I’ve never read a western, but after being recommended this book by a coworker and seeing it around booktube, I had to read it. And it absolutely did not disappoint. It’s so incredibly queer, there is polyamory representation, the social commentary is spot-on, and the genre is just so cool. I’ve never wanted to read westerns, but this queer and political twist makes it utterly fascinating and a joy to read. I even enjoyed the action scenes, which is a rare feat accomplished (in this case) by a focus on strategy and actual respect and remorse for death. My only complaint is that it is too short. I need an entire series of this!

This memoir takes us through Laura Jane Grace's life from her late childhood and beginnings in the punk scene, up through her time in Against Me! until now. You get a direct look at her emotions and behaviors both through current narrative and diary entries from her past. While the memoir is primarily focused on her music and involvement in the band, her discussion of drug use and abuse as well as her gender dysphoria are integral to her experience. 

The raw discomfort in parts of this book speaks to a lot of emotions that come through in her music -and is a large part of what has compelled me to her art. She doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable details - even when she is the asshole, which I found particularly refreshing. She is open about the myriad of emotions that she felt through her own transition, even those that don't fit the typical trans narrative that is popular in media. 

Parts of this book hit those deep nerves, while you don't get the same details in other areas. The absence of those details is heightened by her choice to include those that she chose to include. As much as that could sound like a criticism, it's not. These gaps aren't holes in the story - they're in the details of relationships. In no re-telling of someone's life will you get the full picture and that's part of the beauty of it. The gaps are just as important as the details that are given. There is a certain amount of vulnerability in the not telling that adds to the raw beauty of the story. 

I found this to be a very enjoyable read. This work is an important to understanding various parts of the punk scene, the music industry, and the trans community. Her experience is not going to be the exact same as everyone in any of these three groups, however her experience does hilight important parts of each of these groups.

Reading this was an incredible experience. I adore the format of this translation and how it indicates what is torn or missing. There are so many beautiful poems, some long form and some single lines. There’s also beauty in the missing pieces -the fragmentation itself is its own poetry. I'm simply enamored.

This was okay over all, but I didn't really get into it. The characters were quite shallow (in more ways than one). But, the mystery in parts of the plot does have me interested enough to want to read the next volume. It is difficult to have a really solid opinion; parts of the plot and characters need more development - but this is only the first volume, so I would assume that more of that happens over time. I am pretty ambivalent about this one, but I am willing to give the next volume a try to see where it goes.

I’ll be honest, after chapter 1, I was concerned that this was overhyped. But once you start getting backstory in chapter two, it only gets better from there. After I finished Volume 1, I stayed up until 4am reading all of the online comics. I haven’t experienced this much pure, unadulterated, fanperson joy since reading my favorite fluffy fanfictions of my OTP in 2016. This made me feel like that without the already established feelings that you have going into a fanfiction. It’s fluffy and wonderful- but actually hits on tougher topics (including realistic questioning and discussion of bisexuality). It deserves all the hype it has gotten and more

Update: I reread it again after watching the show and I am completely in love with the series. It is my entire personality now and I regret nothing. 

I adore Andrea Gibson. This book is a series of excerpts and quotes from their poetry. These lines are beautiful in their original context and alone, as they are in this book. This is separated into three parts, exploring some of the common themes in Gibson's work: "On Love", "On the World", and "On Becoming". This book gave me chills, made me laugh, made me cry, made me want to go do something for others, and made me want to go do something for myself. It was an absolute joy to read. I really do want to take this little book with me wherever I go.

While this book discusses race in the context of politics over 25 years ago, it is still incredibly relevant today. This book discusses key cultural issues that are being missed in much of the mainstream conversation on race (on the right and left) including: the nihilism and lack of love (and self-love) that comes from being in a white supremacist society, and the harm of individualism and loss of community connection from American capitalism, among other things. It deconstructs a few political perspectives and how they each miss parts of the economic and cultural changes - but he also builds on some of those that he critiques. There is a clear focus on self-love as well as solidarity in the solutions West is seeking. I do wish that it had been longer, to see some of what he said expanded on. 

I'm not sure if this is 4.5 star, 5 star, or somewhere in between - regardless, this was a great book and should be essential reading for anyone doing activism or discussing race in the US.