Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl's Confabulous Memoir by Kai Cheng Thom

6 reviews

readingpicnic's review

fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Such a unique and fun take on a memoir. The writing was so addicting and unique that I finished this in a day. I loved the author's mission to tell a trans memoir that wasn't just about transition or victimhood, to instead complicate these common narratives this with their trans community's dynamic personalities, showing the beauty and fun and drama of the transfem community, as well as mixing in magical realism elements and mystical creatures. I don't really know what's actually based in memoir with this book, but I'm okay with that because it was so exciting to read and I love creative nonfiction.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Homophobia, Self harm, Transphobia, Police brutality, Physical abuse, and Gore

meremeth's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Hate crime, Violence, Transphobia, Self harm, and Police brutality

Moderate: Addiction, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse

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.

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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. 

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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

yaoipaddle's review

challenging emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

Listened to the audiobook. It was just ok. A fun and quick listen. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Police brutality, Cursing, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Grief, Violence, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Murder, Hate crime, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Medical content, Trafficking, Child abuse, and Body shaming

joyful_patatas's review

dark hopeful informative reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I did sincerely enjoy the book, but felt like it was trying to cram many different aspects of trans issues in a limited amount of time. It definitely brights the reality in fiction in regards of the realities of trans people, but certain aspects were confusing as to whether which version of the story the narrator tells is the right one. It was probably the author's intention to have the narrator be unreliable in certain regards and have readers try and interpret the book, but I felt more confused rather than intrigued. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Rape, Transphobia, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual content, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Self harm, and Police brutality