What do you think?
Rate this book
Written on the Body
Written by and for trans and non-binary survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, Written on the Body offers support, guidance and hope for those who struggle to find safety at home, in the body, and other unwelcoming places.
This collection of letters written to body parts weaves together narratives of gender, identity, and abuse. It is the coming together of those who have been fragmented and often met with disbelief. The book holds the concerns and truths that many trans people share while offering space for dialogue and reclamation.
Written with intelligence and intimacy, this book is for those who have found power in re-shaping their bodies, families and lives.
This collection of letters written to body parts weaves together narratives of gender, identity, and abuse. It is the coming together of those who have been fragmented and often met with disbelief. The book holds the concerns and truths that many trans people share while offering space for dialogue and reclamation.
Written with intelligence and intimacy, this book is for those who have found power in re-shaping their bodies, families and lives.
216 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2018
40 people are currently reading
1036 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 12, 2018
Trigger Warning: There are too many potential triggers in this book to name but they include sexual assault, domestic violence, mental health, bullying, suicide, eating disorders and self harm. Please be safe while reading. 💜
You know those books that leave you without words? I don’t, which is why this review has been so hard to write. I’m one of those people that has so many opinions that I’ve got opinions about my own opinions. Seriously!
I finished reading Written on the Body: Letters from Trans and Non-Binary Survivors of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence almost two weeks ago and the stories have been resonating within me ever since. I started this book thinking about my own experiences with sexual assault and domestic violence.
I wondered if I would have the courage to write a letter to one of my body parts. What body part would I choose? What would I want or need to say to it? Would I have the courage to write the letter anywhere but in my mind where no one could accidentally stumble across it? If I did manage to write that letter who would I trust to show it to? Regardless of your history I’d encourage you to think about those questions for yourself. It’s really quite a daunting prospect, isn’t it?
I thought about experiences shared with other sexual assault and domestic violence survivors over the years and how we’ve connected over shared thoughts and feelings, regardless of the legal terminology of what was perpetrated against us. The survivors I’ve had the opportunity to share with so far have been cis women and men, and they’re some of the bravest people I know.
I wondered if I could ever claim to understand what a trans or non-binary sexual assault or domestic violence survivor has experienced. While I’m fairly confident there’d be aspects of their story that I could relate to based on my own experiences, as a cis woman I can’t and won’t claim to understand what it’s like to be trans or non-binary. To be trans or non-binary in today’s society and then compound that with (in so many survivors) countless experiences of abuse by multiple perpetrators? I can’t even begin to imagine.
We need books like this one to open our eyes to the pain of those who’ve experienced the unthinkable and the incredible ability people have to overcome what was intended to destroy. While you can never really walk in someone else’s shoes, by reading this book you have the honour of being granted permission to truly see aspects of people that are usually hidden by façades.
You’ll likely feel practically everything in your emotional range while reading and due to the content I’d advise against reading it all at once. Different writing styles and content provide varied reading experiences throughout the book. Some letters were poetic. Others were visceral. There’s so much heartbreaking trauma content, yet there’s also so much strength and hope.
While considering the courage of the people who have contributed to this book, a quote from Brené Brown’s I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame came to mind. Brené explains eloquently what I cannot:
To the survivors who have contributed to this book, there are so many things I want to say to you, amongst which are … I hear you. I believe you. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am in awe of your courage. You are extraordinary!
If I could choose just one really powerful quote from this book: “What they didn’t know is that I’m trying to heal from what happened to me; I’m not trying to heal from who I am.” - Lexie Bean.
How do you rate a book like this? I don’t think you can rate someone’s experience so instead I’m rating the courage, the heart, of the people who have not only looked within themselves to come up with words that reflect their experience but have also had the bravery to shine a light on them. To me that deserves nothing less than ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for the opportunity to read this book. I feel honoured to have read it.
You know those books that leave you without words? I don’t, which is why this review has been so hard to write. I’m one of those people that has so many opinions that I’ve got opinions about my own opinions. Seriously!
I finished reading Written on the Body: Letters from Trans and Non-Binary Survivors of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence almost two weeks ago and the stories have been resonating within me ever since. I started this book thinking about my own experiences with sexual assault and domestic violence.
