Trans-Sister Radio by Chris Bohjalian

[katekintailbc]

Trans-Sister Radio
by Christ Bohjalian
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5875655

I finished this book while on the Metro heading back from the Zoo in Washington DC less than an hour ago. I really enjoyed this book.

I liked the format. I grew up listening to NPR since that's my parents' station of choice. So I could immediately identify with that part of the culture. I liked that the radio program was the construct for the story, setting us up for the next part and interjecting an interesting bit of extra information about the situation from another perspective. It definitely held the story together and kept it from being purely about an emotional journey. It also stood as yet another reminder that what (to me) is a completely personal decision always affects the public as well in one way or another. None of us are completely isolated; we're part of a society that sometimes deals with some subjects better than others. And the fact that the story is told by jumping around from one character to another (Dana, Allison, Carly, and Will) helped us see so many sides to the story and feel all the characters quite clearly.

The characters were startlingly realistic. They go through changes at their own paces, they're sometimes a little reckless or a little too careful, they're emotional but secretive, they're curious and horrified, and they (as well as the reader) know that happy endings aren't always easy to get in stories. I must admit, the final result in the story was a bit of a surprise for me, but a good one. I really liked the dances the characters do amid their ever-changing relationships.

I immediately identified with Carly, Allie's daughter, since I'm only a bit older than she is by the end of this book. She was definitely my favorite for most of the book- kind and understanding through not perfect (no one's perfect- I love that kind of realism). But Dana was fantastic as well. I liked her right from the beginning and enjoyed supporting her and seeing what happened through the who process. It was like being a voyeur in her life and intimately experiencing the change along with her. Quite fascinating and emotional as well. There were so many details about the process of transition, with a great breadth- on a medical level, a personal level, and also a psychological level. It's certainly informative.

But what I loved the most was that this work offers more than you get in real life (in real life, you're only one person). Here, you get all these different perspectives and reactions to reactions. You see all the complications from different angles and emotions in each situation. As Jessamyn West said, "Fiction reveals truths reality obscures."

Comments

[buffra.livejournal.com]

I recently read Bohjalian's The Double Bind and really enjoyed that. I'll definitely keep an eye out for other books by him.

:)

[katekintailbc.livejournal.com]

I'd never heard of the author before signing up for this bookring. I'm thrilled to find out you enjoyed one of his others. I'll have to keep an eye out for him as well. Thanks!