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gehrtsm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
queerkegaard96's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely love this book and was obsessed with it!
queerkegaard96's review against another edition
5.0
If books could change your life, this is one of them for me. It made me realize I was contorting myself into the shape of whatever got me the most respect, but I sanded off parts of me to fit into a square peg that didn’t make me comfortable all the time. I love Paul, I am Paul, I want to be like Paul.
Paul Polydoris belonged to all of the genders. Meet a genderfluid shapeshifter in 1993 as he traverses across the US from Iowa City to Chicago to ProvinceTown to San Francisco. Time travel to queer punk subcultures, leather bars, dyke music festivals, and so much more. Feel the magic, the longing, the eroticism, the belonging/not-belonging.
A quote that gets me every time: Paul meets another genderfluid shapeshifter, Robin, and he asks what they are. Robin responds, “We’re just like everyone else, only more so.”
I am like everyone else, not in a respectability politic kind of way, but in a way that I know I’m not alone….even when it feels like no one can understand me.
Something really important about this book is also how EROTIC it is. There’s a lot of sex that happens and I think it’s beautiful, refreshing and something that I need in a book about queer subcultures. There’s something about sex where you can’t hide yourself - not really. It’s some of the most raw & vulnerable states you can be in and where you feel aligned and loved, and respected - it changes you.
Paul Polydoris belonged to all of the genders. Meet a genderfluid shapeshifter in 1993 as he traverses across the US from Iowa City to Chicago to ProvinceTown to San Francisco. Time travel to queer punk subcultures, leather bars, dyke music festivals, and so much more. Feel the magic, the longing, the eroticism, the belonging/not-belonging.
A quote that gets me every time: Paul meets another genderfluid shapeshifter, Robin, and he asks what they are. Robin responds, “We’re just like everyone else, only more so.”
I am like everyone else, not in a respectability politic kind of way, but in a way that I know I’m not alone….even when it feels like no one can understand me.
Something really important about this book is also how EROTIC it is. There’s a lot of sex that happens and I think it’s beautiful, refreshing and something that I need in a book about queer subcultures. There’s something about sex where you can’t hide yourself - not really. It’s some of the most raw & vulnerable states you can be in and where you feel aligned and loved, and respected - it changes you.
saintry's review against another edition
1.0
I had to DNF this a quarter of the way through. I am not sure why everyone seems to think that this is a quintessential queer read. There was no plot beyond hypersexualizing trans/genderqueer/gender expansive people as the author fixates on the main character’s raunchy sexual conquests and how they shift their bodily gender based on who they wish to have sex with. I have seen so many great reviews and was just very disappointed with the quality of writing, reliance on this negative stereotyping of queer people being hyper sexual, and lack of plot.
bbygalreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
isering's review against another edition
5.0
Finally got around to reading this after buying it last Christmas! Paul/Polly can shapeshift and wants to find out what it's like to have sex in various bodies/configurations. Set in 1993, AIDS hovers in the background throughout, but Paul is very much avoiding Thinking About It. Extremely sexy and also very funny, I sent quite a few choice quotes to friends. Lots of queer inside jokes (eg a page-long musing about the difference between butch/femme/SM clothes signifiers), and also a lot of American Stuff that went straight over my head. Generally, lots of jokes I got and then many more I didn't - like listening to a very witty person at a party. Highly recommend.
m441ke's review against another edition
2.0
To much unnecessary sex for me, personally. Some good bits, disappointing ending.
16cxndles's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-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
chrishham's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0