Reviews
Queerly Beloved: A Love Story Across Genders, by Jacob Anderson-Minshall, Diane Anderson-Minshall
joanne_is_from_canada's review against another edition
4.0
This non-fiction book was written by a couple. It tells the story of how, after more than a decade together as a lesbian couple, one of them transitions to becoming a man. Very interesting to hear their story of coming to terms with this and the hurdles they faced in staying together.
munleigh's review against another edition
3.0
Queerly Beloved was an interesting read regarding the transition of Jacob went through and the changes Diane and Jacob both had to go through regarding their work and relationships.
Very honest personal accounts of the before, during and after of Jacob's transition.
I did have to take a break a few times to read their story.
Review is also posted here: https://wp.me/p4Pp9O-MO
Very honest personal accounts of the before, during and after of Jacob's transition.
I did have to take a break a few times to read their story.
Review is also posted here: https://wp.me/p4Pp9O-MO
valedeoro's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book in two days (or was it nights?) and if there was a six-star rating, I would add that extra star. I loved the style, the very honest and open approach to this very sensitive topic of trans-sexualism (is that even a word?) and relationships. For me this book was a very welcome ray of positive energy in an ocean of studies and scary stories about trans-relationships will ultimately fail. Diane and Jacob show that there is so much more to this world than the binary fairy tail of two genders, two sexes and two sexual orientations.
A bit of background: Diane and Jacob are a couple for over 20 years. 15 years into their lesbian relationship, then Suzy tells her wife that she identifies as male and thinks about transitioning. At this point Diane is very active in the Lesbian community, both privately and professionally, so the transition will affect not only her private life, but potentially also her professional endeavors. A lesbian advocate with a male partner is not perceived the same as a lesbian activist with a wife.
Diane and Jacob manage to weather this storm though. They are a prime example that a couple can survive transition, that you can keep identifying as Lesbian, queer, bi-sexual, whatever you choose, even though your partners has decided to go rectify his or her perceived gender.
The book is a true team effort. Each episode is explained by both partners separately. So first you will read Suzy's (Jacob's) or Jacob's (Suzy's) take (depending on whether the episode is pre or post transition) followed by Diane's view of the same episode. I loved this approach, a great way to recognize difference in experience without elevating one perception over the other.
A must read for trans-people and their spouses/partners/co-pilots/queerly beloved ones. And a should-read for anyone else.
A bit of background: Diane and Jacob are a couple for over 20 years. 15 years into their lesbian relationship, then Suzy tells her wife that she identifies as male and thinks about transitioning. At this point Diane is very active in the Lesbian community, both privately and professionally, so the transition will affect not only her private life, but potentially also her professional endeavors. A lesbian advocate with a male partner is not perceived the same as a lesbian activist with a wife.
Diane and Jacob manage to weather this storm though. They are a prime example that a couple can survive transition, that you can keep identifying as Lesbian, queer, bi-sexual, whatever you choose, even though your partners has decided to go rectify his or her perceived gender.
The book is a true team effort. Each episode is explained by both partners separately. So first you will read Suzy's (Jacob's) or Jacob's (Suzy's) take (depending on whether the episode is pre or post transition) followed by Diane's view of the same episode. I loved this approach, a great way to recognize difference in experience without elevating one perception over the other.
A must read for trans-people and their spouses/partners/co-pilots/queerly beloved ones. And a should-read for anyone else.
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