Rating: 
Summary: Wow-thought provoking and honest
Review: I read this book in follow-up to Midwives. Bohjalian's writing impressed me so much with the first book that I was interested to see how he could handle this subject. I was drawn in easily with Chapter One! The subject of transgender dysphoria was one I was faintly familiar with in my professional career, and I thought it was handled with honesty, clarity and an obviously thoroughly researched insight. What was so novel for me in this plot was Dana's lingering attraction to a woman - a contradiction to the so often stereotyped view that transsexual males are always gay. I think the love story between Dana and Allison was the element which forced me to ponder gender roles and how much of that is forced upon us by nature vs. society. It's an interesting dilemma from a female perspective when one considers how much same-sex companionship is valued, yet crossing the boundaries into romantic love remains largely taboo. This book challenges the reader to consider all relationships from a purely individual perspective rather than one that is gender-based. In many ways it is simply the tragic love story re-told in a highly thought-provoking manner.
Rating:
Summary: a beautiful and compelling page turner
Review: Once again Chris Bohjalian has been able to write a compelling, disturbing and heartwarming novel - from a unique point of view - and has taken what could have become a tawdry subject and written a beautiful, intriguing novel. Trans-sister Radio is a novel in five parts - as it is told from four points of view and it also uses excerpts of an NPR radio interview. Like the other novels by Bohjalian that I have read - this novel takes place in a small town in Vermont - which makes the topic that much more interesting . Dana Stevens, a college professor meets and falls in love with Allie - the divorced mother of Carly - who is about to leave for college. The romance is going smoothly for both Dana and Allie until he tells her that he is planning on having a sex change at the end of the summer. This is the story of Dana and Allie's relationship - from falling in love through Dana's operation and how they handle the small mindedness of their neighbors as well as how Allie's ex-husband Will, who is still in love with Allie, and her daughter Carly deal with the situation. To say that this is an unusual book with a unique topic is an understatement but the reader will find much to enjoy in Trans-Sister Radio. Chris allows each character to develop individually as well as through each of the other characters experiences. As we can "hear" each person's thoughts as well as see how their actions (or in-actions in some cases) effect one another. I can't say enough about this book - I could not put it down. While the topic may seem hard to swallow - it is well worth reading, whether you would agree or disagree with Dana and Allie's choices. In a lesser author's hands this book would not amount to much, but in Chris's deft and able hands - it is a beautiful book and a fabulous read.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Story
Review: This is the story of a woman in love with a man who after a few months of dating confesses that he is in the process of changing his gender. The story is told from the points of view of the couple, the woman's teenager daughter, the woman's ex-husband, and of course the entire community. The characters are believable, honest and they develop as the story progresses. This book is very touching and brutally honest.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating and thought-provoking story...
Review: What would you do if the man you loved told you he wanted to be a woman? Trans-Sister Radio asks this question, and as the answer unfolds, readers will be captivated, fascinated and torn between right and wrong and your own beliefs about sex, gender and what is really important in the one whom you fall in love. Allison Banks, divorcee and mother of 18-year-old Carly, has finally found the one. Dana Stevens, a college professor, has everything Allison has ever wished for. He's kind, sensitive and handsome. However, after a few months of blissful dating, Dana delivers the news: he is two months away from a sex change operation. What follows is a moral dilemma that rocks the tiny Vermont town in which they live. Should Allison still date Dana? As a teacher, is Allison violating the "role-model/decency" clause? Trans-Sister Radio explores these questions as well as how Dana Steven's sexuality affects those around him. Chris Bohjalian has written another winner. The writing style is wonderful and gives a birds-eye view from several characters and their thoughts about and reactions to gender dysphoria, homosexuality, and falling in love. Brilliantly told story and one that held me in rapt attention until the conclusion. A highly thought-provoking and intelligent novel.
Rating:
Summary: A powerful page-turner...
