Scan barcode
cafeaukait's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
riibit's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Super fun read. I love the slightly bitter trans punk monologues and observations that have an ADHD tangential style to them. Beautiful, potent, and needed.
mellobitz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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
3.75
schymek's review against another edition
4.0
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.Maria is stuck in a dead-end job, a relationship without prospects, and a shitty New York apartment. She may be depressed and have a substance abuse problem. Who knows. Also, she should probably inject her hormones.
Binnie's novel felt personal, in the sense that Maria's various ruminations on gender and her struggle with her trans identity (how to reconfigure gender, trans women's unique position in the queer stratosphere, and how to teach yourself to feel after disassociating for the large part of your life).
What was slightly odd, maybe, was the second portion of the novel. Maria, post-break up, goes on a road trip. In Nevada, she meets a potentially closeted trans woman, who she then attempts to aid in the process (more so to heal her own traumas than out of the goodness of her heart). This rings true for Maria's selfish streak. I suppose this plot aimed at displaying how, despite mentors and guides, every closeted person has their own journey (as our closet case refuses to be helped and ultimately returns home to his girlfriend, unchanged). Still, that bit threw me at first.
This novel reads like an early-00s indie movie. Sadly, I have nothing to compare it to (due to my own blind spots or due to Hollywood's inability to film more trans-centric movies, or maybe both). Definitely recommend if you're a lit-fic, stream-of-consciousness, character over plot novels.
smallfrytrash's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
amybo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An important read with an unsatisfying ending that is reflective of real life.
dannirose's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
mrlyman's review against another edition
4.0
“nevada” gets major kudos just for existing in literature as having a 3 dimensional-actual-human-being trans protagonist. got lots of monologues on trans identity, culture, and experience written in Binnie’s attractive too-casual tone. when i first started reading i was starting to hate it but i couldn’t stop thinking about it and ended up spending nearly a whole weekend just reading it. it makes you feel icky and hopeful all at once. it has a glaring obviousness about it that makes you wonder why you haven’t contextualized the queer community like this before. in the end, great book, four stars.
sweaterdad's review against another edition
reflective
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
4.0
I think I would’ve had a different opinion about this book had I read it 10 years ago. I thought it was a quick read and could relate to bits and pieces of it. I liked the chapters interspersed with the perspectives of the other characters—that was interesting to read. I don’t care much that the book ended abruptly, but just wish it had consisted of a more enjoyable adventure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use