I wondered if I would have the courage to write a letter to one of my body parts. What body part would I choose? What would I want or need to say to it? Would I have the courage to write the letter anywhere but in my mind where no one could accidentally stumble across it? If I did manage to write that letter who would I trust to show it to? Regardless of your history I’d encourage you to think about those questions for yourself. It’s really quite a daunting prospect, isn’t it?
I thought about experiences shared with other sexual assault and domestic violence survivors over the years and how we’ve connected over shared thoughts and feelings, regardless of the legal terminology of what was perpetrated against us. The survivors I’ve had the opportunity to share with so far have been cis women and men, and they’re some of the bravest people I know.
I wondered if I could ever claim to understand what a trans or non-binary sexual assault or domestic violence survivor has experienced. While I’m fairly confident there’d be aspects of their story that I could relate to based on my own experiences, as a cis woman I can’t and won’t claim to understand what it’s like to be trans or non-binary. To be trans or non-binary in today’s society and then compound that with (in so many survivors) countless experiences of abuse by multiple perpetrators? I can’t even begin to imagine.
We need books like this one to open our eyes to the pain of those who’ve experienced the unthinkable and the incredible ability people have to overcome what was intended to destroy. While you can never really walk in someone else’s shoes, by reading this book you have the honour of being granted permission to truly see aspects of people that are usually hidden by façades.
You’ll likely feel practically everything in your emotional range while reading and due to the content I’d advise against reading it all at once. Different writing styles and content provide varied reading experiences throughout the book. Some letters were poetic. Others were visceral. There’s so much heartbreaking trauma content, yet there’s also so much strength and hope.
While considering the courage of the people who have contributed to this book, a quote from Brené Brown’s I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame came to mind. Brené explains eloquently what I cannot:
”Courage is a heart word. The root of the word courage is cor - the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant "To speak one's mind by telling all one's heart." Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences - good and bad.”
To the survivors who have contributed to this book, there are so many things I want to say to you, amongst which are … I hear you. I believe you. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am in awe of your courage. You are extraordinary!
If I could choose just one really powerful quote from this book: “What they didn’t know is that I’m trying to heal from what happened to me; I’m not trying to heal from who I am.” - Lexie Bean.
How do you rate a book like this? I don’t think you can rate someone’s experience so instead I’m rating the courage, the heart, of the people who have not only looked within themselves to come up with words that reflect their experience but have also had the bravery to shine a light on them. To me that deserves nothing less than ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for the opportunity to read this book. I feel honoured to have read it.
October 7, 2018
Writing a review for an anthology like this is always going to be a challenge, not least because of the heavy subject matter. I must also mention here that I read this anthology as a queer cisgender woman, and as such, no matter how much I read around the subject and know about gender, I have not had the kinds of gendered (or non-gendered) experiences with my body as the authors in this collection have.
When I saw the title of this collection, what I expected was candid, straight-forward letters (written, perhaps, to the reader) about each person's experience of domestic abuse, or sexual assault. However, this collection goes far beyond that, and rather than a recounting of individual events, it's an exercise in healing, in connecting with your body and confronting your fears and violations. Reading it is a hauntingly intimate experience, as you have to embody the thoughts of each author as they address their essays and poems directly to those body parts which need confronting. These may be parts which they have tumultuous relationships with, or parts that have been a steady and comforting presence through tumultuous events, or parts that the author has eradicated, or crafted, or come to love. No matter which part is being addressed, each text is filled with a candid and disarming intimacy.
This anthology has resonated with my own experience of my body. I know what it is to have a tense and scary relationship with medicalised intimate body parts, parts which are reduced, atrophied, painful, and objectified, parts which impact our relationships, and other people's relationships and disregard for our own bodies. (Despite my feelings of shame and impulse to privacy, to do my part in creating awareness, I urge you to google Lichen Sclerosis.)
