Andrea Lawlor

Andrea Lawlor is an American author and educator known for their debut novel "Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl," which won the 2020 Whiting Award for Fiction. The novel took 15 years to complete and garnered significant critical acclaim, including nominations for the Lambda Literary Award for Bisexual Literature and the CLMP Firecracker Award. Lawlor's early years were marked by significant LGBTQ+ activism in New York City during the early 1990s, where they founded Fordham University's first lesbian and gay group and participated in organizations like ACT UP and the Pink Panthers. Their involvement in radical organizing deeply influenced their perspective and writing. Currently serving as a writing professor at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, Lawlor also works as a fiction editor for the literary journal Fence. Their work explores themes of gender fluidity, queer identity, and transformation. The author identifies as non-binary, uses they/them pronouns, and resides in Massachusetts with their partner, filmmaker Bernardine Mellis, their child, and fellow author Jordy Rosenberg.

Readers connect strongly with Lawlor's exploration of gender and sexuality in "Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl." Many highlight the book's raw honesty about queer experiences and relationships in the 1990s. What readers liked: - Authentic portrayal of queer culture and communities - Innovative approach to magical realism - Rich historical details of 1990s LGBTQ+ scenes - Complex character relationships - Sharp, witty dialogue What readers disliked: - Dense literary references that can feel exclusionary - Episodic plot structure some found difficult to follow - Explicit sexual content that made some readers uncomfortable Ratings: - Goodreads: 4.0/5 from 12,000+ ratings - Amazon: 4.3/5 from 500+ reviews One reader noted: "Finally, a book that captures the messy, beautiful reality of gender fluidity." Another wrote: "The academic references felt pretentious and pulled me out of the story." The book resonates particularly with LGBTQ+ readers who lived through the 1990s, with many citing its accuracy in depicting the era's subcultures.

Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl (2017) A novel following Paul Polydoris, a shapeshifter who can change his gender at will, as he navigates queer scenes across 1990s America including Iowa City's lesbian bars and Michigan Womyn's Music Festival.

Carmen Maria Machado writes experimental fiction that combines horror elements with queer themes and body transformation. Her memoir "In the Dream House" and story collection "Her Body and Other Parties" explore similar territory to Lawlor's work regarding gender and sexuality.

Jordy Rosenberg merges historical fiction with contemporary queer theory in works like "Confessions of the Fox." His academic background and exploration of trans narratives parallel Lawlor's approach to gender fluidity.

Samuel R. Delany writes science fiction that pushes boundaries of gender and sexuality through complex narratives. His works like "Dhalgren" and "Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand" share Lawlor's interest in transformation and fluid identity.

Leslie Feinberg wrote groundbreaking works about gender identity including "Stone Butch Blues." Their writing combines political activism with personal narrative in ways that echo Lawlor's integration of activism and literature.

Jeanette Winterson explores gender fluidity and transformation in works like "Written on the Body" and "The PowerBook." Her focus on characters who defy traditional gender categories aligns with Lawlor's narrative approaches.