Pageboy

Pageboy by Elliot Page, 271 pages

In this candid memoir, Page explores his family, his career, his mental health journey, and his long, difficult relationship with his gender. As a trans celebrity who became famous playing the pregnant titular character in Juno, his transition and his life in general have been subject to media scrutiny and social media hatred. While this book certainly discusses that element of his life, the overriding theme of this memoir seems to be about him finding his authentic voice in his personal and professional relationships. It weaves seamlessly between his experiences as a kid and teen growing up in Nova Scotia, and his life as an adult, making the book anything but linear and giving it a more literary quality. I loved this book, and I'd love to read another memoir by him later on in his life — I'm sure he'll have some well-written stories to tell.

The Scandal at Bletchley

The Scandal at Bletchley by Jack Treby  236 pp.

In 1929, on the brink of the global recession, a group of MI5 personnel meet at the private estate, Bletchley Park to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the organization. Former secret service member, Hilary Manningham-Butler, is invited but is not sure why since he left employment there many years before. Hilary is a middle aged woman who has been masquerading as a man for most of her life and none of her colleagues know about it. But when someone in the party threatens to reveal that secret it could bring down the entire organization which is something members of Parliament would love to see. As mysteries go, this one is so-so at best. I got it as a cheap audiobook so I'm not out much. For some reason I am having trouble uploading pictures of the cover on my Chromebook so I will add it later.

A Queer and Pleasant Danger

A Queer and Pleasant Danger: A Memoir by Kate Bornstein  258 pp.

I must admit that the only reason I picked this book was to fill the "Q" slot in an "A to Z Title Challenge". However, I found it to be an interesting, if not great, book. Kate Bornstein is the transgender author of Gender Outlaw. This book chronicles her entry into the all consuming world of Scientology which lead them (then known as Al Bornstein) into the upper echelons of L. Ron Hubbard's cult dynasty all the while fighting the internal battle of gender dysphoria. After leaving Scientology Bornstein makes the decision to have reassignment surgery and becomes a woman in body while identifying as gender non-conforming. Parts of their story are disturbing and not for the faint of heart.

Eva Luna

Eva Luna by Isabel Allende  307 pp.

This is an older novel by Chilean author Allende who is one of my favorites. The title character is the daughter of a mixed race woman who was raised in a Catholic orphanage and a man who was dying of snakebite. Eva grows up in the household where her mother works for a professor who doesn't realize Eva exists until her mother's death. Eva is a born storyteller who wraps her dreams and real life into amazing tales. Allende creates a world with interesting characters including a transgender actress, a revolutionary guerrilla fighter, and a filmmaker who is a survivor of Nazi oppression and parental abuse. They all weave together in stories of wealth, poverty, love, hate, war, and peace leaving the reader to wonder what is truly  Eva's life and what are the stories she creates. While this isn't my favorite Allende novel, it is one of the best.

Super Late Bloomer

Super late bloomer: my early days in transition: an up and out collection / Julia Kaye, 159 pgs.

Julia Kaye shares her very personal journey of becoming herself.  Confused for a long time about her gender and why she was unhappy even though her life was full of things everyone wants...a good job, happy and supportive relationships and friends.  In 2016, she decided to undergo the transition to become a woman and started hormone therapy along with daily actions to appear more feminine.  At first, it feels right but as this journal shows, there is much more to it.  Ups and downs are frequent.  Is this the right thing?  Will she ever look in the mirror and see a woman looking back?  Will OTHERS see a woman?  What are the legal hurdles to changing your name?  Changing your gender? Communicating this change to friends, family and even companies with which you do business is daunting.  Some days it feels like the best thing she has ever done, some days it feels like she is on the wrong path.  In the end, however, she prevails.  She feels stronger and better than ever.  I'm so glad she shared with the rest of us.  Relate-able to anyone who has had to find themselves.

The Late Show

The Late Show / Michael Connelly, read by Katherine Moennig, 436 p.

Detective Renee Ballard works the night shift, where she is forced to begin cases but never allowed to finish them, as she is forced to turn her work over to the day shift every morning.  Ballard is highly skilled but has been exiled to the night shift because of a sexual harassment complaint filed against a supervisor.  But Ballard refuses to let go of two cases that begin on the same night, one involving a night club shooting that killed five people, and another involving the brutal beating of a transgender prostitute.  Ballard is a terrific character - a former Hawaiian, she unwinds every morning by doing some intense surfing while her loyal dog, Lola, waits for her on the beach.  Moennig's reading voice tracked perfectly with the character, making a thoroughly enjoyable listen.