The writing in this collection, whilst crossing different forms like essays and poetry, are so different in voice and tone. There's prose, rhythmic and rhyming poetry, free verse, experiments with grammar and structure, and beyond. I believe there's something here that will resonate with any reader. In all of my reviews I try to feature some of my favourite quotes or passages, so I will do the same here. The intimacy and personal nature in these texts propels me to again acknowledge that each quote fits within the context of the whole letter and anthology, and belongs to the author's experiences and words.
I would recommend this collection to anyone and everyone who has the slightest interest in it, because honestly I think the writing is fantastic and the personal stories are a gift.
I'd like to end my review with an extract from the Note to Self by Sawyer DeVuyst at the end of the collection.
I can relate to this personally through my own experience of community groups which discuss these intimate relationships to our politicised bodies. The act of writing a letter to our body parts, rather than about them, though, is a strikingly powerful and introspective way to deal with these complicated feelings and begin to heal. I'm certain that this anthology will create that sense of community healing for any trans or gender variant person, no matter which stage of their journey they are on.
Thank you to Jessica Kingsley Publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I saw the title of this collection, what I expected was candid, straight-forward letters (written, perhaps, to the reader) about each person's experience of domestic abuse, or sexual assault. However, this collection goes far beyond that, and rather than a recounting of individual events, it's an exercise in healing, in connecting with your body and confronting your fears and violations. Reading it is a hauntingly intimate experience, as you have to embody the thoughts of each author as they address their essays and poems directly to those body parts which need confronting. These may be parts which they have tumultuous relationships with, or parts that have been a steady and comforting presence through tumultuous events, or parts that the author has eradicated, or crafted, or come to love. No matter which part is being addressed, each text is filled with a candid and disarming intimacy.
This anthology has resonated with my own experience of my body. I know what it is to have a tense and scary relationship with medicalised intimate body parts, parts which are reduced, atrophied, painful, and objectified, parts which impact our relationships, and other people's relationships and disregard for our own bodies. (Despite my feelings of shame and impulse to privacy, to do my part in creating awareness, I urge you to google Lichen Sclerosis.)
The writing in this collection, whilst crossing different forms like essays and poetry, are so different in voice and tone. There's prose, rhythmic and rhyming poetry, free verse, experiments with grammar and structure, and beyond. I believe there's something here that will resonate with any reader. In all of my reviews I try to feature some of my favourite quotes or passages, so I will do the same here. The intimacy and personal nature in these texts propels me to again acknowledge that each quote fits within the context of the whole letter and anthology, and belongs to the author's experiences and words.
'I love that you turned your body to a shelter. That resonates. I think you're very much a home, and wonder if you also see yourself that way. If we weren't reduced to our physical forms, what would your body be made of?'
'The fourth metacarpal on your right was snapped under the weight of a man's knee when you were trying desperately to be physically strong and tough in a space where they called you "the girl in the pit" and you hated it so much and all the boys wearing the same fucking hat and shorts swinging and punching the air in this shortsighted vision of masculinity.'
'You are calloused and scarred because there is something about being devoted to physical carelessness that excites you.'
'The parts that have carried me so, so far, that knew instinctively how to sway and sashay in high heels at twenty years old despite a lifetime of being forbidden. The parts that know how to run like the West Coast rain, that have saved me over and over again.'
'they call me female. i call me alien. sometime i growl instead of whimper & they laugh & call me a man they think it's an insult. i think it's a trap. [because i've been told that men with sharp cheekbones can cut more than just opinions] they think calling me an anomaly is an achievement, i think it is f r e e d o m but who cares what i think? dark-skinned, submissive, worn/ torn - i am an instruction manual for abuse a checklist for oppression a how to get lost for dummies book [complete with audio cd] but will you listen to me?'
I would recommend this collection to anyone and everyone who has the slightest interest in it, because honestly I think the writing is fantastic and the personal stories are a gift.
I'd like to end my review with an extract from the Note to Self by Sawyer DeVuyst at the end of the collection.
'When chronic uniqueness, the feeling that I am the only person experiencing a problem or hardship, has threatened to overwhelm me, hearing stories of the human condition have saved me. Hearing stories from other people about how others have treated them, how it made them feel, how they overcame it, or how they sat with those feelings, make me feel less alone. It has created a community of "I see you. I hear you."
