Trans-Sister Radio

Chris Bohjalian

I just finished Trans-Sister Radio by Chris Bohjalian, which is about a female schoolteacher who becomes involved/falls in love with a man who is about to undergo a sex change operation. The story centers around what happens to their relationship after this operation takes place and how it affects her job and the feelings of the local community, her daughter and ex-husband (who still cares for her). The story is narrated by the four main characters - schoolteacher, transsexual, daughter and ex-husband - and reads a bit like a documentary, including all the technical details of the sex change. I found parts of the book a little unbelievable and bizarre and some of it repulsive, but the main characters were very likable. The ending was very predictable. The book is one that would create a lot of discussion but, overall, was just an okay read.