Welcome to Litsy!

Today is International Trans Day of Visibility!

I read 2 books for The Trans Rights Readathon Both are written by Trans author focused on Trans people/characters I recommend both! -

A Trans Man Walks Into A Gay Bar - Harry Nicholas (nonficiton bio w/ lots of reflection)
Nevada - Imogen Binnie (Cult classic fiction book about a woman who breaks up with her long time girlfriend and goes on a search for herself)

This is my choice for the #transrightsreadathon! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️ Unfortunately, it arrived with weird sticky spots, but I‘m just going roll with it. 🤔🫣

#SundayFunday @BookmarkTavern
#TransRightsReadathon

I am! I just finished Nevada (a cult classic) and am reading A Trans Man Walks Into A Gay Bar which I am really liking and up next I have either the biography An Apartment On Uranus or the novel Ponyboy both look excellent.

#TransRightsReadathon

I am so glad I finally got to this cult classic!

I enjoyed messy Maria. She has been living her truth for ten years and she still doesn't have it all figured out. So when she meets a young guy in Nevada who reminds her of herself before transitioning she wants to be an inspiration for him. I thought the message was on point, the book moved at a good interesting clip even with a lot of introspection. I enjoyed this.

#NetGalley

The first half of this book was excellent. Nevada is the story of a trans woman and I loved how immersive the writing was in the beginning. I truly felt like I was seeing and experiencing the world through her eyes. I've been seeking out books like this in order to educate myself more.

Sadly, the second half changes the POV and I wasn't as invested. The two parts just didn't work for me and the ending was abrupt and felt unfinished.

The book may not have been my favorite, but the coffee, mimosa, and bagel were delightful. The company was pretty great, too. 😏 #Queer #BookClub #QuillBooksandBeverage #Maine

The occasional line makes this less painful but I‘m really not into this book.

I may have been procrastinating for Reasons.

Eventually you can't help but figure out that, while gender is a construct, so is a traffic light, and if you ignore either of them, you get hit by cars. Which, also, are constructs.

I found this picture from 2016, of Franklin (a.k.a. Kitteh Boy) posing with my library copy of Nevada (a very good book by the way). I thought y'all might enjoy it. #catsoflitsy

#riotgrams day 2: current read

I think this is between a pick and so-so. It‘s definitely worth reading and if your cis-hetero I guarantee you‘ve never had access to this kind of insight into being a trans woman. The second half of the book switched narrative voices and that‘s where it lags a bit, but Maria Griffiths‘ messed up punk leaning aesthetic is so engaging in the first, its worth it. Also important as a more inclusive feminism continues to evolve. #feminism #punk #trans

Just started this story of a mid-20s, punk rock aesthetic, book store working trans woman in NYC. The narrative voice is fresh and exciting, and the insight into the challenges or struggles this particular narrator faces as a transperson is a perspective I‘ve not come across before.

Hey friends! I wanted to share the holiday book drive for the LGBTQ2IA library I run in Vancouver! We're running a campaign to get donations of queer books on our wishlist! You buy/donate a book, send/drop it off, and we make a custom book plate with a dedication to whoever you want! It's a great present for you or someone else that'll make you feel warm and fuzzy! Details: https://outontheshelveslibraryblog.wordpress.com/holigay-book-drive/

Trans women in real life are different from trans women on television. For one thing, when you take away the mystification, misconceptions and mystery, they're at least as boring as everybody else.

It's witty, it's honest, it's raw.

This is the first novel I've read about trans identity that I felt really helped me to understand what it is like. The narrator Maria speaks with such a genuine and original voice throughout, and although you learn a lot about what it means to be trans today- it doesn't feel didactic. There's a wonderful fluidity between dialogue and internal monologue. An incredibly original and engaging novel I'd recommend to all.

Part one meets part two. Loving this book so.

This book is already winning me over...

#readharder "a book published by a micro press" at least it is as far as I can tell... feat. Friday night cup of tea. Loving this so far- very well written

This stretched me as a reader. Loved Maria's snarky, apathetic tone and the dark humor. The first half was fantastic! There was an interesting shift halfway through, but from there to the abrupt ending, I was underwhelmed. I liked that it didn't feel like Binnie is trying to educate readers on trans issues: Maria is who she is. Through her, readers pick up on what that's like. #TheLiteraryOthers #ownvoices #translit #ownvoices #lgbT

Omg I want to give a copy of this book to everyone I know. Here the main character is talking about having to "prove" she's "Really, Truly Trans." Read this aloud to my spouse; it really resonated with her. ? #TheLiteraryOthers #ownvoices #lgbT #transgender #queer

#TheLiteraryOthers #ownvoices #lgbT #translit

"All the music we listen to is about carrying the past around with us. All the books we read are about carrying the past around with us."