Although I loved the premise of the book and much of the content, I did wish for more at points. The book may have been better if certain aspects had been taken in slightly different directions.
Although I loved the premise of the book and much of the content, I did wish for more at points. The book may have been better if certain aspects had been taken in slightly different directions.
A sort of ‘Sliding doors‘ theme of two stories of one character born as both a boy and then as a girl. I thought it would go further in terms of gender inequalities/differences experienced as male/female and I found it a bit too cutesy in places. No doubt a thought provoking read none the less.
On Sept 8 1978, Lou is born, and this is the story of Lou as a male and Lou as a female. Told in parallel, I thought it might be confusing to have dual life stories, but it worked well, and there were interweaving chapters when Lou was brought together as one. Issues around masculinity, femininity, patriarchy, sexuality and equality were at the heart of this story, and I‘m so glad to have read it. Highly recommend.
‘Sliding Doors‘ meets ‘Orlando‘: this entertaining and thought-provoking novel tells a life lived two ways, as Lou is born male in one strand and female in another. In all other respects they are the same person on the inside, but how will the perceptions of the world around them change the path their lives take? Cohen juggles the parallel narrative with skill and the characters are sensitively drawn. Recommended holiday reading in January.