First Spring Grass Fire
Posted October 15th, 2012 by Kara Passey
http://www.themanitoban.com/2012/10/first-spring-grass-fire/12140/Rae Spoon is a transgender musician/writer/workshop facilitator who has been nominated for a Polaris Prize, released six solo albums, toured internationally, and now has published their first book, First Spring Grass Fire, in September, 2012 with Arsenal Pulp Press.
First Spring Grass Fire is a collection of relating short stories inspired by coming of age as queer and transgender in Calgary, Alberta. Each story encompasses a moment worth remembering for the narrator – whether it be a moment of hope for a world outside of the narrator's evangelical family, or a realization of a new piece of their own identity. The book jumps all over the timeline and delivers the narrator's very personal, vulnerable inner dialogue along the way.
The narrator, Rae, knows from a young age that they are different; they struggle with being comfortable in their own skin and being accepted socially. Rae attends church in spite of constant doubts and experiences a power struggle with their father who has schizophrenia. Between stories of surviving abuse, self-harm, religion, finding love, and self-acceptance – it's impossible not to relate to one of these stories, and reconsider the effect that the experience has had on your own identity.