This anthology creates a community of "I see you. You see me. I hear you. You hear me. I feel you. You feel me."'
I can relate to this personally through my own experience of community groups which discuss these intimate relationships to our politicised bodies. The act of writing a letter to our body parts, rather than about them, though, is a strikingly powerful and introspective way to deal with these complicated feelings and begin to heal. I'm certain that this anthology will create that sense of community healing for any trans or gender variant person, no matter which stage of their journey they are on.
Thank you to Jessica Kingsley Publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2019
this book is so so important and necessary. these letters are so nourishing, at once full of pain and healing and, sometimes, joy. i have so much gratitude for all the writers, and for lexie bean for editing this anthology. i think everyone should read it!
March 14, 2018
(Huge trigger warnings: sexual violence, rape, domestic abuse, bullying, molestation, dysphoria, negative comments about their own bodies, fatphobia, etc. There are many triggers in this book, please, be careful.)
I have no words to describe how important this book is. I just don't.
This is a compilation of letters written by trans and non-binary survivors of sexual assault and violence. It's pretty starightforward. At first, I thought the concept was a bit odd but after reading the whole thing, I understood perfectly.
When it comes to trans and non-binary people, we sometimes feel like our bodies are not actually ours because everyone has an opinion on them. Everyone has the need to make a comment on them and feel entitled to share what they think with us. Therefore, the fact that this compilation focuses on the body is pretty relevant. On top of that, when someone is a victim of violence, sexual or not, that feeling of not being able to have authority over your own body heightens. I haven't personally gone through anything that resembles sexual assault or domestic violence, but the times I have been bullied in high school left me feeling like that, so I cannot even begin to imagine how the people in this book must have felt.
This is a really important book in many ways because trans people, in general, tend to be big targets of sexual abuse and violence and I haven't read many books that deal with that issue in a realistic way. This book does something that feels very real. Every letter feels incredibly personal and unique. Some of them go into detail, some of them don't. Some of them explain everything in a more figurative way, others are very realistic in their descriptions. Some of them are poems, some of them resemble more traditional letters. The good thing about that is that every person that has contributed to this book has been able to express themselves in their own way without constraints. This definitely sheds some light into how people feel in those situations.
This book also deals with issues of how we see ourselves and how others see us. There are a few letters that talk about fetishists, people who fetish the trans body (whatever that is) and who fetish fat bodies. This is something that I had never read about but I wholly identified with many things that are mentioned regarding fetishes. The thing about fetishes is that the people who have them end up seeing us as just that and not as a whole person. I just believe that this is a topic that should be brought up more often, especially because it can lead to violence because the targets of those fetishes are not seen as a complex human but as a part of who they are.
Discrimination within the LGBT+ community is also mentioned, which is something that doesn't happen that often. There is a quote that really got to me:
Furthermore, the topic of dysphoria is also brought up, which is not surprising since dysphoric feelings are tied to those moments of violence. It's interesting to see how dysphoria changes from one person to another and how the feelings manifest in different ways. I like that all those experiences are mentioned here.
The main thing I felt closest to is the moment when the fat people who contributed to the book talk about their bodies. It felt so real to me. There are a few letters that are love letters to their bodies. Those letters left me with a lot of thoughts about my own body and the way I see it. I have actually got the urge to start writing to my own body parts.
I want to end this with one of my favourite quotes:
I received an e-ARC copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I have no words to describe how important this book is. I just don't.
This is a compilation of letters written by trans and non-binary survivors of sexual assault and violence. It's pretty starightforward. At first, I thought the concept was a bit odd but after reading the whole thing, I understood perfectly.
When it comes to trans and non-binary people, we sometimes feel like our bodies are not actually ours because everyone has an opinion on them. Everyone has the need to make a comment on them and feel entitled to share what they think with us. Therefore, the fact that this compilation focuses on the body is pretty relevant. On top of that, when someone is a victim of violence, sexual or not, that feeling of not being able to have authority over your own body heightens. I haven't personally gone through anything that resembles sexual assault or domestic violence, but the times I have been bullied in high school left me feeling like that, so I cannot even begin to imagine how the people in this book must have felt.
