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elliel_nook's review against another edition
I cannot mentally handle some of the more difficult subject matter in this book. It's hitting too hard and too close to home
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Sexual harassment
finnthehuman217's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Casey Plett is a great example of how to write fiction as a trans person. She writes characters who are complicated and have issues with alcohol. The interesting thing is that Vera who is portrayed in Obsolution and Sophie who is portrayed in the story Other Women, have both experienced nonconsensual sexual encounters with cis women sexual partners and it seems to be a theme that repeats throughout Plett’s writings, cis women are just as bad as cis men when it comes to fetishization.
The focus of Enough Trouble, Gemma is a complicated person who struggles with sobriety and her failing memory. I love Gemma because she is so honest and her scenes with Olive and Holly are so perfect because with Holly she is able to be the drunk girl with the shared faith and the similar upbringing and with Olive, somebody else who loves Ava as much as Gemma does but in a sisterly way. The mini family is so sweet and the way Gemma and Ava end up happy is my favorite ending!!!
The focus of Enough Trouble, Gemma is a complicated person who struggles with sobriety and her failing memory. I love Gemma because she is so honest and her scenes with Olive and Holly are so perfect because with Holly she is able to be the drunk girl with the shared faith and the similar upbringing and with Olive, somebody else who loves Ava as much as Gemma does but in a sisterly way. The mini family is so sweet and the way Gemma and Ava end up happy is my favorite ending!!!
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
iforgotilivedhere's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I want to like this book a lot, mostly because my friend wanted me to read it. I did, but sometimes the characters hurt so much. There’s good commentary in intersectionality in trans feminism and it talks about all the things that happen to trans women in Canada and North America, but I wasn’t prepared for the amount of pain that was in this book. I liked it, but I would get so annoyed at characters like Iris and how the main character in that story refused to leave her or chose to be friends when Iris had been a rapist.
Anyway, this was pretty good.
Anyway, this was pretty good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
booksthatburn's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I am familiar with framing devices in short story collections, but the second time "Absolution" appeared I was surprised because I thought it had been a one-off story of a person navigating a relationship and the possibility that it wasn’t quite what he wanted. Then, a couple of stories later, "Absolution" appeared again with the next chapter of his life. It formed a refrain, a transformational core, running through the heart of this collection, allowing for a slow unfolding and twisting of story in a single character. I let each of the various segments of what eventually is her life get to stand alone, having room to breathe, allowing for a transformation across decades in a way that would normally be harder to get across in a short story. There are many ways of being trans, and of being a trans woman. Most of these stories focus on trans women navigating relationships and interpersonal interactions in a way that’s very focused on their underlying thoughts and feelings to whatever degree they’re able to process or express them. Some stories take place over years or even decades, and others occur in just a few days.
Some of the stories convey the shifting weirdness of existing in a body that changes in ways which other people aren’t expecting, and the range of reactions to that reality. People living lives that are shaped by this thing that they have in common, told in a manner that allows for meandering meandering and blurriness around the edges. This is an absorbing and fascinating collection, and I highly recommend it.
Some of the stories convey the shifting weirdness of existing in a body that changes in ways which other people aren’t expecting, and the range of reactions to that reality. People living lives that are shaped by this thing that they have in common, told in a manner that allows for meandering meandering and blurriness around the edges. This is an absorbing and fascinating collection, and I highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Rape, Suicide, Vomit, Death of parent, and War
"Hazel and Christopher" - Moderate CW for grief, sexual content, alcohol, alcoholism, homophobia, transphobia, lesbophobia, violence. Minor CW for vomit, suicide, parental death, death. "Absolution" - Moderate CW for cursing, sexual content, sexual assault, homophobia, transphobia, alcohol, vomit, drug use. "Perfect Places" - Graphic CW for sexual content. Moderate CW for dysmorphia, dysphoria, transphobia. Minor CW for vomit. “Couldn’t Hear You Talk Anymore” - Moderate CW for transphobia, misgendering, alcohol, eating disorder, self harm, suicide attempt. “Rose City, City of Roses” - Moderate CW for grief, sexual content, pandemic, death. “Enough Trouble” - Graphic CW for sexual content, alcohol, alcoholism. Minor CW for transphobia, war, rape.thewoodlandbookshelf's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Grief, and Alcohol
jayisreading's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
An intimate novel that explores the messiness of gender identity, I really appreciated how Plett depicted the lives of trans women in her short stories with such care and nuance. It’s as much a celebration of being trans as it is a recognition of the struggles that come with it.
I was particularly taken to the short story, “Obsolution,” which was actually broken up into parts and told between other stories, following the protagonist’s arduous journey towards discovering herself. It was a complicated story, too, that didn’t shy away from complicated topics and how this particularly impacts trans women, ranging from gender dysphoria to toxic relationships (platonic and romantic).
Something that needs to be highlighted is that this collection is very heavy on sex content, though it’s not smut. I read all these scenes more like Plett wanting the readers (especially cis readers) to get over the discomfort of trans women having sex and that it’s as much a part of their lives as it is for others. It’s not an educational moment; it’s more a coming-to-terms moment.
Much to think about in this collection, but it’s definitely an impactful one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Addiction, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death and Drug use
pizzasprite's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Plett is a master of creating intimate, personable characters revolving around both cozy and challenging situations. Her characters are deeply flawed, but also so lovable and sympathetic. If I have one criticism, it's that all the short stories began to blend together after a while. I think Plett's writing really shines when she carves out enough space for her characters to really flesh themselves out, such as in Little Fish. I really enjoyed the interspersed stories of Vera, and almost wish the whole book had been just that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship
liteartha's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this was a gem. casey plett's an absolute stunner at crafting intimate, personal, and organic stories. all focused on the lives of trans women across canada and several US states, each story felt so incredibly grounded in both setting and each character's personal voice.
on a structural level, i was a particular fan of the way this collection was pieced together with certain stories broken into parts that were interspersed throughout the book and others in succinct single doses. i'm not sure i've ever encountered that before but i'd be very happy to encounter it again. the audiobook, read by the author, was also great. plett is a talented reader and truly brings her characters and prose to life.
leaving off with a gorgeous quote i've done by best to transcribe (though admittedly may not have quite right, given the audio format)
on a structural level, i was a particular fan of the way this collection was pieced together with certain stories broken into parts that were interspersed throughout the book and others in succinct single doses. i'm not sure i've ever encountered that before but i'd be very happy to encounter it again. the audiobook, read by the author, was also great. plett is a talented reader and truly brings her characters and prose to life.
leaving off with a gorgeous quote i've done by best to transcribe (though admittedly may not have quite right, given the audio format)
vera could never tell another breathing creature how replete her bones were, how full of undirected forgiveness.
thank you to netgalley, arsenal pulp press, and bespeak audio editions for providing this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Vomit
wenwanzhao's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Interesting collection of short stories about trans women. Really opens your mind and makes you think.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Vomit, and Dysphoria
Minor: Drug use, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent