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Paul Takes the Form of A Mortal Girl

By Andrea Lawlor
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Check link for latest rating. ( 15,611 ratings, 2,733 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor follows Paul, a shape-shifter in the 1990s queer scene, who can transform his physical form at will. This talent allows him to explore various identities and communities, navigating a journey of self-discovery, desire, and personal transformation. The book immerses readers in the vibrant subcultures of the era while exploring themes of identity and love.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are intrigued by stories exploring identity and transformation, blending humour and introspection. Set in the '90s, it follows a shape-shifting protagonist experiencing the queer and alternative communities, offering a fresh take on self-discovery and fluidity.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Transposing Virginia Woolf's Orlando to 90s San Francisco, this novel of transgender metamorphosis is a wild, sexy, funny and moving story of living on the edge.

Transposing Virginia Woolf's Orlando to 90s San Francisco, this novel of transgender metamorphosis is a wild, sexy, funny and moving story of living on the edge.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
It's 1993 and Paul Polydoris tends bar at the only gay club in a university town thrumming with politics and partying. He studies queer theory, has a dyke best friend, makes zines, and is a flâneur with a rich dating life. But Paul's also got a secret: he's a shapeshifter. Oscillating wildly from Riot Grrrl to leather cub, Women's Studies major to trade, Paul transforms his body at will in a series of adventures that take him from Iowa City to Boystown to Provincetown and finally to San Francisco - a journey through the deep queer archives of struggle and pleasure. Andrea Lawlor's debut novel offers a speculative history of early 90s identity politics during the heyday of ACT UP and Queer Nation. Paul Takes the Form of A Mortal Girl is a riotous, razor-sharp bildungsroman whose hero/ine wends his way through a world gutted by loss, pulsing with music, and opening into an array of intimacy and connections.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Andrea Lawlor's Paul Takes the Form of A Mortal Girl is celebrated for its playful, sexy, and witty exploration of gender fluidity and queer theory. Critics praise its unique storytelling, smart writing, and humorous approach, making it both an evocative and urgent read that transcends LGBT boundaries. With compelling references to pop culture and subcultural nuances, it's described as a joyous, ever-changing novel that defies traditional categorisation within trans literature.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529007671

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 22 February 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Picador

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 232g

Pages: 352

Collections

Andrea Lawlor Fiction General Fiction LGBTQ+ Literary Fiction Pop Culture: Best-Selling Books

About the Author

Andrea Lawlor lives in Western Massachusetts and teaches writing at Mount Holyoke College. Lawlor is a fiction editor for Fence and the author of a chapbook, Position Papers (Factory Hollow Press, 2016).

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