"From the beginning, these men tricked me into thinking that my body was theirs. This book has been a process of writing a future in whick I can address and reclaim what is mine."
This is a really important book in many ways because trans people, in general, tend to be big targets of sexual abuse and violence and I haven't read many books that deal with that issue in a realistic way. This book does something that feels very real. Every letter feels incredibly personal and unique. Some of them go into detail, some of them don't. Some of them explain everything in a more figurative way, others are very realistic in their descriptions. Some of them are poems, some of them resemble more traditional letters. The good thing about that is that every person that has contributed to this book has been able to express themselves in their own way without constraints. This definitely sheds some light into how people feel in those situations.
This book also deals with issues of how we see ourselves and how others see us. There are a few letters that talk about fetishists, people who fetish the trans body (whatever that is) and who fetish fat bodies. This is something that I had never read about but I wholly identified with many things that are mentioned regarding fetishes. The thing about fetishes is that the people who have them end up seeing us as just that and not as a whole person. I just believe that this is a topic that should be brought up more often, especially because it can lead to violence because the targets of those fetishes are not seen as a complex human but as a part of who they are.
Discrimination within the LGBT+ community is also mentioned, which is something that doesn't happen that often. There is a quote that really got to me:
"They say that we are the ones who "trick" or "trap" poor hapless cis men into getting into bed with us. (Never mind that cis men kill and target us for violence at disproportionately high rates.) That we are forcing cis lesbians to accept sex with trans partners they don't want. (Right, because trans women are to blame for the oppression of cisgender lesbians.) That we lurk in public washrooms, just waiting to molest little girls. (The poeple who are most in danger in public washrooms? Trans women.) They say that the very shape of our bodies is "triggering" to other sexual assault survivors (read: cis women), because you are a dangerous weapon and the root of all sexual abuse. Patriarchy means that cis women are identified with blame or victimhood or survival, transmisogyny means that trans girls are identified with violence."
Furthermore, the topic of dysphoria is also brought up, which is not surprising since dysphoric feelings are tied to those moments of violence. It's interesting to see how dysphoria changes from one person to another and how the feelings manifest in different ways. I like that all those experiences are mentioned here.
The main thing I felt closest to is the moment when the fat people who contributed to the book talk about their bodies. It felt so real to me. There are a few letters that are love letters to their bodies. Those letters left me with a lot of thoughts about my own body and the way I see it. I have actually got the urge to start writing to my own body parts.
I want to end this with one of my favourite quotes:
"Dear belly, you don't fit. Dear belly, you have never fit. Into clothes my mother bought me that I wasn't allowed to choose, stares in the locker room, or rapists' boys expectations. I was never allowed this body as it is. This body has never belonged to me. Dear belly, you belong. Dear belly, I think I do love you. I think so. Dear belly, I will tell them to kiss you. To get tangled in your mess of hair. To be so sweet with you. I will be sweet with you. I will tell them they can't be scared of you. I want to be less scared of you. I want to be less scared."
I received an e-ARC copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
January 14, 2019
As a victimologist one of the most important parts of my job is to listen to stories. Reading them is also a way to listen. This book was a way for me to listen. Thank you to those who shared pieces of their journey with the world.
April 27, 2018
As a nonbinary person who has experienced intimate partner violence from someone who was not accepting of my gender variance, this was a hard but necessary book to read. The term "chronic uniqueness" comes up in one of the letters, and knowing that there's a community of folks who have experienced what I did is a liberating feeling.
August 14, 2022
Short and powerful, I would recommend waiting until you are in a safe place before reading this book, or perhaps taking it a letter at a time, because it is extremely upsetting, as you might think would be obvious from the title. Despite the intense content and definite need for potential readers to bear a multitude of content warnings in mind, I think this book offers important voices and essential comfort to trans and non-binary survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Mostly a series of letters to different body parts by the contributors, the book contains some beautiful lines that I'm sure will speak to many readers. It made me want to start my own series of letters; made me want to hurt myself; made me cry; made me want to feel hopeful. Don't read it without adequate emotional support from a loved one or therapist.
May 13, 2021
So beautifully and expertly written. It’s raw, emotional, and truly one of the most authentic published works around queerness and trauma.
