Trigger warning, this book has a lot of dead naming and misgendering as the main character is only out as trans to a select few family and friends. Wow! What an incredible reimagining of Austen's famous Pride and Prejudice. The idea fit so perfectly with the tones and meaning of the book. The prejudice, the miscommunication, the judgements, and the incorrect assumptions. I loved it so much, the way in which the author honored the old work, but then reformed the book into something fresh with added depth and meaning. This book has pushed me to want to read more trans historical books (and not just fiction). I want to know more about trans historical figures, I want to know that they had a chance to thrive and be happy. I was a little frustrated with the misogyny still present in the narrative, and the fact that Oliver felt that fitting in was becoming part of the toxic masculinity crowd. The best characters in this book have always been those who tended not to fit into societal norms or to adhere to the awful boxes society places people into. For example, in the original: Bingley is an overly cheery, flighty, non-reading, generous gentleman, Jane is a woman who hides her emotions from all but those closest to her, Elizabeth is not the accomplished young woman that so many expect of her, and Fitzwilliam Darcy is standoffish and suffers from social anxiety. So, it would have been really neat if this book pushed back against the patriarchy more; it did, but I think it could have had more oomph. The Bennets were their usual plucky selves and continued to redeem themselves through the course of the novel. Mr. Bennet is a gem as usual and deserves all the love. I also enjoyed the switch to having Wickham and Mr. Collins in league with each other and removing the grossness of Wickham marrying into their family. I was uncertain of Charlotte's fate after all that transpired, and I can only hope that Oliver's true and enduring friendship would mean caring for his friend after all that was revealed. A fabulous book with so much emotion and two leads who truly find love within each other, even while trying to figure out who they are themselves and how to tell their family their own truths. This is a book about what it means to be yourself and how difficult it is to tell others the truth, but how validating it is when your family actually sees the real you and embraces you.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Currently ReadingGraphic Novel
Feminist Essays
Archives
April 2024
|