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Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'
Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl's Confabulous Memoir by Kai Cheng Thom
4 reviews
bookish_afrolatina's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was a super short book and I listened to it on audiobook via the Libby app (library books ftw).
When I first picked this up, the only reference I had for a memoir steeped in magical realism was Carmen Maria Machado's In the Dream House. I realized very quickly that Fierce Femmes is a completely different thing! While this book is still full of fantastical elements and absurdities, it is a novel/faux memoir.
The main character is a trans girl who is the daughter of Chinese immigrants (in Canada, I believe) who live in a crooked house in a city called Gloom. Her parents are abusive so, although she feels guilty about leaving her sister, she knows running away will be for the best.
The MC is a self-described liar so we already know we have an unreliable narrator, which made this kind of intriguing. I loved the stories of connecting with other femmes in the pleasure district and the MC's journey of enforcing consent. It's a much needed discussion when others feel as though they are entitled to your body.
This novel includes:
transphobia, consent, sex work, drug use and abuse, found family, love, murder, revenge, adventure, and hot ghosts, among other things.
When I first picked this up, the only reference I had for a memoir steeped in magical realism was Carmen Maria Machado's In the Dream House. I realized very quickly that Fierce Femmes is a completely different thing! While this book is still full of fantastical elements and absurdities, it is a novel/faux memoir.
The main character is a trans girl who is the daughter of Chinese immigrants (in Canada, I believe) who live in a crooked house in a city called Gloom. Her parents are abusive so, although she feels guilty about leaving her sister, she knows running away will be for the best.
The MC is a self-described liar so we already know we have an unreliable narrator, which made this kind of intriguing. I loved the stories of connecting with other femmes in the pleasure district and the MC's journey of enforcing consent. It's a much needed discussion when others feel as though they are entitled to your body.
This novel includes:
transphobia, consent, sex work, drug use and abuse, found family, love, murder, revenge, adventure, and hot ghosts, among other things.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Drug use, Murder, Hate crime, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Homophobia, Transphobia, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
chattie_the_mad_chatter's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
For such a small book it really packs a punch.
This has a magical realisim, surreal feel that is so full of truth.
There are wonderful metaphors abounding displayed as a physical reality and inserts of poetry.
This book I had to put down at certain moments and breathe as I felt so moved by our protagonist and their friends and know that their story Echoes so many stories that go Unheard in our world.
So many moments that feel powerful, and give hope and show anyone who is not trans how it feels. It has been a delight and a horror to walk in her fabulous stilleto shoes for a moment.
This has a magical realisim, surreal feel that is so full of truth.
There are wonderful metaphors abounding displayed as a physical reality and inserts of poetry.
This book I had to put down at certain moments and breathe as I felt so moved by our protagonist and their friends and know that their story Echoes so many stories that go Unheard in our world.
So many moments that feel powerful, and give hope and show anyone who is not trans how it feels. It has been a delight and a horror to walk in her fabulous stilleto shoes for a moment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Body shaming, Drug use, Sexual content, and Drug abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
thewordsdevourer's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
this book was so friggin FUN. the magical realism aspect was one of my fav things--how it was naturally woven into the setting and story--and it was a joy to keep reading simply bc i wanted to see what weird, interesting, simultaneous-knitted-brows-and-smile-inducing things were gonna pop up on the page.
and it was so refreshing to see a trans author write a trans story that defied any external expectations, instead steamrolling into an adventurous, exciting romp full of diverse and multidimensional trans women doing fun and badass things, yet upholding and supporting one another in their community-minded found family, while also tackling serious topics like self-love, self-discovery, identity, and clashing ideals. the various forms of verse, prose, and even play made the story more effective and interesting as well.
this was unlike anything ive ever read and im excited to read more works by kai cheng thom.
and it was so refreshing to see a trans author write a trans story that defied any external expectations, instead steamrolling into an adventurous, exciting romp full of diverse and multidimensional trans women doing fun and badass things, yet upholding and supporting one another in their community-minded found family, while also tackling serious topics like self-love, self-discovery, identity, and clashing ideals. the various forms of verse, prose, and even play made the story more effective and interesting as well.
this was unlike anything ive ever read and im excited to read more works by kai cheng thom.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Transphobia
Moderate: Sexual content, Death, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Police brutality
Minor: Murder, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
podanotherjessi's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was a very strange experience. I treated it more like non-fiction with heavy metaphor than fiction iwth real life inspiration, but I rated it like I would fiction, so I really don't know. But in any case, I don't agree with every theme the author included in here (opening with "I don't believe in safe spaces" certainly had my back up from the get go), but I do think they are presented in a deep way. The writing style is amazing, and the audiobook narrator includes inflections that make it almost sound like listening so spoken word poetry at every moment. I really enjoyed this book over all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Transphobia
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