They are so many diverse experiences in this book, each one with its own insightful messages. When i connected with a letter i felt truly pulled in and engaged, heard, seen and felt by the author. On pieces that did not match my identity or experience, i felt equally engaged and honored to be allowed into the world of another.
I took my time reading this book, and recommend you do the same. Same days i devoured the pages and others i stepped away, needing time to care for myself, but i always came back to it. Truly an honor to read these stories. It was wonderful
They are so many diverse experiences in this book, each one with its own insightful messages. When i connected with a letter i felt truly pulled in and engaged, heard, seen and felt by the author. On pieces that did not match my identity or experience, i felt equally engaged and honored to be allowed into the world of another.
I took my time reading this book, and recommend you do the same. Same days i devoured the pages and others i stepped away, needing time to care for myself, but i always came back to it. Truly an honor to read these stories. It was wonderful
August 4, 2018
Purchased earlier today at a conference on Trans Wellness, after the book was recommended during a session on IPV in TGNC communities. I finished it in the same day, but it's something that I would like to re-read at a later time. As a cisgender, heterosexual woman, I am aware that my privilege and lived experience is very different than the writers of this anthology. I'm glad that it was written and that I have read it. This is filled with trauma narratives and resilience narratives that are rarely lifted up within the realm of work on domestic violence and sexual assault and that should be challenged and changed. These are deeply important essays and poems.
May 2, 2022
Written on the Body: Letters from Trans and Non-Binary Survivors of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence edited by Lexie Bean
I read this as a piece of research for my job and I think it was really moving. The book is comprised of anonymous testimonials in the form of letters and poems written by survivors, as the title aptly captures lol. This is one of the only books I’ve come across that pulls directly from the community and individual survivors. I got a lot of insight from this and think it’s well worth the read.
5/5⭐️
I read this as a piece of research for my job and I think it was really moving. The book is comprised of anonymous testimonials in the form of letters and poems written by survivors, as the title aptly captures lol. This is one of the only books I’ve come across that pulls directly from the community and individual survivors. I got a lot of insight from this and think it’s well worth the read.
5/5⭐️
February 26, 2023
Me ha gustado mucho. En ocasiones se me ha hecho algo largo, me hubiese gustado algún ensayo más narrado pero entiendo que esa no era la intención del libro. Es un retrato brutal sobre las violencias ejercidas en personas trans* y no binarias y el impacto que esto deja en sus cuerpos. Me ha removido a cada página y me ha permitido escuchar en silencio, revisando mis privilegios y también las experiencias compartidas.
Read
December 25, 2023This is another book that I'm not giving a rating to because it was a personal experience story. It's not about how well it is written or what I think should or should not have happened. This is a real lived experience that I have no experience in living. It was strictly educational for me. If you have any interest as a Cisgendered person in learning or hearing stories outside your comfort zone, add this to your immediate reading pile.
September 7, 2024
This book is definitely one to take your time reading. Many trigger warnings including violence, sexual assault, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and gender dysphoria. Each letter and story was full of vulnerability and a wanting to be heard. Not everyone has a “happy” story or came to love, or like, the part of their body which they addressed their letter to. It was real, raw, and most importantly relatable as most stories of Queer individuals tend to be (sometimes unfortunately).
March 18, 2018
I received a netgalley of this through netgalley
tw for rape, sexual assault, self harm, eating disorders and domestic violence
This was a very impactfull collection. Don't let my star rating fool you for that. I was just very confused by how this collection was constructed for like half of this book and that took away from all the rest.
tw for rape, sexual assault, self harm, eating disorders and domestic violence
This was a very impactfull collection. Don't let my star rating fool you for that. I was just very confused by how this collection was constructed for like half of this book and that took away from all the rest.
September 4, 2018
The generosity of the individuals willing to let the reader take an intimate look at their healing is astounding. When I picked this book up, I wanted it to be healing for me in a way that it wasn't, but that's ok, it opens up space for healing, and some voices connect with me an some don't, and that's ok too. I'm really really glad this book exists.
Read
January 1, 2023I never rate non-fiction but if I did this would probably be a five star contender.
