, it's still enough to provoke a reaction.
White just keeps knocking it out of the park and I eagerly await his next release.
It's a tough book to read at times, what with the mistreatment of the women within the sanitarium, body horror, the dismissal of trans identities and autistic behaviors, but there are still moments of softness that help to ground things. I loved Silas' relationship with Daphne and how their shared experiences help them to connect and open up to each other.
Historical inaccuracies aside, it's still a captivating read. I don't think it was created to be entirely factual. Hell, the ending author's note urges this book to be seen as a fantasy, as the history of the misuse of women's bodies for surgical experimentation includes mainly non-white women, and gives further reading to get more acquainted with the topic. I really appreciated that, since this book is more of a vessel to give life and words to living as a trans/autistic person rather than a history lesson. As someone who falls along both those spectrums, I definitely could relate to multiple experiences.
The raw emotion behind White's writing style is what really fuels the book and kept me reading at a breakneck pace. It's energizing, uncomfortable at points, but it makes you feel a stirring in your gut. Whether that be emotional resonance or a churning at the gruesome events, it's still enough to provoke a reaction.
White just keeps knocking it out of the park and I eagerly await his next release.