Now and again I felt that the dialogue and characters were a bit unrealistic (they give very long, very eloquent speeches about whatever point they are making), so I never felt fully drawn into the novel, but it is still an excellent read that (especially if you are a white, cisgender person like me) will really make you think about identity in a way you might not have done before.
This book dives deep into gender identity, gender politics, womanhood and racism, and explores all the complex intersections between them. The novel negotiates the relationships between these characters as they imagine a future in which they might all raise the child together. (Obviously trans women are women, and so trans women can certainly be longlisted for women’s prizes.)ĭetransition, Baby is about Reese, a trans woman who desperately wants a child Ames, Reese’s ex, who used to be a trans woman but detransitioned to live as a man and Katrina, an Asian American woman who is pregnant with Ames’ baby. When it was first announced that Detransition, Baby (which is by a trans author) was longlisted for the prize, a lot of anti-trans losers were mad about it – which of course made me want to read it more.
This book actually made the longlist, not the shortlist, for the Women’s Prize, but it was the book that inspired me to read the shortlist this year, so I have to mention it. So without further ado, here are my thoughts on the shortlisted books – and my winning prediction! Detransition, Baby – Torrey Peters Well, this year I have finally done it! I have read all six books on the shortlist for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021, which is due to be announced this week, on 8th September (a couple of months delayed, because of the ol’ pandemic). I’ve always wanted to be part of the excitement surrounding a literary prize, to follow along with the growing hype and to watch the winner’s announcement knowing all the shortlisted books and genuinely rooting for one of them to win. For several years now, I’ve wanted to read all the books on the shortlist for a major literary prize before they announce the winner.
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