Book Art: The Default World
Another book art post, this one is for The Default World by Naomi Kanakia. It was a really great read; I’d definitely recommend it!
The book is from the perspective of Jhanvi. Years after moving from San Francisco to Sacramento, coming out as trans, and getting sober she’s working at a grocery co-op and has barely any savings; definitely nowhere near enough for gender affirming surgeries. Feeling like she’s at a dead-end, an idea comes to her while she’s sexting her old college friend Henry. Henry is a tech bro in San Francisco, who has a big-paying job with great medical benefits that could cover her surgeries. Henry lives in a polyamorous commune that regularly has lavish, expensive sex parties and is working on making a sex dungeon for their parties. Jhanvi has the idea to move back to San Fran, convince Henry to marry her, and use his benefits to finally get the surgeries she so desperately craves. Of course, using a friend for insurance fraud doesn’t always rub everyone the right way.
Jhanvi’s blunt and sometimes harsh and cynical views of people, the connections we make, life, and even herself take the reader on an unexpected journey. The odd and interesting characters she meets along her journey give both Jhanvi and the reader more to think about, especially when it comes to the connections and relationships we make with each other. Overall the book was a deeply emotional, sometimes funny, sometimes dark, very thought-provoking read, and it’s really great if you’re wanting to read something from a fresh perspective! I think it’s always important to listen to and uplift trans/queer voices and perspectives, but it’s especially important now with the American government’s attacks on trans rights.
For my painting I was, of course, inspired by this beautiful, striking cover! The cover really caught my eye and is the reason I picked it up in the first place. I did a magnet painting with acrylic neon/glow-in-the-dark paints. I definitely went more wild with the colorful neon splatter than what’s on the book cover, and I wanted to paint the eyes just opening a little instead of closed, and overall I’m happy with how the piece turned out!
