I love that phrase "trans joy". That beyond all the physical and verbal, societal and political threats, there is still trans joy that won't give up. I'm going to buy Elliott's book right now, and anytime should you desire to write one or two, I'll jump right in line to buy and read yours. You are brilliant, curious, articulate, empathetic, and loving, Willow.
I can't decide how I feel about this book. I love Elliot. Both as an actor and as a person (based on interviews, IG, etc, obviously I don't know him). I liked the non-linear format. I liked the writing style. But I wish he dug deeper. I feel like there are a lot of gaps not only in the story, but psychologically, there is a LOT more to dig. And I don't only mean his transition, even though it is a small part of the book, it is still an underlying layer everywhere. But I'm left with more questions than anything. His eating disorder. Experiences in Hollywood. More about his darkest moments. His needs to chance long-term relationships. His marriage. The impact of his extremely dark roles. And so on. While I understand some of these stories were possibly left behind to protect the privacy of others (like his ex-wife). And some were maybe left behind because he simply didn't want to talk about. I understand that this is a memoir and a memoir of a relatively young person (4 yrs younger than myself) and he purposely chose what to share and how much to share (not super much). And I understand that he is a real person and what he doesn't want to share is essentially none of my fucking business. And I understand that this leaves room for other memoirs later on. BUT still, as a reader of a story, I can't help but crave more and have a million more questions. Yet, I still liked the writing style, book format, and I find it an important book. I sure hope to read more from him, whether it's a memoir or fiction or whatever other written word. It's been clear from interviews and speeches that he knows how to use language beautifully and skillfully and it's clear from his book too. "let me just exist with you, happier than ever" FUCKING CHILLS!
7:45 - "He really knows how to spin his language" - what a great compliment! 14:45 - Elliot wanting to go back to being a ten year old boy is very relatable. I felt that way too, definitely. For a long time. At least until around twelve or thirteen. There was a period of almost grief.
I appreciate how openly you share about your story as well as reviewing the book. You should know you are playing a big role in my learning about the world 🌎 ❤
I really enjoyed this novel and the thing I took away from it was his love for literature and the way he is able to write a sense of place with historical context to all the places in Canada where he grew up. Thanks for your review!
I wanted to read it the minute I saw he wrote his memoir and felt such motherly pride that he finally lives his truth. It's such a shame that not all parents feel that way towards their children. My 2 queer children have taught me so much about living an authentic life! I could never reject their feelings, thoughts and ideas as easily as some small minded parents can!
It really surprised me just how well written this was. I picked it up expecting to like it as someone who was a big fan of Elliot Page when I was young, but I didn't expect to appreciate it so much as a piece of literature. Such a powerful book!
I'm so glad to see you reviewed this! I haven't picked it up yet but I know it'll be core reading for me. Already teared up when you were describing his experiences realising something was 'wrong' as a kid, as that's my own experience completely. I'm also pretty relieved to hear that it it's a bit of a cut above the usual celebrity memoir, I'm definitely one of those cynical people 😅 Thank you for the video!
I put a library hold for this, and I'm still waiting to check it out. Judging by this review it is totally worth waiting for. :) I recently read Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H. You might like that too.
Wow, thank you for the review. I would have loved to be at that interview with him in London. I liked what be did when in a feminine body and I never had a problem with any of the transitions he went through. I am totally interested to read this!!
I read pageboy a few weeks ago I really enjoyed it Elliott is a brilliant writer I'm so glad that he is living the life he wants this is one of the best books of 2023
I've been a fan of Elliot Page since he was in The Xmen movie. I'm Canadian and I was just so proud of how well he was doing in movies. Thanks for a thorough review. I can't wait to read this.
I loved your nonbinary book recomendations, I was trying to find some that didnt focus solely on gender identity and focused more on romance/plot since I already feel the struggle and just want to see myself represented in an adult romance novel 😅 Anxious Enbies unite ❤
I need to get his book. Awesome vid thank you. Same way for me. Being trans isn't something that I mark my years by, for me it's been my art, my music, my writing, my friends, etc. also D&D... but I'm a nerd 🤣💜
First, thank you for this review. I'm going to suggest Pageboy for my nonfiction book club. Do you have any way of complaining about a specific advertiser? The ad I just watched in the middle of this video was extremely transphobic, and misleading at first. I hesitate to post details and give it any kind of boost, but it was for a "docudrama" about transition regret.
What?? Oh my goodness, I’ve never seen ads like that before on YT! I have no idea how to complain about them but I’ll give it a Google. Thanks for telling me!
It was good in a way that makes me wonder about what kind of help he's gotten or whether he has a backlog of books to offer. Like, you don't just sit down and write a good, non linear autobiography on the first try.
