angelreadsthings's review against another edition
4.0
This book was intimate, poetic, honest, revelatory, and ultimately beautiful in the most realistic way. The book structure felt somewhat blog-like which made it easier for me to process. When I finished, I felt like I knew Hillman in the same way I have known bloggers I've followed for months. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in gender studies, the intersex community, queer life and politics, or vulnerable storytelling, but I must warn that this book is full of candid descriptions of sex and BDSM.
audaciaray's review against another edition
4.0
Thea Hillman's book is thoroughly beautiful, written in a way that makes you feel like you're her one and only confidant, not just a reader. The book is structured as a series of short essays, some of which are obviously based on talks she has given in her career as an activist, performer, public speaker, and educator.
I think a bigger, more mainstream publisher (the book is published by Manic D Press) would have really pushed Thea to stick more strictly to the theme of growing up and coping as intersex. As the book it is, it's a slightly messy piece of writing about the intersections of class, gender, biological sex, sexual orientation, desire, and the anxieties of self. That complexity is interesting and wonderful - I don't really see how it would be possible for her to write her story along one of those lines without the others. That said, I personally would've given the book a different title. Thea's struggle with being intersex is a core theme of the book, but I wouldn't necessarily say that's what the book is *about*.
I think a bigger, more mainstream publisher (the book is published by Manic D Press) would have really pushed Thea to stick more strictly to the theme of growing up and coping as intersex. As the book it is, it's a slightly messy piece of writing about the intersections of class, gender, biological sex, sexual orientation, desire, and the anxieties of self. That complexity is interesting and wonderful - I don't really see how it would be possible for her to write her story along one of those lines without the others. That said, I personally would've given the book a different title. Thea's struggle with being intersex is a core theme of the book, but I wouldn't necessarily say that's what the book is *about*.
leaton01's review against another edition
3.0
Hillman's exploration of her own challenges and sense-making as an intersex person is an excellent work for anyone better trying to understand intersex. Filled with memoiric chapters, poetry, and other personal writing, the book crafts a nuance understanding of the battles one faces when the dominant culture has denied you space and personhood.
If you enjoyed this review, feel free to check out my other reviews and writings at By Any Other Nerd/
If you enjoyed this review, feel free to check out my other reviews and writings at By Any Other Nerd/
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