I am not into the tone of this book. I'm having a similar reaction to how I felt reading the first bit of Maggie Nelson's The Argonauts, like the authI am not into the tone of this book. I'm having a similar reaction to how I felt reading the first bit of Maggie Nelson's The Argonauts, like the author is trying to scandalize, shock, and titillate me with the sexual content. That is just not something I'm interested in as a reader and it's not a reason why I read. Perhaps it's something that was done by an editor with the intention of marketability?
Belcher's writing is very propulsive and readable, and she knows how to set a scene. So if "scandalous" content about 12-year-olds wanting to lose their virginity and details about being a pro dominatrix are up your alley, this might be the book for you. To be clear: it's not this content that I'm not interested in, it's the way it's being presented and the reaction it feels like its purpose is to evoke.
I'd be interested to read reviews by sex workers about this book, because it feels to me very much like it's written for a non-sex worker audience, which would explain the tone but that's just a hunch I have as a non-sex worker. For memoirs that cover a queer coming of age and sex work, I prefer Amber Dawn and Melissa Febos's work....more
A page-turning memoir about the author's ten years working as a stripper in different parts of Canada. I found it a fascinating window into a world I A page-turning memoir about the author's ten years working as a stripper in different parts of Canada. I found it a fascinating window into a world I didn't know much about beforehand. Brunet portrays their experiences as complicated: cutthroat and toxic on the one hand, fulfilling and freeing on the other.
I would have liked more depth to the relationships (working and otherwise) they had with fellow strippers, as well as a bit more on the rewarding angle. It felt like the memoir told me more than showed me that side of Brunet's stripping career. I don't know, maybe the bad stuff makes for better stories / is more memorable?
There are some lovely turns of phrase as well as interesting insights about gender, queerness, and capitalism. Definitely recommended!
Content warning for sexual assault and drug / alcohol use....more
This historical novel is about a 1910s Scottish sex worker turned immigrant Canadian nurse named Mary Stewart. It's Victorian-novel-esque in its plottThis historical novel is about a 1910s Scottish sex worker turned immigrant Canadian nurse named Mary Stewart. It's Victorian-novel-esque in its plotting and character: people's actions and dialogue are big and bold and there is ample tension and epic drama to keep you turning the pages.
The first half of the narrative takes place in Edinburgh and the second half in a small copper smelter town on the northern coast of B.C. named Anyox, which I loved as a rough, visceral, complicated setting. Mary is a real heroine in the true sense of the word who I wanted sometimes to be a little less "good."
Full disclosure, this author is married to my mom. Thanks for the copy of your book Dan!...more
Some favourite passages from this diverse anthology with plenty of queer and/or POC representation:
"sex fills me up & love reminds me / it's okay to bSome favourite passages from this diverse anthology with plenty of queer and/or POC representation:
"sex fills me up & love reminds me / it's okay to be empty" - "dream boy" by Justin Ducharme
"You are utterly in love. What is the distinction between you and this swirling world?" - "a celebration of darkness" by Jaene F. Castrillon
"to my clients who tell me I look tired / i am / because your dick is the 8th one today ... because the bees are dying and i can't make my rent" - "to my clients..." by Stickie Stackedhouse
"I wanted to be ruined more than I wanted to be loved...my body is a weapon I don't know how to love gently with" - "de.vour" by Natalie House
“We rode the night until / the genocide of indifference / & conniving knives of hatred / disappeared us all” - “West End Sex Workers Memorial” by Raven Slander
“Whipping around the pole, / back arched, heart bare–She is / the second coming, / and dear God / I believe.” - “ Revival at the Pillow Talk Lounge” by Garuda Love
Content warning, there's a lot of trauma in here which I was expecting; one poem I wish i had skipped because the content was difficult (on p.145-6) features a pedophile client...more
Beautifully written, honest, and gritty in a way that never felt performative or indulgent or trauma porn-y, this collection of linked short stories oBeautifully written, honest, and gritty in a way that never felt performative or indulgent or trauma porn-y, this collection of linked short stories offers snippets of a girl then young woman's life from her family's immigration to Canada from Congo as a kid to her mid-20s. I loved how the stories spotlighted her complicated friendships with women, especially her tween BFF Joli and uni roommate Patty. I'll be thinking about this line for a long time: "The next morning he was still dead but not like an exclamation point, like a set of ellipsises". Oh Loli, I hope you are okay now ❤️
Content warnings for suicide, sexual assault, drugs, drinking, abortion...more
My experience with this book was all over the map. It's a strange mix of genres: the frame narrative is a trans man academic who finds an undiscoveredMy experience with this book was all over the map. It's a strange mix of genres: the frame narrative is a trans man academic who finds an undiscovered 18th century manuscript about a famous thief who was also a trans man. The majority of the story is the historical narrative with footnotes taking place in the academic's increasingly satirical / dystopian world. I was super into it at first but found my attention waning and feeling uncomfortable with the role women of colour played for white men and confused about how the portrayal of historical transness might intersect with intersexuality....more
What a beautiful, sad, funny book. It's the most poignant reminder I've had in a while about how powerful and effecting a first person narrative can bWhat a beautiful, sad, funny book. It's the most poignant reminder I've had in a while about how powerful and effecting a first person narrative can be. Jonny, the two-spirit main character, carries the book with his raw, hilarious, insightful voice. The story meanders through his memories, mostly of his kokum, mom, and his great first love Tias, while in the present Jonny prepares to go back to the rez for his mom's boyfriend's funeral.
