{"id":2583,"date":"2025-04-18T05:39:55","date_gmt":"2025-04-18T05:39:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2583"},"modified":"2025-04-18T05:39:55","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T05:39:55","slug":"woodworking-by-emily-st-james","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2583","title":{"rendered":"Woodworking by Emily St. James"},"content":{"rendered":"

In her remarkable debut novel, Woodworking<\/em>, Emily St. James demonstrates an extraordinary talent for capturing the complex reality of trans experiences with both tenderness and unflinching honesty. Set against the backdrop of Mitchell, South Dakota during the 2016 presidential election, the novel presents a richly textured narrative of self-discovery, unlikely friendship, and the courage required to live authentically<\/a> in a place where being visibly different can be dangerous.<\/p>\n

St. James weaves together the perspectives of three trans women at different stages of their journeys: Erica Skyberg, a thirty-five-year-old recently divorced English teacher who has just accepted her trans identity but remains closeted; Abigail Hawkes, a confident yet vulnerable seventeen-year-old student who transitioned early and faces the daily challenges of being the \u201cOnly Trans Girl\u201d in school; and Brooke Daniels, a prominent community figure who has kept her trans identity secret for decades, building a life of privilege and conservative respectability at the cost of her authentic self.<\/p>\n

Authentic Voices in a Transphobic World<\/h2>\n

What immediately stands out in Woodworking<\/em> is the authenticity of its characters\u2019 voices. Each protagonist speaks with a distinct cadence that reflects their unique circumstances and perspectives:<\/p>\n

Erica\u2019s narrative<\/strong> is tentative and often second-guessing, reflecting her newness to understanding herself as a woman and her fear of losing everything she\u2019s built
\nAbigail\u2019s sections<\/strong> crackle with teenage defiance and sardonic humor that barely mask her vulnerability and longing for acceptance
\nBrooke\u2019s chapters<\/strong> employ a fascinating second-person perspective that creates a dissociative effect, highlighting how she has split herself from her authentic identity<\/p>\n

St. James excels at depicting the interior struggles of her characters without sentimentality. The prose is sharp, often bitingly funny, and always deeply human. Consider this passage from Abigail\u2019s perspective:<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be normal, to feel safe, to not be treated like a car accident, to be able to see lights on the horizon in the middle of the night and know, somehow, that it\u2019s where I belong, that it\u2019s where I\u2019m going and where I\u2019ve always been\u2026\u201d<\/h4>\n

These words capture the universal longing for belonging that transcends the specific experience of being trans while remaining firmly grounded in that reality.<\/p>\n

The Power of Accidental Community<\/h2>\n

At its heart, Woodworking<\/em> is about finding your people\u2014sometimes in the most unexpected places. The evolving relationship between Erica and Abigail forms the emotional core of the novel. Initially fraught with reluctance (particularly on Abigail\u2019s part), their connection develops into something neither could have anticipated: a mutual lifeline.<\/p>\n

St. James skillfully avoids the potential pitfalls of this premise. Their relationship isn\u2019t portrayed as a simplistic mentor-mentee dynamic, nor is it presented without complexity. Instead, it\u2019s messy, sometimes contentious, and ultimately profound. Abigail\u2019s repeated insistence that they\u2019re \u201cnot friends\u201d becomes a running joke that gradually reveals its defensive purpose, while Erica\u2019s growing reliance on a teenager for guidance creates ethical tensions that the novel doesn\u2019t shy away from exploring.<\/p>\n

The supporting cast is equally well-drawn, particularly:<\/p>\n

Constance, Erica\u2019s ex-wife who finds herself drawn back to Erica as she embraces her true identity
\nMegan, Abigail\u2019s earnest friend whose commitment to liberal politics sometimes overshadows her ability to see Abigail clearly
\nJennifer, Abigail\u2019s older sister who has rebuilt her life to protect her sibling<\/p>\n

A Nuanced Portrayal of \u201cWoodworking\u201d<\/h2>\n

The novel takes its title from a concept referenced early on\u2014the practice of \u201cwoodworking,\u201d or disappearing into stealth as a trans person, becoming so thoroughly integrated into society as your true gender that your trans identity becomes invisible, even forgotten. This concept becomes a through-line that connects all three protagonists:<\/p>\n

Abigail dreams of escaping to a bigger city where she can \u201cbe just another girl on the street\u201d
\nErica fears the visibility that transition would force upon her
\nBrooke has achieved the ultimate \u201cwoodworking\u201d success, but at tremendous personal cost<\/p>\n

