Trans-Sister Radio

by Chris Bohjalian | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0375705171 Global Overview for this book
Registered by cafekat of Rotonda West, Florida USA on 10/24/2007
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10 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by cafekat from Rotonda West, Florida USA on Wednesday, October 24, 2007
from the back...
"With TRANS-SISTER RADIO, Chris Bohjalian, best selling author of MIDWIVES, again confronts his very human characters with issues larger than they are, tackling here the explosive issue of gender.
When schoolteacher Allison Banks develops a crush on professor Dana Stevens, she knows that he will give her what she needs most: gentleness, kindness, passion. Her daughter, Carly, enthusiastically witnesses the change in her mother. But a few months into their relationship, Dana tells Allison his secret: he has always been certain that he is a woman born into the wrong skin, and is considering a sex-change operation. Allison, overwhelmed by the depth of her love, finds herself unable to leave him--but, by deciding to stay, she must face questions most people never even consider. Not only will her own life and Carly's be irrevocably changed, she will have to contend with the outrage of her Vermont community and come to terms with her lover's new sense of self--and hope against hope that their love will transcend their ingrained notions of what it means to be a man and a woman."

I read this book years ago. I came across it at the book store recently and HAD to buy it. It's one of those books that you think about from time to time and the story never leaves you. I've just finished re reading it. Thought provoking, touching, and enlightening.

Journal Entry 2 by cafekat from Rotonda West, Florida USA on Thursday, December 6, 2007
This is my first attempt at hosting a bookray and I'm excited to share this book. The order of the ray is as follows:

kobie03 - Canada
Guinneth - New Hampshire
JenKazoo - Louisiana
Scoobs-buddy - Kentucky
kindkat - Pennsylvania
onniManni - Finland
amberC - Australia
Midlifecrisis - UK
Vamperstein8782 - UK

Bookray SUCCESS!!!
Thanks to all of you who participated!

Thanks to all of you for joining and I hope you enjoy!
--cafekat

Journal Entry 3 by cafekat at on Thursday, December 6, 2007

Released 16 yrs ago (12/7/2007 UTC) at

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

on my way to kobie03...first stop on my bookray travels.

Journal Entry 4 by kobie03 from Lewins Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada on Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Book arrived yesterday and I've already started reading it, it's so very interesting.

Journal Entry 5 by kobie03 from Lewins Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada on Thursday, January 24, 2008
What an enlighting read, such a difficult topic written about compassionately so you see everyone's point of view. this story will stay with me for a while.thank you cafekat for sharing this thought-provoking book.
In the mail today to Guinneth.

Journal Entry 6 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Received this yesterday - thanks, kobie03. I just have to finish the book I'm in the middle of and then I will start in. I am really looking forward to this, as I'm a big fan of Bohjalian's Midwives.

Journal Entry 7 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, February 21, 2008
I didn't find this anywhere near as compelling as Midwives, but it was a fairly good read nonetheless. Bohjalian does a good job creating characters who I enjoy "listening" to. Unfortunately I felt like the story just sort of petered out and then simply...ended, which was mildly annoying. The gender issues explored were, of course, interesting, but I don't feel like I gained any new insight.

Still, I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it. Thank you, cafekat, for sharing. This will be on its way to JenKazoo as soon as I have an address for her.


3/5/08:
I finally got this mailed yesterday - I apologize for the delay.
Del. conf.# 0306 2400 0002 0785 7699

Journal Entry 8 by JenKazoo from Shreveport, Louisiana USA on Monday, March 10, 2008
I just got the book. I will begin reading it tonight!

Journal Entry 9 by JenKazoo from Shreveport, Louisiana USA on Thursday, March 13, 2008
I finished the book today. Now I can officially add Chris Bohjalian to my list of favorite authors. I read The Double Bind this summer and loved it so I was excited to read another one of his books.

I thought Tran-Sister Radio was incredibly interesting. I love NPR and All Things Considered so it was a little bonus to the story for me. The only problem I had was that it seemed like all of the characters' voices, or points of view, were the same. Since it was told from the point of view of different people at different times I felt like I should have been able to discern definite differences in their way of speaking or thinking. It felt like it was told by a general narrator rather than several people. Their voices just got lost within each other. It was a good idea to try and convey each person's unique perspective throughout the book, but to me, it just sounded like it was all told from one person...I guess what I am trying to say is it didn't seem like anyone's unique personality was able to shine through the way I would have liked.

