Published: April 08, 2011
Words: 80,523 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781458055606

Short description

Refuse is the story of a 22 year old female-to-male-transsexual named Dean and his would-be love affair with his college roommate, another trans man with a girlfriend and a successful indie rock band. It is an autobiographical novel and fictional memoir with many references to classic literature and the English alternative rock band The Smiths.

Extended description

Refuse is the story of a 22 year old female-to-male-transsexual named Dean and his would-be love affair with his college roommate, another trans man with a girlfriend and a successful indie rock band. It is an autobiographical novel and fictional memoir with many references to classic literature and the English alternative rock band The Smiths.

“Elliott DeLine is an ambitious, witty, self-deprecating, thoughtful writer whose debut novel Refuse could meaningfully be compared to the work of Dennis Cooper (with far less violence), Brett Easton Ellis (with far fewer chemical substances), David Sedaris (with not as many belly laughs) and Leslie Feinberg (with a much less mournful air). Conversant with the queer coming-of-age narrative, the disaffected-youth novel and the transgender memoir—as well as the feminist and gender theory that each of these literary genres has inspired—DeLine pushes back against the familiar, and safe, conventions of these sources to produce a captivating .. (Read more) Refuse is the story of a 22 year old female-to-male-transsexual named Dean and his would-be love affair with his college roommate, another trans man with a girlfriend and a successful indie rock band. It is an autobiographical novel and fictional memoir with many references to classic literature and the English alternative rock band The Smiths.

“Elliott DeLine is an ambitious, witty, self-deprecating, thoughtful writer whose debut novel Refuse could meaningfully be compared to the work of Dennis Cooper (with far less violence), Brett Easton Ellis (with far fewer chemical substances), David Sedaris (with not as many belly laughs) and Leslie Feinberg (with a much less mournful air). Conversant with the queer coming-of-age narrative, the disaffected-youth novel and the transgender memoir—as well as the feminist and gender theory that each of these literary genres has inspired—DeLine pushes back against the familiar, and safe, conventions of these sources to produce a captivating story populated by fully rendered, completely believable characters who, while not always likable, and never the objects of pity, somehow manage to make an affective claim on the reader. With this as his debut effort, DeLine, not yet out of college, is a writer to watch.”

-'Out in Print' Queer Book Reviews

"Refuse is a stunning debut “novoir” about an over-observant young outsider with really great hair who is outside everything – including the transgender community – but keeps a great deal bottled up inside. Funny, cynical, tough, vulnerable, honest, deluded, sagacious, self-loving and self-loathing, Refuse is irresistible."

-Mark Simpson, author of Saint Morrissey

"Fascinated and disturbed by it...Edgy may be an understatement...the frustration, humor, and sarcasm rolled together equal an honest form of writing..."

-Staff Reviewer, EZRead eBookstore

"I couldn't put it down. As a Morrissey fan, it was excellent deciphering all the references. But it was way more than just that. There was so much that was daring, honest and absolutely liberating to see in print... For me, 'Refuse' was on the same level as (Patti Smith's) 'Horses', (Oscar Wilde's) 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', and (The Smiths') 'Louder Than Bombs'... Each one of these told the truth and therefore seemed exceptionally, almost unnaturally, personal."

-Aemon Galatea, painter

Follow Refuse: www.facebook.com/politelyRefuse

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Tags

gay, depression, suicide, lgbt, queer, sex, satire, queer lit, transgendered, genderqueer, gender bending, transgender, transsexual, mens secrets, lgbt youth, gay mens fiction, freaks, transsexualism, gay literature, trans, indie rock, gay shapeshifter romance, gay adolescents, james dean, transsexual students, satirical fiction, transgender sex, sex and sexuality, gender switch adventure, lgbt paranomal lgbt shapeshifter, indie musician, suburban noir, existential angst, gay catholic, college graduate destiny, lgbt fiction, queer literature, the smiths, sex makes people stupid, gender confusion, satirical novel, transgender reassignment surgery transsexual mtf ftm prejudice, transgender youth, sexual depression, gender identity, wilde, wilde gay, lgbt romance, sexy vampires, indie books, men studies, lgbt studies, queer fiction, trans gender, lgbtq, satirical humour, morrissey, ftm, literature art suburbia, transman, transgender fiction, ftm fiction, ftm novel, transgender literature, transgender novel

Available ebook reading formats

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Epub (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others)	Buy	Download sample
PDF (good for reading on PC, or for home printing)	Buy	No sample available
RTF (readable on most word processors)	Buy	No sample available
LRF (Use only for older model Sony Readers that don't support .epub)	Buy	Download sample
Palm Doc (PDB) (for Palm reading devices)	Buy	Download sample
Plain Text (download) (flexible, but lacks much formatting)	Buy	No sample available
Plain Text (view) (viewable as web page)	Buy	No sample available

Reviews

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Review by: Quiet Riot Girl on Nov. 29, 2011 :
Titles are hard and Refuse is a brilliant title!

I was completely immersed in the life of the lead character from the start of the story. The prose reminded me of Quentin Crisp, particularly the searing honesty and grim humour.

Despite the dark theme of a turbulent coming of age, there were also some laugh out loud moments of funniness.

My favourite scene - without giving too much away - was the trans support group and the appearance by the elusive figure of 'Hunter'.

A brilliant debut. More please!
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by: Alex Marshall on Oct. 01, 2011 :
I loved this book. It's wonderful. I don't really have anything else to say about it, but I would definitely recommend it to ftms, non-binaries, loners, and anyone who wants to know more about an ftm perspective.
Heartbreaking, beautiful and relatable. What else could you want in a book?
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: skcup on Sep. 28, 2011 :
I read this book because I wanted to find an ftm narrative that expressed some of my experience (feeling out of place in many ftm spaces, identifying as gay ftm) but, unfortunately, I would not recommend this story. It was sort of painful to read - the author's sadness was palpable but the stereotyped characters and maudlin/melodramatic plot twists were just too over the top for me. I think it worth noting the commitment required to finish a novel of any quality but I hope maturity and perspective (and perhaps a good dose of healing and self-love) will really improve this writer's ability and style.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Nate Russell on Sep. 15, 2011 :
This was a great read. It was insightful and funny as well as thought provoking and sad. It is not just another trans memoir, it is a truly engaging story, a wonderful addition to the trans library. Actually, it has a broader appeal than that, it is a worthy addition to any library!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Blake Haley on Aug. 26, 2011 : (no rating)
Really related to this story. My favorite part was probably the amount of peter pan references. It was very difficult to put down, even though I was reading it during work, so I had to put it down frequently :(
I loved it and recommended it to all of my friends.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Lissa on Aug. 13, 2011 :
I knew by the end of the first page that I was going to fall in love with this story. After about an hour of reading I'd started to get a headache from staring at the computer screen, but I just kept going until I was through. The characters continued to surprise me until the end as I smiled, laughed, and cried along with Dean's experiences. Through the tragedy, anger, and cynicism, DeLine gives us a very real story about love, growth, and redemption for ourselves and others. Have a feeling that I will (print it out and) read it again!
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by: igor repute on Aug. 09, 2011 :
great
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: Sam Cathartes on Aug. 07, 2011 :
A beautiful book. I wish I could write a more poetic review to try and give it justice, but the best I can say is, it really helped me as a trans-man still figuring myself out, and is compelling, thought-provoking, and entertaining as well. A taste of chaotic truth, and good medicine.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: D Ren on May 02, 2011 :
-
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by: Rusty Shackleford on May 01, 2011 :
This is one of the few books I return to again and again. Genius.
(reviewed the day of purchase)

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