A review by spinesinaline
Love Speech by Xiao Xuan/ Sherry Huang

3.0

Thanks to Metatron Press for a copy to review! More reviews on my blog, https://spinesinaline.wordpress.com

The blurb caught my attention because I’ve read some of Judith Butler’s work and was interested in learning more about gender studies and language. At the same time, I found the blurb overwhelming and thought this was likely one I’d need to take my time with and maybe have a dictionary handy.

This may be better for someone who has more of a background in gender studies. The author draws on a lot of existing theory (none of which I’ve read besides Butler) and I couldn’t always follow along because she’s not using this space to explain them, more to bring them together. I feel like you should read the theory first, or at least while you’re reading Xuan’s piece so you can better understand her points.

That said, I found she didn’t make all that many points herself. It felt like a big mashup of quotes from all these other authors that there was so little space for her own voice. She doesn’t say much to connect them in her own words — what she does say is quite powerful but I want to hear even more from her and for her to make more of her own statement in the midst of what everyone else is saying.