Twist: An American Girl

by Adele Bertei

“One of the most original, amazing stories I've ever read” (Mary Gaitskill), iconic rock-and-roll musician Adele Bertei’s memoir Twist is her harrowing and electric story of transforming trauma through art, pluck, and imagination, as told through the inimitable voice of her young alter ego, Maddie Twist.  From iconoclastic writer and musician Adele Bertei comes a wholly original hero's journey that wages war on the cliché of the “misery memoir.” Set in a 1960s and ’70s American neighborhood rife with poverty and violence, fatherless Irish mothers and Italian mobsters, and women crucified into madness by misogyny, Bertei speaks through her electrically alive avatar Maddie Twist to flip the victim script. Through her unshakable belief in imagination, poetry, music, and community, she transforms trauma into survival. The immediacy of Maddie’s voice is a revelation, providing insight into long-enduring systemic problems without the scrim of adult analysis. In an age of lies and obfuscation, Twist is a sharp yet tender arrow to the heart of naked truth.  Bertei reveals what it's like to be a queer teen at a time when discovery could be fatal. Maddie peers deeply into the American psyche, refusing to consent to the systems of harm. Along the way we encounter an unforgettable schizophrenic mother, Catholic saints, West Side Story and Oliver!, poet killers, the abyss of rape, girl-gangsters and faux-pimps, teenage lesbian sex, racial tensions and misconceived divides, a drag family known as the Holy Maudlins, Vietnam vets in dark and light, cabaret, true family, rock and roll. And the ultimate saving grace: love.  A compelling personal history of queer culture from a working-class view and a glimpse into worlds yet unseen, Twist is good medicine: for readers who've experienced similar traumas, for teens caught in the foster care system, for the formerly incarcerated looking for hope, for writers grappling with how to tell their own stories. Most of all, it’s for everyone seeking transportive experiences in art and on the page.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography

250 pages, Hardcover

First published March 14, 2023

Reviews

[Thomas Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of what the author says will be a trilogy of the stories of her life. This covers the time of 1965 to 1972 and starts with being 11 years old and having a completely dysfunctional Father who thinks he is next big-time gangster and mother who has mental issues to the point that she spends most her time impaired in some form or fashion. The author trying to find food for herself and her brothers and in time just trying to survive is gut wrenching story. With nowhere to turn, trusting the wrong people and making poor decisions lead her through struggles in the foster care system, (her first foster family will drive you angry reading all she went through reminds you of a real-life Cinderella story). The author also struggles with her attraction to girls, and this leads her to the streets and eventually to various forms of lockup. This is one of those stories that draws you in all the way to the end. Was not sure what to expect when I first started reading this, but it was a good read. I would rate it 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. Give it a read you will not be disappointed.

[quinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used to think it was rude and unjust to criticize someone’s personal writing, but this memoir has proved me wrong. I initially picked up this book after quickly reading the title (although I cannot find it anywhere online, the title of my copy reads “Twist: Tales of a Queer Girlhood”) and the summary on the floor of the bookstore. Don’t be like me, and please read the following before purchasing:

My main qualm with this book is the presence of underlying racism. Bertei’s memoir takes place in the 60s-70s, and she is not shy about mentioning and incorporating the civil rights movement into her story. The issue is the manner in which she goes about it. In the beginning of the novel, she points out the hypocrisy of her father and grandmother’s racism but then also repeatedly defends her mother’s blackface. Something’s not adding up… Honestly, the breaking point for me in this novel was the caricaturization of Moe, a strong supporter of the black power movement, whom Bertei frames as the main villain during Maddie’s stay at Blossom Hill. Near the end of Maddie’s stay at the institute, Moe delivers a radical speech about black empowerment, generalizing that every white person’s family has raped and tortured their black ancestors. In response, Maddie retaliates by calling Moe a “liar.” In her head concurrently, she justifies her father’s racism to the audience: “he never hurt a black person.” Maddie also writes that Moe’s statement that her ancestors participated in the institution of slavery doesn’t apply to her because she’s of Irish and Sicilian descent (not true: there were black slaves in both Ireland and Sicily). Oh my god. This moment is beyond white savior; it’s white hero. And although Moe’s initial statement is charged, the author makes no attempt to critically think and provide justification for Moe (as she wrongly did for herself), instead using this moment to turn her and her ideologies into a caricature of a violent gang leader. Moments like these, unfortunately, expose the novel as yet another instance of white feminism.

I give this book at least 2 stars for pages 50-150 because those were pretty engaging and dealt with subjects clearly more appropriate for the author, such as the interaction of the patriarchy with her experiences of homophobia and gender norms. That was for sure her sweet spot, along with her found family of drag queens at the end.

I really did want to like this book, but I cannot get past the racism. If you’re in search of a true feminist novel, please consider looking elsewhere.

[kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read, it is well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters that had me wanting to carry on reading to find out more about them.

It is a gripping read that I simply couldnt put down and I read it in almost one sitting. It is equally heart breaking and gut wrenching in equal measure and even when I wanted to put it down and have a break I couldn't because it was too good to stop even for a minute.

