Jack 💜 reviewed Conundrum by Jan Morris (New York Review Books classics)
Review of 'Conundrum' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
You should go into this book with the mindset that it should be seen as a historical document first and foremost. It’s outdated, and many of Morris’ phrasings towards trans folk and gay people can be very, very offensive. It does not help that there are many points in the book where she chooses to be wantonly racist.
However! Her introspection on her own lifelong dysphoria is poignant and real. Being also a trans person who transitioned later in life, her attitude and emotions deeply resonated with me.
Her joy in her transition is infectious, even if there are some aspects that I find appalling for her sake -mainly that she had to travel to Casablanca to receive what was described as a VERY DAMN SHADY gender affirmation surgery from someone who may or may not have been licensed.
It’s a short little memoir, though, and it’s the kind of …
You should go into this book with the mindset that it should be seen as a historical document first and foremost. It’s outdated, and many of Morris’ phrasings towards trans folk and gay people can be very, very offensive. It does not help that there are many points in the book where she chooses to be wantonly racist.
However! Her introspection on her own lifelong dysphoria is poignant and real. Being also a trans person who transitioned later in life, her attitude and emotions deeply resonated with me.
Her joy in her transition is infectious, even if there are some aspects that I find appalling for her sake -mainly that she had to travel to Casablanca to receive what was described as a VERY DAMN SHADY gender affirmation surgery from someone who may or may not have been licensed.
It’s a short little memoir, though, and it’s the kind of thing where I think older trans people in particular would benefit from knowing of it. Cis folk should read it with the understanding that Morris’ comments regarding drag and gay folk should be taken with a grain of salt for a modern setting.
