Linda's Reviews > In the Darkroom

You couldn't make this up: Faludi, a terrific writer and serious thinker on feminism, gender and masculinity learns that her long-estranged and abusive father Steven is now Stefanie, a transgender woman who loves tea parties, men opening doors and being a 'lady' generally. Stefanie is living back in her native Hungary, where Susan goes to see if she can get to know her in a way she never knew her father as a man. Throw in the complicated history of Jews and anti-semitism in Hungary, lies, secrets and the problems of identity and you have a riveting memoir/biography/exploration of gender and sexuality that is unique and with its thriller-like narrative twists and turns, almost impossible to put down. I absolutely loved this book.