This is my first book by this author but it wont be my last. I cannot wait to see what happens next in the saga that I have come to love

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't exactly a memoir, but it isn't exactly a novel either. The author calls it her origin story. I had the good fortune to go to a book signing for this book because my partner knew who Adele Bertei was. Now I want to read her other books too! It turns out that her voice isn't only as a singer, it's also a voice in writing.

[soymarleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

fands ganz fantastisch wie sich der Schreibstil mit dem Alter Maddies mitverändert

[Siobhan (sib_reads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to thank the author and ZE Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This memoir covers the author’s life from 1965-1972. It is written in first person present tense, so the reader follows the story as it happens. It starts when the author is 11 years old, caring for her two younger brothers in place of her (at the time undiagnosed) schizophrenic mother and absent violent father.

The book is full of heartbreaking and tragic anecdotes - from the aforementioned familial abuse, to rape at gunpoint, and horrific experiences in the foster care system. It really demonstrates how children are often failed time and time again through no fault of their own. A lot of the content was very dark so this is definitely something to be aware of before picking this one up.

Throughout her teenage years, the author expresses inner turmoil over her queerness, in both her sexuality and her gender. I enjoyed the later chapters where she created her own ‘found family’ of drag queens. I would have liked to read about the continuation of this theme throughout the author’s 20s as well.

Sometimes it felt as though the child voice had the author’s adult voice coming through - things she should have thought at the time but wouldn’t have because she was a child who did not know better. The reader is also not provided with any of the author’s story past age 18. While I understand there was a lot to cover, I would have liked to see her start to overcome the adversity of her childhood and how she got to where she is now.

2/5

[mommy_and_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our heroine is Madeleine Marie Baptiste, but she asks to be called Maddie Twist. She has a schizophrenic mother, Kitty. Her father is an abusive husband towards her mother, called Big Al. The girl wants to be a boy. Boys can do more than girls. She says girls can't have the life they want, they have to serve. Living in these times, I do not fully agree with this statement. Women can do much more than in the times described by the author.
Our heroine grew up in a pathological family. The father did not pay child support. She and her two brothers were literally starving. Pity those poor children. They have to watch their father abuse their crazy/sick mother.
Maddie is a queer person. What does it mean? She does not define her orientation and identity with words such as lesbian, bisexual or transgender. I admire this poor character. Despite her young age, she had to take care of her own brothers. She taught them prayers, fed them, and played with them. Maddie's life wasn't pretty or all roses. She went to various strange places where she was not understood. It can be said that she was hurt not only by those closest to her.
This story shocked me deeply. I can't forget her. What scares me is that this book is an author's biography. We get to know her life in the years 1965-1972.
Too bad she didn't tell her story. I hope she had more luck. This is a very difficult and sad story. Life in those days was much worse than it is now. I invite you to know the story of Adele Bertea's life.
This is a good biography mixed with melodrama. I would love to see this novel on the big screen. This story makes you think deeply about people who are queer. Has our perception of these people changed nowadays? Or do we rather treat them the same as in those years?

[Paula Learmouth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A veteran musician recalls her rough coming-of-age experience in Cleveland in the 1960s and 70s. A story of survival and redemption through challenging obstacles. Adele narrates her journey through different circumstances of her life, poverty, mental illness, domestic violence, and more. Maddie comes across as curious, impulsive, observant and brought to life by the music she hears.
After leaving foster-care, she forms a family of her own with her drag-queen neighbours, her boss from a thrift store. Her love for music and also writing is what gets her through life. This story is really emotional and one that will stay with you after you close the book. I read this book in one sitting as it had me captivated from the start

[Sean Auraist · Rating 5 out of 5]

We chose this as the best-written nonfiction recent release. Read a passage here: https://auraist.substack.com/p/nonfic...
Auraist is a free new recommendation service that selects the most stylishly written books from prize shortlists, end-of-year lists, and major reviews. If you're picky about your prose, come and browse our other selections (subscription is free)! Criteria for our choices are here: https://auraist.substack.com/about

[Kae Solomon · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is incredible is that Adele had such success after having one of the worst childhoods imaginable. The resiliency of the human spirit. The gift of music. Finding her community among other queers.
She has written impassively, never delving into self-pity. I would love to read more after this book ended how she found her way to musical success. I could not put this book down!

[Jai Emmett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extraordinary story of redemption, I picked this up due to Bertei's musical associations in late 70's/early 80's New York but this all proceeded that & was more than riveting in itself. The writing is excellent, very evocative & really quite funny in places despite it being such a dark tale of abuse & abandonment, it is also a tale of defiance.

[Kexx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horrendous tale which I found hard to read, having to stop for a couple of days before trying again. Social work revisited. Upset me. But that’s true life. Give me a Romance with a HEA any day of the week.

[Simone Nieves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible account of living your truth through the hardest of times. Adele writes about her childhood full of abuse and hardships, yet it somehow felt uplifting and inspiring by the end. Her writing is poetic and paints a vibrant picture in your mind and you can’t help but put yourself in her shoes. Every time I thought “how is she going to get through this?”, she would and do it with such courage and perseverance. It made me reflect on how life keeps going now matter what you have to live through or experience. I didn’t want to put it down and now I just hope she is writing another book that picks up where this one ended.

[Heather Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow really good book, excellent writing, sometimes brutally heartbreaking. But great book.