None of the Above

This book is sharp, generous, and unforgettable. From the very first page, it sets the tone for a work that is as much about survival as it is about joy. The writing is both political and personal, moving fluidly between cultural critique, memoir, and storytelling. What makes it so compelling is how it refuses to simplify complex realities. Instead, it embraces nuance and contradiction, pushing the reader to reflect on the structures that shape our lives while still leaving room for humour, softness, and care.

I felt called out by this line: “That gender non-conformity and trans identities were owned by dyed-blue-haired, skinny and university-educated white kids who will be grouped with the punks even if they do not wish to be.” Although I don’t mind being grouped in with the punks, the point is important. It reminds us that these identities are often stereotyped, much like the gender binary itself, and that people of colour are often heavily policed when their expression does not align with rigid ideas of gender.

The chapters capture the messiness of identity in ways that feel both grounding and disruptive. There is a clear call to look closely at how race, class, gender, and desire come together, and to notice what gets erased when certain narratives dominate. Passages sting with recognition, while others open new doors of thought, making the reading experience rich and layered. It is not just a text to be consumed, but a conversation to be entered into, one that lingers long after the final page is turned.

Found here: https://amzn.to/4py1uS2

#bookreviewers #bookreviews #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #bookrecommendation