Reason Book Chosen
I recently saw Kate Bornstein read excerpts of her new book in person and was intrigued by her character. Her book was touted to me as fresh and blunt and honest by friends, and I was intrigued by the mixed reviews I kept reading about it. Also, I would be lying if I said the title didn’t really pull me in.
Bibliographic Information
Author: Kate Borenstein
Publisher: Seven Stories Press
ISBN: 1583227202
Copyright Date: 2006
Genre
Nonfiction, Self-Help
About the Author
Kate Bornstein is an author, playwright, performance artist, transsexual woman and gender theorist. Her other non-fiction novel titles are: Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us, Nearly Roadkill: An Infobahn Erotic Adventure, My Gender Workbook: How to Become a Real Man, a Real Woman, the Real You, or Something Else Entirely. Her memoir, Kate Bornstein Is A Queer And Pleasant Danger, is due for release in 2010.
Reader’s Annotation
Freaks, geeks, queers, sinners, outsiders - Listen up because Kate Bornstein has something to say. Adolescence sucks! But you will get through it. Yes, you. Now Pay attention.
Plot Summary
Kate Bornstein shares her own brief story growing up as a boy, but wanting to be a girl, and how difficult and oppressive culture and society were, and can be, to people like her who don’t fit in. She presents abstract concepts like oppression and gender and sexuality, and weaves them into questions from and snippets of her own life. She critically deconstructs some of the framework holding polarized systems like gender in place, and then offers real, and sometimes humorous, suggestions for staying alive in such a system.
Critical Analysis
The titles suggests this book is for many people, that many people whom are lost or confused or hurting will find honest, no bull-shit help inside. The first part of the book, however, mainly focuses on sex, gender and sexuality. Bornstein hints at other issues, and tries to make sweeping connections and generalizations, but really the first part could turn a reader off, or at least not pull a reader whom is struggling with other issues, in. Bornstein occasionally goes off on tangents about herself and her own life and philosophies, which is mildly distracting, and feels somewhat self absorbed and irrelevant. The actual suggestions part (including pictures and rating charts) is quite entertaining, and not sugarcoated, and this was appreciated. Some were new and interesting, such as act your gender or any other, use another word for hello, and others were kind of run of the mill such as get a makeover, go shopping, believe in your own laughter. Others are more controversial. What makes (and sometimes breaks) this book is Bornstein’s voice. At times it is honest and familiar and real, but at other times it is self absorbed and slightly preachy. Reader’s whom like Kate Bornstein will probably like this a whole lot. Readers who can’t stand her will probably at least find a few helpful suggestions to keep their sanity afloat. Teens will appreciate the open language she uses, and the lack of censorship in discussing sex, drugs, and other issues many non-fiction teen authors dumb down. If not totally helpful, it is at least mostly entertaining. There are fun pictures and quotes throughout, and open ended questions for readers to ponder. Also, the suggested readings (bibliotherapy) for each alternative, are great.
Themes/Tags/Issues
Suicide, Oppression, Self-Help, Identity, Bullying, Gender, Sex, Survival, Thought Provoking Questions, Bibliotherapy, Exercises
Controversial Subject Matter
Gender and Sex are Fluid
Defense: Bornstein doesn’t discuss these issues to convert her readers to change their gender or explore their sexual options. She presents them to outline general black/white, yes/no, polarized social issues and how they in turn create oppression. Teens can relate this to their own “issue.” Teen minds are generally ready and begging to be exposed to “grey” ideas.
Sex, Drugs, Self Mutilation, and Starving Oneself are ok.
Defense: Bornstein isn’t advocating these, but saying do these things in moderation or do these things carefully (don’t kill yourself doing them) and they will at least keep you alive for the time being.
She is also being a little tongue and cheek about these when she says them. Teens may take the things adult say literally, and listen to authoritative voices at times, but they also certainly can grasp sarcasm.
Curriculum Ties
Health- Self-Help, Self-Esteem, Suicide Prevention
Reading Level
12+
Interest Level
14-17
No comments:
Post a Comment