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bandysbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
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? Yes
5.0
I came across Nevada on Netgalley as I was scanning for books to read. Once I read the description, I requested the book and was very excited to receive an e-copy.
Nevada follows a trans woman named Maria as she is essentially figuring herself out. She starts out in a relationship that has already run its course, a job that does not fulfill her, and a lot of residual emotional baggage that is preventing her from living her best life. After things implode a bit, she makes a life altering choice and heads out on a roadtrip to Nevada where she meets a young man who may be trans.
I loved this book for a multitude of reasons, but one of the things that was best about it was the way that it delved into how Maria became who she is. Talking about trauma can be extremely heavy and sometimes that can make it a bit hard to absorb from a character, but Binnie wrote about the trauma in short reflections and balanced it often with humor. I found it very easy to understand, take in, and even at times relatable.
I also really enjoyed Maria's sense of adventure. Sometimes that's what we need in life to figure out who we are....a spontaneous crazy decision that forces us out of our comfort zone. I really related to this part.
I didn't find James as relatable and I did find some of the conversation between he and Maria to be a bit uncomfortable, but I feel that that is an intentional choice. I think that questioning one's gender identity and coming of age are not necessarily the most comfortable experiences, so it makes sense that we as the reader might feel some of that discomfort.
I know some people will not appreciate the open ending, but I thought it was sort of fitting. I don't know that character studies necessarily need a concrete ending as people are constantly developing and changing.
All in all, I thought this was very eye opening in some ways, realistic, and a detailed portrayal of what a trans person might experience post-transition and pre-transition. If you enjoy character focused novels, coming of age stories, and explorations of trauma, then this book might be a good fit for you.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. This in no way affects the objectivity of my review.
Nevada follows a trans woman named Maria as she is essentially figuring herself out. She starts out in a relationship that has already run its course, a job that does not fulfill her, and a lot of residual emotional baggage that is preventing her from living her best life. After things implode a bit, she makes a life altering choice and heads out on a roadtrip to Nevada where she meets a young man who may be trans.
I loved this book for a multitude of reasons, but one of the things that was best about it was the way that it delved into how Maria became who she is. Talking about trauma can be extremely heavy and sometimes that can make it a bit hard to absorb from a character, but Binnie wrote about the trauma in short reflections and balanced it often with humor. I found it very easy to understand, take in, and even at times relatable.
I also really enjoyed Maria's sense of adventure. Sometimes that's what we need in life to figure out who we are....a spontaneous crazy decision that forces us out of our comfort zone. I really related to this part.
I didn't find James as relatable and I did find some of the conversation between he and Maria to be a bit uncomfortable, but I feel that that is an intentional choice. I think that questioning one's gender identity and coming of age are not necessarily the most comfortable experiences, so it makes sense that we as the reader might feel some of that discomfort.
I know some people will not appreciate the open ending, but I thought it was sort of fitting. I don't know that character studies necessarily need a concrete ending as people are constantly developing and changing.
All in all, I thought this was very eye opening in some ways, realistic, and a detailed portrayal of what a trans person might experience post-transition and pre-transition. If you enjoy character focused novels, coming of age stories, and explorations of trauma, then this book might be a good fit for you.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. This in no way affects the objectivity of my review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Drug use, Sexual content, and Alcohol
dustghosts's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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
3.25
I keep waffling on how I want to rate this book. It’s a work that feels deeply personal, deeply “of its time,” and like the debut work that it is. I think that “the discourse” (which I say sort-of ironically and in finger-quotes, and sort-of not) around trans issues has necessarily changed enormously since this was written and published— in some positive ways, yes, but also as right-wing groups create bogeyman out of trans people for talking points and cultural control.
All this to say: when I speak with my friends, these days, about whatever the online manufactured inter-community discourse of the day is, I often find myself saying something like, “I wish there was a way for this conversation to be happening, but just between trans people.” And all that to say: that’s what this book feels like to me, a book about and for and between trans people, a conversation that centers us and particularly trans women. It’s not that I wouldn’t want cis people to read it, and it’s not as though it wouldn’t be accessible to people who are not trans— but it’s for us. That’s its strength and its greatest charm, and I think that’s why I want to take its flaws with a grain of salt and a baseline of good will.
It’s not a perfect book, and not one where I feel I agree with everything that the narrators do or say or think— but hearing the author herself read it, you feel the willingness to be wrong, a self-deprecating awareness that to tell an individual trans persons story isn’t to endorse every aspect of it. There are beats that resonate down to the very core, and throughlines that feel eerily familiar, and flawed gold veins of selfishness that feel raw and real.
Our main characters are a little to sometimes a lot pathetic and very humanly flawed and variably likeable depending on the day. Our plot meanders and skids and gets knocked off track and never decides to get back on it. Our narration… feels very much like the 2012-2013, first-person forum writing— but I liked listening to it, and the wry sort-of-bashful-sort-of-cocky self awareness of it. There’s a lot of humor and heart here. There’s a lot of frustration, also. I don’t know that I would want to know most of these people; I felt dragged into the spotlight by some of the similarities I felt with them, too. The afterword was one of the best parts— I loved hearing what the author had to say about what the book is about, and her reflections on her own life in regards to the work, and her discussions about the act of crafting it, and what she chose to show and what to leave out.