This may have taken 9 months to read but I am so glad I finished it out. An incredible but visceral and upsetting reading experience.
This may have taken 9 months to read but I am so glad I finished it out. An incredible but visceral and upsetting reading experience.
July 2, 2018
I'm a little confused because some of the letters were not about sexual assault/domestic violence.
August 25, 2019
this was good. needed it.
September 13, 2021
A beautiful ode to bodies of survivors reclaiming their identities after sexual assault. Triggering at times but powerful and necessary
October 26, 2021
Essential stories often missing from the dominant narrative on intimate violence. Must-read for everyone working in the field.
June 11, 2022
Definitely take those trigger warnings seriously. But such such an important book. It’s quick, unless you need to take your time to recover. It hurts and it heals.
July 7, 2023
Powerful book and a great resource for clinicians and those with lived experience.
August 21, 2025
Written by trans survivors, this anthology celebrates the inner journey of reclaiming one’s body in a culture of violence. The intimacy of these letters moved me to tears and gave me the courage to heal out loud.
March 23, 2018
I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley in return for review consideration.
Please note that this book contains graphic language and mention and discussion of sexual assault and domestic violence.
This is an incredibly difficult book to read. All the letters are intense, full of private feelings and thoughts, and retellings of awful experiences. But it's also a very humbling book, reading about the things people have gone through and how they have worked through them. This definitely isn't a book that believes there are easy answers or solutions to dealing with pain, but it does show that there are ways to get through and find something positive on the other side.
As with any collection or anthology containing works by different people, I preferred some letters to others. However, there were none that I disliked, and I felt that overall, the book felt coherent and well-structured, which again isn't always the case with an anthology. My favourite section was one entitled 'Dear Brain', in which the letter writer talks about their realisation that if their brain has been changed through their traumatic experiences, then they can also change it, and that they do so through the positive thoughts and experiences they have.
As I said before, this is not an easy book to read, but it is a necessary one for those who want to hear from people who are so often pushed to the margins in our society.
You can check out my full review of this book at Books at the End of the Alphabet
Please note that this book contains graphic language and mention and discussion of sexual assault and domestic violence.
This is an incredibly difficult book to read. All the letters are intense, full of private feelings and thoughts, and retellings of awful experiences. But it's also a very humbling book, reading about the things people have gone through and how they have worked through them. This definitely isn't a book that believes there are easy answers or solutions to dealing with pain, but it does show that there are ways to get through and find something positive on the other side.
As with any collection or anthology containing works by different people, I preferred some letters to others. However, there were none that I disliked, and I felt that overall, the book felt coherent and well-structured, which again isn't always the case with an anthology. My favourite section was one entitled 'Dear Brain', in which the letter writer talks about their realisation that if their brain has been changed through their traumatic experiences, then they can also change it, and that they do so through the positive thoughts and experiences they have.
As I said before, this is not an easy book to read, but it is a necessary one for those who want to hear from people who are so often pushed to the margins in our society.
You can check out my full review of this book at Books at the End of the Alphabet
March 19, 2021
Trigger warnings:
Please express self-care and emotional support while reading this book.
This book is something else.
This is a collection of letters, addressed to their own bodies, from trans and non-binary survivors of violence and assault. Weaving together narratives of gender, identity, and abuse this book tells many stories that deserve to be heard.
I want to start with complete transparency.
I do not personally identify as trans nor non-binary. While I do have personal experience with sexual assault this is not an ownvoices review. This book is not mine to relate to and everything I say about this book is said with the utmost respect for all the contributors and anyone who claims this book as part of their story.
If anyone knows of any ownvoice reviews of this book, please let me know. I would love to link them, as their thoughts are incredibly important to this story.
This collection of letters is raw and painful and truthful.
I feel wildly privileged to be allowed to read stories that are filled with such incredible wrongdoings on people who were then so courageous as to share their journey, their thoughts, and their emotions.
Sometimes it's poetic, sometimes it's angry, sometimes it's uplifting and hopeful. It contains prose and rhyme and free verse and essay-style writing. These letters are stories of trauma, but also of self-awareness and healing. Of journeys so unique to the individual that despite being granted the honour to look in on the story, only those who have walked in those shoes will ever fully comprehend.
