☛ Cette critique est aussi disponible en français [➦].
Translated by Gabrielle Baillargeon-Michaud.
“Happy things that don’t exist can be more painful than sad things that do1.”
A brutally honest, necessary, and optimistic autofiction, Dandelion Daughter marks a girl’s birth followed by a woman’s rebirth. In a distant village, amidst trees, a little girl grows up, puzzled by the incongruity of her (boy) body and her true identity. Navigating a dysfunctional family, with an absent father and a mother who does the best she can, the protagonist secretly collects dolls and talks to evergreens. She soon falls in love, moves to the big city and finds her community, trying to stay afloat. The narrative follows the heroine through her quest for self, the beauty of finally being oneself and the dread brought on by others, sexual and emotional abuse, the loss of her lover who no longer recognizes her, and the loneliness of a foreign urban landscape. Told from a first-person perspective, Dandelion Daughter inevitably stirs the readers’ humanity with its poignant poetry, sparking a desire to set ablaze.
Gabrielle Boulianne-Tremblay, a Québécoise actress and writer, epitomizes natural talent. She made history as Canada’s first trans woman nominated for the Canadian Screen Awards’ Best Supporting Actress category for her performance in Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves. With her debut novel, Dandelion Daughter, she has already captivated audiences, leaving them eagerly awaiting her future literary endeavours.
Dandelion Daughter emerges as a vital contribution to the discourse surrounding sexology, weaving a narrative that is both authentic and impactful in its delivery of a profound message. Praised by Le Devoir as the first Québécois autofiction to tackle transgender identity, it represents a paramount and long-awaited addition to literary exploration2. Despite the scarcity of transgender narratives within mainstream culture, Gabrielle Boulianne-Tremblay courageously brings this reality to the forefront, offering a poignant examination of its complexities. Through the lens of the protagonist’s experiences, readers are invited to witness the spectrum of joys and struggles that trans people can experience—an intimate portrayal that resonates deeply. Beyond mere storytelling, this novel assumes a potent political stance, advocating for a future characterized by understanding and acceptance. Titled Dandelion Daughter, the book encapsulates the individual journey of one woman and reminds us of the subjectivity inherent in personal truth. While a significant milestone, it also prompts a broader call for diverse representation and voices within literature.
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1 Unofficial translation
2 https://www.ledevoir.com/lire/595483/fiction-quebecoise-quitter-son-il
Reference
Author : Gabrielle Boulianne-Tremblay
Title : Dandelion Daughter
Date of parution : April 13th, 2023 (Original, in French: February 22nd 2022)
Publishing house : Vehicule Press