Stone Butch Blues

Books | Fiction / General

4.3

(1.1K)

Leslie Feinberg

Published in 1993, this brave, original novel is considered to be the finest account ever written of the complexities of a transgendered existence. Woman or man? Thats the question that rages like a storm around Jess Goldberg, clouding her life and her identity. Growing up differently gendered in a blue--collar town in the 1950s, coming out as a butch in the bars and factories of the prefeminist 60s, deciding to pass as a man in order to survive when she is left without work or a community in the early 70s. This powerful, provocative and deeply moving novel sees Jess coming full circle, she learns to accept the complexities of being a transgendered person in a world demanding simple explanations: a he-she emerging whole, weathering the turbulence.

Lgbtq+

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More Details:

Author

Leslie Feinberg

Pages

580

Publisher

ReadHowYouWant.com

Published Date

2010

ISBN

1459608453 9781459608450

Community ReviewsSee all

"Honestly traumatizing for me."

Marsh

"Stone Butch Blues has skyrocketed to the top of my “all-time favorite books” list. I can’t even begin to describe how this book tore me apart and put me back together again in its 330 pages. Just. Wow. ** please note: this book is brutal at the beginning and should come with serious TW’s. Reader beware. "

Giulia

"Beautiful and powerful. I am so glad to understand why this is a must-read, now. There were beautiful moments of pain and loss and joy and coming home, and it ended hopefully. I'll definitely buy a copy for my shelf."

"It’s been a while since Ive read, but one of my favorite parts that I remember was the last bit about the main character and Ruth visiting Ruth’s family!"

D B

Destiny Binnarr

"this book really got me. put a lot of words into things i didn't consider "

Ethan heidrick

"You can read it online for free on Leslie’s website!"

Luna Caballero

"This is an important book. Also it is not a literary masterpiece. If you are looking for the best writing, then maybe move on. It does, however, depict some very crucial and important queer history of injustice and brutality that like much of the other minority history is at risk of erasure. "

A A

Ashley Amini

"This book changed my life. Highly recommended for the light it shines on areas that aren't usually talked about or acknowledged. A bit of a cult classic among butches."

A. Fox

"truly amazing, bless leslie feinberg’s soul for this one❤️"

Violet Walter

"Very heavy but incredibly important look at how far the queer community has come. It is powerful and made me emotional as I recognized myself within the main character and knew I only avoided those struggles by being born 40 years later. Also a great reminder of how individual experiences don't always fit into predefined identities and labels."