TransSister Radio, Chris Bohjalian
TransSister Radio, Chris Bohjalian
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Trans-Sister Radio

Author: Chris Bohjalian

Narrator: Elizabeth Kim

Abridged: 5 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/05/2000


Synopsis

Four people in a small Vermont village are about to have their lives inexorably intertwined by the uncertainties of love . . . and the apparent absolutes of gender.        

Schoolteacher Allison Banks, the long-divorced mother of a teenager on the cusp of college, has at last fallen in love. The object of her desire? Dana Stevens, a professor at the nearby university and her instructor for a summer film and literature course. Her daughter, Carly, watches with pleasure her mother's newfound happiness, but her ex-husband, Will, the president of Vermont Public Radio, is jealous. Still secretly in love with his ex-wife, he finds himself increasingly unsettled by the prospect of Allison's attachment to another man.

Yet Dana is unlike anyone Allison has ever been with: attentive, gentle, kind -- and an exceptionally ardent lover. Moreover, it's clear that Dana cares just as deeply for Allison. The only stumbling block? Dana has known always that in actuality he is a woman -- genitalia, plumbing, and perceptions be damned -- and he will soon be having a sex change operation.

At first Allison runs, but overwhelmed by the depth of her passions, she returns. But can the pair's love transcend both the biologic imperatives that are their bodies, as well as their ingrained notions of sexual preference? Moreover, can their love survive the outrage of the small community in which they live?

All four characters -- Allison, Dana, Carly, and Will -- narrate this compelling story, spinning a tale that will keep you turning the pages with the eagerness we usually reserve for thrillers, while nodding in wonder at such a deeply moving and profoundly honest portrayal of longing, love, and desire.

About The Author

CHRIS BOHJALIAN is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-three books, including Hour of the Witch, The Red Lotus, Midwives, and The Flight Attendant, which has been made into an HBO Max limited series starring Kaley Cuoco. His other books include The Guest Room; Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands; The Sandcastle Girls; Skeletons at the Feast; and The Double Bind. His novels Secrets of Eden, Midwives, and Past the Bleachers were made into movies, and his work has been translated into more than thirty-five languages. He is also a playwright (Wingspan and Midwives). He lives in Vermont and can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Litsy, and Goodreads, @chrisbohjalian


Reviews

Goodreads review by Anne on October 19, 2012

I think what a lot of people forget is that when this book came out only sleazy talk show hosts we're talking about transgender and even then, it was only for shock factor. I found it refreshing to hear about the process happens and I have met the author and spoke at length about this extensive rese......more

Goodreads review by Mackenzie on June 22, 2011

Bohjalian tried, he really really did. Over all, this was a decent book. For anyone seeking a better, safe understanding of gender and concerns of transgender individuals with a fairly interesting story line and likeable characters, it is a good choice. However, for those with an understanding of wh......more

Goodreads review by Howard on July 04, 2020

4 Stars for Trans-Sister Radio (ebook) by Chris Bohjalian. I didn’t realize that this book was 18 years old till I was about done with it. It must have been ground breaking back in 2002. I think it was an interesting approach to tell the story from so many perspectives. That really highlighted how e......more

Goodreads review by Stacey on July 12, 2015

I get the feeling that Bohjalian had the title in mind before writing this book. It's so perfect! A smooth read and a really interesting take on the meaning of gender in our modern world. Another great book on transexuals is The Danish Girl by the great David Ebershoff, which was published the same......more

Goodreads review by Kate on October 07, 2017

Chris Bohjalian is one of my favorite authors. His books are smart and interesting and I have attended several author events with him. He is generous with his readers and has called into my book club twice to discuss his work. This book was on my TBR pile for a long while and I picked it up for Bann......more


Quotes

“Inspired…. [a] highly original novel…. Impossible to put down.” —USA Today

Trans-Sister Radio…bears Bohjalian’s hallmark: ordinary people in heartbreaking circumstances behaving with grace and dignity…. Speaks directly to the heart.” —San Francisco Chronicle

“Bohjalian has … written an interesting [and] ultimately, a quite daring novel, and a worthy successor to Midwives. Like that novel, Trans-Sister Radio challenges readers’ most dearly held notions of biological reality.” —Philadelphia Inquirer

“An insightful look at love and sexuality … with great compassion and insight.” —Los Angeles Times

“A though-provoking tale with a rich, varied texture…. [An] addictive read.” —The Denver Post