Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

Pageboy: Meine Geschichte by Elliot Page

51 reviews

jkamler's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

I hesitate to rate this book lowly because I know how much of a personal labor of love this was for the author, and how much queer and transphobia they have faced. 
I mostly struggled with this book because in so many ways, it hit too close to home. I experienced much of the same things working as a trans actor in Hollywood in my early twenties, and it was hard to read about someone else’s experience of a similar treatment. It simultaneously validated my feelings around what I went through and also re-triggered some of it. 

Besides that fact, I have criticisms around why the majority of media about the trans experience carries such a depressing and painful tone, including this book. The lack of diversity amongst trans narratives almost presents transness as an inherently painful experience, which I think sets the wrong expectations. 

Anyway, I found it difficult to get through this book, but maybe other readers will enjoy it more. I have nothing but the best wishes for Elliot and what he’s gone through, and what it takes to make a vulnerable memoir like this. 

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imscrem's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

2.5

I appreciate that Elliot Page took the time to write down his story. I listened to the audiobook, and found it difficult at times to understand what time period in his life he was writing from due to the somewhat jumpy narrative.  I didn’t enjoy hearing about his sexual escapades or the many, many times he was sexually abused, but I have to acknowledge that these are true parts of his story and the book would not have been complete without them. It was uncomfortable to hear about who licked what while I rode the subway. Overall, I this book definitely wasn’t what I expected — I thought it would be a more uplifting take on the trans experience, but came out thinking it’s more of a dismal array of all the ways that people can be horrific to someone for being different. I wish the world was kinder. 

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acechemicals's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

4.0


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wrensandroses's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0


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perth_is's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.75


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azaline's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0


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barefootbetsy's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

4.0

This was a difficult read. What other reviews have mentioned is true, there's not a really clear linear structure. But there is a structure, it's just more circular or spiral-y in nature. The structure seems a little fuzzier than what most of us are used to, which is one reason why this is a memoir, not an autobiography.

There was also more explicit material than I'd been expecting, but it was all relevant, not gratuitous. 

All things considered, I'm glad I read it. If you're interested in Elliot's story then I'd recommend you read it, if you aren't interested in his story then you probably won't enjoy the book very much. 

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alexayres47's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0


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fanboyriot's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

Deciding to love yourself was the whole point of this book.  All the ups and downs of life, the self discovery of a trans person.  The pain of being trans and living in a world not built for trans people.

While some of the pacing was a bit awkward and the timeline was difficult to follow but I ended up loving listening to this; especially since the author was also the narrator. 

I learned a lot about this author and I’m so happy that he was in a place to write this book and share it with the world.  I also liked how he mentioned several times about his privilege in a very genuine way, actually acknowledging the problems with trans healthcare and other issues as well.

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the_true_monroe's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.0


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