It took me a long while to finish reading Detransition, Baby. I put it down and picked it up about three times since the late summer (it’s near Christmas now). There’s so much going on in this book. I’m glad I finished it, though, because it taught me a lot as well as entertained me.
Premise
First of all, the title Detransition, Baby is pretty in-your-face. The story is nothing like it sounds, but the title makes it out to be a cheeky nudge at mainstream reporting and right wing types who think trans people are just making up their experiences. Like, “Ha! See? We knew you’d detransition!” The story isn’t really about detransitioning though, it’s about motherhood and what some trans women would do for it, though that still isn’t really what happens.
Our story follows three people whose lives connect through a conception (the egg + sperm type, not the idea type, although actually both). The main characters are: Reese, a trans woman, Ames, our detransitioning trans person, and Katrina, our mixed race cis woman. If you haven’t read this yet, feel free to skip to the bottom of the page for my rating, though I don’t think I spoil the plot in my review.
Characterization, Personality, Style
Reese feels exceptionally real to me. I haven’t looked up how much of Torrey Peters or her friends are in Reese, but she is noticeably vibrant and nuanced. Her personality explodes off the page. In fact it’s not just her, she is bringing an entire subculture with her into this book. We’re learning about Reese, and about what it is to be a trans woman in New York City. Additionally, we’re also learning about how Reese sees this specific culture as well as what she sees in cis culture.
Sometimes it feels like you’re not supposed to know some of these things as a cis person. Subculture secrets? Maybe! There’s nothing prescriptive coming through in the words, but there’s something uncomfortably genuine and pained about this level of vulnerability. There’s a humour, and also an understanding to Reese, though. She blends the darkness of these experiences with wit, confidence and a strangely forthright insecurity.
The cheeky wit and personality of Reese actually reminds me of another trans writer, Imogen Binnie, who published Nevada several years ago. I’ve been wondering if this was an influence, even. If you haven’t read that one yet, you really should!
Review
The star qualities of Detransition, Baby are in how Torrey Peters writes Reese, the way she describes her inner dialogue and impulses, the phenomenal writing itself and the way an unfamiliar world is so readily offered up on a platter. Ames and Katrina are not fleshed out to near the same degree as Reese is, though. They feel like they’re there, but are both after thoughts. Katrina’s motivations and desires are not in the story that much. And though Ames is of ‘the same subculture’ as Reese, he feels like as much of a ghost as Katrina does. The story is written from a third person perspective, but it feels like it’s Reese writing the book a lot of the time.
The plot is somehow both remarkable and unremarkable. I wanted more from the main story as I got through Reese’s side tales and flashbacks. Maybe I’d feel differently if it was written from a first person perspective, because then at least I’d know why Reese is so over the top fleshed out while the others are kind of fading in the corners of the room. They’re good characters, they just don’t reflect much, in comparison. I do have a few thoughts and theories about this at the moment (like ‘duh, she’s the trans woman’). Also, I’m trying to think of recent books I’ve read that do this, where three people centre in the story, but one of them feels like The Narrator. If you know of any, let me know in the comments!
I Feel Old
Lastly, I think there’s an even degree of ‘explain transness to cis people’ in this as there is ‘only trans people will get this’. I appreciate that. Admittedly, some things were confusing. As someone who sometimes thinks she knows everything already, it was interesting to have that experience, where certain experiences were truly going over my head beyond the basics. Other aspects were enlightening, darkly comedic and painful to read.
Personally, I don’t like being told how to think about womanhood, nor what it means. To me a woman gets to be whatever she wants to be. Sometimes that means things that I can’t understand, though. Other times I want to disagree with myself, too. Perhaps just the way Reese does.
Rating: 3.5/5
You can get a copy of Detransition, Baby at Bookshop.org. If you’re in Canada you can buy it at Book Outlet for free shipping until January 1 2023.
