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Miles Borrero

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Beautiful Monster: A Becoming Kindle Edition

by Miles Borrero (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

5.0 43 ratings

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A breathtaking, exquisitely crafted memoir about a trans person’s singular journey through breaching the boundaries of gender—across generations, cultures and borders—to become his truest, most authentic self.

Nearing the age of forty, with an entire life already lived as a woman—half in Colombia, half in the US—Miles Borrero comes face to face with his father’s impending death. Suddenly realizing that he has been stalling his transition for fear of losing his family’s love, this moment catalyzes Miles’s determination to be fully known as his father’s son before it is too late.

In Beautiful Monster, Miles chronicles his unusual childhood, by turns riveting and hilarious, in ’80s and ’90s Colombia during the Pablo Escobar years, as well as his move to Salt Lake City to pursue acting and the winding trajectory that eventually lands him in the New York City yoga scene. Within these very different cultures, the realities of being queer and trans echo poignantly through the triumphs, heartbreaks, family dynamics, spiritual pursuits, and relationships that propel Miles along his path.

Sublimely nuanced and written in ravishing prose that is as unique and irresistible as its subject, Beautiful Monster is one person’s story of navigating the pressures to perform femininity while becoming a gender outlaw. Brimming with wonder, humor, and mythos, entertaining and enlightening in equal measure, this book offers a compelling case for embracing one’s true nature.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Miles’ storytelling shows us just how intricately the mundane and the divine are connected. Through his poetry and prose, Miles harnesses a transformative power—a power that brings his deepest truths to the light. This memoir is a gift to any reader who wants to truly know themselves, and wants to truly be known.” -- Lauren Patten, Tony and Grammy Award winning actor and singer (Jagged Little Pill)

“Miles Borrero gifts us his universal story with grace and a huge, lyrical heart. A roadmap for anyone seeking self-knowledge.” -- Ty Burrell, award-winning actor who starred in ABC’s critically acclaimed hit Modern Family

“Beautiful Monster is like a big, queer hug. Exactly what the world needs.” -- Kathryn Budig, author and founder of Haus of Phoenix

“Spell-bound from the first page to the last, I laughed, cried, and deeply resonated with every twist and turn in this expansive and magical tale. Miles Borrero truly touched my heart.” -- Stephanie Szostak, actress (A Million Little Things) and author of Self!sh

“An enthralling read, beautifully written, that offers an insider’s view into the inner workings of growing up queer and trans in a straight world. Simply a must-read.” -- Cameron Esposito, standup comic, bestselling author

“Magic realism is, thankfully, still alive, and Miles Borrero uses his literary lineage to tell the compelling story of his own becoming. In Beautiful Monster, he artfully describes the ubiquitous anxiety, like Poe’s thumping heart under the floorboards, that comes from hiding one’s true self from his loved ones, from the world, and most poignantly—from his own culture. It’s a gift to be shepherded through this process with such deftness, humor, and pathos.” -- Alexandra Auder, author of Don’t Call Me Home --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

About the Author

Throughout his many lives, Miles Borrero has survived fronting a Latin rock band, riding horses competitively, acting on various stages across the US, and nannying a six-year-old. He has been Catholic, Jewish, and a frequent guest at Krishna’s house, and has lived life as a boy, a girl, a woman, a man, and something in between. Now a senior yoga teacher who leads retreats all over the world, Miles is passionate about dismantling the systems within ourselves that keep us small. He lives in New York with his sweetheart and their two adorable dogs. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C8WC6Y29
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Regalo Press (October 24, 2023)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 24, 2023
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 723 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 230 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #461,009 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #37 in Biographies & Memoirs of Hispanic & Latino
- #226 in Hispanic & Latin Biographies
- #237 in LGBTQ+ Biographies & Memoirs

Customer Reviews:
5.0 43 ratings

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Camila Perez

A beautiful memoire, written with love, honesty and humor.

Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2023

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Miles relates his journey with love and humor. The book is moving, funny, revealing and touching all at the same time. A must read for anyone trying to understand the challenges of becoming a true self by breaking the traditional patterns. Even in the most difficult moments, the story is narrated with love rather than resentment and provides hope for everyone trying to find a place in the world.

