Pageboy: A Memoir

We all know I love celebrity memoirs, so this is Pageboy: A Memoir by Elliott Page.

Goodreads Stats

Why I Read This Book/How I Heard About It

I love celebrity memoirs and that's no secret. This one was just released so I scooped it right up!

Goodreads Summary

Pageboy is a groundbreaking coming-of-age memoir from the Academy Award-nominated actor Elliot Page. A generation-defining actor and one of the most famous trans advocates of our time, Elliot will now be known as an uncommon literary talent, as he shares never-before-heard details and intimate interrogations on gender, love, mental health, relationships, and Hollywood.

First Impressions

I have loved Elliot Page from the moment I saw him in Juno. I quickly devoured anything and everything he starred in: Whip It, The Umbrella Academy, Inception. I loved all of it. But it was a show on Vice network called Gaycation that really leveled me. If you haven't seen it, I suggest you find it somewhere and watch (especially the Brazil episode). In the show, Elliot shines a light on what it's like to be queer in different parts of the world. The access and interviews are incredible and, in some instances, dangerous. When I saw that show, I felt like my eyes were opened in a new way to the struggles LGBTQ+ folks face on a daily basis, even now.

Final Thoughts

When Elliot Page announced his transition to male, I couldn't have been anything but supportive. Of course, being a public figure that was so famous, the backlash on the internet was bound to be horrific. I suppose I had a deep curiosity about how Elliott is doing these days and how he came through such a monumental time in his life. This book absolutely sheds light on all of it. It's vulnerable and challenging to all the preconceived notions that the culture has downloaded into us from birth. For me, reading something that causes me to examine my biases and grow as a person is always rewarding. I know it's not for everyone, but I will always recommend that we do the hard work in ourselves to understand someone that's not had the same life experience as us.

Rating on Goodreads

I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars.

My rating method:

• I rarely rate books 5 stars. I save this for the absolute best books I've read. You know the ones...the ones that you can't get out of your head, even after you've finished them. The ones you think about for weeks afterwards.

• If a book is really, really good, I'll give it 4 stars. If you see a 4-star rating from me, I'd definitely recommend it to you to read.

• If it's just OK, it gets 3 stars. Basically, it means I could take it or leave it. I'd probably read it again because it wasn't terrible. But not like a favorite or anything.

• If I rate it 1 or 2 stars, I would not recommend anyone read it. It either didn't hold my interest or I couldn't relate to the characters/plot.