John Boyne's new book 'My brother's name is Jessica'.

53 reviews on Goodreads to date, average 3 stars. Lots and lots of one stars from people who haven't read the book.
www.goodreads.com/book/show/41433621-my-brother-s-name-is-jessica?ac=1&from_search=true

Oh this is veeeery interesting!

Potential to peak a whole load of very woke folk, I reckon. Publishing is stuffed full of them, and it's not like John Boyne, his publishers or his literary agency are inexperienced.

And they will have had it sensitivity read, of course, and no one will have objected to it. So the backlash is pretty interesting ... because now it is not just to the fact that he objected to 'cis', but they are calling him out on the whole work and the daring-to-imagine thing.

There will be some conflicted people who are scratching their heads about it. Excellent.

It's very ironic.

When asked to explain how the words of JB were harmful, a member of the community says to just accept the words of the community as true.

However they then have no answer when asked why they too do not respect the voices of women who ask that some spaces are kept to women only safe spaces. They have no thought that certain communities of women who have been harmed are being completely ignored and told their suffering and potential harm do not matter.

Yes, funny how the T in LGBT demands perfect allyship according to their terms from LGB folks and feminists but I never see trans activists standing up for LGB folks or women’s reproductive rights. It’s almost as if the movement is one driven by rampant narcissism and - dare I say it? - male entitlement.

But yes, John, you’re right. I’m sure they are in fact decent, kind people and will be speaking up for your right to free speech any day now...

“One review on Amazon. I tried to leave another but it won't let me as not released yet. How has the TA got round that ?”

The review is on the American site: amazon.com. It’s linked to the UK site though, personally, I don’t think it should be.
The review itself is a complete abuse of the feedback system.

I just bought The Heart's Invisible Furies after reading some amazing reviews.

It's really very good. It's long, but it reads very quickly and it's really engaging.

Also A Ladder to the Sky. Also great.

The male author's ego versus TRA narcissism. Who's going to win out?

I just bought The Heart's Invisible Furies after reading some amazing reviews.

Now I really hope John sticks to his guns and doesn't do a showtrial-style recantation.

But where WAS this supportive trans community? Where are all the transwomen saying it's fine not to call yourself cis?

He will have "cis man" branded on his head at the very least.

John Boyne quote from the Independent “For the record, I do not believe that the trans community bears any relationship to, or any responsibility for, the actions of online trolls."

Well, glory be. Too late John boy. You've burned your boats now, well and truly.

Come and join the grown ups, there's no going back once you upset the world's most important less than 1% you know.

Looks like his latest career move may have backfired somewhat.

We all know how this has to end. John will be picking out wigs by next week.

I am rolling my eyes so hard at that 'review'.

One review on Amazon. I tried to leave another but it won't let me as not released yet. How has the TA got round that ?

Article in The Independent now as well: www.independent.co.uk/life-style/john-boyne-twitter-trans-novel-jessica-cis-controversy-a8872766.html

Love The Wasp Factory.

And loathe

Indeed Rufus, it really is too confusing...

Exactly terry

I though that was what we were going on now

Its a shame the picture is black and white....otherwise you might be able to glean the answer depending on the colours worn

Hmmmm I see what you mean Rufus, not even some hoop earrings or a shiny gold lame pocket book to help us out...

I’m wondering if some of the climate protesters may take a break in their protesting up the road and mosey over for a trans protest. It looked like they may be some crossover when I wandered by this morning.

Is anyone close to that waterstones and could pop in tomorrow?

Might be interesting

he’s so desperate to cling on to his warm fuzzies

What other choice does he have now? Because the other option is to say, "Yes, women - these are the people I think should have unfettered access to all your private spaces. Yes, parents - these are the people I think should command both the education and the healthcare of your children."

We see you, John. And we see the choice you've made.

Oh John. Now you are in the national newspaper calling your trans twitter detractors trolls. They are not going to like that at all. They are all 100% right and you are completely wrong but instead of begging for their forgiveness you have called them trolls.

This is getting funnier by the moment.

By the way, this is one of the organisations with whom John Boyne worked when researching his book. No wonder he was so confused by its reception...