The Pen/O.henry Prize Stories 2012

NT $630.00
NT $567.00


“TheTransMemoirWe’veAlwaysNeeded.“--Autostraddle“ThisblisteringmemoiristhebookIdidn’tknowIneeded...I’msogratefultheyhadthecouragetosharetheirexperienceinsuchatransparent,authenticway.“--OneofBuzzFeed’sMostAnticipatedBooksof2022-OneofTheMillions’MostAnticipatedBooksoftheMonth-OneofMs.Magazine’sMostAnticipatedReadsof2022-OneofBookRiot’sLGBTQBooksYouNeedtoRead-WhendivorcemovesyoungR/BMertzawayfromruralPennsylvaniaandtheirabusivefather,Mertz’slifeistornintwo.Mertz’smomandnewstepdaddiveheadfirstintoconservativeCatholichomeschooling,entrenchingthemselvesinaworlddominatedbysaints,prayers,andhavingasmanybabiesaspossible,justasMertzisstartingtorealizetheymightbequeer.MertzclingstoCatholicismasarebellionagainsttheiranti-Catholicbio-dad,andtomoviesandmusicalsasbeaconsoftheworldoutsidetheconservativeclosetconstructedbythehomeschoolers--whomightactuallybemoreconcernedwithbeingconservativethanwithbeinggood,whileMertz’sbio-dadjustwantsthemtobe“normal.“Tryingtostaveofftheinevitable,MertzenrollsinaconservativeCatholiccollegeinOhio.Comingofageintheearlyaughts,theygrapplewithflirtations,sexualencounters,andconfusingrelationshipswithstudentsandfaculty,astheytrytofigureouthowtolivealifeinaworldhell-bentonmakingthemchoosebetweentheircommunityandtheiridentity.Atturnsrebellious,charming,andself-effacing,Mertzstrugglestonavigatethisoppressiveenvironment,questioningwhetherornotthereisaplacefortheminsideoroutsideoftheCatholicChurch;whethertheycanbethemselvesontheleftortheright;whethertheycanbe“conservative“or“liberal;“orwhethertheycanbeatall.Ultimately,BurningButchisthecourageousstoryofatrans/non-binarybutchonaquesttosurvivewiththeirauthenticityintact.


prayers CHARMING NON MAGAZINE STORIES PEN PRAYERS charming