All of it is heartbreaking and raw. But this book is one full of stories that deserve to be told and listened to. It is complicated and powerful.
Please express self-care and emotional support while reading this book.
This book is something else.
This is a collection of letters, addressed to their own bodies, from trans and non-binary survivors of violence and assault. Weaving together narratives of gender, identity, and abuse this book tells many stories that deserve to be heard.
"to my blood vessels carrying electric signals like a radio switcher
you let me feel everything.
for that i can't help but hate you."
I want to start with complete transparency.
I do not personally identify as trans nor non-binary. While I do have personal experience with sexual assault this is not an ownvoices review. This book is not mine to relate to and everything I say about this book is said with the utmost respect for all the contributors and anyone who claims this book as part of their story.
If anyone knows of any ownvoice reviews of this book, please let me know. I would love to link them, as their thoughts are incredibly important to this story.
"to my breath i am sorry i lost you. come back."
This collection of letters is raw and painful and truthful.
I feel wildly privileged to be allowed to read stories that are filled with such incredible wrongdoings on people who were then so courageous as to share their journey, their thoughts, and their emotions.
Sometimes it's poetic, sometimes it's angry, sometimes it's uplifting and hopeful. It contains prose and rhyme and free verse and essay-style writing. These letters are stories of trauma, but also of self-awareness and healing. Of journeys so unique to the individual that despite being granted the honour to look in on the story, only those who have walked in those shoes will ever fully comprehend.
"We survive by having brilliant bodies that hold, hide, express, contain, freeze, abandon, act out, and restrain."
All of it is heartbreaking and raw. But this book is one full of stories that deserve to be told and listened to. It is complicated and powerful.
Note: Review copy received via NetGalley. This does not impact opinions within this review.
blog • trigger warning database • more links
Happy reading! ❤
October 16, 2018
Please be aware that I received this book from the publisher in the hope of an honest review. Written on the Body is in the form of letters to various parts of the physical torso. They look at the authors' ambiguous relationships with various aspects of their physicality. Some authors explore the effects of physical, and sexual violence, on their feelings towards the chosen body part. While others, discuss what happens when a body part feels wrong or uncomfortable. They discuss their struggles to come to terms with a body that feels at odds with their perceived identity. These letters are moving and insightful. They are a must read for anyone; undergoing transition, anyone who is thinking of undergoing the process, those who identify as transgender/queer, or anybody who simply wishes to get a glimpse into the experiences of queer/transgender individuals.
December 17, 2022
Very important book highlighting voices of queer survivors. Should definitely be approached with caution, as the content is clearly very heavy and potentially triggering.
This includes a variety of letters written by folks to their bodies, and cover a range of experiences, but all under the theme of violence. The writing is raw and honest, conveying the authors' pain and complex relationships with their bodies, and I think captures really well the reality of living with the intersecting identities of being queer and a SA survivor.
This includes a variety of letters written by folks to their bodies, and cover a range of experiences, but all under the theme of violence. The writing is raw and honest, conveying the authors' pain and complex relationships with their bodies, and I think captures really well the reality of living with the intersecting identities of being queer and a SA survivor.
December 31, 2017
This book is written in a different style - it is a collection of letters from Transgender and Non-Binary people. They write letters to help others and to work through their sexual assault and/or domestic violence. Sadly there is still not enough awareness for this group and sexual assault or violence towards Trans people happens too many times and gets no attention by the media. This book is a real eye opener and hard to read during some parts. All letters are written by different authors and have different writing styles.
July 29, 2018
I just want to personally thank NetGalley for giving me the chance to read an advance copy of this book, I apologize that the review is late.
Unfortunately I didn't have time to read the book fully through, so I cannot give an honest review on the whole thing but I hope to buy my own physical copy in the future because I've heard great things about this book and still would love to read it fully
Unfortunately I didn't have time to read the book fully through, so I cannot give an honest review on the whole thing but I hope to buy my own physical copy in the future because I've heard great things about this book and still would love to read it fully
Read
January 22, 2019306.768 W9569 2018
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews