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bookishmillennial's review against another edition
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Okay, so half of this book felt as if it was second-person because often during the narration, the narrator would say “you know” etc. so I think that made me enjoy it even more — I love a tangential stream of consciousness hahaha!
I loved that we leave Maria in the first part and then move to James, who meets her a month after the events of the first part take place. It was a funny time jump and I didn’t expect that level of spontaneity hahaha.
I also thought it was so fascinating how short Maria & James’ intersecting parts were after they met; the complete lack of closure could ring anticlimactic to some readers but whenever this happens, I just think it’s a fantastic parallel to real life. We don’t always get closure, sometimes we have to make peace with that and just keep it moving!
I’m also glad I read this with the updated author’s note at the end, because Imogen provided helpful context and perspective of why she wrote that ending for both Maria & James.
I am loving finding new authors (to me, not to the world) this week & I’m so grateful for the #TransRightsReadathon for providing that impetus.
Okay, so half of this book felt as if it was second-person because often during the narration, the narrator would say “you know” etc. so I think that made me enjoy it even more — I love a tangential stream of consciousness hahaha!
I loved that we leave Maria in the first part and then move to James, who meets her a month after the events of the first part take place. It was a funny time jump and I didn’t expect that level of spontaneity hahaha.
I also thought it was so fascinating how short Maria & James’ intersecting parts were after they met; the complete lack of closure could ring anticlimactic to some readers but whenever this happens, I just think it’s a fantastic parallel to real life. We don’t always get closure, sometimes we have to make peace with that and just keep it moving!
I’m also glad I read this with the updated author’s note at the end, because Imogen provided helpful context and perspective of why she wrote that ending for both Maria & James.
I am loving finding new authors (to me, not to the world) this week & I’m so grateful for the #TransRightsReadathon for providing that impetus.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia
vi_frt's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is as intense as its main (anti)heroine and narration. Almost more of an internal monologue than a narration per se, Nevada breaks expectations with its gripping and unrelenting account of what it is to be a trans woman in America.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, and Transphobia
o3tri's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A charming novel. The book really shines when the MC is talking about the neuances and complexities of being a trans woman and the trans feminine experience, but it also all falls flat when Maria talks about trans men and transmasculine experiences, sometimes just plain shitting on them, sometimes just stating things that are simply factually incorrect. Now I read books where main characters have questionable views all the time, that's not my issue, but here at least to me it seems like these aren't just presented as the character's biased opinions, but as objective truth and Maria and some other characters are used as vessels for the author to lay down her own views on the page. I felt the need to point this out and critisize it especially because I've seen this book recommended a few times over the years, none of those times was this even mentioned or acknowledged in any way. I went into this book thinking I was going to read a literary novel about a trans woman and a commentary on the neuances and complexities of gender and transitioning in American society and I did get that out of it but I also got to read a book that too often shits on transmasculine people and gives matter of fact statements that are objectively and factually wrong. Only in some reviews here and on goodreads I saw these problems with the book acknowledged.
Some stuff that irked me but not too much:
-the overuse of the word bohemian or rather describing random stuff as bohemian even if it was ironic, it was done kinda sloppily
-with this type of character and novel there needs to be a certain degree of irony and self awareness that I felt weren't present enough
other than that the book was a mostly pleasant experience to go through
Some stuff that irked me but not too much:
-the overuse of the word bohemian or rather describing random stuff as bohemian even if it was ironic, it was done kinda sloppily
-with this type of character and novel there needs to be a certain degree of irony and self awareness that I felt weren't present enough
other than that the book was a mostly pleasant experience to go through
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Transphobia, and Alcohol
Minor: Racism
jmckeough's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Homophobia
sofipitch's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Normally I'm not a huge fan of stream of consciousness writing style, and idk if this fits that definition exactly but I really enjoyed this book. The voice of the book is distinct, my only complaint would be the voice seems distinct for Maria at the beginning, as we get other POVs they all talk the same, but whatever. I looked at other reviews and some ppl hate the ending, but I think ending with no big epiphany is interesting, sometimes there is no clear "lesson" or the first thing you do isn't going to fix everything in your life
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Transphobia
lamorna's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Felt like a series of monologues and yet somehow I didn't feel like I understood the characters motivations, emotions and actions anymore for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual content, and Transphobia
libbyluvr's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
these are maybe some of the most real characters I’ve ever read. definitely up in the top 10— all of them were so different, even when they were similar; that made it such a fun journey. not to mention, imogen binnie is great at making every bit of word salad into a beautifully plated meal. her stream-of-consciousness writing is one she dips in and out of so effortlessly, and I ate it up big time! when it’s done well, I love it, and this was done more than just well
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Dysphoria
serenedancer's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked the story and how it was about the trans experience. Especially the second section was very interesting, especially after reading the afterward and kinda getting it more. If you need stuff tied up into a neat bow, you might get annoyed at the end, but it was very life like with how it ended.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
malebolge's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Sexual content, and Dysphoria
Minor: Transphobia
nica_chan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, and Transphobia
Minor: Chronic illness