Review: I bought this book because I enjoyed Midwives, and because I am the kind of person who likes a good controversy. I expected I would learn a little about the condition known as gender dysphoria and sexual reassignment surgery, and hoped the actual plot would be interesting enough to keep me involved until the end. Imagine my surprise when I read the book in three days and was sorry to see the story end! (As a full-time office manager, part-time college student and mother of a 2-year-old, 3 days is pretty impressive.) The author tells the story of Dana, a man who has always known he's a woman on the inside, and Allison, a free-spirited school teacher. The pair form a relationship a few months before Dana's planned sexual reassignment surgery. Although Allison is devastated when she first hears of Dana's plans, she decides to stand by him through his transition - much to the dismay of their fellow citizens in rural Vermont. Suddenly, Allison's students are being withdrawn from school, and they find themselves in the middle of a major controversy. The story is told from several viewpoints: Dana's and Allison's, as well as those of Allison's college-age daughter, and also her former husband's, who works for The Vermont Public Radio and does a piece on the couple. I won't talk about the ending, but let's just say it was unforseen.
Rating:
Summary: Think outside the box
Review: A fun read. Very thought provking. stretches the mind to places it maybe hasn't been before. Provides for a lot of bookclub converstation.
Rating: 
Summary: All over the map...
Review: "Trans-Sister Radio" is a difficult book to review, because it is a maddening mix of good and bad storytelling. For the first 100 or so pages, I was completely absorbed in a fascinating and realistic love story, only to have the book switch into a bizarre mix of implausible plot turns, inconsistent characterization, and text-book style writing. More than once after page 100 I questioned the author's motivation in taking on this story. I doubt very much he has any first hand experience with the issues involved. I agree with other reviews that said the 4 shifting narrators never develop idiosyncratic or distinct voices, and several of the characters -- particularly Carly and Will -- behave in ways that seem completely bizarre. And what is up with the cutesy title? It seems to mock the serious nature of the plot. My solution is to give 5 stars to the first 100 pages, 1 star to the rest. I don't regret reading the book -- it was actually quite pleasurable-- but I doubt I'll read this author again. He seems to be cynically cashing in on hot topics without really knowing what he is talking about.
Rating:
Summary: Another Bohjalian Pageturner
Review: I have yet to be disappointed by a Chris Bohjalian book. His ability to make the characters leap off the page and into the reader's mind is remarkable. He is one of the few contemporary authors that have an uncanny ability to make you feel that the book's plot is actually happening somewhere in the world. Not only is this an enjoyable book to read (enjoyable in that you care so much about the characters that you have to keep reading, no matter how much your eyes hurt), but it's a topic that is largely untouched in contemporary writing. Buy the book, read the book, then share this one with others.
Rating:
Summary: Heart-wrenching can't put it down tale
Review: I read this novel cover to cover in less than 36 hours. And I nearly returned it without reading it, thinking I just didn't want to conquer the subject matter. I am so glad I read it! Bohjalian deftly handled this difficult subject matter. All of the main characters were sympathetic; the ending was satisfying AND surprising. Bohjalian simply could not have done a better job. I found myself NOT ONLY questioning what I think about sex, gender, and the true nature of love, but also destiny, fate, and the larger role we play in the lives of others. How many difficult circumstances we personally endure, ill-fated decisions that have us nursing our pride and humiliation for months [years] later, actually serve a greater purpose for someone else. The truly mind boggling connection between us all played heavily on my mind. This was the first book of Bonjalian's I'd read, but I will certainly be reading more. This was a true gift to the reader. Don't hesitate to pick this up!
Rating:
Summary: A dark, lurid read
Review: Chris A. Bohjalian has written a compelling, disturbing and heartwarming novel from an otherwise tricky subject matter.
Trans-Sister Radio is a novel written in five parts - using four points of view with excerpts from a NPR radio interview. Set in Vermont, Dana Stevens, a college professor, meets and falls in love with Allie, a divorced mother and college student. The romance goes well - that is until Dana tells Allie that he's planning on having a sex change operation... Trans-Sister Radio is a beautiful, unique, lurid and dark read. Chris A. Bohjalian took quite a chance with the subject matter - sex change operations, the dealings after the aforementioned change - and did a wonderful job with it. This novel enthralled me from beginning to end, and I look forward to reading more work from this talented author.
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