I enjoyed this book very much. Bohjalian manages to take a controversial and, to some, off-putting topic and imbue it with humanity and immediacy. Not an "issue," but a personal (albeit socially constructed) struggle, the subject of transsexualism is handled deftly in this touching novel. I anticipated the "twist" at the end, but enjoyed watching it emerge, nonetheless. For some petty reason, the entire time I was reading this book I was distracted by wondering whether the NPR plot feature was devised merely to justify the book's exceedingly clever title.

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What an incredible book! I was touched by the clarity and depth of the characters. Their individual complexity and the power of the whole is undeniable. I felt Dana was particularly well portrayed. Dealing with Transsexuality and gender differences is always difficult, but Bohjalian handles it remarkably and I was thouroughly impressed.

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Well-written story of a MTF (male-to-female) transsexual who falls in love with a heterosexual woman *just before* he plans to undergo his sex-reassignment surgery. Tastefully told. Interesting plot twists. I enjoyed this book

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This book totally took me by surprise but it ended up being a pleasant one. I really enjoyed it and it was very enlightening about the transsexual community.

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Interesting premise but definitely not my favorite Bohjalian book. A lot of the plot - namely, the relationships between the key characters - just didn't ring true. This could have been a much better read than it was... I was disappointed.

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This novel was a real eye-opener for me. It tells the story of a man, Dana, who is a professor at a New England university and who is also transgender. He is dating a divorced woman named Allison who is a school teacher at a local elementary school. Allison has a daughter named Carly who is getting ready for college and who is happy that her mother seems to have found love again with Dana. But before long Dana is set for his transitioning surgery and Allison is there to help him through the process including helping him to dress and act in his new role as a woman. Dana ends up moving in with Allison which results in outrage in the community who feel Allison is setting a bad example for the children she teaches. This is all told from the perspective of Dana, Allison, Carly, and Allison's ex-husband, Will.

As I said, this was really an eye-opener. At some points, it was very explicit in telling specifically how the transitioning surgery is performed and how a man is surgically and hormonally changed into a woman. It also is very clear on why both men and women take this drastic step...being trapped in the wrong gender since birth. Overall, I found this novel to be very enlightening and it left me with a lot to ponder and think about. This is the third novel I've read by Bohjalian and all of them have been very thought-provoking. I'll be reading more of him.

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An excellent read - this book forces you to think about the subject of transexuality from all different angles, and open your mind to the issue of sexuality. Couldn't put it down!

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Bohjalian gives thoughtful treatment to complex and delicate issues and has tremendous skill for great character developement.

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Astonishingly beautiful.

In brief, Allison falls in love with Dana the man. Dana reveals what he has known since childhood - She is a woman in a man's body. And she will soon undergo surgery to correct nature's mistake.

This book could have been a hot mess. Instead, the author tells a compassionate and tender story that asks some important questions about identity. What defines us? Does the soul have gender? What is gender?

An honest book you will interact with on many levels.
Highly recommend.

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This book was a real page turner! It is written about a subject that I am sure would make an excellent read for book clubs! A great deal to discuss and comment on! The book is narrated by 4 different characters, which makes it very interesting and kept me turning the pages wondering what next! After reading this book, I am going to read past books by Chris Bohjalian.

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Very Interesting!

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