20. Max Wolf Valerio - The Testosterone Files

[pauraque]

(Full book title doesn't fit in the subject; it is The Testosterone Files: My Hormonal and Social Transformation from Female to Male.)

Note: Max Valerio is the same person as Anita Valerio, as published in This Bridge Called My Back, which I know has been reviewed here. It would be nice if we could easily find all his works together through the

Comments

[pauraque]

Yeah, I was quite disappointed myself.

As for men as the prey of sex workers (I guess I remembered it as men in general, but he actually says it specifically of himself), you can assess what he wrote for yourself, with its context. In this section a sex worker has approached him, and he has declined her offer.

Who is this woman and how desperate might her life be? Did she choose to sell sex on the streets because of addictions, street survival, or another hidden, subliminal impulse? Some form of gambling with sex, men and death -- a need to control and survive? Possibly she feels that this is the best alternative to a life of low-paying work. Possibly she's learned to enjoy it. Possibly she always has. She doesn't look hardened to this life. She has a story, a life of struggle and small, hard-won victories

[pauraque]

Yeah, my eyes really bugged out there.

[kate_nepveu]

Could the tags be "author: Valerio Max Wolf (formerly Valerio Anita)" and "author: Valerio Anita (now Valerio Max Wolf)"? Which is inelegant because it still requires looking for the other name tag, but at least it makes the connection clear in the tag?

Or I guess the older book could be tagged just "author: Valerio Max Wolf (formerly Valerio Anita)", but I dunno.

[pauraque]

Current Name (formerly Former Name) seems like the best option to me, though of course not ideal. One wouldn't describe a trans person like that under normal circumstances and I'd never suggest it, except that he was published under his former name.

[marydell]

Maybe just "also published as (other name)?"

[pauraque]

Oh, that's a good idea. It'd also work for authors who publish under different pseudonyms.

[rosehiptea]

rape is "of course" wrong

Well, gee, thanks for that, Max!

And thanks (to you, OP) for the review, because I'll definitely be skipping this one.

[pauraque]

I know, right? Any time you find yourself hastening to explain that rape is wrong, you might want to re-examine the last thing you just said.

[pauraque]

That's exactly what it is. There are a few moments where he acknowledges the role of socialization (an example that comes to mind is where he and his FTM friend talk on the phone for hours -- he points out they learned this when they were socialized as women, and suggests more guys should try it), but many more when it seems to go completely over his head

[pauraque]

Yes, it's a very defeatist attitude.

[buria_q]

thanks for the review and extended analysis.

[pauraque]

No problem. Thanks for reading.