Carrie Kills a Man by Carrie Marshall

Carrie Marshall is prolific – not just in her writing career, but in her vast contributions to the Scottish music and radio scene, as well as her LGBTQ+ activism over recent years. Her memoir Carrie Kills a Man marries these facets of her life and work in a collection of topical essays, all tinged with Carrie’s frank and conversational style, reminiscent of the blogs and internet forums she frequented in early life.

The series moves through Carrie’s life quasi-chronologically, a format which can at times lead to a confusingly blurred timeline, reiterating points in her transition to bring in new ideas and reflections. Her focus, however, is consistently both fiercely political and fiercely Scottish, mapping the local political landscape and attitudes towards trans people throughout her life, interspersed with tender stories of her Ayrshire upbringing, heartwarmingly supportive friends and unconventional yet loving family.

From early-transition aesthetic fumbles, to smart musings on the media through which she came to understand her identity, and the non-linear path to medical transition, Carrie explores the often under-discussed complexities of coming out later in life. Her prose is laden with pop culture references, self-deprecating quips and, above all, a heartwarmingly radical self-acceptance. Herein lies the charm of Carrie Marshall – her acknowledgment yet defiance of embarrassment, her relentless sense of humour, and her refusal to live in shame despite a culture that has told her to.

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404 Ink, 14 Nov