Fingerless

by Ian Donnell Arbuckle

Lita faces her future with trepidation. Her brother lies unconscious in the hospital following a brutal attack, her ex-girlfriend has cut off all meaningful communication, and now her daughter has gone missing in the middle of an ice storm. The town has pulled together to help find the child but will they be as supportive of Lita's brother when the truth behind his assault comes out? What does Lita's new friend want with her? Will Lita's ex be able to overcome her pain and frustration and move on? Will anyone be able to put the past into context and accept the way things are, the way things will be? Ian Donnell Arbuckle's "Fingerless" is a compelling novel featuring an engaging transgender protagonist. This dramatic story examines the frustration and confusion in her life and also offers an insightful and compassionate exploration of gender, relationships, family, and friendship.

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing wasn't horrible, but I just didn't see the point of this book. There was hardly any conflict, no journey of personal development, and I have to wonder why a (presumably) heterosexual cisgendered man would choose to write a book about being transgendered, from the perspective of a transgendered woman. Is he trying to cash in on the current "trend" of transgenderism in the media? If so, perhaps a book about the family of someone transitioning would have had a more authentic voice.

Obviously I don't know the author's history, so I can't say for sure he hasn't any experience of the subject, but generally, if I read a book about what it's like to be a trans woman I want it to have been written by a trans woman.

I realize that not every trans person experiences widespread prejudice and discrimination, but Lita's family seems remarkably unfazed, her coworkers have no feelings about it, the people she knew in high school are completely okay with her transition, and she experiences almost no internal conflict, with the exception of a few moments in flashback which seem less angsty than what cisgendered teenagers experience on almost an hourly basis.

The attack on her brother by the Native American "gang" doesn't lead to anything except the revelation that there's a history of conflict between Victor and Native Americans. The brief disappearance of the toddler goes nowhere. It felt more like I was reading someone's blog. There's a reason I don't read blogs.

[Amy Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was captivated by the characters, but felt like a resolution of conflict was not reached in this book--the only thing preventing me from giving it five stars. I heard noises about more works featuring these characters, which is good, but I was left on the last page wanting more, and not in totally a good way.