When is Elliot signing up for selective service? That's my question to all these trans men. You're not a real man until the government makes you go to war or at least threatens to send you at any moment by making you sign up for selective service. With those abs the Army could use him since most people in the military are now overweight.
Tbh I just finished it and I didn’t really like it. He talks about a lot of horrific things that happened to him. TW: rape, sa, child abuse, hate crime. When it comes to the chapters where he talks about it, he goes into detail descriptions of what happened, same with consensual sex scenes and also shitting for some reason which gives this fake idea that he is open about his life but he rarely talks about how he actually felt/feels. He doesn’t really reflect about anything. He also comes off as performative. He says multiple times about how he learned about x social Justice topic when they don’t have anything to do with what’s happening in the chapter while making little to no reflection about the sexism he experienced before transitioning or the sexism he may hold as a trans man. Especially because he talks about some women in a weird way. Or the homophobia especially in context of the hate crime or transphobia. I didn’t really liked how he talked about the women he dated and his relationships in general. Due to the lack of reflection I’m also not sure that he’s aware how codependent he seems to be. Also because of the nonlinear writing style which didn’t bother me while reading, I now don’t know when something happened to him. Not that important but I also did realize that he and I wouldn’t make friends. The moment he said (I listened to the audio book) „People didn’t like me because I listend to weird music like Radiohead“ I couldn’t keep it in and I busted out laughing while being at work and people being around me
Finished it last week and it's bad. It's kind of shame this'll squeeze out a lot of legitimately good publications by trans authors due to Page's fame and the media blitz.
There isn’t a finite amount of room in the publishing world. I can recommend dozens of great books by trans authors of all backgrounds. And it’s also a good book, thankfully
@@WillowTalksBooks ya plenty can get published but this imo mediocre book and others like it float to the top found it distasteful that a book full of mostly airhead rich-person observations got top billing everywhere I looked during pride month. I can't imagine how I'd feel if I were a non-rich, non-famous starving writer passionately writing about the trans experience seeing this
I love that phrase "trans joy". That beyond all the physical and verbal, societal and political threats, there is still trans joy that won't give up.
I'm going to buy Elliott's book right now, and anytime should you desire to write one or two, I'll jump right in line to buy and read yours. You are brilliant, curious, articulate, empathetic, and loving, Willow.
I can't decide how I feel about this book. I love Elliot. Both as an actor and as a person (based on interviews, IG, etc, obviously I don't know him). I liked the non-linear format. I liked the writing style. But I wish he dug deeper. I feel like there are a lot of gaps not only in the story, but psychologically, there is a LOT more to dig. And I don't only mean his transition, even though it is a small part of the book, it is still an underlying layer everywhere. But I'm left with more questions than anything. His eating disorder. Experiences in Hollywood. More about his darkest moments. His needs to chance long-term relationships. His marriage. The impact of his extremely dark roles. And so on. While I understand some of these stories were possibly left behind to protect the privacy of others (like his ex-wife). And some were maybe left behind because he simply didn't want to talk about. I understand that this is a memoir and a memoir of a relatively young person (4 yrs younger than myself) and he purposely chose what to share and how much to share (not super much). And I understand that he is a real person and what he doesn't want to share is essentially none of my fucking business. And I understand that this leaves room for other memoirs later on. BUT still, as a reader of a story, I can't help but crave more and have a million more questions. Yet, I still liked the writing style, book format, and I find it an important book. I sure hope to read more from him, whether it's a memoir or fiction or whatever other written word. It's been clear from interviews and speeches that he knows how to use language beautifully and skillfully and it's clear from his book too. "let me just exist with you, happier than ever" FUCKING CHILLS!
7:45 - "He really knows how to spin his language" - what a great compliment!
14:45 - Elliot wanting to go back to being a ten year old boy is very relatable. I felt that way too, definitely. For a long time. At least until around twelve or thirteen. There was a period of almost grief.
It's very hard hitting when you hear about parents like that.
I appreciate how openly you share about your story as well as reviewing the book. You should know you are playing a big role in my learning about the world 🌎 ❤
Aw thank you! I try to focus on the books but if my story is relevant, I share it with the hope that I’m helping people :)
I really enjoyed this novel and the thing I took away from it was his love for literature and the way he is able to write a sense of place with historical context to all the places in Canada where he grew up. Thanks for your review!
I wanted to read it the minute I saw he wrote his memoir and felt such motherly pride that he finally lives his truth. It's such a shame that not all parents feel that way towards their children. My 2 queer children have taught me so much about living an authentic life! I could never reject their feelings, thoughts and ideas as easily as some small minded parents can!
Bless ya
It really surprised me just how well written this was. I picked it up expecting to like it as someone who was a big fan of Elliot Page when I was young, but I didn't expect to appreciate it so much as a piece of literature. Such a powerful book!
