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readingpicnic's reviews
487 reviews
A Short History of Trans Misogyny by Jules Gill-Peterson
4.5
An excellent little book that’s very intersectional in terms of race and class in its history of trans-femininity. I thought the distinction the author makes between today’s definition of transgender and how it’s anachronistic to apply it to historical figures who called themselves street queens, drag queens, transvestites, feminine gay men, and more was well done, providing definitions and giving examples of the blurriness of gender and labels. There obviously isn’t really a clear answer to this since these people can’t speak for themselves, but the author does a good way of challenging how people assign labels to groups of people in order to paint them as martyrs or victims, such as referring to the street queens from Compton’s Cafeteria Riot, Cooper’s Donuts, and Stonewall broadly in terms like “trans women of color” to make these people’s gender expression more palatable or understandable to today’s audience, regardless of how they would have realistically identified themselves. Language is a tricky business for historical LGBTQIA+ people, and this book really highlights that. I think it’s really interesting how trans feminine people in history referred to themselves in multiple and sometimes contradictory ways, and how class and race inform that! Additionally, the author makes clear that not everyone from non-western cultures is “trans” just because western audiences view them that way or see similarities in gender expression, such as hijras and travestis, which is definitely something I saw come up when Monkeyman came out and people referred to the hijras in the film as transgender. Also makes me think of Joshua Whitehead having to turn down an award for transgender literature because he is 2 Spirit and does not identify as trans, and there was some confusion on that by the people who gave him the award.
The way this book delves into how people who don’t identify as trans can still experience trans misogyny if they’re perceived as trans feminine was also super interesting. I had no idea that bell hooks and Judith butler wrote those pieces on Venus Xtravanga after Paris is Burning came out, deep-diving into the few clips of her from the documentary and trying to problematize her dreams of domesticity?? And right after she was murdered too?? Like have some fucking respect and leave her alone.
Overall this was an excellent refresher of my trans studies class. Loved the Tourmaline shout-out also!
The way this book delves into how people who don’t identify as trans can still experience trans misogyny if they’re perceived as trans feminine was also super interesting. I had no idea that bell hooks and Judith butler wrote those pieces on Venus Xtravanga after Paris is Burning came out, deep-diving into the few clips of her from the documentary and trying to problematize her dreams of domesticity?? And right after she was murdered too?? Like have some fucking respect and leave her alone.
Overall this was an excellent refresher of my trans studies class. Loved the Tourmaline shout-out also!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Murder, Sexual harassment
Rent Boy by Gary Indiana
4.0
The narrative style was so weird and raunchy to me, and I haven't read an epistolary novel quite like this before. There are a lot of horrible prejudiced and outdated terms and statements made in this book, but it's written so well...UGH. That page that's a love letter to J. since Danny thinks he's going to die is one of the most beautiful love confessions I've ever read...I don't know what the fuck happened in this book, but it hit me hard. And that ending, damn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Excrement, Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Transphobia, Kidnapping
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
3.75
Such messy and unlikeable—but still loveable—MCs in this book. I loved the drama of it all, but I went against my rule of not reading books where sapphic couples fall out of love and cheat on each other, as it makes me feel great despair. The plot felt very original and interesting to me, but gender theory and gender roles are really talked to death by Reese et al.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abortion
Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake
3.0
I cringed quite a bit listening to this, ESPECIALLY at the end. Like getting married again, buying a house, getting a dog named Pistachio? C’mon. And the name of their duo being Sea Glass doesn’t even sound good! UGH! And Brighton’s a better person than me I guess; I would have sued the Caties and caused a huge scandal for them. Also this is my first time listening to an audiobook where the narrator really voice acts the spicy scenes and I was not prepared 😭 I felt quite uncomfortable listening to it in public.
I feel like they really tried to paint Charlotte to be just as much at fault for what Brighton did and I just don’t buy that…like from a certain point on Charlotte could not think of the alter leaving fiasco without also thinking to herself but it’s also my fault DX. You’re telling me they’re not going to have an argument sometime in the future where Charlotte pulls out her ultimate trump card: “you left me at the alter?”
Also Charlotte treated Sloane so badly and it made me sad.
High school romances lasting that long or being rekindled is also something I’m averse to for personal reasons so I guess this was never going to do it for me.also the fact that Charlotte never slept with anyone after Brighton???
I feel like they really tried to paint Charlotte to be just as much at fault for what Brighton did and I just don’t buy that…like from a certain point on Charlotte could not think of the alter leaving fiasco without also thinking to herself but it’s also my fault DX. You’re telling me they’re not going to have an argument sometime in the future where Charlotte pulls out her ultimate trump card: “you left me at the alter?”
Also Charlotte treated Sloane so badly and it made me sad.
High school romances lasting that long or being rekindled is also something I’m averse to for personal reasons so I guess this was never going to do it for me.
Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.
My Libby loan is about to expire, and this is honestly not the book to listen to while eating my lunch at work, as it really ruined my appetite. I don’t think I’m enjoying myself reading this, and I keep mixing up Beth and Fran in the audiobook, so I’m calling it quits. There were also too many POVs for me personally to keep track of.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Café Con Lychee by Emery Lee
3.5
Overall a sweet story with some good humor. I do have critiques though. Firstly, the rivalry felt a little half-baked and didn’t make much sense (honestly seemed like it was just there so this could be labeled a rivals to lovers story). There was also such little time spent on describing the food and drinks they were making! Give me the descriptions that I was expecting from a book about food please! It does feel like some parts of the book that would have benefitted from more description were kind of just fast-forwarded through like this, such as the dancing and soccer scenes. The ending was also too neat, and a little unbelievable to me. And what if they break up! Then their families are all tied up with each other and they still have to work together… Mellie was also pretty awful and didn’t face any consequences whatsoever for that. One scene that I thought was really well done was when Gabi came to Theo’s place to apologize for his gay comment and Theo immediately understood that his parents were homophobic and asked for them to take a walk together. It was so sweet :’)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou
4.5
I loved this book, I had dreams about this book. The ending was really messy to me though and somewhat confusing since everything happened so fast, so I did knock off half a star for that :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Stalking, Suicide attempt
The Cartographers by Amy Zhang
5.0
Honestly, this was such an infuriating book, but I fell in love with Amy Zhang's writing style all over again. I can for sure say that she's still one of my favorite authors. I adored her first two books while I was in middle school and high school, and she's still so good. Massive content warnings for depression, s*icidal thoughts, and an insufferable philosophy dude. I just adored the main character so much and wanted the best for her, and therefore wanted to destroy Constantine. The mother-daughter relationship and the found family friendships in this book were so touching and broke me down. Reminded me quite a bit of Night in the Woods with the secretive college enrollment situation and mental illness. Also, this is for sure new adult, not young adult!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Drug use, Police brutality, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher
5.0
I adored them all. Incredible and hilarious audiobook narration with just the right amount of sass for the delivery of Gwen and Arthur’s incredulance towards each other. And the gay romances for each of them were so cuuute, GAH! I don’t usually pay much attention to the politics in books, but they were pretty interesting to me in this one. Wholeheartedly recommend to any former or present BBC Merlin enjoyers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia