Scan barcode
medkip's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
girlreactionreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Pretty sure I read about this on someone's instagram although I have no idea whose now. This is a window book for me--looking in on a world I don't know well. I have gay friends, and I have nonbinary friends, and I have a few gay and/or nonbinary friends whose partners are now trans (but those are all relationships in which I do not know their partner), but personally I don't think I actually know any trans people at the moment (in my friends circle; I have had a few trans students.).
I found parts 1 and 2 of this book frustrating to read because it *seems* like these essays are a response to something public, but that I'm unaware of--the feeling that comes across is that the author has been castigated or criticized in her community for something she did or said (or maybe published?) and a lot of the essays in parts 1 and 2 seemed to be their response.
I enjoyed Part 3 of this book a lot more. My favorite essays were: "Rediscovering Identity at My Grandfather's Funeral" and "How Neoliberalism Is Stealing Trans Liberation."
I liked ALL the poems throughout.
I found parts 1 and 2 of this book frustrating to read because it *seems* like these essays are a response to something public, but that I'm unaware of--the feeling that comes across is that the author has been castigated or criticized in her community for something she did or said (or maybe published?) and a lot of the essays in parts 1 and 2 seemed to be their response.
I enjoyed Part 3 of this book a lot more. My favorite essays were: "Rediscovering Identity at My Grandfather's Funeral" and "How Neoliberalism Is Stealing Trans Liberation."
I liked ALL the poems throughout.
keato's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Some of these essays blew my goddamn mind.
autumn_riley05's review against another edition
4.0
Really good essays about things we don’t talk about as much in our progressive spaces, especially focused on community care.
tui_reads's review against another edition
For book club - witty, enjoyable, complicated.
atreegrowsinbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Wow overall a very interesting and informative book. At times I felt like the content was very heavy and dark, and as such had to take breaks from listening to the audio. But was a necessary read. Will be reading more from this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
nikenacs's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
One of the quickest 5-star ratings I've given this year. This came at exactly the right time for me, and I'm so glad I picked it up from my local library on a whim.
Kai Cheng Thom covers three overarching themes in this book: Queer leftist in-community conflict, especially in regards to punishment culture and public shaming, and transformative justice. Sexual violence, especially within queer leftist circles. And trans woman / trans feminine experiences, both her own and in larger culture. (Very broadly speaking, with overlap as well as some other topics covered).
For me personally, the first two topics /got/ me, I think I read this at exactly the right time in my life. Although not always easy, the essays felt like a hug that said "I know. I've been where you've been. We can try to make it, together". As someone who cares deeply about queer leftist circles, but is frequently frustrated and dissatisfied with The State Of It All™, especially in regards to public shaming and black-and-white-thinking, Thom touches on so many of my questions and anxieties. I had not yet done much reading into transformative justice, and I sure as hell will now. I don't think it'll hold all the answers - this book didn't hold all the answers either - but it's going to give me fantastic food for thought.
The third topic touched me less personally, but made me reflect on the trans women / femmes in my life, as well as those I never got to meet, may never get to meet. In some parts - politics, celebrities, pop culture - it really showed that this book was written in 2019, largely drawing on experiences of the 2010s. I would be so curious to see an update to this for the 2020s, regarding an even more supposedly trans-inclusive pop culture, and violent anti-trans laws on the rise in large parts of North America (and elsewhere).
TLDR: This book gave me amazing food for thought and I will be buying, re-reading and recommending it.
Kai Cheng Thom covers three overarching themes in this book: Queer leftist in-community conflict, especially in regards to punishment culture and public shaming, and transformative justice. Sexual violence, especially within queer leftist circles. And trans woman / trans feminine experiences, both her own and in larger culture. (Very broadly speaking, with overlap as well as some other topics covered).
For me personally, the first two topics /got/ me, I think I read this at exactly the right time in my life. Although not always easy, the essays felt like a hug that said "I know. I've been where you've been. We can try to make it, together". As someone who cares deeply about queer leftist circles, but is frequently frustrated and dissatisfied with The State Of It All™, especially in regards to public shaming and black-and-white-thinking, Thom touches on so many of my questions and anxieties. I had not yet done much reading into transformative justice, and I sure as hell will now. I don't think it'll hold all the answers - this book didn't hold all the answers either - but it's going to give me fantastic food for thought.
The third topic touched me less personally, but made me reflect on the trans women / femmes in my life, as well as those I never got to meet, may never get to meet. In some parts - politics, celebrities, pop culture - it really showed that this book was written in 2019, largely drawing on experiences of the 2010s. I would be so curious to see an update to this for the 2020s, regarding an even more supposedly trans-inclusive pop culture, and violent anti-trans laws on the rise in large parts of North America (and elsewhere).
TLDR: This book gave me amazing food for thought and I will be buying, re-reading and recommending it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
zombiezami's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Classism
Moderate: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Trafficking, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Colonisation