Five reasons to read "Frighten the Horses" with me this month.

Oliver Radclyffe joins the Being Alive Book Club on Wed, May 28th to discuss his memoir.

Hello, May!

Writing to you from a very dreary Los Angeles where, despite the weather, I am celebrating mine and my brother’s birthdays with an epic diva double header weekend—Kylie AND Beyoncé! This has nothing to do with reading, or trans-ing, but it is fun. And definitely gay. All of which I/we need now and forever.

Hot off the heels of editing down our book club hang with Torrey Peters (ICYMI: read here), popping in your inbox one more time this weekend to entice you to read Oliver Radcylffe’s memoir Frighten the Horses with me and the Being Alive Book Club this month.

Here’s why:

1. Oliver is an incredible writer. I devoured Oliver’s first book, Adult Human Male, and have quoted it frequently in this newsletter. I love this line so much, I put it on my about page, and reprint often:
   
   The frustrating by-product of using invisibility as a survival tactic is that we leave little trace of ourselves for other people to find, which adds to the mistaken belief that we’re a relatively new and rare phenomenon.
   — Oliver Radclyffe in Adult Human Male

2. Roxane Gay has good taste! She picked Frighten the Horses to launch her new imprint Roxane Gay Books. FTH also has great blurby endorsements and a starred review from Kirkus. It’s a great read!

3. Oliver is our first author with children. For me, deciding to have a child forced me to finally transition. Oliver’s story is very different—he didn’t transition until after giving birth to his four children. I’m looking forward to talking to him about trans fatherhood.

4. Oliver is also our first Brit and brings a transatlantic perspective on the trans experience.

5. We’re not supposed to judge books by covers, but COME ON, look at that gorgeous Oliver Jeffers moto cover! An act of true wish fulfillment for any parent who spent years reading Jeffers’ picture books to their kids and dreaming one day they’d have a book of their own, with enviable artwork.

Meeting Oliver IRL at his book launch last fall was a real treat. I can say from experience that he is as charming in person as he comes across on the page. (Maybe, more so? Is that even possible?)

Oliver Radclyffe reading from his memoir at Housing Works Bookstore, September 2024—supported by the legendary writer/activist/performer Kate Bornstein and historian Hugh Ryan. Then, indulging me with a selfie.

Oliver will join us live on Zoom on Wednesday, May 28th for our monthly Being Alive Book Club gathering. If you are new to these meetups, we start with ~20 minutes of conversation between me and the guest before opening up to group conversation. Some people are camera on and jump into the mix, others stay camera off and just listen. All are welcome. Click the button below to RSVP.

📬️ ✨📘

Also ‼️ Oliver offered to mail a personalized copy of Frighten the Horses to one Being Alive Book Club reader. Drop a comment to put your name in the hat, I’ll draw a name later this week.

BABC is open to ALL— there are many ways to participate, none of which absolutely require reading the book.

• Option A: Read alongside me by reading this newsletter and enjoying Oliver’s book in the format of your choosing.

• Opt B: Discuss with other readers in the Being Alive Book Club chat.

• Opt C: Meet Oliver! Live! Online! See registration link above.

More questions? New here? Check out the Being Alive Book Club FAQ!

Thank you for reading with me and supporting trans writers,

xx Kyle

P.S.

Oliver Radclyffe

is also publishing new work regularly Substack!