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January Nonfiction #ReadingBracket2025
This memoir was definitely a stand out

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this memoir and loved that Elliot read it himself. His stories of growing up in Canada, experiencing gender dysphoria while trying to make it in the film industry, and struggling to find acceptance from his family and peers was so moving. I've seen some criticism about the non-chronological narrative but I thought it really suited his storytelling, allowing for themes to bloom organically. ↩️

I loved this and was not much bothered by the nonlinear way he went about it (totally get that some readers will feel differently so no criticism meant to others‘ reactions). However I did have to skip some parts so check the TW on this one before reading or prepare to skip portions as I did. I loved this: “Let me just exist with you. Happier than ever.” Really glad I read this.

I hate bailing on memoirs but the lack of structure on this one was just too much for me.

Today‘s audiobook…Been curious about this one for a while.

I hate jumping back and forth through time—and this memoir does a lot of that. It was hard to know which part of his life he was talking about or going back to. Other than that, this was really good. Here is Elliot‘s story of his childhood, adolescence, adulthood; his toxic home environment, his troubled relationships, his career, and his coming out to the world not just as queer but trans: the boy, the man he always was. He tells us about ⬇️

This felt very much written in Elliot‘s own voice and not a ghostwriter. A combination of stories about dating, coming out, and navigating Hollywood. I really enjoyed this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved hearing about Elliot Page‘s life. I think he is an absolute spectacular actor and I can‘t think of many things he‘s been in that I don‘t love. This book was so scattered, though and I didn‘t really love certain parts because I was getting confused on why it kept going back and forth. I just think it needed a little bit more structure and focus. But, still really interesting!

The things that have put others off PAGEBOY, like the nonlinear narrative and purple prose, were to me its great strengths. They never struck me as performative, like these approaches often do; instead, I got the sense Page sought to capture the feeling behind each experience, and to work his way through to an understanding of everything that‘s shaped him. It‘s honest, raw, and powerful, and I loved the hell out of it. 4.5 stars.

I know lots of people had issues with the nonlinear approach that Elliot takes here, but I didn‘t mind it at all. To me, it‘s like he was talking to a friend, telling the story of his life. And what a difficult and painful life he‘s had. It‘s heartbreaking and sometimes cringy the things he‘s endured, and it just felt so brutally honest to me. Nothing but respect for putting himself out there in the hopes that it‘ll help others!

I think this might have been a pick if I read it verses audio. The monotone reading was tough to stay engaged with. Tons of respect for Elliot sharing.

These are my picks this month for #bookspinbingo. And they‘re both books I chose to fulfill a couple of prompts for #pop24, so that‘s awesome!
#bookspin #doublespin

I wanted to read this book for some time , because I appreciate Elliot‘s work on the big screen … and I am just curious about their story . So let‘s do it

Formative moments, good and bad, stories of discovering sexuality and gender, surviving abuse and heartbreak, making true and long-lasting friends, finding family.
Dichotomy of acting allowing for an outlet, an escape, while the toxic elements of Hollywood reinforce cis heteronormativity to a degree that ensures homophobia, predatory behaviour, & narrow interpretation of how an apparently female presenting person might be allowed to look. 1/?

"...everyone should have access to gender-affirming and lifesaving heath care. It ?? just ?? should?? be."??

The strength to recognize the systemic patriarchal problems evident in a traumatizing moment of homophobia, verbal abuse, to decide to form a better model of masculinity. 🙌🏼

I'm sorry, older generations, for the choices you didn't have.

So much clearer when nobody else is telling you you should be otherwise.

I sense a great deal of highlighting in my future. 👏🏼

It‘s apparent how hard Elliot Page has worked and is working to let himself be visible. His voice is earnest & raw. I don‘t think the way he jumps back & forth in time works for this memoir. However, he‘s a great writer. There was a passage about looking at his shadow while out for a walk during the pandemic that punched me right in the heart. He writes, “I saw a boy. It was a boy. The spot on the ground felt more real than me.” 👇🏻

“I love the early morning, the quiet, a certain kind of healthy loneliness.”

Definitely do the audio on this. I kind of loved it but others are stating it's unfocused which did not bother me on audio.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

I really loved this read. I found it illuminating. These kind of reads are so so important. It is so easy to dismiss a transgender person and claim them as “confused” or whatever the fuck people like to say. The reality is that most people have zero insight on what it‘s actually like and are far too quick to make a comment as if they do. Read a fucking book, as they say. (Read this book)✨

⭐️⭐️

I read this book because I want to better understand what it means to be transgender.

Admittedly, it is something I have a hard time wrapping my head around.

After listening to this raw, gritty memoir, I feel like I can empathize better.

I think this sentence near the end of the book sums it up nicely - "Let me just exist with you, happier than ever."

Painful, honest and extremely brave … Autobiography, which has structural deficiencies, but this is autobiography where content is much more important than form. #audiowalks

Listening to the audiobook. 😮‍💨 Oof, this has been a tough read so far.