Anyway, I didn’t love it the whole way through. Anyway, I couldn’t stop listening. Anyway, I love that it exists. As always, mind the content warnings— mine probably won’t cover it all just because I’ve been noodling around the book itself a little too much.
All this to say: when I speak with my friends, these days, about whatever the online manufactured inter-community discourse of the day is, I often find myself saying something like, “I wish there was a way for this conversation to be happening, but just between trans people.” And all that to say: that’s what this book feels like to me, a book about and for and between trans people, a conversation that centers us and particularly trans women. It’s not that I wouldn’t want cis people to read it, and it’s not as though it wouldn’t be accessible to people who are not trans— but it’s for us. That’s its strength and its greatest charm, and I think that’s why I want to take its flaws with a grain of salt and a baseline of good will.
It’s not a perfect book, and not one where I feel I agree with everything that the narrators do or say or think— but hearing the author herself read it, you feel the willingness to be wrong, a self-deprecating awareness that to tell an individual trans persons story isn’t to endorse every aspect of it. There are beats that resonate down to the very core, and throughlines that feel eerily familiar, and flawed gold veins of selfishness that feel raw and real.
Our main characters are a little to sometimes a lot pathetic and very humanly flawed and variably likeable depending on the day. Our plot meanders and skids and gets knocked off track and never decides to get back on it. Our narration… feels very much like the 2012-2013, first-person forum writing— but I liked listening to it, and the wry sort-of-bashful-sort-of-cocky self awareness of it. There’s a lot of humor and heart here. There’s a lot of frustration, also. I don’t know that I would want to know most of these people; I felt dragged into the spotlight by some of the similarities I felt with them, too. The afterword was one of the best parts— I loved hearing what the author had to say about what the book is about, and her reflections on her own life in regards to the work, and her discussions about the act of crafting it, and what she chose to show and what to leave out.
Anyway, I didn’t love it the whole way through. Anyway, I couldn’t stop listening. Anyway, I love that it exists. As always, mind the content warnings— mine probably won’t cover it all just because I’ve been noodling around the book itself a little too much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
carly_they_themsen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
wow! lovely. 3 stars, just shy of 4. the writing style wasn't my favorite, and i didn't love all the new york stuff, but the second half of the book, especially the ending, was fantastic. im OBSESSED with the last chapter of this book. the afterword was lovely too and gave me a lot of recommendations to read more stuff [:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
detailed discussion of autogynephilia and other transphobic tropeskcarri's review
4.0
At one point in this book, Maria dreams about writing the next great American novel. To an extent, Binnie actualises this dream.
Nevada is one hell of a book depicting two separate yet entwined lives that eventually cross. It's an exploration of American society, relationship, queer spaces both online and off and, of course, transness and the plethora of ways that may manifest. Above all, its about kinship and expectations that often are never met.
It's radical, raw, and important, perhaps more than ever.
Go into it blind, and even better, listen to it blind. The audiobook is phenomenal, read by Binnie herself, but please make sure your headphone connection is good because some sequences - including the 1st chapter - are not what you want your mam to hear.
But, also, like real life, don't go expecting nice, neat resolutions or plot points. That's not what this book is about and it was never meant to be.
Nevada is one hell of a book depicting two separate yet entwined lives that eventually cross. It's an exploration of American society, relationship, queer spaces both online and off and, of course, transness and the plethora of ways that may manifest. Above all, its about kinship and expectations that often are never met.
It's radical, raw, and important, perhaps more than ever.
Go into it blind, and even better, listen to it blind. The audiobook is phenomenal, read by Binnie herself, but please make sure your headphone connection is good because some sequences - including the 1st chapter - are not what you want your mam to hear.
But, also, like real life, don't go expecting nice, neat resolutions or plot points. That's not what this book is about and it was never meant to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, and Transphobia
sincetheflood's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Transphobia, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Medical content
souplover2001's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
love books w "unlikable" protagonists n i enjoyed maria a lot as a narrator + loved listening to the added insights from imogen binnie at the end!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Transphobia
Minor: Drug use
redrosemoth's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Minor: Outing
elizmoe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Sexual content, Transphobia, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Infidelity, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Injury/Injury detail
doughboyy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Transphobia
cassielaj's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A fascinating work of art filled with incredible insights into a trans person’s experience, without depicting the transition period (which the author says is a cisnormative concept of how trans people experience it, because it’s not about a switch from one gender to another (because there are more than two; gender is a spectrum)— trans is an identity in itself, full of its own unique experiences and feelings, depicted so honestly in this novel).
It’s funny and gloomy and insightful and makes you think. Read the new version with the afterword.
It’s funny and gloomy and insightful and makes you think. Read the new version with the afterword.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Transphobia, and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual content