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kyra_c_c's review against another edition
3.0
This is a very raw, open and honest collection of essays. Hillman is extremely generous with her sharing of stories, experiences, struggles, thoughts and feelings. This book felt to me like a call to question our own assumptions and opinions. It drew some interesting parallels between intersex and trans experiences which I personally have never considered before and I am grateful for Hillman's questions and frankness. The style of the book is not for me: the essays are non-linear and some read like longform poetry, whilst others are factual accounts of events and conferences. This constant switching in style and timeline is just not engaging for me personally, but the lower star rating is not a comment on content, only presentation. As Hillman points out in the book, there is only loosely an intersex "community" as everyone has such different experiences. As a cis woman reading this, it is not my place to evaluate how Hillman presents her unique experiences. Reading this has brought me a lot more understanding of queer, intersex and trans experiences and also a confirmation that I would hate everything about a slam poetry night.
audaciaray's review against another edition
4.0
Thea Hillman's book is thoroughly beautiful, written in a way that makes you feel like you're her one and only confidant, not just a reader. The book is structured as a series of short essays, some of which are obviously based on talks she has given in her career as an activist, performer, public speaker, and educator.
I think a bigger, more mainstream publisher (the book is published by Manic D Press) would have really pushed Thea to stick more strictly to the theme of growing up and coping as intersex. As the book it is, it's a slightly messy piece of writing about the intersections of class, gender, biological sex, sexual orientation, desire, and the anxieties of self. That complexity is interesting and wonderful - I don't really see how it would be possible for her to write her story along one of those lines without the others. That said, I personally would've given the book a different title. Thea's struggle with being intersex is a core theme of the book, but I wouldn't necessarily say that's what the book is *about*.
I think a bigger, more mainstream publisher (the book is published by Manic D Press) would have really pushed Thea to stick more strictly to the theme of growing up and coping as intersex. As the book it is, it's a slightly messy piece of writing about the intersections of class, gender, biological sex, sexual orientation, desire, and the anxieties of self. That complexity is interesting and wonderful - I don't really see how it would be possible for her to write her story along one of those lines without the others. That said, I personally would've given the book a different title. Thea's struggle with being intersex is a core theme of the book, but I wouldn't necessarily say that's what the book is *about*.
marie_gg's review against another edition
3.0
It's easy to tell that Hillman is a poet (she's a San Francisco Poetry Slam champion) and performance artist. I can imagine her reading each of the essays in this book in front of an audience.
Hillman writes of the ache, exclusion, and incredible confusion associated with growing up intersex. I agree with another reviewer who did not like the use of the second person in some of the essays (I too prefer first or third person); however, it raises the constant conundrum of gender pronouns when it comes to people who identify as intersex. Is the person male, or female, or a combination of the two? Second person is so much simpler, I imagine...kind of like when I think of God...it's much simpler to avoid the pronoun.
This book is soaked in sex...Hillman writes freely of her love of sex parties and open relationships, a lifestyle completely alien to me.
Being a monogamous person myself, I preferred the pieces about her struggles in growing up and claiming her own gender identity. This book is a desperately needed piece of literature for a misunderstood community.
Hillman writes of the ache, exclusion, and incredible confusion associated with growing up intersex. I agree with another reviewer who did not like the use of the second person in some of the essays (I too prefer first or third person); however, it raises the constant conundrum of gender pronouns when it comes to people who identify as intersex. Is the person male, or female, or a combination of the two? Second person is so much simpler, I imagine...kind of like when I think of God...it's much simpler to avoid the pronoun.
This book is soaked in sex...Hillman writes freely of her love of sex parties and open relationships, a lifestyle completely alien to me.
Being a monogamous person myself, I preferred the pieces about her struggles in growing up and claiming her own gender identity. This book is a desperately needed piece of literature for a misunderstood community.
helen_coats's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
angelreadsthings's review against another edition
4.0
This book was intimate, poetic, honest, revelatory, and ultimately beautiful in the most realistic way. The book structure felt somewhat blog-like which made it easier for me to process. When I finished, I felt like I knew Hillman in the same way I have known bloggers I've followed for months. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in gender studies, the intersex community, queer life and politics, or vulnerable storytelling, but I must warn that this book is full of candid descriptions of sex and BDSM.
leaton01's review against another edition
3.0
Hillman's exploration of her own challenges and sense-making as an intersex person is an excellent work for anyone better trying to understand intersex. Filled with memoiric chapters, poetry, and other personal writing, the book crafts a nuance understanding of the battles one faces when the dominant culture has denied you space and personhood.
If you enjoyed this review, feel free to check out my other reviews and writings at By Any Other Nerd/
If you enjoyed this review, feel free to check out my other reviews and writings at By Any Other Nerd/
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