Finally hit me: probably the most odd element about Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl, aside from clashing magical realism against a grungy 90s queer narrative, is that there is no textual acknowledgement of trans people. I know it’s the 1990s, but think about Nevada, right? Maria Griffiths cannot ever shut the fuck up about her gender, and that’s a common throughline, in Manhunt or Light From Uncommon Stars. (How intentional each case is and whether or not it’s a flaw is subject to debate )
But despite the fact that Paul is very fucking much a book about gender, its author is nonbinary and I mean just look at it, its entire world is basically cisnormative and everything that it actually says about gender, everything that isn’t Paul’s goofy second-wave observations about gender, is uncharacteristically subtle. It is I guess more of a commentary on gender than a blog post about it.
this ones a little stranger than I had expected tbh
Edit: OKAY LOOK RIGHT
Paul loitered outside the door, pretending to study the posters announcing various benefits and open mics and documentaries of interest to the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual community.
Feel that the textual exclusion of the T could equally be an artifact of the time as a deliberate prod, Idk.
I haven’t finished it yet but I think yeah, absolutely. 90s-ass life-slice about an atttactive gay boy who is secretly a human-shapeshifting creature of some form who might actually secretly just be A Gender, mostly it is about his adventures in various body types and presentations, floating through whatever walk of life presents itself. Paul is sort of a stereotypical, slightly judgemental camp gay, but I find him sympathetic in the same way that most of these protagonists (Reese, Wendy, so on) are: abrasive and dejected to hide all the weird identity turmoil =)
Surprisingly it doesn’t need a ton of CWs thus far either, like it’s still a weird weird book but it’s cool, I find its blend of slightly fantastical elements into the 90s queer nightlife scene to be neato. It’s a funny one.
more about the novel Paul
Finally hit me: probably the most odd element about Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl, aside from clashing magical realism against a grungy 90s queer narrative, is that there is no textual acknowledgement of trans people. I know it’s the 1990s, but think about Nevada, right? Maria Griffiths cannot ever shut the fuck up about her gender, and that’s a common throughline, in Manhunt or Light From Uncommon Stars. (How intentional each case is and whether or not it’s a flaw is subject to debate
)
But despite the fact that Paul is very fucking much a book about gender, its author is nonbinary and I mean just look at it, its entire world is basically cisnormative and everything that it actually says about gender, everything that isn’t Paul’s goofy second-wave observations about gender, is uncharacteristically subtle. It is I guess more of a commentary on gender than a blog post about it.
Edit: OKAY LOOK RIGHT
Feel that the textual exclusion of the T could equally be an artifact of the time as a deliberate prod, Idk.
My librarian friend gifted me this book! Is it worth a read?
I haven’t finished it yet but I think yeah, absolutely. 90s-ass life-slice about an atttactive gay boy who is secretly a human-shapeshifting creature of some form who might actually secretly just be A Gender, mostly it is about his adventures in various body types and presentations, floating through whatever walk of life presents itself. Paul is sort of a stereotypical, slightly judgemental camp gay, but I find him sympathetic in the same way that most of these protagonists (Reese, Wendy, so on) are: abrasive and dejected to hide all the weird identity turmoil =)
Surprisingly it doesn’t need a ton of CWs thus far either, like it’s still a weird weird book but it’s cool, I find its blend of slightly fantastical elements into the 90s queer nightlife scene to be neato. It’s a funny one.
This book is really hittin’ you like
Really skirting the line between pain and pleasure on this one
Lol she’s read much worse, worse being subjective ofc
I think about it a lot, it is the reverse of the usual A Novel, where I understand the protagonist and their ways, but the setting is weird.
I am enjoying it though, like it’s odd to get my grey matter around but I admire & appreciate its mischevious spirit ngl.