Psychopomps by Alex DiFrancesco is a deeply personal and profound collection of essays. DiFrancesco writes thoughtfully about being trans, their family, found community, spirituality, and mental illness. I’m struck especially by the deftness with which they explore their feelings of disappointment in the state of the world, threaded with persistent (even when small) hope for a better future. I also loved the way they often observe and illuminate these kinds of real life symbolism, like the way trans people will gift each other the clothing they wore before they were able to present as their true selves, making “the people our friends once were a major part of the people we are becoming.” Also, this is the first book I’ve read where someone talks casually about real polyamorous relationships, and it was really exciting to me to see DiFrancesco normalize this practice so effortlessly. ⁣
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I’m sure each essay stands alone beautifully, but they fit together cohesively in a way essay collections sometimes do not. I would definitely recommend reading this collection straight through as printed; DiFrancesco writes often about their relationships, and familiarity with the people in their life gained from preceding essays enriches the experience as you progress. Highly recommend this moving collection of essays which will sit alongside your soul and nourish you with all the food for thought.