Annabel - November Archive read

[Penny]

This is the archive book for november - have never read this author so it will be a new experience!

[Penny]

This looks very interesting and different - do join in with us !

[Val]

I thought I would include this link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europ...

[Florence (Lefty)]

I read this a few months ago, would recommend to anyone interested in gender issues, something a little different, or Canadian Lit. It is pretty bleak, but worth reading.

[Penny]

Florence wrote: "I read this a few months ago, would recommend to anyone interested in gender issues, something a little different, or Canadian Lit. It is pretty bleak, but worth reading."

I followed the link Val - seems quite thought provoking - anyone read Middlesex? seems this is in the news quite a bit these days.

[Ruthie]

I read Annabel a while ago and I also really enjoyed it. The writing is quite good and the story is very thought provoking. The author also does a great job of describing the town/province where the story takes place. I am going to revisit it to add more to this discussion. Just ordered the second book, it was on my "to read" list!

[Ruthie]

I also suggest reading the Goodreads review by Sue (it shows up 3rd or 4th) as it is quite good and offers links to interviews by the author. It does contain spoilers so read it after reading the novel!

[Val]

Here are a few of my thoughts on the book and some of the issues raised in it:

I read "Middlesex" some years ago and thought this novel dealt with the feelings of its intersex protagonist more believably and coherently than "Middlesex". I'm not saying this is how someone would feel, but it shows a reasonable way that they might. Wayne/Annabel is both male and female not either or.
I can also understand why the parents react the way they do.
The law in most countries requires a baby to be registered as male or female and the parents have to make that choice. It ought to be up to the individual, to be what sex they feel themselves to be: male, female, both, neither. The change in German law brings that closer.

I also thought the author described the town and countryside well and it made a stark contrast to the city. Treadway's relationship with his hunting territory was shown as deep and meaningful when it could easily have come across differently.

In that environment it was probably better to be a male. Most of the women shown seem to be suffering from depression, either undiagnosed or treated with 'happy pills'. Treadway thinks he is acting in the best interests of his child and it is only later that he realises that things are not that unambiguous.

[Penny]

I have now started this more in earnest and am spell bound so far - what beautiful writing!! The whole setting, the characters, the light - this is worth savouring!!

[Jessica]

I started reading Annabel this weekend. I've completed the first 4 chapters. The author does an excellent job evoking the setting.

[Penny]

I finished this on the last day of the month!

I really enjoyed it although I feel it became less gripping as it went along. The father's character really comes out by the end - so sad he couldnt re-connect with Jacinta. How loving that he learned to express himself despite what he really wanted - a solid, outdoors type son.

I found the whole idea of having a hermaphrodite as a child so hard to face - how do you raise a child in a society that is totally geared around gender?

[Jessica]

I finished reading this on my evening commute today. I liked the book and found it to be quiet, lovely and sad and speaks a lot to the idea of isolation.

I also found myself pondering what the best decision is when it comes to raising a child born as a hermaphrodite.

[Penny]

Jessica wrote: "I finished reading this on my evening commute today. I liked the book and found it to be quiet, lovely and sad and speaks a lot to the idea of isolation.

I also found myself pondering what the..."

I think that is my lingering emotion from this book Jessica - hard as it may be for the person - as a parent I would be so useless. I saw a programme once where some families had raised their child in one gender (medically decided) and another family had made the decision to leave things be - the second family and their child were so much happier - the 'child' was adult at the time of the broadcast. It is a very rare condition but it does raise questions about what gender and sexuality really mean - in the end isnt it the person that counts and how we treat them - in kindness.