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ClareR (6256 KP) rated What it Feels Like For a Girl in Books

Nov 9, 2021  
What it Feels Like For a Girl
What it Feels Like For a Girl
Paris Lees | 2021 | Biography, LGBTQ+
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I’m so glad I’ve read this book. This is the story of Byron: from the age of 13 he knew that he wanted to get away from his hometown of Hucknall in Nottinghamshire, where he was called a “poof” at school and beaten up.

Byron becomes a rent boy, meets new friends at a bar who, he discovers, want the same things out of life as him: he wants to be a woman, and he feels that is what he was supposed to have been.

“Hedonistic” is the word that describes Byron’s life at this time. Until, that is, it all comes tumbling down. One very stupid act lands Byron in jail. But it’s what he does with this time in jail that really counts. And he decides to turn his life around.

I loved this. I enjoyed reading it in the Hucknall vernacular (it reminded me of my dad’s accent in Lincolnshire)and the chapter headings were spot on (all titles from songs at that time). And I felt so much for the young Byron - sad that his family didn’t seem to understand or care for him (other than his grandmother); sad that he couldn’t live as he wanted to and had no guidance to keep him safe. In fact he was lucky that he didn’t end up murdered or overdosed. It’s such an emotional book.
Highly recommended.
  
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ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Parisian in Books

May 30, 2019  
The Parisian
The Parisian
Isabella Hammad | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Compelling historical fiction
Midhat Kamal arrives in Montpellier in 1914 to study at the University to become a doctor. He falls in love with his University professor landlords daughter, Jeanette, but he becomes disillusioned with the family, and leaves to continue studying in Paris. He lives here during the war, and becomes friends with other Arabic men during a tumultuous time in the Middle East.

When Midhat returns home to Nablus, he is expected to conform to his fathers wishes, marry a woman from a good Muslim family, and work for the family business. He is thereafter known as The Parisian to those who don’t really know him, because of his style of dress and his outlook on life.

Politics soon begin to affect every part of his life, as the colonial powers of Britain and France flex their muscles. Their unwillingness to learn histories and the way people actually want to live cause untold problems, which actually we still see the consequences of today.

I can see that some may struggle with the French and Arabic peppered through the dialogue (I don’t speak Arabic), but I do think it was used in such a way that I didn’t lose track of what was happening, and it lent some credibility to the story. Midhat slips in french words to his speech when something surprises him, or he feels strongly about something. His second language has become a part of him. Endearments are usually in Arabic as well (it took a little while for me to realise what they were, and there are other words used that aren’t just endearments, I’m sure!).

This is a beautifully told story. It’s hard to read in places - history isn’t always very pretty. But I think it’s important to learn about the past in order to understand the present and hopefully learn from past mistakes.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book to read and honestly review.