April 2021 Monthly Read - For Today I Am a Boy

[Allison]

Starting a thread for a new monthly read for April 2021: For Today I Am a Boy

[Heather(Gibby)]

I just finished chapter 2 last night , and I know I am going to love this book.

I am somewhat surprised at how young Peter started identifying, or at least leaning towards a female gender identity.

Anyone else started yet?

[Allison]

I've started the book - just got through the Prologue two nights ago, then no time to read since. But I really liked the writing and got immediately drawn in. I think I'm really going to like this too.

Heather, interesting point about how early Peter started identifying. I have some personal (in my life) experiences with transgender folks (3 people that I'm aware of) with two being fairly close, and for two of them, they were under 10 years old when the questions started popping up. I wasn't able to ask the older person before she died how young she was when she knew it. One person who's now about 10 started expressing it at age four, says his mother. I'll keep reading to find out how young it starts in this character Peter.

[Susan]

I should be starting this tomorrow. Looking forward to it!

[Heather(Gibby)]

End of Chapter 4

I really dislike Peter's Dad
I love his sisters

[Allison]

I also finished chapter 4 today. Such an engaging story - i am sucked right in. Lots of “on the edge of your seat” scenes. The break-in scene!? I could barely take it!

Great character development even for the more minor people like Mrs Becker and August. So much going on and so real - can’t you just imagine knowing people like this somehow??

Suspense too knowing that Peter will “come out” at some point. Hasn’t happened yet, but you know it’s coming.

Really enjoying this read. Maybe the best book for me so far of 2021.

[Susan]

I have read to the end of Chapter 5 now and am enjoying this novel. I, too, love the sisters - they are all so different and I hope they will pop back into the narrative as we go along. I did love the chapter following up on Adele in Germany.

It's interesting to me that Peter knows he is different but doesn't seem to know how exactly, even into his later teen years. He doesn't have the language or life experience to explain how he feels yet. This seems consistent with his upbringing and his small-town environment. Also, he was born in the late 1970s and so there is no Internet yet, which makes me wonder about the differences in how LGBTQ children and teens navigated their identities pre-Internet and social media. Perhaps the exposure to different gender identities online (and more general visibility in TV and movies) has made some sort of impact?

[Allison]

Susan, what a great question. We take so for granted our access to information on the internet with immediate access in our pocket all the time.

As I mentioned before, in my life I have/had three transgender people. One died last year in her 70s. But two are young - both 10. For those two, the parents have NEEDED and depended on the internet for not just information, but for support too, both for them the parents and for the kids too.

Peter is going through this without the benefit of both that support and information. One of the reasons that I believe these young kids in my life are going to be okay through this whole process is because those around them are exposed to transgenderism. And a lot of that education comes from exposure online, especially if you know it's out there and you're going looking for it.

How much tougher for Peter in the 70s to even identify what he's feeling, let alone know how to navigate it. I haven't read yet what his parents' and sisters' reaction will be, but my bet is that it will be different than if this happened now. Of course, lots o f progress to make still (definitely) but do you think this might be an example that the internet has HELPED advance culture?

[Wanda]

I'm just getting into the book, Chapter 2. It's quite engaging right off the start. I look forward to the discussion. I have seen a forward, progressive and more positive shift in support for transgender individuals. I feel technology can be both a help (education, awareness, reduce stigma) and hinderance (cyber bullying, misinformation, sustain stigma). There is still much room for us to learn, grow and improve. Back to reading...

[❀ Susan]

downloaded from the library and need to get started!

[Allison]

Oh good, Susan! I think you'll like it.

Wanda, I'm sure that you're absolutely right about the dark side of online activity too, especially on a topic like this. No question.

[Allison]

I’m at the part that introduces Margie. Now she’s a character! And one that seems to be flinging the door wide open for Peter and his self discovery.

[Heather(Gibby)]

I was just contemplating whether or not Peter's time with Margie was a positive or negative influence on Peter's development and self-discovery.

[Allison]

Yeah, good question, Heather. I'm still in this section of the book, so haven't seen how this part ends. But the positive is that she is allowing him to learn about sexuality in an open-minded way. She's not teaching him about ho-hum hetero "usual" sex (which may not match his natural instincts). Instead, she's teaching him that the sky is the limit and personal experimentation is accepted in some arenas, and to "you do you" even in the arena of sexuality.

But does this make it healthy?? It's a good question. Some might argue not.. I'll need to keep reading to form my own thoughts.

[Allison]

A reminder that MJ shared this link with us for this book. I'm going to read when I can, but it may spark some thoughts as well!
http://www.amnestybookclub.ca/wp-cont...

