Rebent Sinner

Coyote (Tomboy Survival Guide) “look[s] back over thirty queer years” as a trans, nonbinary writer and spoken word performer in this thought-provoking collection of autobiographical vignettes. Less focused on the “why” of being trans than the everyday realities of the trans experience, Coyote shares social media posts; open letters to journalists, readers, teachers, and audience members; conversations overheard in markets and airports; jokes (“I saw ‘man candles’ in a store the other day. They smelled like misogyny and unshed tears”); existential riddles (“What did shame ever teach me, except to be ashamed?”); and a lecture on diversity Coyote delivered at the 2017 Sydney Writers’ Festival. As a touring performer who averages more than 200 days on the road per year, Coyote writes of frequently experiencing such indignities as not having access to a gender neutral bathroom. Meanwhile, feeling unsafe, Coyote notes, “is so normal it’s not even a story.” Recounting the thrill of discovering such “queer heroes” as Leslie Feinberg and Joan Armatrading, Coyote describes the burdens of representation that saddle LGBTQ writers and performers, and ponders the legacy of their own generation of trans artists. Audiences interested in the conversation on trans identities will welcome Coyote’s direct style and compassionate voice. (Nov.)