Member Review

To be a trans man by Ezra Woodger.

Thank you to Netgallery for an ARC for an unbiased review.

So, my husband is transgender. As a result, we have numerous trans friends. Male, female and non-binary. Some transmasculine, some not. So I was very interested to read experiences from others, as I think the trans male voice isn't always heard or understood by others.
I think the book brought some important things to the conversations needed, by both the cis world but also the trans world, as it can sadly also have those who are less than understanding on some things. Particularly for those who don't fall into the definition of two main genders. We have personally seen more non-binary or gender fluid trans men (and women,) than ever before and got to know them. And that's so great to see. We have to accept all identities within the community and I fully understand a lot of what was said within the book. It might not be what my husband identifies as, but he recognises that many others want and need to have more fluidity in expressing their authentic selves.

But there is also something where the book just didn't work for me.
It just lacked something that I'm struggling to define. It took a while but after I was able to step away from it for a few days, I can say it wasn't the content per se, more just how that content is done. The biggest factor was these experiences are from people who are either social media influencers or have done something else to have them stand out above the crowd. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong in that, but I felt it also needed more about trans identity from those who haven't written a book, or who aren't influencers or haven't written a song.

This doesn't mean what was discussed wasn't valid or important. It absolutely was. But the irony for me is it didn't feel as if the people being asked were diverse enough!
The way it is presented, the style of narrative is also where it falls down for me. I was expecting more of a written narrative from trans men, in the style the author did in the forward. But this was more Q&A, so it lacked a cohesion for me that I think it might've gained had people just been asked to write experiences down in a regular chapter format.

As someone who is also versed in a lot of the language found in the LGBTQA and trans community, I also felt that all too often things put in would make little or no sense, even to some in the trans community. Not everyone knows of section 28 for example, trans or otherwise. Especially if a reader isn't from the UK or is younger or didn't experience it. Our history is not everyone's history.

Not everyone understands what cis means. Even I had to stop and look up what transmedicalist meant, and while I'm cis, a reminder my husband is trans. I realised I did know of it, I'd just never heard it refered to that way. So plus point, I did learn something. Negative, I had to stop and google it. We live with many of these phrases etc. Believe me, if I'm struggling to understand context of a word or phrase, then a lot of others will be too. A good solid appendix section at the end would do a lot to alleviate that.

This brings me to the last thing for me. This felt more like a message of trans advocacy, which again, in itself is not something to say is a bad thing. But not enough balance for trans identity was being spoken about.
I wanted to love this book. I still think it has an important place. But I feel it doesn't encompass quite what the book seemed to imply.

If asked to sum up - there are important voices, but not the diversity I had hoped for. I can see or ask a lot of similar influencers what was expressed in this book via various social media. I'd hoped to hear voices that weren't on the platforms. A mix is fine. It just felt rather narrow in execution. Also a good appendix is needed to clarify a lot of the terminology used. Both for the cis and trans audience.
So after wanting desperately to give this 5 stars, I'm afraid to say I'm giving it 3/5 stars 🌟