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briarfairchild's review
5.0
This was a really, really interesting book. I know so little about the history of transgender people. This wasn't brilliantly written or anything, but it didn't need to be. I'm very glad I read it.
Read as the 'Read a book by or about a person that identifies as transgender' part of Book Riot's 'Read Harder' Challenge 2016.
Read as the 'Read a book by or about a person that identifies as transgender' part of Book Riot's 'Read Harder' Challenge 2016.
countdeworde's review
5.0
I haven't seen the movie The Danish girl nor have I read the novel The Danish girl, however I was very much interested in the topic of the novel/movie (and at the time I was specifically looking for a LGBT themed book written as biography or journal). So when I learned about the existence of the original material, the biography written with the assistance of the 'Danish girl' herself, I chose to go to the source first. It was a good choice.
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I understand why is Lili considered such an important milestone in the history of transgered and transsexual people and history of medicine. However, I can't quite agree with people who call Lili/Andreas simply a trans woman because truthfully his/her gender and sex situation is more complex. Andreas/Lili was actually Intersex. Born with both sets of genitalia. He (because for years he had identified as male without any self-doubt) didn't experience gender dysphoria for years. Until the unfortunate medical treatment which resulted in BOTH sets of genitalia being irreparably damaged.
Therefore he/she may also be classified as genderfluid, I guess. Given that for a time, as long as all organs were healthy and undamaged, both 'personas' co-existed without any major conflict.
I have a theory that he/she may have been a chimera. Rarely, two human fetuses merge into one baby in the womb. Often times the person has no idea they are actually a chimera. The fact that Andreas/Lili was born with both ovaries and penis might be a clue. Also Andreas and Lili seem to differ in personalities a bit. Which Lili herself states and because even the family members seem to find Lili a different person from Andreas. (I can't say how much is it because of an actual personality change or because it's them being shocked by the sex change.)
It's sad that she died. BUT I'm horrified when I imagine what kind of hell the nazis would like to inflict on someone as Lili. This way she died peacefully, knowing she pursued her dream and stayed true to herself. And that she left her notes that were written by both Andreas and Lili for anyone who might find this book soul-soothing, useful etc. I'm grateful to whatever deity sent a guardian angel to protect this text from getting lost in the book burning spree but I would be even happier if the biography got translated into at least five more large languages, because eventhough I don't condemn those who read the Danish girl, it is a shame that the novel is the only world-wide available source of information regarding Lili Elbe though.
Anyway I think that Lili's case may seem unassuming at the first glance but to forget her story would mean a great loss for the LGBT community and the humanity in general. Therefore I think everyone should read it. Even if you aren't trans nor intersex or genderfluid yourself.
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I understand why is Lili considered such an important milestone in the history of transgered and transsexual people and history of medicine. However, I can't quite agree with people who call Lili/Andreas simply a trans woman because truthfully his/her gender and sex situation is more complex. Andreas/Lili was actually Intersex. Born with both sets of genitalia. He (because for years he had identified as male without any self-doubt) didn't experience gender dysphoria for years. Until the unfortunate medical treatment which resulted in BOTH sets of genitalia being irreparably damaged.
Therefore he/she may also be classified as genderfluid, I guess. Given that for a time, as long as all organs were healthy and undamaged, both 'personas' co-existed without any major conflict.
I have a theory that he/she may have been a chimera. Rarely, two human fetuses merge into one baby in the womb. Often times the person has no idea they are actually a chimera. The fact that Andreas/Lili was born with both ovaries and penis might be a clue. Also Andreas and Lili seem to differ in personalities a bit. Which Lili herself states and because even the family members seem to find Lili a different person from Andreas. (I can't say how much is it because of an actual personality change or because it's them being shocked by the sex change.)
It's sad that she died. BUT I'm horrified when I imagine what kind of hell the nazis would like to inflict on someone as Lili. This way she died peacefully, knowing she pursued her dream and stayed true to herself. And that she left her notes that were written by both Andreas and Lili for anyone who might find this book soul-soothing, useful etc. I'm grateful to whatever deity sent a guardian angel to protect this text from getting lost in the book burning spree but I would be even happier if the biography got translated into at least five more large languages, because eventhough I don't condemn those who read the Danish girl, it is a shame that the novel is the only world-wide available source of information regarding Lili Elbe though.
Anyway I think that Lili's case may seem unassuming at the first glance but to forget her story would mean a great loss for the LGBT community and the humanity in general. Therefore I think everyone should read it. Even if you aren't trans nor intersex or genderfluid yourself.
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