About this title: This compelling first novel follows the sexual travails of lesbian Jess Goldberg in a fine account of coming to terms with the complexities of a transgendered existence.
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Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Alyson Books
Date Published: 2004-04-01
ISBN-13:9781555838539ISBN:1555838537
Description: Very Good. SOFTCOVER. Very Good-Condition. Binding tight, pages clean. Smudges on inner back cover. Light edge-wear. Solid reading copy! read more
Description: Very Good. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Firebrand Books
Date Published: 1993
ISBN-13:9781563410291ISBN:156341029X
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Like new but for writing in corner of flyleaf; no other writing in book; no remainder mark; no spine crease; binding tight; pages bright, odor-free; will pack securely, ship promptly with Delivery Confirmation. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 304 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Firebrand Books
Date Published: 1993
ISBN-13:9781563410291ISBN:156341029X
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. A great copy with only minor edge wear and rubbing to cover. Pages are like new! An excellent copy! Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 304 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
Description: Acceptable. Former Library book. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Firebrand Books
Date Published: 1993
ISBN-13:9781563410291ISBN:156341029X
Description: Good. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. Moderate corner, edge wear; cover crease. Pages very good, no writing. Powerful, provocative, and deeply moving account of a he-she coming to terms with the complexities of a transgender existence. 301 pages. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Alyson Books
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9781555838539ISBN:1555838537
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Firebrand Books
Date Published: 1993
ISBN-13:9781563410291ISBN:156341029X
Description: Very Good. Signed by Author Personal inscription by author to recipient; a little edge wear and rubbing on very decent cover; spine uncreased and solid; some tiny tip jams on pp and minor, light stain spotting on side edge. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Firebrand Books, Milford, Connecticut, United States
Date Published: 1993
ISBN-13:9781563410291ISBN:156341029X
Description: Very Good with no dust jacket. 1-56341-029-X. 301 pp. Edgewear, Corners rubbed. A novel of a person learning to accept the challenges of being a transgendered person in a world looking for simple answers.; 8vo 8"-9" tall. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Firebrand Books
Date Published: 1993-03
ISBN-13:9781563410291ISBN:156341029X
Description: Good. This is a used book in good condition with normal wear and tear and may contain some writing, minor shelf wear and creases. Items are uploaded via ISBN and stock photo may be different from actual book cover. read more
"I had to buy this book twice since I lost my first copy at a bus-stop. I really hope there is an indigent person somewhere appreciating it, but honestly, this is a book with a somewhat limited readership.
In all honestly, the writing in this book is only passable, but it manages to be engaging by virtue of emotional honesty.
The narrator/protagonist Jess talks about race in a way that made me uncomfortable. First, the trope of the innocent child who 'doesn't understand racism' seems most often invoked by people who haven't done a lot of critical self-examination and want a get-out-of-racism-free pass. Of course children don't understand racism; it's irrational and adults who explain it often misrepresent it anyway!
Secondly, although Jess is frequently challenged, on her gender-expression, sometimes to the point of violence and rape, the ethnic other, when they appear, always validate her. I don't mean to argue either that Jess's gender expression is invalid, or that minority characters can't be open and tolerant, but when a Dene woman delivers a prophecy at Jess' birth, I really feel that something hinky is going on.
That aside, very worth reading for a character and a story you won't find elsewhere."
"There are some books that are so big to a genre or a topic that they are seminal. This is one of those books. If you are looking for a book to read so that you understand the experience of an LGBTQ person, this is (the) one to read. If you want to know the history of the LGBTQ movement, this is a book to read. If you want to understand the concept of gender not being binary, this is a book to read.
In short, if you are curious about the LGBTQ experience/history, if you are trying to explain your (or someone else's) LBGTQ experience to someone or want to understand the experience of someone who is gender queer or transgender, this is a wonderful tool with which to do so.
Feinberg is not the world's best techinical writer. Her prose isn't poetic and the language isn't flowery. This does nothing to take away from the power of the emotions she conveys or the impact of the characters' experiences. This book does a wonderful job of bringing in the changes that were going on in the world into the personal story of the main character. The setting of the social changes through the 50s-70s is an ever present backdrop. However, while civil right and Vietnam are specifically mentioned, they never become the centerpiece of the novel. They are only auxillary events happening to a distant "other" in the mind of the main character.
What is truly remarkable about this story isn't that she makes the main character sympathetic and relatable. What is remarkable is that she does this while showing the bigotry and faults of the main character. Jess has her own stereotypes and assumptions about people and has a hard time being open minded about things that may surprise the reader. She is flawed and she is real and because she isn't painted as a saint, you never feel that Feinberg is preaching at you. It never seems like she's saying "look how enlightened LGBTQ people are". Its more like "look how people LGBTQ people are". I think this is what I loved most about this book, there was no moral high ground, there was no perfect person, but many people trying to fight for their right to be who they are and exist in the world.
This book is a wonderful way to broaden your horizons, to open your mind and to examine how you think about gender and sexuality. I recommend it for everyone, not just straight people, not just LGBTQ people. Read it and remind yourself that every person is a person and deserves dignity and respect."
"How ignorant I am! I had no idea the amount of positive influence the labor unions had on lesbians, nor the amount of negative influence from the women's movement on "he-shes." The indignities and tortures faced by these women at the hands of the police are heartbreaking. I was surprised by my own lack of knowledge about this facet of the gay community at almost every turn. I knew "bad things" happened (and happen!) to people for no reason other than who they are, but I didn't know the level of indignities faced by people such as the main character, Jess, from the police and the women's movement. Well, I knew a little bit, but not from such a personal, gut-wrenching level. As the granddaughter of a union organizer, I was also (more pleasantly) surprised by the more positive role labor unions held in securing jobs for people like Jess, though not that such women were barred from the meetings.
Feinberg is criticized for not writing "well," but once you become accustomed to her voice, this book is difficult to put down. If you're curious about the transgendered movement, or just looking to read something that will make you feel and think, try this book."
"This is easily one of the best books that I have read, fiction or otherwise. Feinberg does an amazing job of bringing to light the horrible treatment that GLBT people faced during the days before and during the different political and social movements, but where the book really shines is how it functions as a chronicle of Jesse's life. Many times while I was reading Stone Butch Blues, I forgot that I was reading a novel. The attention to detail, and the amount of emotion that was expressed by Jesse, was absolutely astounding. When she is struggling with her identity, you feel her pain. When she is gravely mistreated, both physically and emotionally, for who she is, it almost feels as if you are right there as a helpless passerby, wishing you could do something to make things better (fortunately they do, but I won't spoil anything). Such is the power of Stone Butch Blues, a book that has easily become one of my favorites. I look forward to reading it again sometime in the future."
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