Geri: A Post-Pandemic LGBTQ+ Novel About Something

by Paul Lima

Geri, a talented but unknown non-binary stand-up comedian and carpenter, navigates their LGBTQ+ life in the city with three LGBTQ+ roommates. The novel is, in some ways, a parody of the heterosexual series, Seinfeld, but it is its own story. Main Characters Geri a non-binary stand up comedian and carpenter who lives in a house flat with three LGBTQ+ friends Ellie Geri's former lesbian lover and aspiring playwright who works part-time in the box office of the Rainbow Theatre Jorge a constantly employed and then unemployed gay person of color looking for love through a dating website Krystal a wacky yet outspoken trans gender person who has not yet made the transition. Geri and Ellie love each other, but since their break up they bicker over aspects of life and act as if they don't miss what was once a strong physical relationship. Jorge is frequently unemployed and trying to establish a new relationship through a dating website. Krystal is wacky but has a serious side; she has come to a trans gender conclusion but has trouble walking in heels even though she likes to dress to nines.

120 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2020

About the author

Paul Lima has worked as a professional writer since 1980. In 1993, he started a freelance writing business and has covered technology and business issues for the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, Profit, Time Canada, CBC.ca, and many other periodicals and websites. For corporate clients, Paul writes case studies, media releases and promotional copy and conducts business writing and media interview preparation training seminars. He also conducts freelance writing and business writing e-courses.

Reviews

[Tabitha Ormiston-Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book addresses several important social issues around being transgender in a quite novel way. The didactic content is encapsulated in the routines of a stand-up comedian, and these scenes are interspersed with vignettes showing the lives of several friends, one of whom is actually transgender and one who is non-binary. Important points are made throughout, and the book is a good one for anyone wishing to educate himself about these issues.
I did find the use of pronouns in the work a little confusing. Although feminine pronouns were used throughout for the trans woman, masculine pronouns were only occasionally used for the trans man, with the plural pronouns being mostly used for him, and I found this rather unequal and could not help wondering if there were some personal issues making the author less comfortable with the notion of a trans man than of a trans woman. The substitution of plural pronouns was awkward and, I feel, did nothing to support the work and could have been better avoided. Overall, though, a good read although I thought more use could have been made of point of view.