[❀ Susan]

Hi all,

I have removed a number of comments today. Please let's try and leave CanadianContent as a book zone. The lock down (in Ontario at the moment) is serious and many of our members work in health care and/or have been impacted by COVID19 in many ways. It can be a sensitive topic and while we manage another 4 weeks of lockdown, need to support each other in our isolation and hope that by staying home, we will be able to enjoy a more normal summer.

While we are unable to have in person book clubs, visit family and friends, I hope that this can be a safe, book refuge for all!

[Allison]

Thank you Susan! Yes, I couldn't have said it better myself. I'm sorry for letting myself lose sight of the AMAZING refuge this group has been for me over many years now!

I'm continuing with this book and am really enjoying it. It's looking like a rainy Sunday coming up here, so I'm hopeful I may be able to plow through more. I find myself thinking of Peter - and all the characters really - throughout each day!

[Heather(Gibby)]

I finished the book this morning, and although I loved it, I wanted more! It just seemed all of a sudden to end without fully fleshing out Peter (Audrey) journey to self-acceptance.

[❀ Susan]

Hi all, I am just starting chapter 7 after catching up to you all and really enjoying this book. I love how the sister's all supported Peter and loved him without trying to changing him, unlike the father.

I cannot imagine how difficult it would be for Peter, especially in the 70s without access to the internet although he did seem to find people to start asking questions of as he grew up. Like Wanda says, we can all see how the internet can be a positive or negative force in all our lives... good for seeking information and finding support but so challenging in the way people anonymously feel that they can spew negativity and hatred.

Now at chapter 7, I have to say that I am feeling unsettled as I worry for Peter and hope that he can find the self he is longing for and be happy in his own skin!

Has anyone read The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore? It was ok but sure did not draw me in like this book!

[❀ Susan]

so... I could not put this book down! I finished it and totally agree with @Heather(Gibby) that it ended quickly and I wanted to learn more after worrying about Peter's wellbeing throughout the story.

[Allison]

Oh fun, Susan! I’m hoping to ignore everyone today and finish it up. It is definitely a “get into your head” book!

[Allison]

Page 218 - almost done. But fascinating that the word Peter used when he learned that people can change their gender is RAGE. I didn’t see that coming.

[Allison]

Finished! Great read. Agree with others - certainly a fill up on Audrey would be welcome. But then I started thinking that ideas on “the arts” being performed/written/created by people who don’t live the experience is sort of frowned up now, isn’t it? I remember Kathleen Winter stating that she regretted writing Annabel (a book I LOVED) because she didn’t live the experience herself. Maybe like a white author writing a character of colour...? Although lots of authors write a main character who is another gender. What do you think? Thoughts on a cis gender author writing a story like this?

EXCELLENT writing in my opinion and great character development, etc. I really liked this read.

[❀ Susan]

wondering if anyone might be interested in a virtual chat about this book?

[Allison]

Sure, that sounds fun to me. I'd be in, Susan, if others want to. I'd be happy to put camera on with this group, but I think if others don't want their cameras on, we'd still like to have them join by voice...??

[Susan]

I thought about the "own voices" movement while reading this book. I think it's a complicated issue and I'm never sure where I stand on it. It was interesting reading For Today I Am a Boy shortly after reading Detransition, Baby, a novel about trans women written by a trans woman - they were very different experiences.

For Today I Am a Boy was published in 2014 and it feels like the "own voices" issue has ramped up quite a bit since then, so I wonder what the reception to this book would be if it were published today. I did think it was sensitively written and I also found an article written by Fu around the time of publication that makes it clear she was aware of potential controversy and open to feedback: https://nationalpost.com/entertainmen...

I did enjoy the book, even if it wasn't entirely what I had been expecting. I thought we would get more Audrey and less Peter, but I guess the novel was about the journey rather than the destination.

[Allison]

I saw a pic of Justin Trudeau getting his vaccine. I’d forgotten that he has a native symbol as a tattoo of his shoulder. It reminded me of this discussion here about “own voice” and how that conversation permeates the arts, from writing as you say so well, Susan, to art like Trudeau wears.

I just don’t know what the answer is. My feeling is that this book does no HARM, but then again, maybe that feeling exactly represents the harm - that I don’t see that I’m not hearing a True Voice. Interesting topic to think about!

But is there ever a fictional novel that’s True Voice when there is more than one character? So many voices are fabricated in a novel that they can’t all be REAL when from one author:...??

Meanwhile, a week after finishing this book and a good 30% into my next one, I still have sweet Peter - and the ending of this story - in the fore of my mind!