Pageboy by Elliot Page

 

With June being Pride Month, I wanted to make sure and read a book that falls into the LGBTQIA+ category this month.

I chose to listen. to the unabridged audio version of Pageboy by Elliot Page, which is narrated by the author. I've had Pageboy on my reading wishlist for a while, so I'm pleased to have finally read it.

Elliot Page is a transgender, male actor. I first became aware of Elliot Page when he was female actress, Ellen Page. I remember watching Ellen Page in the movie, 'Hard Candy', with my husband and we enjoyed this movie. I know that Elliot Page has acted in several movies, but I've only watched two of them. 

I'm always curious about the lives of other people and as a cis gender, heterosexual woman, I definitely am up for learning more about the LGBTQIA+ community.

I found it interesting to learn about Elliot Page's background and how he determined he was transgender. What did his journey to becoming a transgender man look like? Gender dysphoria, self-harm, and an eating disorder were all discussed by Elliot Page in his memoir. Also, home life split between divorced parents wasn't easy for Elliot Page growing up either. His dad and step-mother weren't ideal parents as described by the author. Elliot Page also talks about his acting career and romantic relationships too.

Below is the publisher's summary for Pageboy by Elliot Page found on the Goodreads website:

Pageboy is a groundbreaking coming-of-age memoir from the Academy Award-nominated actor Elliot Page. A generation-defining actor and one of the most famous trans advocates of our time, Elliot will now be known as an uncommon literary talent, as he shares never-before-heard details and intimate interrogations on gender, love, mental health, relationships, and Hollywood.

I am giving Pageboy by Elliot Page a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!!

Woodworking by Emily St. James

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Woodworking by Emily St. James and is very well narrated by several narrators.

Woodworking by Emily St. James is the April book selection for the Online Rainbow Book Club hosted by my public library. 

Woodworking by Emily St. James is an excellent novel and is my favorite book club selection for the Online Rainbow Book Club to date. 

Woodworking is a novel set in South Dakota in the year 2016. This novel touches upon so much - trans identity, friendship, politics, finding oneself, and coming of age are just a few of the topics that all come together in this novel. Also, as a back drop for Woodworking, the 2016 election is looming and we read how potential policies being proposed in this novel could effect the lives of trans people. Woodworking isn't really a political novel at all, but the topic of politics does come up in the novel as part of the storyline.

The primary focus of Woodworking is on the lives of three different trans women at different stages in their transition journey. All three women are at different stages in their journey and are different ages.

I really enjoyed all of the characters in Woodworking, especially Abigail Hawkes, a trans teen with a wicked sense of humor. The writing for Woodworking is excellent. There are so many layers to this novel that it is difficult to describe all of the nuances to give readers a sense of how wonderful written this novel really is. 

Plus, I don't want to give away too many details about the storyline/plot to spoil it for those whom want to read Woodworking. Suffice it to say, I truly enjoyed reading Woodworking!

At the end of the audiobook, Emily St. James mentions the website, Assigned Media, as a resource for transgender news. Click on the link to learn more about the latest transgender news.

Below is the publisher's summary for Woodworking by Emily St. James, which I discovered through the Goodreads website:

An unforgettable and heartwarming debut following a trans high school teacher from a small town in South Dakota who befriends the only other trans woman she knows: one of her students.

Erica Skyberg is thirty-five years old, recently divorced—and trans. Not that she's told anyone yet. Mitchell, South Dakota, isn't exactly bursting with other trans women. Instead, she keeps to herself, teaching by day and directing community theater by night. That is, until Abigail Hawkes enters her orbit.

Abigail is seventeen, Mitchell High’s resident political dissident and Only Trans Girl. It’s a role she plays faultlessly, albeit a little reluctantly. She's also annoyed by the idea of spending her senior year secretly guiding her English teacher through her transition. But Abigail remembers the uncertainty—and loneliness—that comes with it. Besides, Erica isn’t the only one struggling to shed the weight of others’ expectations.

As their unlikely friendship evolves under the increasing scrutiny of their community, both women—and those closest to them—will come to realize that sometimes there is nothing more radical than letting the world see who you really are.

Detransition Baby meets Fleishman is in Trouble in this remarkable debut novel from an incisive contemporary voice. A story about the awkwardness of growing up and the greatest love story of all, that between us and our friends, Woodworking is a tonic for the moment and a celebration of womanhood in all its multifaceted joy.

I am giving Woodworking by Emily St. James a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Pet by Akwaeke Emezi, which was richly narrated by Christopher Myers. 

Pet has been on my reading wishlist for ages!! I am so happy to have finally read this young adult novel as it is spectacularly well written!! Pet is also a work of speculative fiction and deals with lgtbtqia+ elements.

One of the many reasons, I finally decided to read Pet by Akwaeke Emezi is that it is Banned Books Week. Pet by Akwaeke Emezi has been banned/challenged "in some Texas locations and pulled from some libraries due to its LGBTQ+ themes, particularly its transgender girl protagonist, Jam."

I don't know about you, but banned/challenged books usually make the BEST reads, in my opinion, and Pet does not disappoint!

I loved the writing, characters, and storyline for Pet. Pet is set in a utopian city called, Lucille. In the city of Lucille, crime has 'supposedly' been obliterated by angels. However, crime hasn't been obliterated as a most evil scenario has gone unchecked for a long time that an intervention occurs. 

I think the following sentence from the publisher's summary sums it the best. "What really makes a monster, and how do you save the world from something if no one will admit it exists?"

Pet is an engaging read that captivates your attention from start to finish. I don't want to spoil any more of the plot at this point. So... just go read Pet already!!

As a side note, I often feel like both the young adult and children's genres are kind of undervalued at times. As an adult, I find reading novels like Pet to be excellent in containing thoughtful, teachable messages that are very relevant despite the darker topics sometimes discussed in these types of books. Despite the fact that Pet may be a young adult novel, it's still a good read for adults too.

Pet marks my third read for the month of September.

Below is the publisher's summary for Pet by Akwaeke Emezi from Chirp's website:

National Book Award Finalist

Stonewall Book Award Winner

“[A] beautiful, genre-expanding debut…Pet is a nesting doll of creative possibilities.” (The New York Times)

The award-winning, genre-defying novel by the New York Times best-selling author of The Death of Vivek Oji that explores themes of identity and justice and asks: How do you share the truth when the world around you is in denial?

Pet is here to hunt a monster. Are you brave enough to look?

There are no monsters anymore, or so the children in the city of Lucille are taught. Jam and her best friend, Redemption, have grown up with the lesson that the city is safe for everyone. But when Jam meets Pet, a creature who some might call monstrous but, in reality, is anything but, she must reconsider what she’s been told. Pet has emerged from one of her mother’s paintings to hunt a true monster - and the shadow of something grim lurks in Redemption’s house. No one has encountered monsters in years, though, and Jam’s quest to protect her best friend and uncover the truth is met with doubt and disbelief.

This award-winning novel from a rising-star author asks: What really makes a monster, and how do you save the world from something if no one will admit it exists?

I am giving Pet by Akwaeke Emezi a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!