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kassiereadsbooks's Reviews (786)
I truly value moments when the right book finds me at the right time and this is one of those moments. I want to separate this review from the John Green-ness of it all because I do worry that his name makes it hard for certain people to believe the hype.
What really needs to be said is that this book, more than any article or medical text, has helped me bridge the gap between real mental and medical problems some of my closest loved ones have attempted to describe to me and my own fairly neurotypical experiencing of the world. Simply put, yes, it's well written (as is to be expected), but moreover I think it has made me a better and more understanding person and for that I'm so thankful. This book gave me a toolkit when I was grasping at straws.
Bravo to the team behind Turtles All the Way Down, y'all put out a really fine piece of YA.
What really needs to be said is that this book, more than any article or medical text, has helped me bridge the gap between real mental and medical problems some of my closest loved ones have attempted to describe to me and my own fairly neurotypical experiencing of the world. Simply put, yes, it's well written (as is to be expected), but moreover I think it has made me a better and more understanding person and for that I'm so thankful. This book gave me a toolkit when I was grasping at straws.
Bravo to the team behind Turtles All the Way Down, y'all put out a really fine piece of YA.
Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?: And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House
Lauren Oyler, Alyssa Mastromonaco
Exactly what I needed right now. I have no doubts I'll return to this book in the future when I need to kick my own ass into gear.
This memoir is split into two perspectives, a trans man reflecting on the early days of realizing his identity, and his mother who struggled with said identity. While I have found many trans memoirs that are written for young people to be overly juvenile, this memoir remained steadfast in its decision to never talk down to the reader, while still providing accessibility and definitions along the way; proof it was written by two academics. Originally I struggled with the inconclusiveness of the text -- where does this leave us?! But the memoir mirrors life in this way, as one is never done changing, never done identifying, and never done communicating.
I can't say it's not painful to read Mary's sections of the memoir. As an educated woman her push back and resistance is frustrating to the reader, however I feel that it may be a very sympathetic voice to parents going through the same issues. Donald's sections are impressively written, and researched -- truly recommended reading for young people attempting to understand the breadth of the trans experience or who are transgender themselves. Both collaborate with an honesty that is admirable and almost unbelievable.
It's a very real read, it's nothing like the proliferation of memoirs by over-exposed teens using ghost writers (which in this genre is very easy to find). What it lacks in a satisfying "complete" ending of achieving a newly minted perfect relationship, it makes up for in the visceral emotion and knowledgeability of the writers. Should be on every bookstore front-table for Pride month and beyond.
I can't say it's not painful to read Mary's sections of the memoir. As an educated woman her push back and resistance is frustrating to the reader, however I feel that it may be a very sympathetic voice to parents going through the same issues. Donald's sections are impressively written, and researched -- truly recommended reading for young people attempting to understand the breadth of the trans experience or who are transgender themselves. Both collaborate with an honesty that is admirable and almost unbelievable.
It's a very real read, it's nothing like the proliferation of memoirs by over-exposed teens using ghost writers (which in this genre is very easy to find). What it lacks in a satisfying "complete" ending of achieving a newly minted perfect relationship, it makes up for in the visceral emotion and knowledgeability of the writers. Should be on every bookstore front-table for Pride month and beyond.
