rainb0wreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
There is a lot to unpack here and respectfully, it’s a lot that I think Meredith needed to unpack with a therapist
adeperi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, and Transphobia
lyndsaydurbs's review against another edition
3.0
I definitely learnt a lot in this memoir specifically about the Filipino culture towards LGBTQ+ people when Meredith was younger, as well as how the community was treated in the US within the specific (white) richer, well-educated areas.
As with most memoirs, there is always plenty to learn about someone’s lived experiences and this did teach a lot.
However, I don’t think I like Meredith as a person and that made this memoir really difficult to enjoy. I listened to this as an audiobook and I don’t think it was particularly well done. But also, Meredith’s stories and recountings tended to feel discriminatory towards a group of people, that group changing based off of the story. It’s totally valid to have mixed feelings about a community that you’re a part of but I don’t think it came across well.
As with most memoirs, there is always plenty to learn about someone’s lived experiences and this did teach a lot.
However, I don’t think I like Meredith as a person and that made this memoir really difficult to enjoy. I listened to this as an audiobook and I don’t think it was particularly well done. But also, Meredith’s stories and recountings tended to feel discriminatory towards a group of people, that group changing based off of the story. It’s totally valid to have mixed feelings about a community that you’re a part of but I don’t think it came across well.
kprattos4236's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful memoir. Heartbreaking at times and thought provoking throughout. I enjoyed the history and timeline the author took us on from boyhood in the Philippines to womanhood in America.
pamiverson's review against another edition
4.0
An albino child growing up in rural Philippines dreams of coming to the United States. Once that happens, Meredith must come to terms with the perspectives of others and their own identity. Interesting examination of race and gender and our society.
donutlookaway's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Transphobia
mad_taylh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
"I wanted people close to me to see an albino person who had learned to look and act white so the world would more readily accept her, and understand how that had been a key part of her survival. I wanted people to see how that albino person was also transgender, how she transitioned to be able to express her femininity and had surgery so she would be perceived as being like any other woman, her qualities appreciated in those terms. And if she ever hid who she actually was, it was only so that she could be granted entrance into worlds she couldn't otherwise reach, worlds that should rightfully belong to everyone, not just those who happen to uphold the prevailing standards of whiteness and womanhood."