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  • Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl

  • Written by: Andrea Lawlor
  • Narrated by: Dani Martineck
  • Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (13 ratings)

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Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl

Written by: Andrea Lawlor
Narrated by: Dani Martineck
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Publisher's Summary

"In these irreverent pages, a shapeshifter gets a crash course in gender and sexuality by inhabiting both sides of the binary and arriving precisely somewhere in the middle." —O, The Oprah Magazine

“HOT” (Maggie Nelson) • “TIGHT” (Eileen Myles) • “DEEP” (Michelle Tea)

It's 1993 and Paul Polydoris tends bar at the only gay club in a university town thrumming with politics and partying. He studies queer theory, has a dyke best friend, makes zines, and is a flaneur with a rich dating life. But Paul's also got a secret: he's a shapeshifter. Oscillating wildly from Riot Grrrl to leather cub, Paul transforms his body and his gender at will as he crossed the country–a journey and adventure through the deep queer archives of struggle and pleasure.

Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl is a riotous, razor-sharp bildungsroman whose hero/ine wends his/her way through a world gutted by loss, pulsing with music, and opening into an array of intimacy and connections.

©2019 Andrea Lawlor (P)2019 Random House Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ2S+

What the critics say

"Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl is playful, sexy, smart, and like nothing else I—or you—have ever read before."—Carmen Maria Machado, author of Her Body and Other Parties

“Restless, muscular, and playful…. A tight satisfying masterpiece.”—Eileen Myles, author of Evolution

“Fast-paced and cheeky…a touchingly sweet-hearted and deeply cool book.”—Michelle Tea, author of Black Wave

What listeners love about Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful romp through 90s gay America!

Paul was a bit slow to start, but was so worthwhile. It's truly special and unique, and Lawlor is a wonderful writer. This was one of my favorite books of the past few years. I'll be buying copies for many of my queer friends.

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No plot

I felt there was a great lack of plot. ThonI never finished the book, it felt there there was just filler between six scenes and no actual direction to it. The writing is well done but that's all I can really say about it.

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  • Dawn
  • 2019-06-28

The Hottest Book Ever Written

I've only dinged it a little because this book just sort of ends. No spoilers, but I wasn't very satisfied. The sex and heartbreak. Oh my god! I needed this book and it had its way with me.

3 people found this helpful

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  • Virginia Fraser
  • 2019-11-02

I struggled to find the plot

While an interesting glimpse into culture, I felt it lacked a significant plot. Narrator great.

2 people found this helpful

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  • sarah avery sullivan
  • 2019-06-05

LOVE THIS BOOK

Loved living in the 90s queer feminist theory and music and fashion and city spots. I So relate to Paul’s sexuality/gender/desire, AL writes hard to describe feelings and actions in a way that makes them really understood validating relatable affirmed celebrated challenged

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  • Jade
  • 2021-07-02

Unexpected, hot, deep

Unexpected and real telling of both a specific kind of queer experience and the universal queer experience. Will be a book I’ll buy in print to read over and to add to the collection of hyper nonspecific depth, and will certainly be listening to again and again. There’s just something here…

1 person found this helpful

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  • Eli
  • 2023-05-01

Refreshing with subtle heartbreak.

a book I didn't know I needed to hear. it was such a delight to hear the accuracy and intricacy of queer cruising and falling in and out of love. Paul is a fag you love but also find incredibly annoying. I appreciate the books uncomplicated, not political approach to gender variance and the lives of queer people. a pleasant listen start to finish.

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  • Victoria Mann
  • 2023-01-07

Simply amazing!

I really enjoyed listening to this book, such extensive detail and imagery, Great narration for this audiobook.

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  • Alena Amato Ruggerio
  • 2022-11-08

Hnuh?

I don't think I really understood this book. The main character is detached and cynical, and nothing really happens to them. And the content was too porny for me. Just not my jam.