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A review by chromiumboron
Pageboy by Elliot Page
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
I have always loved Elliot Page, and he really got me good with this book.
Towards the end, he wrote about how he is unsure if he ever truly experienced love because although he feels like he has, how can that be true when he hasn't been him until now? I had to take a beat with this. I have been reflecting a lot on unconditional love and what that looks like as a queer person who is related to a lot of homophobic people. Can it truly exist? My queer journey is different than Elliot's, but the sentiment is relatable all the same. Later on that same page, he talks about possibilities and how that is perhaps a main thing we're missing in a world lacking representation. For many queer people, it's simply not an option to be queer. It's not a possibility that enters our brain. I found this deeply relatable, as well, not having recognized my own queerness until later in my twenties.
Lastly, I appreciated the way in which Elliot wrote about his father and the emotional neglect he experienced and how it affected their relationship and his growth as a person. I think it's common for people to experience "milder" forms of abuse and to not recognize it as such simply because it's not as severe as we might picture when someone says the word abuse. I use the term mild cautiously, as abuse is abuse and doesn't feel mild. I appreciated the honesty with which Elliot talked about their experience because I think that many of us will recognize some of our own experience in his. By recognizing the emotional neglect as abuse, Elliot is creating space for others who look up to him and read this book to do the same. As someone who has been grappling with toxic family dynamics a lot lately, this space was really appreciated and needed.</spoilers/>
Lastly, I appreciated the way in which Elliot wrote about his father and the emotional neglect he experienced and how it affected their relationship and his growth as a person. I think it's common for people to experience "milder" forms of abuse and to not recognize it as such simply because it's not as severe as we might picture when someone says the word abuse. I use the term mild cautiously, as abuse is abuse and doesn't feel mild. I appreciated the honesty with which Elliot talked about their experience because I think that many of us will recognize some of our own experience in his. By recognizing the emotional neglect as abuse, Elliot is creating space for others who look up to him and read this book to do the same. As someone who has been grappling with toxic family dynamics a lot lately, this space was really appreciated and needed.</spoilers/>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexism, Transphobia, Stalking, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, and Emotional abuse