Caitie!!!!! I have been dying to read this!!! Thank you for such a fantastic book mail surprise 📭💌 I‘m absolutely reading this next (sorry other books that just got bumped)!! I‘m the happiest land-manatee in Florida right now 😁☀️🌴

#Litsylove #Pageboy #MailboxSurprise #Booklover

Elliot Page‘s memoir illustrates the crushing cumulative impact of living a closeted life and the mental anguish of failing to fit a gender narrative constructed and enforced by society. And to be wrestling with so much personal pain while living very much in the public eye. This is just one trans person‘s story, but is so useful in helping others to understand the stresses and difficulties that LGBT folks face every day.

My impression of this memoir is that it succeeds more as an expression of self-healing than it does as a traditional memoir, almost a therapeutic project. The time jumps, flow, and structure in general seem to mirror Page‘s own progress/setbacks in his gender/sexuality journey. His alchemical refusal to let negative experiences rule him was radical, but there were also times when I got too confused and lost the arc of his story. ⬇️

Elliot Page isn‘t a great writer, but he has an important personal story to tell. It‘s brave of of him to use his celebrity to shine a light on gender dysmorphia. 🌈

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I appreciated how honestly Elliot analyzed his own relationships and experience. His relationship with his parents was the most intriguing to me. The nonlinear timeline didn‘t bother me like it seemed to other people, but I did feel the pacing was a bit off at times and I got a little bored/impatient, wondering why some things were included. (That‘s probably not a fair assessment given that it‘s a memoir, but that‘s how I felt 🤷🏼‍♀️)

8-19-23: My 80th book of 2023! I really enjoyed this while simultaneously feeling awful for Elliot. I have been a fan of his forever. Since Juno. To think he was suffering so much for the majority of his life is awful. He is a great advocate for the trans community and I‘m so happy he was able to find his true self. The book jumps back and forth in time but what remains the same is the conviction that he deserves to live his life authentically. 💖

“I think about that moment a lot - the anger that man felt entitled to display and my response to it. In our society anger and masculinity are so intertwined - I hope to redefine that in my own life.”

I‘m finding Elliot‘s transmuting of so many negative experiences into such radically positive intentions to be quite beautiful.

I have to agree with other reviews, in that this needed more editing. It‘s quite nonlinear and the writing isn‘t the best.

I‘m still giving it a pick, because it‘s enlightening and because trans and queer stories are so important to highlight.

Isn‘t it awful how almost every memoir of young celebrity features exploitation and abuse? The industry draws predatory people, and it seems too many parents trust that kids are being looked after.

Wonderfully told story of how we are all who we are even if we have to or feel the need to hide it and how letting yourself become yourself can be both freeing and turbulent. 🩵🩷🤍 Less linear than most memoirs, written in the way you may tell a person your story face-to-face, going back and forth between the present and the past to tie them together.

8-10-23: Spending my 18th wedding anniversary in New Hope, PA and buying books=perfection. 📖💖📚

3/5 🌟

I wish it'd been written in a chronological order.

The LOC is killing me softly- these three are all at the same time!?!? I guess i will choose the one that‘s easiest to get seats- If you are on the fence about going check out the lineup!!! I am so excited. There are so many amazing authors and talks scheduled!!!

5🌟/5🌟

A brutally honest and raw reflection of Elliot‘s life so far. I am happy he has finally found peace but I‘m always saddened by how long these things take. The wasted time because of the push back from society, the disapproval and hate. Just be kind people, it shouldn‘t be this hard. ♥️🌈

This is a brilliant memoir and a great insight into Elliot Page's journey to becoming his true self. I didn't find the non-linear narrative off putting, it's just another way of telling a story, like someone telling you a series of interesting anecdotes. He's eloquent, honest (painfully so at times) and often self-deprecating and funny. I hope we hear more from him.

Book #72
3/5
Page's memoir deals almost exclusively with sexual/gender related experiences and identity. There are also a lot of references to Halifax, NS, which this Bluenoser personally found enjoyable to listen to. I always recommend the audiobook when reading an autobiography. And as always, this one I borrowed from the Halifax library.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
A deeply personal and fiercely honest memoir written in thoughtful prose. At many times, vulnerable and heart-wrenching when exploring gender dysphoria and transition, while also including both infuriating details about unwelcome sexual advances and intimate details about consensual encounters.

Cont'd in comments ⬇️

⭐️⭐️⭐️ There‘s a good reason memoir is one of my most-read genres. Learning about others, in their own words, helps us better understand the world, other humans, and often ourselves. Page speaks openly about his life, relationships, acting, and gender. Sans ghostwriter, I thought his writing was decent, though I didn‘t love the nonlinear organization and pacing.

I love Pageboy. And Elliot Page. I learned so much about his life through this book.

I didn't mind the uncertainty about where the reader is in his timeline. I caught on pretty quickly because I was so invested.

"It always felt more about image than anything. Less about me going to hell and more about my mother's ego. She wanted what the other soccer moms had, a daughter."

"I wanted my ignorance to be revealed, for new perspectives to take the place of the dominant narratives I'd grown up with, rooted in bigotry and white supremacy. Since I did not attend school after graduating, I devoured books, almost always nonfiction. I didn't want to stop growing and expanding, and I was terrified I would. I still strive to grow and remind myself to set my self-righteousness aside, there's always more to learn."