Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More

"Redefining Realness" stirred up memories of my freshman year in college. During the spring semester, my English professor introduced the class to books by authors of subjects many of us had only heard of, but never even remotely experienced. Authors like E. Lynn Harris. His book "Just As I Am" sparked a fire in us that made us trample over other students hanging out in the quad, just to make it to the classroom in time to dissect the more than 380 pages of fictional sizzle. As we talked about the book and the issues it brought to the forefront, our discussions were filled with joy, anger, curiosity, and just a flat-out appreciation of Harris' writing skills. This is how I felt while reading "Redefining Realness" - even before completing the first chapter. With my excitement level on "high", I wanted to immediately hightail it to someone's book club and talk about what I had just read! This book is awesome. Janet Mock takes readers on the journey of her life as a trans woman of color - a journey that was as foreign to me as a map of the streets of Djibouti City. I honestly did not realize that the lives of transgender people were that intense (especially poor trans people of color). Thanks to media portrayals of trans men and women over the years, I likened them to "drag queens" and reduced their lives to simply being "people who like to play dress-up." To me, a person was either gay, lesbian, or straight. Nothing else. However, Mock's experience, passion, rawness, statistics, and transparency, taught me that the world does not fit neatly into compartments. "Redefining Realness" evoked thought, compassion, and awareness - everything I expected based on the title of the book, as well as the publicity which has surrounded it over the last few months. I thoroughly enjoyed Mock's storytelling (story within a story), particularly the imagery she used to tell her story. Much like her "shero" Zora Neale Hurston, Mock's descriptive writing engaged all of the standard senses and more. I felt the winds and humidity of Oahu. I saw Charles, Sr.'s gold tooth with the Cowboys' shout-out. I touched Keisha's hair right along with Jamie. I heard conversations in Hawaiian pidgen on the streets as Janet and Wendi pooched. I tasted grandma's gumbo while eavesdropping on family gossip. (The pop music references sprinkled throughout the book made it even more "real" for me because I remember where I was when all of those songs debuted!) On top of all of this, Mock made me laugh. Her quick wit provided a much-welcomed intermission from a stressful and, at times, unbelievable read. It was good to laugh to keep from crying. However, even in comedy, she managed to teach lessons. I'll never confuse a "drag queen" for a trans woman again because I now know "a drag queen is part-time for showtime. A trans woman is all the time." Love it! "Redefining Realness" is a masterpiece, not only because of the content, but because of Mock's incredible writing skills. I appreciate her for using her unique story to inform, chastise, correct, and commend. That's what real women do. I look forward to more work from Mock in any genre.

Redefining Realness is a heartwarming autobiography that is beautifully written and takes readers into the private and intimate parts of the author’s life on her journey as a trans woman. The author’s transparency about her life and struggles brought an element of realness to her story further highlighting her courage in navigating through these challenging life events. I loved the themes of strength and perseverance laced throughout the story. The author's unwillingness to give up in the face of adversity was inspiring, and her tenacity encourages individuals to keep fighting to be heard and to be their authentic selves. This book is educational and inspiring. Overall, Redefining Realness is a very engaging read and an amazing story that pulls on your emotions making it an unforgettable story.

Consider this book almost like a 100 level course on what it means to be trans in the modern age. Now, be aware Janet's story isn't one which is all tears and fears followed by an eventual triumph. For while she did grow up in Hawaii and didn't have a middle-class family, it seems she was on the brink of poverty and never in the thick of it. With that said, though, you have your expected issues with parents who just don't understand, introductions to the community, discovering who you are, and Mock switching back and forth between educating you and speaking about her personal experiences. Thus giving you a book which feels well-rounded and while it may leave those curious about the process of transitioning unfulfilled, those who actually want to know the person and how they evolved into themselves, and not just about the procedure, are in for a good read.

This story can stand alone and will inform this generation, and next. Janet speaks to her personal story in a way that has global applicability. Through her word pictures, she takes the reader through her journey of poverty, while openly acknowledging the areas where she has experienced the benefits of privilege. There are many relationships in this book that speak to me but the one that stands out is her relationship with her brother Chad. It is universal. She beautifully describes their relationship to one another as well as with their parents. She discusses adolescence in a way that makes one smile, reflect and even smirk at times. Janet is willing to dive into the intricacies of intimacy within friendship, as she discusses growing up with her friend Wendy and the development of trust between them, as experienced over eye brow tweezing and shared hormones. Janet allows the reader to be at once in the moment, while at the same time speaking to adult reflection and perspective as she discusses her mother's love looked different at different times in her life. I could go on about why this book is excellent, and why I would recommend it to any and everyone. This is a love story. This is a book about social justice. This book is about education access and the power that education can have to transform lives. Yes this book touches on physical transformation but to deduce it to simply as story about a transgender woman of color would be an injustice. This is a memoir that will stand the test of time. A story of triumph and a willingness to live fully. Redefining Realness is about self-determination.

me encanto porque habla de su experiencia de una manera en la cual nos logran envolver a todos y sentirnos parte de ella. despuies de leerlo siento que la conozco de toda la vida.

good......

Janet Mock ist eine großartige Persönlichkeit und ich habe dieses Buch gerne gelesen. Es gibt es auch in englischer Version als Audiobuch, von ihr selbst gelesen und das ist ebenfalls super!

My copy of Janet Mock’s new Redefining Realness looks like a sticky note farm. She makes so many incisive remarks that I’ve had to take a lot of notes! This woman is a force to be reckoned with. Not only has she bared her soul in this book, she has used that intense light to bring strong focus to problems and questions that face trans people everywhere, as well as issues facing poor and non-white trans people in particular. She is a good writer and storyteller and I read the book in a hot joy over the weekend. Janet is clearly a feminist with a strong awareness of how our “choosing” to be feminine puts us in a particularly precarious position with regard to misogyny. We generally have to defend our right to express femininity. “It was a balancing act to express femininity in a world that is hostile toward it and frames femininity as artifice and fake, in opposition to masculinity, which often represents ‘realness.’” I loved this book. It is deeply personal and heartfelt, yet she generalizes from her own experience to make remarks of deep insight. She is very up to date on trans and other related issues and covers many of them with strength and care. Redefining Realness is certainly one of the most, and perhaps the most, useful trans autobiography I’ve read, and that’s a lot.

Coming from a person who shares some commonalities with Janet Mock in experience, I can say that it takes a lot of courage to publish this type of honest and complete story of one's life. Not only does Janet talk about her own experiences, she puts them into context of the struggles that trans women of color face within society. She encourages you not only just to understand her point of view, but understand the points of view of her family and friends, reminding readers that there are many who have stories like Janet's. It takes a lot to be so open about things, to be honest, and to put it all out there. It was inspiring to read and I'm grateful that Janet has given so many people a glimpse of her life. It makes me feel confident that one day it will be less scary to tell my own story and I hope that it inspires others to tell theirs. Thank you for such a wonderful book Janet!