Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

54 reviews

d00rframe's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.25

I loved this book. the characters aren't perfect, and I love that. pregnancy is a topic I'm not usually a fan of, but I thought I would try something new and I'm glad I did. it's definitely a harder book to read due to all the sensitive topics, as well as just generally feeling like a like book to read, but it is so worth it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Outing, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Toxic friendship

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Outing, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

splashcat360's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Abortion

emptzuu's review against another edition

Despite the author's claim that the book wasn’t intended to educate about trans people or to encourage better allyship, it comes across as preachy with generalized, unredeemed statements. It’s an incoherent mess that needs significant editing. The prose is cluttered, making the narrative hard to follow. Characters lacked motivation and articulation, which made their actions and dialogues implausible.

The author mentioned writing the book to be funny and relevant to her friends, portraying trans people as ordinary, flawed individuals. However, it instead focuses on the internalization of abuse and violence, with characters stuck in victimhood and unhealthy relationships. Critics call this a social comedy, yet it’s a dark, painful read devoid of humor, with an overwhelmingly negative tone. 

The book fetishizes pregnancy, abuse, and womanhood, presenting a violent, misogynistic view.  Although I’m comfortable with BDSM and sexual themes as an avid romance reader, the book's linkage of these themes with misogyny was deeply problematic. The book is riddled with stereotypes and problematic views of cis women, portraying them as objects, submissive sluts, or good girls needing to be dominated. It’s troubling to link girlhood with submission in such a way.  

Trans voices need more representation, but this book does a disservice to the community by perpetuating harmful stereotypes. The implication that trans women desire abuse from cis men is particularly troubling and potentially dangerous. The hypersexualization of both trans life and cis women is neither enjoyable nor constructive. I worry about the impact of this portrayal on both the trans community and broader societal perceptions. It would be refreshing to see well-written, non-victimizing, and well-rounded characters for once. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, and Transphobia

finleigh's review against another edition

emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Outing

Minor: Miscarriage, Racism, Xenophobia, and Abortion

beansandrice's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I'm glad this book exists, but it definitely isn't for everyone. The overlapping realities of trans lives and reproductive rights are incredibly complicated, and Detransition, Baby doesn't shy away from this complexity. This book isn't at all about providing answers, but I'll be thinking back to it a lot with these topics nevertheless. In the end, Detransition, Baby is about capturing a certain kind of trans experience, and Torrey Peters undeniably succeeds at this. 

It does still have a few rough edges, especially how it left me wanting in its various conversations around ethnicity and race. Admittedly, I almost DNF'd it because the many explicit sex scenes were almost too much for me. I don't regret finishing it though. I saw myself so much in these characters, despite the fact that they're very different kinds of trans people compared to myself.

Don't expect perfection, expect a journey. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Infidelity, Transphobia, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Deadnaming, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Outing

sundayfever's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was an incredible read. A book written for trans people, not to explain trans people to the world. Deeply flawed but loveable characters who make mistakes and hurt each other, but with an undercurrent of love. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, and Outing

Moderate: Deadnaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Abortion

teganbeesebooks's review against another edition

emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Medical content, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

cogowno's review against another edition

I read it recently and figured I remember almost everything. Maybe gonna attempt again by the end of the year.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, and Transphobia

Minor: Racism

siobhanward's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 I feel conflicted on this - there were some parts I loved while others just didn't sit well with me. The story itself is heartbreaking and felt honest. I know some have taken issue with it in other reviews, but honestly I didn't feel that in the same way. I think a lot was placed on the concept of motherhood being so tied to womanhood and the strict gender roles that come with parenting, which is something that was interesting to read about and something that I found resonated. So much is tied to "mother" or "father" and as a society we really struggle to think outside of those bubbles.

Anyway, this was a decent read - if it's something that seems interesting, it's worth picking up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia

Moderate: Racism and Pregnancy