That said, I truly did enjoy the book and its theme. I went out and bought another of his books, Before You Know Kindness, yesterday at a used bookshop. I'll probaby end up making it a bookring when I am done so watch out for it!

Sending to Scoobs-Buddy tomorrow...packaged, addressed, sealed, and ready to go!

Journal Entry 10 by rem_XDP-320934 on Thursday, March 20, 2008
It's here! Can't wait to begin reading it- I'm almost finished with the book I'm reading and then will get right to this one. Thanks!

Journal Entry 11 by rem_XDP-320934 on Tuesday, March 25, 2008
I wasn't expecting to read it as quick as I have - but its a can't put down kinda book. Two thumbs up to Chris Bohjalian for a story filled with compassion and insight. cafekat- many thanks to you for sharing it!

Great characters + excellent story = a very compelling must-read book

I've contacted kindkat for a mailing address and will mail soon as I have that

Released 15 yrs ago (3/27/2008 UTC) at Mailed To Another BookCrosser in -- Mail or by hand -rings, RABCK, meetings, Kentucky USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

time for this book to go visit kindkat

usps del conf- 0306 3030 0002 5606 4750

Journal Entry 13 by kindkat from Red Lion, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, April 14, 2008
Caught this book as part of a Book Ray. I'm close to finishing it and have enjoyed it a lot. I have a friend who is a M2F transsexual and much of what I'm reading echoes her experiences. Definitely well-researched and sensitively written. Thanks for sharing it with me! I hope to be sending it on by the end of next week.

Journal Entry 14 by kindkat from Red Lion, Pennsylvania USA on Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Great story, I loved it! Will be getting it in the mail tomorrow on its way to Finland.

Journal Entry 15 by wingmyrtilluswing from Pori, Satakunta Finland on Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Book arrived today safely in Pori Finland. Thanks cafekat and kindkat!

Journal Entry 16 by wingmyrtilluswing from Pori, Satakunta Finland on Tuesday, May 20, 2008
I did like the way the novel was written. CB has a nice writing style. The story is so thought provoking. It handled not only the transsexuality but how other people see and feel the situation and how it affects them. I will certainly read more novels by CB.

Thanks cafekat for charing this interesting novel! I will send it tomorrow to amberC.

Journal Entry 17 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Friday, May 30, 2008
Arrived today, along with a couple of other bookrings. Why do they always arrive at the same time, even when they come from all corners of the earth?

Journal Entry 18 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Monday, June 9, 2008
I liked the way the story was written from various points of view. I didn't find it as compelling as Midwives or The Law of Similars but Bohjalian always comes up with interesting, thought-provoking topics.

Thanks for sharing. It will be posted to Midlifecrisis on my way home from work today. It will be travelling by slow boat so may take a while.

Journal Entry 19 by Midlifecrisis from St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom on Thursday, August 21, 2008
Thank you amberC, the book arrived today. Will read and journal as soon as possible.

Journal Entry 20 by Midlifecrisis from St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom on Thursday, August 28, 2008
A terrific book - thank you so much for introducing me to this author. It offered many more perspectives than I had previously considered on the whole issue of transsexuality and showed how we cannot be filed under neat categories. Also I was really hoping for the ending which actually happened, which was a nice conclusion. I had never heard of Chris Bohjalian before, so will be looking out for more of his (or her?) books. Thank you very much for including me in this ray. I will journal again as soon as it's on its way to Vamperstein.

Journal Entry 21 by Midlifecrisis from St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom on Sunday, August 31, 2008
Wrapped and ready for posting to Vamperstein tomorrow.

Journal Entry 22 by rem_AMJ-898913 on Friday, September 5, 2008
Safely received, thanks for passing on Midlifecrisis. Also thank you for the great postcard - a mole in a dingy; what fun!

Journal Entry 23 by rem_AMJ-898913 on Thursday, September 11, 2008
I must admit that once I actually looked at the book I couldn't for the life of me understand why I'd signed up for this as it's not the sort of thing I'd usually be even remotely interested in! But, I'm nothing if not open-minded and if a book arrives on my doorstep then who am I to argue with the wisdom of the Universe?

I actually really enjoyed this (with the exception of the rather detailed bit about the operation) and even when the final outcome was becoming rather aparent it still wasn't written in the blatently obvious way that most authors would have used. I look forward to getting the chance to read more of Chris Bohjalian's work.

As I'm the last on the Ray I'm popping this in to the "Anything Under The Sun" bookbox.

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