Stone Butch Blues

First let me say, I stayed up pretty late to finish this book and I read it at work. All in all it probably took me 8-10 hours to finish.

Only a few books have left a long lasting impression on me. Judy Blume's Forever is one of them and to be honest I can't really remember another one. I have read a ton of books and none of them ever had me question life the way this book did. I am ashamed to say that this is the first LGBT novel I have read that wasn't a fanfic or manga. I am so glad that I read this novel first. On television there is a lot of queerbating, unnecessary drama in LGBT relationships, and 99% of the time a gay character dies (Tara from Buffy... remember?). So, I can admit that I was a bit nervous about venturing in the world of LGBT novels.

This book is about Jess, a lesbian who is so confused about life that I just want to give her a hug and buy her some chipotle. She has no one to guide her or help with her feelings, she at times can come off as ignorant and biased, but her pain is so real it has you forgiving her instantly. This book is not happy at all, it leaves you feeling like you've been punched in the stomach but after wards the assailant gives you ice cream. Don't get me wrong, the book isn't sad either, and the only way I can describe it is dark. This novel is dark, it deals with, bullying, harassment at the work place, mental illness, police brutality, violence, rape, depression, pride, racism, sexism, AIDS, love, romance, failed relationships, and hurt. This book at times was hard to read, not because of the above but because I just wanted to pound everyone who wronged Jess, take her out to dinner, and be her friend.

If you want to read something that inspires you, makes you angry, but gives you hope then definitely read this book. You will not regret it. Get it for free here: http://www.lesliefeinberg.net/

This one's going to take me a long time to fully process, but by the end of the book I felt really hopeful. Jess's life is so different from mine but also familiar too. I've made decisions this year that will lead me into a new phase of my life and I'm excited about it. This book has made me feel more confident in my choices. I don't know very many other people in real life that are trans like me but the ones I do know give me courage as well.

A classic for a reason. Stone Butch Blues is gripping, visceral, transporting and deeply emotional. I read it years ago and certain scenes I still remember vividly. First hand accounts of queer life in the early 20th century are hard to come by. A lesbian (and trans) story feels even rarer. To have this autobiography that's written at such a high caliber, and tells the story of a such a hard fought and inspirational life, is a joy and honor to read.