Book Reviews

‘Cleavage: Men, Women, and the Space Between Us’

Jennifer Finney Boylan has written several phenomenal books including her profoundly influential memoir, “She’s Not There,” which has won numerous awards, and deservedly so. I picked up this book with a lot of expectations and anticipation. I was pleased to find this series of interconnected essays to be everything I had hoped for. This is another classic in the making.

The differences between the genders are interesting to read from the transgender perspective. Boylan came out in 2000, long before the current swirl of fear and anger was the norm, and, as such, she provides a unique lens on how society has changed over the past few decades in response. Gender infuses so much of our lives in ways small and overwhelming. It’s fascinating to read about how much, and how little, it matters to one’s sense of place, time and love. 

Honest and raw — at times brutally so — this book wasn’t always easy to read, but it is even more important for that. I like books that open my eyes to things I might not otherwise see or understand. If you’re up for learning the social, mental and historical impacts of gender, this is a great place to start. ♦ — Review by Julie Goodrich

‘Greenteeth’

Tell me if you’ve heard this one before — a lake monster, a witch and a goblin walk into a bar…

This delightful mishmash of fairy tales and myths has a little bit of everything for fantasy readers, or just those who love a good story. Action, adventure, monsters and the best dog. I started this book thinking it would just be another retelling of a classic story, but I found such a skillful rendition of so many great bits of western folklore that I completely lost myself in the tale. 

Jenny Greenteeth is an inquisitive and reluctant keeper of a lake whose world is turned on its side by the arrival of an accused witch. Jenny decides to help the witch in her journey, and the pair slowly build a party of unlikely heroes that quickly turns into a found family.

Whether you’re already familiar with British folk tales or not, this is a joyful romp full of humor and heart. If you’re looking for something warming and cozy these frigid months, this book is for you. ♦ 

— Review by Julie Goodrich