I snatched this as soon as I saw it at the bookshop. This book captures a feeling I’ve been struggling to articulate for so long: showing joy in who you are as a form of defiance when the world does everything it can to push you down. Everything about Marsha’s life embodies that idea, she’s an amazing subject for a biography. Tourmaline does an amazing job telling Marsha’s story – and at giving a good overview of LGBTQIA history in the U.S. as well – but what separates this from other biographies for me is just how much love, passion, and radiance spills out from the pages; Tourmaline clearly has such a deep appreciation for Marsha that makes the writing so engaging and vivid. There’s a wealth of information here but there’s never a moment where the book feels bogged down or heavy. Tourmaline also goes beyond Marsha’s life, going into the impact and legacy she’s left for the LGBTQIA community, in activism and everyday life. It’s made clear that the progress made to equality for LGBTQIA people has happened over a short length of time, and there’s still so much work to be done – especially for Trans people – but Tourmaline makes sure every nook and cranny of this book is filled with hope and joy. I think this should be essential reading for anyone remotely interested in LGBTQIA history and activism, and anyone who just needs some hope and joy right now.
Marsha by Tourmaline, (List Price: $30, Tiny Reparations Books, 9780593185667, May 2025)
Reviewed by Winter Goldsmith, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia