Reviews

Confessions of the Fox by Jordy Rosenberg

readingindreams's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

3.75

tisalwayssunny's review against another edition

I just ran out of time on this one! Will have to return.

katiescogins's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative tense slow-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

2.0

geraldine's review

adventurous challenging reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

i liked it on the whole! i liked the framing device and thought it really worked and was invested in both stories. i do think the pacing on the... outer story (?) was a bit rushed in terms of the university/corporation part like, that part just felt like it came and went so fast before our narrator shall we say

"absconds" (his words) with the manuscript

even though it isn't even early in the book. and personally i thought that

the end/where he went would have worked better if it was a little more vague and less spelled out

but i don't think it didn't work or anything. interesting book, kept me engaged

ajroe22's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The format was cool, I had a hard time getting into either story line. 

raeanne's review against another edition

5.0

Amazing. Absolutely amazing.

Content Warning: Racism, Transphobia, Ameteur Surgery, Prision, Crimes Against Humanity

Reminds me of The Half-Made World by Felix Gilman and The Gentleman by Forrest Leo with the story in the footnotes, the unique slang, and critique on society. Only Confessions of the Fox is from a trans*male perspective and blows everything else out of the water.

It's only 352 pages but there's so so much inside and I highly recommend taking it slow. It's worth savoring and really digesting it. This is something worth studying and re-reading for sure.

It's a great story within a story that I love to death. Jack and Bess are amazing and adorable. Dr. Voth is the relatable awkward academic torn between survival and morals. I had no idea what would happen next and I was so excited to find out.

It's intersectional balm against our fucked up capitalist society in a way Robin Hood couldn't even dream of.

I've never read, studied, or honestly heard of The Threepenny Opera before. I'm a laywoman feminist. But I had no trouble picking up what Rosenberg is putting down in here. There's also an impressive list of resources in the back that I will be checking out to help my education along.

hannahhadleymaxwell's review against another edition

5.0

Confessions of a Fox is an amazing read. It was funny, heart wrenching, and so truthful. If you are a member of the trans community or love someone who is you will love this book.

vivienholmes's review against another edition

3.0

This book was fun and there were some nice bits but I guess it was hyped as some very fun book to me and being in a fun mood lately (Future Feeling before and Earthlings after) it just didn't live up to it, there's a self-seriousness to it that I just found a little hard to get through and almost gave up about 2/3 of the way through? That middle third drags but it picks up so I am glad I finished it.

also the twist (that I didn't guess but was p heavily signalled that there would be a twist, in which case you generally have to make it worthwhile) just doesn't especially work with like... the quality of the book up to that point? And had quite enjoyed the worminess/insufferability of the footnotist it was a nice detail in how that wasn't thrown at your face but then you wondered what the twist was doing there - idk, still fun.

Enjoyed some bits of the marxy stuff and all the talk of borders, but don't know if the anachronisms was the best way of putting them in there? idk

Overall I enjoyed it and it was different to what I usually read but you know? It's nice to have some trans books that can just be fine with some good bits.

Characters were good, I got through it fairly quick but ultimately... a solid 3 stars.

ktjw's review against another edition

5.0

god tier book that’s hilarious and beautiful. jack is the best kind of main character (scrappy charming underdog thieves who piss off cops and when empowered by the person they love turn out to be inspiring, legendary leaders?? yes pls) and there are so many thoughtful insights about queer + trans memory and history. it can be dense and it’s very rich in political and social insight (abolition, anti-colonialism, anti-capitalism, gender and feminism, etc.) which personally i loved but it’s not always a fun/light read. 10/10 obsessed

readingwithhippos's review against another edition

4.0

If you’re into criminals with hearts of gold and also really enjoy scholarly research and footnotes, you will love this book. It’s two stories in one—the first is about Jack Sheppard, a thief in 1724 London, and the second is about the present-day professor who is transcribing Jack’s manuscript, told entirely through footnotes. The professor’s interest is piqued when he realizes that Jack was a trans man, which is something they share in common. Jack’s story is mesmerizing, his exploits and escapes from jail and his lovely romance with Bess, a prostitute, but the modern story is uneven, at times dry and clinical and at others manic and shout-y. Still, Jack’s thread was compelling enough—and certainly suspenseful enough!—to pull me through. Let’s hear it for historical fiction that doesn’t pretend only straight, cis, white people existed in the past.