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ratdebibliotheque's review
2.0
The LGBTQ+ experience of all these people in their little story wasn’t executed well. Most of the stories weren’t really gripping…it actually hurts to give this book such a low rating. Yeah, nothing wrong with every experience itself, the execution just wasn’t it.
anthroxagorus's review
5.0
I hope it's not too terrible to say, but I didn't expect this level of talent in a work with young writers, but these are incredibly thoughtful and well-written. My favorite - or perhaps the one I related to most - was Jack Lienke's "Crying Wolfe."
And this quote: “I loved the idea of him. I loved the idea of a male best friend... I'd never had that sort of powerful bond with another boy, never felt that kind of asexual affection. I was a stranger to true male comradery, to uncomplicated loyalty.” (65)
I initially got this book because I was a bit annoyed I couldn't find anything on asexuality in the university library and had a small bit of hope I'd find it buried in one of these stories. Not quite, but the editors promise the updated edition releasing next summer will represent my people. However, that aside, it's a good collection and I hope to purchase it next time around.
And this quote: “I loved the idea of him. I loved the idea of a male best friend... I'd never had that sort of powerful bond with another boy, never felt that kind of asexual affection. I was a stranger to true male comradery, to uncomplicated loyalty.” (65)
I initially got this book because I was a bit annoyed I couldn't find anything on asexuality in the university library and had a small bit of hope I'd find it buried in one of these stories. Not quite, but the editors promise the updated edition releasing next summer will represent my people. However, that aside, it's a good collection and I hope to purchase it next time around.
jenny_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
3 ⭐️
I can’t finish a book that calls itself The FULL Spectrum, yet mostly centers on the L, G and T sides of LGBT+.
I stopped at 62%, because every story in there is a lesbian, gay or transgender one. Where are the queer (I read only 1), bisexual (2, one if which made bisexual sound like undecided), pansexual, asexual, genderfluid stories? I can’t believe that a book that had 2 editions could not include the entire spectrum (or at least more than the usual orientations and identities we see everywhere nowadays).
I did like 2 of the stories enough to fave them for their wonderful writing (A Gay Grammar) and inspiring message (Trans-venture of an F2M), but the others are too Christian American centric for me. What about the Muslim LGBT+ community? What about immigrants? What about people who do not reside in the US and have a different perspective of belonging to the LGBT+ community?
This is a very poor sample to what could have been an incredible anthology. I’m disappointed, yet not surprised in the editors...
I can’t finish a book that calls itself The FULL Spectrum, yet mostly centers on the L, G and T sides of LGBT+.
I stopped at 62%, because every story in there is a lesbian, gay or transgender one. Where are the queer (I read only 1), bisexual (2, one if which made bisexual sound like undecided), pansexual, asexual, genderfluid stories? I can’t believe that a book that had 2 editions could not include the entire spectrum (or at least more than the usual orientations and identities we see everywhere nowadays).
I did like 2 of the stories enough to fave them for their wonderful writing (A Gay Grammar) and inspiring message (Trans-venture of an F2M), but the others are too Christian American centric for me. What about the Muslim LGBT+ community? What about immigrants? What about people who do not reside in the US and have a different perspective of belonging to the LGBT+ community?
This is a very poor sample to what could have been an incredible anthology. I’m disappointed, yet not surprised in the editors...
antessmer's review
5.0
Wow, I was caught off guard. I'm not usually a fan of gay lit but I definitely enjoyed this!
kaptainkate's review
4.0
The Full Spectrum was an interesting read for me for a variety of reasons. One, I'm not actually a huge fan of non-fiction unless it's stuff about writing or social psychology, like Malcolm Gladwell (who, ironically, wrote the book I started after this one), but this is an anthology of non-fiction works from GLBTQ persons and dealing with issues and learning about sexual and gender identities. You can see why it would interest me.
I suppose to some, my interest in gender and sexuality might seem strange since I am a straight, white, cis-female, but even though my gender and sexual identities are rather uncomplicated when compared to many others, I can't help a fascination with sexuality and gender. I don't know if I can pinpoint what about it draws me in so much, but I suppose it's similar to my interest in Gladwell's works and Freakonomics, perhaps it's just a thirst for knowledge. But enough about me and my extensive interests. The book.
It's a collection of 40 stories, essays, poems, and even some photographs that tell the stories of these people. Some are snapshots of moments, relationships, or tales of coming out, while others span much longer terms delving into the murky waters of gender identity and questioning. The process of acceptance, both from others and from themselves.
