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Biography & Autobiography. Family & Relationships. LGBTQIA+ (Nonfiction.) Nonfiction. HTML:The bestselling, seminal work of trans literature: a story of love, sex, selfhood, and understanding from Jennifer Finney Boylan When she changed genders, she changed the world. It was the groundbreaking publication of She�??s Not There in 2003 that jump-started the transgender revolution. By turns hilarious and deeply moving, Boylan �?? a cast member on I Am Cait; an advisor to the television series Transparent, and a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times �?? explores the territory that lies between men and women, examines changing friendships, and rejoices in the redeeming power of love and family. She�??s Not There was one of the first works to present trans experience from the perspective of a literary novelist, opening a door to new understanding of love, sex, gender, and identity. Boylan inspired readers to ask the same questions she asked herself: What is it that makes us�??-ourselves? What does it mean to be a man, or a woman? How much could my husband, or wife, change�??and still be recognizable as the one I love? Boylan�??s humorous, wise voice helped make She�??s Not There the first bestselling work by a transgender American�??and transformed Boylan into a national spokeswoman for LGBTQ people, their families, and the people that love them. This updated and revised edition also includes a new epilogue from Jenny�??s wife Grace; it also contains the original afterward by her friend, novelist and Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Russo. �??Love will prevail,�?� said Boylan�??s conservative mother, as she learned about her daughter�??s identity. She�??s Not There is the story that helped bring about a worl… (more)
User reviews
Well, they are, but not in the way he anticipates. After years of marriage and two sons , he finally
The first third of this book is hilarious. I laughed so hard I cried, and there's none of the snideness or ugliness that could have been used here. The rest of the book is much more sober, but still has light-hearted moments, and the entire work is suffused with love, gentleness, and clearly-portrayed gratitude for those who support Jennifer as she becomes the woman she is clearly meant to be.
If you think this topic is just too weird, or if you're put off by the thought of "the other", give yourself a chance to grow with this marvelous book.
Higly recommended.
Unfortunately, as clouds lift for Boylan, they darken for Boylan's wife Grace, who is left without her husband and lover when Boylan changes gender. Boylan, relieved and fulfilled in her new female incarnation, is incapable of conveying Grace's sense of loss as convincingly as she did her own, earlier despair. The book's darker shadows fade, events and emotions no longer fall into deep relief, and a true sense of empathy for Grace fails to emerge in the writing. Still this book is recommended if you are interested in learning about transgendered people.
I'm at the point where
From a very young age, Boylan was certain of her gender identity but hoped the “problem” would disappear if she found the right partner. The right partner did indeed come along; marriage to Deirdre (known as Grace in the book) and two children followed. But Jenny was still James, struggling with gender identity every single day. The decision to come out to Grace and begin gender transition was both inevitable and unimaginably painful. Likewise, coming out to best friend, Colby colleague, and well-known author Richard Russo.
Transition is a lengthy process involving therapy and medication, and surgery if desired. Boylan was incredibly fortunate to have a healthy marriage and Russo’s deeply loyal friendship, but even those strong relationships faced challenges as the parties reckoned with the changes happening to their loved one. Jenny’s account of her transition concludes with a very moving afterword by Russo and, in this tenth anniversary edition, more recent updates from Jenny and Grace.
As a society, we have come a long way since Jenny’s transition in 2002, and yet gender transition is still an area that is not widely understood and accepted. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more.
The impact of this memoir is enormous (at least it was for me). I had always philosophically accepted the idea that some people were born with messed-up gender, and thought they should be allowed to change that gender if that's what they needed to do to find peace in their lives. However, I was very uncomfortable when I actually met transgender individuals. This book helped me take a big step in going beyond theoretical acceptance to actual comfort. Jenny Boylan is so clearly an "ordinary" person, with individual likes and dislikes, talents and quirks. Getting to know her this way is something I would recommend to everyone I know.
The author’s best friend remarks at one point that she had always
Oh, and I get the title, it’s from a song that is mentioned several times in the book, but it’s off-putting, and the cover art is awful. I hope a future edition will have a different picture
The book is honest, often funny, and gave what was, at least to me, a new perspective on being transgender.
SH: Transsexuals--United States; Gender Identity--United States; Novelists, American--20th century--Biography; DC21: 813'.54
Very informative first person account of a transsexual woman candidly telling her experience with lots of shedding life
'Not anybody, but the person I became. I think we are who we are because consciously, or unconsciously, we choose ourselves.'
This book is a great book for people who would like to learn about the lives of transsexuals in a dignified light.