Favourite quotes:
"Humility is just a humiliation you loved so much it transformed."
"I texted him back with a simple 'No.' I made an emphasis to punctuate my text. In the digital universe, a punctuated sentence is as powerful a slap as slamming down the landline."
"Funny how an NDN 'love you' sounds more like 'I'm in pain with you.'"
Unfortunately although there are some great concepts that went into this novel, it would need work to be a successful work of fiction. The writing sufUnfortunately although there are some great concepts that went into this novel, it would need work to be a successful work of fiction. The writing suffers from the classic too much telling and not enough showing, like reading the author's notes about what the characters are like instead of them just being.
The plotting is a bit messy, with mostly a 'this happened and then this happened' structure with major action sometimes happening off screen and an unclear purpose at times for certain scenes. The narrative also has weird asides explaining leftist political thought that feel like insertions of non-fiction into fiction; sometimes characters' thoughts function that way too. They always brought me out of the story and brought my attention to the fact that I was reading a dystopian story written by someone today, which is never something you want a reader to feel.
Aside from Ash and Pinar who are the main characters and relatively fleshed out, the characters seemed more like types or people to fill certain roles rather than full dimensional people. The character who was the villain was especially one dimensional and the character who betrays her girlfriend, well, I could see it coming a mile away and I'm terrible at guessing that kind of thing.
Ultimately I think the book suffers from a mindset where its function as a political tool overshadows the fact that it's a work of fiction. Of course novels can and have been very politically powerful that way but they have to be powerful STORIES. Does anyone like reading a novel that feels like it wants to be a persuasive essay, even if you're on board with the politics already?
All that said, I did like what I could see was a lot of the thinking behind the book. I really appreciated that the friendship between Pinar and Ash was really at the centre of the story; yay women friendships! I also thought it was great how many sex worker characters there were. It's one of the few novels I've read where queer sex workers are front and centre, which is pretty amazing. Please, more books with them starring! And of course I can't forget Ash, who's probably the only trans woman character in her 70s who I've ever seen in fiction, and a non-cis-passing one to boot!
A few of the details of the dystopian world building were great too. I loved things like references to the "coffee wars" which was why coffee was so scarce and expensive; the fact that a sign language version of English had come into common usage as part of the resistance but had been co-opted; the "femme riots"! Some tidbits of how things work in activism circles (like arguing about whether a space has to be vegan or TERFs complaining about the inclusion of trans women) were also bang on.
In short, I wish this book had had the care and attention of an editorial team to help transform it into the great novel I think it could be with revisions....more
"Well, the blurb on the front cover that calls Karen Connelly’s The Change Room a “juicy peach of a novel” certainly hits the nail on the head. Just i"Well, the blurb on the front cover that calls Karen Connelly’s The Change Room a “juicy peach of a novel” certainly hits the nail on the head. Just imagine a woman biting into a fresh, ripe peach, with the juice dribbling down her chin, and you’ll have some idea of what to expect from this book and how it’s going to make you feel. That, and it’s going to get you to think about relationships..."
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
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