Best for: Fans of Ms. Mock’s writing and those interested in learning more about her life; people interested in a tight memoir focused on just a few years of early adulthood. In a nutshell: Author Janet Mock shares part of the story she chose not to include in her first memoir “Redefining Realness.” Line that sticks with me: “I did not have the luxury to sulk, though. I could not wallow. I could not let my bitterness affect the quality of my work. Doing so […]
“Being exceptional isn’t revolutionary, it’s lonely. It separates you from your community.
Who are you, really, without community? I have been held up consistently as a token, as the “right” kind of trans woman (educated, able-bodied, attractive, articulate, heteronormative). It promotes the delusion that because I “made it,” that level of success is easily accessible to all young trans women. Let’s be clear: It is not.”” This is the second review of Janet Mock’s Redefining Realness on CBR today because badkittyuno takes weeks to review things whereas if I wait more then 2 days I forget what I wanted […]
“There is no formula when it comes to gender and sexuality.”
vel veeter called Redefining Realness “an impossible book to write” — primarily because Mock has to decide how to tell her story without making grand claims of representation for others. I agree with this assessment, and add that it’s always hard to review a book about someone’s life. However — I feel it was overall a very successful book. “Being exceptional isn’t revolutionary, it’s lonely. It separates you from your community. Who are you, really, without community? I have been held up consistently as a token, […]
This seems like an impossible book to write.
Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More by Janet Mock
Janet Mock writes about her journey through contemporary America as transgender woman of Color from a complicated background. In this memoir, she narrates her story, talks about trans issues in general, and attempts to communicate her experiences not just as a transgender woman but as a someone trying to make sense of the world around them. Because in some ways this is an advocacy/celebrity memoir, the writing is perfectly competent. I will say that I listened to the audiobook version and hearing Mock read it […]
We Are Who We Are
You might be familiar with Janet Mock. She has been a writer for People magazine (which I unapologetically read every week), and more recently has shared her story of being a trans woman of color in a feature for Marie Claire magazine. I first learned about her where I learn about many things that aren’t necessarily covered on CNN or in the New York Times: on Twitter. I’d see her comments retweeted by other people I follow, and learned about her book when it came […]
Redefining Realness and the ownership of story
Janet Mock has recently been publicizing her memoir, Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More, on multiple talk shows, some of which have interviewed her in ways that seem insensitive.