JD Derbyshire
May 21st, 2024
Mercy Gene: The Man-Made Making of a Mad Woman (Goose Lane Editions $22.95), the genre-defying debut by JD Derbyshire, combines erratic recollections, lists, daydreams and poetry to explore themes of queerness, gender confusion, institutionalization, addiction and abuse. Inspired by Derbyshire’s award-winning play Certified, the novel follows protagonist Janice/Jan/JD. Through fragmented memories and imaginings, Derbyshire explores the intense, often invisible side effects of psychiatric treatment and the unreliability of memory. The stream-of-consciousness narrative uses humour and tragedy to re-examine a life of unspoken trauma. Featuring fictional appearances by Miriam Toews and Margot Kidder, Derbyshire’s work guides readers through non-linear journeys toward treatment, forgiveness and acceptance. 9781773102948
Leave a Reply