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A review by reubenalbatross
The Book of Etta by Meg Elison
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.75
After reading the 'Book of the Unnamed Midwife' I was hoping for more trans rep in its sequel. For a book about a woman pretending to be a man, there seemed an odd lack of the topic. However, I now wish that this author had NEVER written about trans characters. I honestly can't tell if this author is transphobic or just severely, severely misinformed. Either way, the trans rep in this book is appallingly harmful and inaccurate.
I'm pretty disappointed I'm having to write all of this, because the parts of the book that didn't focus on LGBT issues were actually pretty enjoyable. I loved seeing the different versions of civilisations that had been created over time, and liked the Midwife/idol angle. However, the bad FAR outweighs the good in this case.
Please note that I am a trans man myself, so I am somewhat of an authority on this matter. The following are some of the things that really stuck out in this book:
1. There are many instances where trans/gender non-conforming people are labelled as 'pretending' to be another gender. One of the glaring examples of this is when Etta/Eddy (E from here on) refers to a transwoman as being a 'trick'. Most of the instances of this behaviour come from E's viewpoint, so I am hoping it is just internal transphobia being shown, rather than the author's real beliefs, but it is very difficult to gauge in this book, which isn't usually a good sign.
2. The book EXPLICITLY states that E became transgender after experiencing sexual trauma. This is an extremely damaging and false idea. Trans people are trans from birth, it is not a result of trauma. In addition, Eddy and Etta are portrayed as being two completely separate identities in E's head. That is not how ANY kind of trans people work, even if they're non-binary or gender fluid. Elison is portraying this transgender character as being a mix of transgender and having a mental health disorder like schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder. This means that Elison clearly equates being trans with having a mental illness, which is completely transphobic and untrue.
3. Through E we also see Elison being pretty misogynistic. E is Eddy when they're being big, strong and tough, and is Etta when being more emotionally vulnerable, loved, or sexually abused. (In case you don't know Elision, all genders are capable of everything). She also, somehow, in a rugged post-apocalyptic world, managed to make the removal of body hair the desired thing for women - give it a fucking rest!
4. The transwoman character is stated to be trans BECAUSE she was castrated as a child. Excuse me?? That's not how any of that works - castrated boys usually live as men, castration does not change gender. Elison clearly states that the character was one of the catamites (and therefore castrated) but she grows facial hair?? NOT HOW THAT WORKS. Also, its suggested that this character dyes her hair red purely because she's trans - what on Earth is that going to achieve in term of looking more feminine??
5. Elison also puts this transwoman in the villain role towards the end of the book. She is seen as the single reason a whole settlement gets destroyed and its women imprisoned, because she 'corrupts' and steals away a cis-lesbian character, and then sides with the male characters. That's some pretty TERF-y behaviour from Elison.
6. Another less damaging, but still worrying point is that Etta is attracted to every single woman she comes into contact with, and sleeps with the majority of them. This is a horrible stereotype about gay people, that they want to shag every person of the same gender, so it’s pretty misguided that Elison included this in the book.
7. The fact that the main 'avenging angels'/heroes of the book were Mormons, and the religious/supernatural elements that are laced into this book further my belief that Elison is transphobic, as most heavily religious people are, especially in America.
For a book that focuses so much on transgender issues, Elison should have at least done SOME research, which she clearly hasn't. I bet she’s never even had a conversation with a trans person before. It’s also very clear that this book was not read by a single trans person before it was published, or it would never have seen the light of day.
I've read up on Elison and can see she claims to be a very inclusive author, especially for women's issues. I think she's a TERF. If you truly want to be inclusive Elison, please actually listen to the voices you are writing about, rather spewing damaging and inaccurate nonsense that does way more harm than good.
I'm pretty disappointed I'm having to write all of this, because the parts of the book that didn't focus on LGBT issues were actually pretty enjoyable. I loved seeing the different versions of civilisations that had been created over time, and liked the Midwife/idol angle. However, the bad FAR outweighs the good in this case.
Please note that I am a trans man myself, so I am somewhat of an authority on this matter. The following are some of the things that really stuck out in this book:
1. There are many instances where trans/gender non-conforming people are labelled as 'pretending' to be another gender. One of the glaring examples of this is when Etta/Eddy (E from here on) refers to a transwoman as being a 'trick'. Most of the instances of this behaviour come from E's viewpoint, so I am hoping it is just internal transphobia being shown, rather than the author's real beliefs, but it is very difficult to gauge in this book, which isn't usually a good sign.
2. The book EXPLICITLY states that E became transgender after experiencing sexual trauma. This is an extremely damaging and false idea. Trans people are trans from birth, it is not a result of trauma. In addition, Eddy and Etta are portrayed as being two completely separate identities in E's head. That is not how ANY kind of trans people work, even if they're non-binary or gender fluid. Elison is portraying this transgender character as being a mix of transgender and having a mental health disorder like schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder. This means that Elison clearly equates being trans with having a mental illness, which is completely transphobic and untrue.
3. Through E we also see Elison being pretty misogynistic. E is Eddy when they're being big, strong and tough, and is Etta when being more emotionally vulnerable, loved, or sexually abused. (In case you don't know Elision, all genders are capable of everything). She also, somehow, in a rugged post-apocalyptic world, managed to make the removal of body hair the desired thing for women - give it a fucking rest!
4. The transwoman character is stated to be trans BECAUSE she was castrated as a child. Excuse me?? That's not how any of that works - castrated boys usually live as men, castration does not change gender. Elison clearly states that the character was one of the catamites (and therefore castrated) but she grows facial hair?? NOT HOW THAT WORKS. Also, its suggested that this character dyes her hair red purely because she's trans - what on Earth is that going to achieve in term of looking more feminine??
5. Elison also puts this transwoman in the villain role towards the end of the book. She is seen as the single reason a whole settlement gets destroyed and its women imprisoned, because she 'corrupts' and steals away a cis-lesbian character, and then sides with the male characters. That's some pretty TERF-y behaviour from Elison.
6. Another less damaging, but still worrying point is that Etta is attracted to every single woman she comes into contact with, and sleeps with the majority of them. This is a horrible stereotype about gay people, that they want to shag every person of the same gender, so it’s pretty misguided that Elison included this in the book.
7. The fact that the main 'avenging angels'/heroes of the book were Mormons, and the religious/supernatural elements that are laced into this book further my belief that Elison is transphobic, as most heavily religious people are, especially in America.
For a book that focuses so much on transgender issues, Elison should have at least done SOME research, which she clearly hasn't. I bet she’s never even had a conversation with a trans person before. It’s also very clear that this book was not read by a single trans person before it was published, or it would never have seen the light of day.
I've read up on Elison and can see she claims to be a very inclusive author, especially for women's issues. I think she's a TERF. If you truly want to be inclusive Elison, please actually listen to the voices you are writing about, rather spewing damaging and inaccurate nonsense that does way more harm than good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia