(Image from webcomic Subnormality, which is fantastic and I urge everyone to google it after they're done reading this)
When our reading group first talked about this book, I was intrigued. Granted, I made jokes and giggled uncomfortably as immature 21-year-olds are prone to do, I started referring to it as "The-Transsexual-Divorce-in-Rural-Vermont-Book," but I was intrigued and excited. And I trusted that the book would be brilliant and well composed based on the high praise given by my incredibly intelligent classmate (Hi Hannah!)
Relationships are...complicated. Sexuality is complicated. And I think people are just starting to realize how complicated it can be. It is not like everyone can classify themselves as exclusively gay or straight and male or female, there are a great number of subdivisions that modern society is still coming to grips with.
Especially at a time when gay civil rights are still being debated, transgender issues are still an incredibly taboo topic. It makes people nervous and uncomfortable to talk about. Most people would rather bury their heads in the sand and preted that it does not exist. But those people, myself included, are incredibly lucky to feel comfortable and at home within their own skin and gender.
But going beyond the narrative plight of protagonist, Dana, going through a sex-change operation, I am interested in seeing how said operation will affect the other characters, namely between Dana and his/her lover Allison (See! It's getting complicated already.) One thing I noticed was how Allison was struggling to define herself as a lesbian. It was interesting to me that this is an issue she struggles with. She is a woman who loves a man who feels like a woman trapped in a man's body. Why is she trying to label her sexuality right now? Aren't there bigger issues to deal with?
Allison's daughter, Carly, classifies Allison as a woman who is extremely comfortable with her own sexuality. Carly often states that Allison has no problem with nudity or talking about sex with her young daughter. While Carly seems somewhat less comfortable with these topics she seems to accept her mother's stance. Which is why it seems weird that when Allison is faced with somewhat of a sexual dilemma she immediately tries to re-label herself. Don't these type of situations merit more than one word descriptions?
That being said, I'm excited to see how complicated things get as the plot furthers. I'm especially interested to see the relationships stand against the typical gender and sexuality roles.
And for no particular reason I'm including this picture I found of James Franco on the cover of a magazine dressed heavily in drag, just to prove how complicated things can get.
Phew! One response to the book! I was getting nervous... I completely agree with you Dani. Relationships between anyone are extremely complicated. As soon as emotions get ivolved it becomes a messy situation. And if the situation is anything like the one described in this book I can only imagine how much more complicated it gets. As soon as we are forced to define our feelings in terms of our own sexuality or role then it takes things to another level. It is one thing for Allison to say that she loves this man she has met, Dana. It is then completely twisted in her mind once she starts to define her own sexuality in terms of those feelings. She is not allowed to simply love this person because she first has to consider what that will mean for her. What does that make her? I think these types of questions are what carry on through the whole book. Actually, I don't think, I know. I've already read the book... But, it's these tough questions that this book forces you to confront and that's why I thought it was a good suggestion!
ReplyDeleteKeep reading! I hope you like it!
-Hannah
I like James Franco in drag.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Dani, and I also found it interesting that the person with the sexuality crisis is the mother, who has had over forty years to get comfortable with her sexuality (and is described as being very comfortable with it at first) instead of the daughter who has just started college where a lot of changes in ideas and feelings take place, and traditionally is the backdrop for one who questions their sexuality. (hope that run-on sentence makes sense)
I also like that the book gives an insight to the lives and loves of transexuals, since, as you say, it is still a taboo subject in our society. Thanks Hannah for suggesting this book!
Subnormality rocks!
ReplyDeleteI like your comments about how complicated gender identity and expression can be. I wonder what you think the book is saying about the relationship between sex and gender. How does this book compare with other texts about sexual and gender identity?
Of course, drag is a whole other topic. What's up with James Franco?