'Nevada' by Imogen Binnie follows the journey of Maria, a trans woman living in NYC, navigating a disintegrating lesbian relationship and struggling with her own identity. The novel delves into themes of gender, sexuality, and self-discovery, offering a raw and honest portrayal of Maria's inner struggles and external challenges. The writing style shifts between different voices, providing insights into the characters' thoughts and experiences, ultimately leading the reader on a journey of self-reflection and understanding.

Characters:

The characters are complex and relatable, particularly the protagonist Maria, who grapples with identity and relationships in a nuanced way.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is largely conversational and introspective, interspersed with humor, though some find it clunky at times.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers on a transgender woman's tumultuous life, exploring her struggles with work, relationships, and identity as she navigates significant changes.

Setting:

The story is set mainly in NYC, with significant portions in Nevada, reflecting diverse environments that shape the narrative.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, with short, introspective chapters that can feel meandering but often captivate through character analysis.

Trans women in real life are different from trans women on television. For one thing, when you take away the mystification, misconceptions and mystery, they’re at least as boring as everybody else. Oh...

Notes:

The book is about a transgender woman named Maria.

Maria works at a bookstore in NYC and dislikes her job.

The story is set between 2007 and 2009, during which subway fare was $2.

Maria has a challenging relationship with her girlfriend, Steph.

The narrative has a dissociative tone, and Maria often feels emotionally checked out.

The book includes a short segment from Steph's perspective, revealing her awareness of Maria's issues.

A new character named James is introduced, initially seeming dull but later showing depth.

Some readers identify with Maria's struggles related to gender and self-identity.

The novel explores themes of oppression, privilege, and relationships in the queer community.

The book features short chapters that can stand alone as vignettes.

Readers report it being a raw and honest portrayal of a trans woman's life.

Many appreciate its unique voice and humor, despite a meandering plot.

The book challenges traditional narrative structures, leading to an ambiguous ending.

Some readers find the ambiance of NYC more engaging compared to the Nevada portions.

The author, Imogen Binnie, is noted for her candid discussions on gender and sexuality.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for Nevada include themes of substance use, mental health crises, self-harm, and discussions surrounding toxic relationships.

From The Publisher:

Nevada is the darkly comedic story of Maria Griffiths, a young trans woman living in New York City and trying to stay true to her punk values while working retail. When she finds out her girlfriend has lied to her, the world she thought she'd carefully built for herself begins to unravel, and Maria sets out on a journey that will most certainly change her forever.

Ratings (8)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (5)
Liked It (1)

Reader Stats (17):

Read It (9)
Want To Read (7)
Not Interested (1)

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About the Author:

Imogen Binnie is the author of the novel Nevada, which won the Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award and was a finalist for the 2014 Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Fiction. A writer for several television shows and a former columnist for Maximum Rocknroll, she lives in Vermont with her family.

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Nevada

Imogen Binnie