REVIEW: Stone Butch Blues, by Leslie Feinberg

Stone Butch Blues

Leslie Feinberg, 1993

*Content warning: mention of rape

I use she/they pronouns, as 'she' is the used pronoun of the novel for the character of Jess.

Stone Butch Blues is a must-read for any member of the LGBTQIA+ community, or anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of our issues. The novel is particularly relevant today, as it explores identifying and living in the liminal space between male and female. The majority of the novel takes place before the term non-binary was coined, and as such, there is a distinct feeling of limitless possibility and freedom as Jess journeys through the seemingly unexplored space of gender nonconformity. The 1970s were an interesting time for butches, as the LGBTQ community was beginning to fight for acceptance and decriminalisation. Meanwhile, the lesbian community was changing: butch/femme culture was brought into question, and lesbians took many different approaches to gaining societal acceptance after Stonewall in 1969.

The story centres around Jess, who begins her journey as a butch lesbian finding her feet in Buffalo, New York, in the late 1960s. She faces horrific instances of sexual assault, first at high school, and then at the hands of the police, which is soul-destroying to read. It is vital that we don't turn our backs on the state's systematic oppression of the queer community, instated through discriminatory laws and police harassment; unfortunately, this is still the case in parts of the world.

Another political current that runs through Stone Butch Blues is the labour movement and workers' rights in the USA; factory workers in the 1960s and 70s experienced numerous injustices and atrocities at the hands of corporations, and the novel shows the importance of unionising and fighting for worker's rights in order to push back against an increasingly cut-throat capitalist system. The novel's political backdrop drives home the message that we must constantly question policy and challenge the state's use of power against individuals, strong in the belief that together, we can make change.

Despite Jess' stony exterior, there is an incredible emotional intensity to the novel expressed through colour and sensory imagery. I was brought to tears — more than once — by the deep feelings of powerlessness, hurt, and anguish that Jess is often unable to express through words. Almost paradoxically, the novel is beautifully crafted. The plot is steady, moving semi-autobiographically through Jess' life. Although the novel takes place over 40 years, the pace never drags, and I was glued to its pages over the course of reading it.

Although Stone Butch Blues deals with some heavy themes, there is a powerful sense of hope conveyed through the book — especially towards the end where Jess becomes more confident in their gender identity. The novel moves through moments of queer joy and gender euphoria — for instance when a young Jess tries on her father's suit in her parents' room. The novel rollercoasters through feelings of rejection and isolation, up to high points of acceptance and celebration as Jess finds her feet in the queer community. I would highly recommend Stone Butch Blues as an intersectional queer and revolutionary novel ahead of its time, and continually relevant today.

5 stars

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Written by: Millie Bysh

Instagram: @leoninepixie

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Publisher's note: All reviews published with Eudaemonia Records have been viewed and commented on by our editors. Ultimately, however, we believe that it is the writer's decision to accept or reject any suggestions made by the editors, and therefore take no responsibility for the final product.