Play Book Tag discussion
This topic is about
This Is How It Always Is
Archive: Other Books
>
This is How It Always Is, by Laurie Frankel: 5 stars
date
newest »
newest »
Oooo!! You just decided what I am reading for the tag! This is also my IRL book club selection so it fits in perfectly. And, now I am looking forward to it even more.
Did you listen to it on audio? Also, did you ever read Middlesex? I freaking loved that book as well and this seems like an updated take on transgender issues.
I’m listening to the audio right now Nicole and I think it’s very well done.
Such a great review, Joi!!I rated this 5* too. I thought the author did a good job tackling the topic with warmth, honesty, realism, and insider perspective - her own child transitioned from male to female in the first grade, so she had a lot of experience to draw from!
I loved the warmth and humor of the relationships between the husband and wife, and with their children, but you are so right that at times it felt a little too perfect/unrealistic perhaps.
It was a five star read for me as well. I did the audio which was very well done,
Wonderful review. It sounds like the author did an amazing job with such a tough and touchy issue in our country today. I love when these kind of topics can be well done in a book.
I’m 30% in. I LOVE it.
Emotional book, family driven, topical, current events. A little TOO current given some recent events within the past week. Everyone who has any opinion on transgender rights- READ THIS NOW! Scratch that, everyone is a human- READ THIS NOW!
This book is about a family. Two parents, 5 boys. Until the youngest, Claude, decides he would rather be Poppy- ie opening up a conversation about identity. Every single one of the members of this family is built, revealed, has charm, their own personalities, you really feel immersed in the story. Now of course given the situation, there is a lot of sadness in this. I got angry for the situations, the ignorance, and the intolerance. I got emotional when the climax of the book happened. I really FELT everything that was happening. Plus add in the parents characters- I loved Rosie's logical approach to life, and Penn's whimsical storytelling. I cared about every single member of this family.
This subject has so much to cover. We get mentions of things here and there- the "bathroom issue", the coming out, the pros and cons of keeping secrets. There is so much MORE that could have been discussed, but time and length kept it relatively simple. A transgender story that is familiar enough to be literary fiction and approachable, but educational enough to show a reader who knows nothing about gender identity one story from this perspective. For this- I applaud.
Now this book isn't flawless. Things are put together a little too conveniently, even given the nuances of the situation, and the hardship the family and characters go through. Everything seemed to be too wrapped up in a nice little bow at the end. Even the relation of Poppy, and Claude-> Poppy felt forced. We could have had this amazing book without needing these things. But I don't care. This is 5 stars, and I will be recommending it everywhere.