What elevates the novel is its refusal to present any single approach as inherently superior. St. James presents the desire to blend in as entirely understandable given the hostility trans people face, while also showing how isolation from community can exact a devastating toll<\/a>. The characters must each find their own balance between safety and authenticity, connection and self-protection.<\/p>\n

Structural and Stylistic Innovation<\/h2>\n

Structurally, Woodworking<\/em> is divided into months from September through December, charting the progression of these intertwined lives across a pivotal autumn. St. James demonstrates impressive control of multiple viewpoints, using first-person for Abigail\u2019s sections, third-person limited for Erica\u2019s, and an innovative second-person for Brooke\u2019s single extended chapter, which forms the emotional climax of the novel.<\/p>\n

The writing shifts seamlessly between pathos and humor, often within the same scene. Abigail\u2019s perspective in particular employs a distinctive voice rich with contemporary internet-influenced speech patterns and defensive sarcasm that feels authentic to a smart, wounded teenager in 2016. Her commentary often provides laugh-out-loud moments even in difficult circumstances:<\/p>\n

\u201cErica is the person closest in age to me, which is incredibly depressing. Most of the people here are old, and they\u2019re only just getting a chance to live.\u201d<\/h4>\n

Some Minor Flaws Among the Brilliance<\/h2>\n

Despite its considerable strengths, Woodworking<\/em> isn\u2019t without flaws. Occasionally, conversations between characters feel too neatly constructed to communicate specific ideas about gender rather than emerging organically from the characters themselves. This is particularly noticeable in some of the support group scenes, where dialogue sometimes takes on a slightly didactic quality.<\/p>\n

Additionally, while the small-town South Dakota setting is generally well-rendered, some secondary characters occasionally tip toward caricature, particularly in their negative reactions to trans characters. These moments stand out because St. James otherwise demonstrates such nuance in her character development.<\/p>\n

The novel\u2019s final chapters, while emotionally satisfying, resolve some plot threads with a neatness that doesn\u2019t quite match the messy complexity that precedes them. A slightly more ambiguous conclusion might have better served the realism that characterizes the majority of the work.<\/p>\n

A Landmark Contribution to Trans Literature<\/h2>\n

These minor criticisms aside, Woodworking<\/em> represents a significant achievement and an important contribution to the growing body of trans literature. It joins works like Torrey Peters\u2019 Detransition, Baby<\/em> and Imogen Binnie\u2019s Nevada<\/em> (which St. James explicitly acknowledges as an influence in her author\u2019s note) in presenting trans characters with depth, complexity, and humanity.<\/p>\n

What sets Woodworking<\/em> apart is its multi-generational perspective<\/a> on trans experience and its setting in rural America rather than a coastal urban center. By exploring three different eras of transition\u2014Brooke\u2019s stealth existence beginning in the 1990s, Erica\u2019s late-in-life awakening, and Abigail\u2019s adolescent transition in the 2010s\u2014St. James creates a kind of compressed history of trans feminine experience that highlights both progress and persistent challenges.<\/p>\n

A Timely Novel with Universal Themes<\/h2>\n

Though set in 2016, Woodworking<\/em> resonates powerfully with our current moment when trans rights are under unprecedented attack. In her author\u2019s note, St. James directly addresses how conditions have worsened for trans people since the time of her narrative. Yet the novel never feels like a political tract; its politics emerge organically from characters dealing with the real consequences of others\u2019 prejudice.<\/p>\n

Beyond its importance as trans representation, Woodworking<\/em> succeeds as a novel about universal human concerns: the search for identity, the yearning for connection, the complicated nature of family (both biological and chosen), and the courage required to live honestly. In Erica\u2019s journey to accept herself, Abigail\u2019s struggle to envision a future, and Brooke\u2019s belated recognition of what she has sacrificed, readers of all backgrounds will find resonant emotional truths.<\/p>\n

Verdict: A Remarkable Debut Not to Be Missed<\/h2>\n

Woodworking<\/em> announces Emily St. James as a major literary talent with a distinctive voice and profound insights into human nature. This moving, funny, and deeply intelligent novel deserves a wide readership, not just for its timely exploration of trans experience but for its universal emotional truths about identity, belonging, and the courage required to live authentically. It\u2019s not just one of the best debuts of the year; it\u2019s one of the best novels, period.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In her remarkable debut novel, Woodworking, Emily St. James demonstrates an extraordinary talent for capturing the complex reality of trans experiences with both tenderness and unflinching honesty. Set against the backdrop of Mitchell, South Dakota during the 2016 presidential election, the novel presents a richly textured narrative of self-discovery, unlikely friendship, and the courage required […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2583"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2583"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2583\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2583"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2583"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2583"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}