kyanitecourage's review against another edition
3.0
This book gets trigger warnings for drug addiction, alcoholism, suicidal ideation, gender dysphoria and slurs.
I only know Against Me! from a few trans songs my friend introduced me to. That being said, I’ve really enjoyed those songs. I had gotten the impression that Laura Jane Grace was kind before, but in this memoir, she proves to be a very flawed person who judged harshly on others and herself. It’s a pretty interesting memoir no matter what. Hard though, without much uplifting moments. I wish there was more reflection at the end, in a way. Instead we mostly get the moments in her life through the years as they happen and her reactions to them. In a way it’s more of a punk rock memoir than a trans one, though obviously trans is relevant. It kind of hurts, which I get because Laura was in a lot of pain all those years, but it lacks care for the trans and queer community. It also is super harsh on judging many people in the music industry. This is her life though, and there is a brutality in her honesty.
I only know Against Me! from a few trans songs my friend introduced me to. That being said, I’ve really enjoyed those songs. I had gotten the impression that Laura Jane Grace was kind before, but in this memoir, she proves to be a very flawed person who judged harshly on others and herself. It’s a pretty interesting memoir no matter what. Hard though, without much uplifting moments. I wish there was more reflection at the end, in a way. Instead we mostly get the moments in her life through the years as they happen and her reactions to them. In a way it’s more of a punk rock memoir than a trans one, though obviously trans is relevant. It kind of hurts, which I get because Laura was in a lot of pain all those years, but it lacks care for the trans and queer community. It also is super harsh on judging many people in the music industry. This is her life though, and there is a brutality in her honesty.
d4niellec's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
I love music and I love memoir and this satiated both. Laura Jane Grace is everything all at once.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia
chelseavbc's review against another edition
3.0
As a long-time Against Me! fan, this was a must for me. It was great to read much of Laura Jane Grace's own words here, and the journey she takes us on is engaging. The writing style wasn't quite for me, which makes me think I may have enjoyed this one more in audiobook format. Still certainly a recommended rock memoir.
punionrings's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Addiction, Dysphoria, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Abortion, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Violence, Deadnaming, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, and Sexual content
demonprodigy's review against another edition
anyone else's life saved by transgender dysphoria blues in college or was it just me
jennylemon's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. I’m biased because Laura Jane was a COVID discovery that got me through a lot of the pandemic, so she’s got a very special place in my heart. But I also thought it was painfully honestly written and unvarnished in a lot of ways, and I could not have been rooting for her more to finally get to be seen for who she really was. Plus Transgender Dysphoria Blues is an incredible album-I definitely enjoy all her albums since, so deeply.