By Kaylie Seed
Content warning: suicide, suicidal ideation, alcoholism
Canadian-American writer Keith Maillard’s memoir The Bridge takes a look at growing up nonbinary in the 1940s and 1950s when gender identity was at its peak. People were expected to be strictly “masculine” if they were boys, or “feminine” if they were girls. While we know that there have always been people that are nonbinary, the term has only been around for roughly ten years, so it took the majority of Maillard’s life to try and understand who he is. Maillard also examines how being nonbinary impacted his writing career by taking a look at literature and pop culture throughout the decades and how that helped him form an idea of who he is. Maillard paints a picture about how being nonbinary impacted his life well into older adulthood and how having a supportive family had a positive impact growing up.
Maillard has written an accessible memoir that gives an insight into what it means to be nonbinary and how that influences one's life. The Bridge is beautifully written and is a great read for those who may be experiencing the same questioning that Maillard once did. The Bridge is also an excellent read for those who may not understand what it means to be nonbinary, or who want to learn more about the topic. The Bridge is not a difficult read however there are some themes present such as alcoholism, suicide, and gender dysphoria, that may make it difficult for some readers, so it’s recommended that one be in the right frame of mind before jumping in. Maillard is a talented writer and while this is the first book of his that I’ve read, it certainly won’t be the last.
Thank you, Freehand Books for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!