The anthology is aptly named since it does cover, while not perhaps the actual full spectrum, a feeling of the full spectrum and at least hints of the possibilities from the identity standpoint, the emotional standpoint, and the actual point of view.
I was surprised as to how many of the stories dealt with religion, but in a very positive manner and how their religion helped them in accepting their sexuality, rather than challenging it and acting as a catalyst for self-hatred. I actually rather enjoyed seeing how people put into their own words, their relationship with religion and how it works with their identity.
That isn't to say all the stories have happy-go-lucky relationships with religion, but I guess the spectrum comes in there too.
There was a good variety in the pieces, both in content and in form. My only qualms with the collection were that a few of the pieces I just "didn't get", which isn't to say that they were bad, just that they were on a level that I am not on. There were also a few pieces where I questioned the editing choices, but I think that's true of just about any work of literature.
I also would have appreciated more balance in the placement of stories. I have no idea how the editors chose the order in which the pieces appeared, but I guess I'm picky about that in the same way I make mix CDs, there is a rhyme and reason. But it's a bit like sentence construction, you need to mix up short and long sentences and medium sentences so it doesn't get monotonous and it wasn't necessarily the tone that was monotonous or even the contents, it was the lengths. There were periods filled with 20 pages of 1 - 3 page stories and then you went into a chunk of 15 - 20 page stories and it got a little tiresome sometimes.
In all though, I really enjoyed the anthology and I think that there are lessons to be learned by everyone, regardless of age, sexuality or gender identity.
I suppose to some, my interest in gender and sexuality might seem strange since I am a straight, white, cis-female, but even though my gender and sexual identities are rather uncomplicated when compared to many others, I can't help a fascination with sexuality and gender. I don't know if I can pinpoint what about it draws me in so much, but I suppose it's similar to my interest in Gladwell's works and Freakonomics, perhaps it's just a thirst for knowledge. But enough about me and my extensive interests. The book.
It's a collection of 40 stories, essays, poems, and even some photographs that tell the stories of these people. Some are snapshots of moments, relationships, or tales of coming out, while others span much longer terms delving into the murky waters of gender identity and questioning. The process of acceptance, both from others and from themselves.
The anthology is aptly named since it does cover, while not perhaps the actual full spectrum, a feeling of the full spectrum and at least hints of the possibilities from the identity standpoint, the emotional standpoint, and the actual point of view.
I was surprised as to how many of the stories dealt with religion, but in a very positive manner and how their religion helped them in accepting their sexuality, rather than challenging it and acting as a catalyst for self-hatred. I actually rather enjoyed seeing how people put into their own words, their relationship with religion and how it works with their identity.
That isn't to say all the stories have happy-go-lucky relationships with religion, but I guess the spectrum comes in there too.
There was a good variety in the pieces, both in content and in form. My only qualms with the collection were that a few of the pieces I just "didn't get", which isn't to say that they were bad, just that they were on a level that I am not on. There were also a few pieces where I questioned the editing choices, but I think that's true of just about any work of literature.
I also would have appreciated more balance in the placement of stories. I have no idea how the editors chose the order in which the pieces appeared, but I guess I'm picky about that in the same way I make mix CDs, there is a rhyme and reason. But it's a bit like sentence construction, you need to mix up short and long sentences and medium sentences so it doesn't get monotonous and it wasn't necessarily the tone that was monotonous or even the contents, it was the lengths. There were periods filled with 20 pages of 1 - 3 page stories and then you went into a chunk of 15 - 20 page stories and it got a little tiresome sometimes.
In all though, I really enjoyed the anthology and I think that there are lessons to be learned by everyone, regardless of age, sexuality or gender identity.
kayess19's review
3.0
i literally judged this book by its cover. it was one of those the library puts out on a table randomly and it was so pretty i had to pick it up. it's a bunch of short stories written by teenagers, which i always find fascinating because most teenagers i know can barely spell their names. some of the stories were sad and touching..others were whiny and repetitious. all in all not too bad.
chrisvigilante's review
5.0
Don't fully know how to review this because it's a collection of nonfiction stories, poems, etc. I will say I think the pieces selected for this were really great. Emotional roller coaster for sure because some of the stories don't have the happiest leaving off points. Some were hopeful and uplifting. Some were way too relatable. It's a good collection to let yourself get engrossed in.