3 people found this helpful

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Mary Aranas

Wild River Ride ~ A Hero's Journey

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2023

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Rhapsodically beautiful, funny, heart-wrenching, inspiring ~ I thoroughly enjoyed this wild and wonderful river ride with Miles down the rapids of his mythical adventure, a true hero's journey. There is challenge and discovery, joy and overwhelm, heartbreak and courage, death and rebirth. I danced, I sang, I soared on Miles' mystical wings. I smiled and laughed. I wept with Miles over lost loves ~ the death of his beloved father, the long-awaited acceptance of his Catholic mother, the sense of being a misfit that so many of us know, for so many reasons, but complicated with being an in-between. I learned things I never knew from a transperson's worldview, despite my having an out and happily married gay brother. I am grateful for Miles' rich and authentic sharing of his truth, for the deeper compassion and understanding it offers all of us, especially present and future trans siblings of ours in this world .... I am also eternally grateful for the yoga and harmonium lessons, Miles AND Mila. Thank you sister/brother in music, myth, and magic. Thank you, Saraswati, Kali, Queen Draupadi! Thank you, Hanuman! You leapt it. You birthed it. You built it ~ your book bridge ~ for your soul, and others' souls. Y'alls ~ whether yogis or searchers or just human souls who are readers ~ don't miss this inspiring and moving hero's journey!

2 people found this helpful

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Lois Rose

Honest, unapologetic and a joy to read

Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2023

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This is no self help book. It’s not for the lost but, for the curious. If you want to read the tale of one man’s coming of age story with humor and joy and, naturally confusion, because, coming of age—read this beautiful book. As a psychologist I recommend this to anyone taking apart their well built self description in search of a more dimensional view. If gender exploration is part of your work all the better. This is a wonderful story written with seriousness about a serious life situation. I highly recommend.

One person found this helpful

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nerdreader

Inspirational read ~

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2023

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I love this book and was left feeling so inspired after I read it. The world right now can feel so disconnected and scary, full of judgments and misunderstanding..this book is an amazing antidote into how we can feel more connected, loving, and courageous.💛

5 people found this helpful

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Matthew A. Smith

Beautiful Monster is a Run-Don't-Walk Read.

Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2023

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Beautiful Monster is quite simply a beautiful book by a beautiful man, Miles Borrero. A brilliant mind and a really brilliant becoming. Beautiful Monster will open your eyes to what it means to be an extraordinary human being, and it will do it all while making you laugh, cry, and scream. This is a story of tenacity, courage, and resilience -- an essential road map for the importance of finding our own truth. How we tell our stories is just as important as the plot twists we experience. And Miles masterfully wrote his story demonstrating that he is compassion’s very heartbeat. Simply put, I could not put it down. Thank you, Miles.

2 people found this helpful

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Felipe Borrero

A must read for those seeking to understand gender and sexuality

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2023

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Miles' Beautiful Monster, a becoming is a beautifully written account of what is it to -be-. What it is to be a a Colombian. What is is to be a young woman. What it is to be homosexual. What it is to be an actress. What it is to be a daughter. All of these experiences finely woven into a journey of self-discovery, teaching us what it means to be trans, the hardships and joys of a journey most of us will never know and the difficulty and beauty of finding the answer to a question most of us take for granted. What it is to be who I was always meant to be; in his case a teacher, a guide, a partner, and a son.

Miles' journey is a must read for anyone wanting to understand sexuality and gender written out of pure love, without hatred or resentment which is much needed for society to understand and embrace complex people with complex stories and lives with the love with the love and respect they deserve.

Thank you Miles.

7 people found this helpful

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Sarah Rubin

A wholehearted book for our fractured times

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2023

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This gorgeous book shines with hope, glimmers with joy and humor, reaches bravely into deep reflection, and provides endless "a-ha" moments of inspiration for anyone wanting to live a wholehearted life. The author's incandescent voice will grab you on page 1 and stay with you long after the final paragraph. Highly recommend!

5 people found this helpful

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