I'm so glad to see you reviewed this! I haven't picked it up yet but I know it'll be core reading for me. Already teared up when you were describing his experiences realising something was 'wrong' as a kid, as that's my own experience completely.
I'm also pretty relieved to hear that it it's a bit of a cut above the usual celebrity memoir, I'm definitely one of those cynical people 😅 Thank you for the video!
I put a library hold for this, and I'm still waiting to check it out. Judging by this review it is totally worth waiting for. :) I recently read Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H. You might like that too.
Wow, thank you for the review. I would have loved to be at that interview with him in London. I liked what be did when in a feminine body and I never had a problem with any of the transitions he went through. I am totally interested to read this!!
I read pageboy a few weeks ago I really enjoyed it Elliott is a brilliant writer I'm so glad that he is living the life he wants this is one of the best books of 2023
I've been a fan of Elliot Page since he was in The Xmen movie. I'm Canadian and I was just so proud of how well he was doing in movies. Thanks for a thorough review. I can't wait to read this.
I misheard Posie Parker as Parker Posey and almost fell to my knees lol
Hahaha she was great in Beau is Afraid
I loved your nonbinary book recomendations, I was trying to find some that didnt focus solely on gender identity and focused more on romance/plot since I already feel the struggle and just want to see myself represented in an adult romance novel 😅 Anxious Enbies unite ❤
I really like this review. I'm looking forward to checking this book out.
I need to get his book. Awesome vid thank you. Same way for me. Being trans isn't something that I mark my years by, for me it's been my art, my music, my writing, my friends, etc. also D&D... but I'm a nerd 🤣💜
Haha I play D&D as well. My partner got me into it recently, and their first tattoo is a dagger through a d20 :)
@@WillowTalksBooks that sounds cool. I want a d&d tattoo, but I hate needles 🤣
First, thank you for this review. I'm going to suggest Pageboy for my nonfiction book club.
Do you have any way of complaining about a specific advertiser? The ad I just watched in the middle of this video was extremely transphobic, and misleading at first. I hesitate to post details and give it any kind of boost, but it was for a "docudrama" about transition regret.
What?? Oh my goodness, I’ve never seen ads like that before on YT! I have no idea how to complain about them but I’ll give it a Google. Thanks for telling me!
Ordered, thank you ❤
It was good in a way that makes me wonder about what kind of help he's gotten or whether he has a backlog of books to offer. Like, you don't just sit down and write a good, non linear autobiography on the first try.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
When is Elliot signing up for selective service? That's my question to all these trans men. You're not a real man until the government makes you go to war or at least threatens to send you at any moment by making you sign up for selective service. With those abs the Army could use him since most people in the military are now overweight.
Why are all the spine-chilling creeps choosing today to come onto my wholesome channel and leave the weirdest comments??
Tbh I just finished it and I didn’t really like it. He talks about a lot of horrific things that happened to him. TW: rape, sa, child abuse, hate crime. When it comes to the chapters where he talks about it, he goes into detail descriptions of what happened, same with consensual sex scenes and also shitting for some reason which gives this fake idea that he is open about his life but he rarely talks about how he actually felt/feels. He doesn’t really reflect about anything. He also comes off as performative. He says multiple times about how he learned about x social Justice topic when they don’t have anything to do with what’s happening in the chapter while making little to no reflection about the sexism he experienced before transitioning or the sexism he may hold as a trans man. Especially because he talks about some women in a weird way. Or the homophobia especially in context of the hate crime or transphobia. I didn’t really liked how he talked about the women he dated and his relationships in general. Due to the lack of reflection I’m also not sure that he’s aware how codependent he seems to be. Also because of the nonlinear writing style which didn’t bother me while reading, I now don’t know when something happened to him.
Not that important but I also did realize that he and I wouldn’t make friends. The moment he said (I listened to the audio book) „People didn’t like me because I listend to weird music like Radiohead“ I couldn’t keep it in and I busted out laughing while being at work and people being around me
Finished it last week and it's bad. It's kind of shame this'll squeeze out a lot of legitimately good publications by trans authors due to Page's fame and the media blitz.
There isn’t a finite amount of room in the publishing world. I can recommend dozens of great books by trans authors of all backgrounds. And it’s also a good book, thankfully
@@WillowTalksBooks ya plenty can get published but this imo mediocre book and others like it float to the top
found it distasteful that a book full of mostly airhead rich-person observations got top billing everywhere I looked during pride month. I can't imagine how I'd feel if I were a non-rich, non-famous starving writer passionately writing about the trans experience seeing this
Also ofc you'll find all these books in spite of this you're a damn book reviewer!