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Hello Cruel World
Hello Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws | Kate Bornstein
13 posts | 3 read | 1 to read
Celebrated transsexual trailblazer Kate Bornstein has, with more humor and spunk than any other, ushered us into a world of limitless possibility through a daring re-envisionment of the gender system as we know it. Here, Bornstein bravely and wittily shares personal and unorthodox methods of survival in an often cruel world. A one-of-a-kind guide to staying alive outside the box, Hello, Cruel World is a much-needed unconventional approach to life for those who want to stay on the edge, but alive. Hello, Cruel World features a catalog of 101 alternatives to suicide that range from the playful (moisturize!), to the irreverent (shatter some family values), to the highly controversial. Designed to encourage readers to give themselves permission to unleash their hearts' harmless desires, the book has only one directive: "Don't be mean." It is this guiding principle that brings its reader on a self-validating journey, which forges wholly new paths toward a resounding decision to choose life. Tenderly intimate and unapologetically edgy, Kate Bornstein is the radical role model, the affectionate best friend, and the guiding mentor all in one.
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Bookwomble
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I love the idea of this book, and found it generally sensitive to the diversity of its intended readership. Where Bornstein seemed to have blindspots were with sex and religion. She recommends sex as a solution in quite a few of her alternatives, and when addressing people whose expression of sexuality is a cause of their oppression I get that, but it leaves behind those who identify as asexual, or who just aren't interested in it for now. 👇👇

Bookwomble While promoting the diversity of religious expression available over any "one true faith", Bornstein had no word to say for those who hold an atheistic position. It's a shame, as with just a few tweeks these omissions could have been easily rectified. However, I'm focusing on the lapses in an otherwise thoughtful and amusingly written book about being kind to yourself, giving yourself a break, and not putting up with any shit, others' or your own. 6y
13 likes1 comment
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Bookwomble
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The standards of beauty in America's über-culture are purposefully set too high so that we will buy anything in our frantic scramble to become attractive. We are meant to feel crushed, inadequate, and less-than so that we'll buy more and more things in the vain hope of "fixing" ourselves.

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Bookwomble
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When God says no to your harmless desires, it's time to get another God.

Bookwomble ... Or none. 6y
5 likes1 comment
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Bookwomble
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Are you breaking some either/or cultural law, just by being who you are? If so, you're not alone.

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Bookwomble
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Try This: Imagine the world as a place where anyone can safely and even joyfully express themselves the way they‘ve always wanted to. Nothing about the bodies they were born with or what they choose to do with those bodies – how they dress them, or decorate, or trim or augment them – would get people laughed at, or targeted, or in any way deprived of their rights. Can you imagine a world like that?

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Bookwomble
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First buy from the book fair. Lunch now and back later for a workshop, if I'm in time!

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Harriet.morris
Pickpick

Sup. My names harriet Morris and there a few things you should know about me I'm a massive feminist,I'm a lesbian.on this account il be reviewing mostly books about LGBT and feminism and talking about how the media portrays these two subjects. If you want to know some more about me I love cats I have brown eyes and I relate to princess bubblegum from adventure time to much. So come along on my journey and enjoy my hopefully helpful book reviews

MrBook Nice review!!! And welcome to Litsy! Hope you enjoy your stay. This is the best bookish community. 😊👍🏻 7y
RaimeyGallant Welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon (edited) 7y
Booksnchill Welcome home!! 7y
Jess7 Welcome! 7y
9 likes4 comments
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CandycaneBelle
Pickpick

Everyone who doesn't feel like they fit in needs to read this book. I feel like buying it for everyone and having a couple copies to loan out. This book would be a life line, a raft for a drowning person and is written by a self identified freak and outcast! HIGHLY RECOMMEND

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CandycaneBelle
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This. All of this

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CandycaneBelle
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Love the idea of tarot cards!

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CandycaneBelle
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The slayer.....well if anybody would understand angst it is Buffy or Faith

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CandycaneBelle
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I love how Kate gives all the alternatives and then a step by step encouragement! This book is SO SO important and should be in every library or required reading for high schoolers everywhere

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CandycaneBelle
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Tidy your campsite before you move on