Member Reviews

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  • Rated 0 stars

  “I cannot even begin to recommend this book strongly enough. I think there is such insight to be had from reading this memoir; such lessons to be learned.
  
  I wish I had time to write more and make this a more effective review. For the moment, let me simply say: Read this book. It is very powerful.”

  debra s wrote this review yesterday. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “I got a big kick reading the vignettes, I love her literary style. Grace should have had a chance to write about her feelings a little . . .
  I was interested in this because my cousin Jenny (coincidence) is now Jack. I haven't met him yet, but all my other cousins say it is so natural to be around him. The gender he always was inside is now manifested to all.
  Interesting, wow, interesting . . .”

  Kellie K wrote this review Monday, September 15 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 2 stars

  “Interesting topic. Interesting person and from my viewpoint the most self absorbed self obsessed autobiography I've read lately. It would have been even more interesting to have read about Grace's feelings first hand at the same time as Jennifer's.”

  Ann H wrote this review Thursday, July 10 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “What a fantastic book! I absolutely could not put it down. Along with being informative about the medical ins and outs of gender reassignment, it gives us a glimpse at the emotional turmoil that transgendered people must deal with each day. I have the utmost respect for the author's wife (and children) as she seemingly takes things as they come, difficult as that may be, with the "for better or worse" part of their vows in mind. ”

  Val B wrote this review Sunday, June 29 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 3 stars

  “The author writes about her transexuality: about coming out to her family and friends and managing the gender transition. Jennifer Finney Boylan is a novelist, and an astute observer. She's good at letting us know how living (and being perceived)as a woman feels very different from living (and being perceived) as a man. The book is light, funny, and yet very telling.”

  Jenny Y wrote this review Thursday, June 19 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 2 stars

  “the characters need to be expanded”

  janjnt wrote this review Monday, June 9 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 4 stars

  “What I like about this book is that it presents a very straightforward look at transgender issues. Other transgendered people I've known or whose stories I have read are complicated by an array of other emotional issues and it's difficult to disentangle the transgender issues from other problems. Jennifer comes across as a likeable, together person with a great sense of humor. I enjoyed getting to know her and understand transgenderism by reading her story, and appreciated her honesty and forthrightness.”

  Cathy C wrote this review Tuesday, May 13 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 3 stars

  “Saw her read a chapter at a summer program at work. Made me appreciate the difficulty of her life and the light touch she sought to bring to a very heavy story. Was left struck by the fact that she replaced one secret with a new one. Her first secret was that she was a woman trapped in a man's body. Her new secret is that she used to be a man. And all of this came to a head when she (when she was a he) was married with children. ”

  Matthew K wrote this review Thursday, January 31 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 4 stars

  “Fascinating profile of a transgendered male who undergoes sex reassignment. The story is interesting and at times humorous, but ultimately somewhat tragic for the people involved. I will definitely seek out Ms. Boylan's 2nd book.”

  Judy B wrote this review Wednesday, January 30 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “I absolutely loved this book. The author tells her story with great honesty and passion, and you feel that you really get to know and understand how her journey impacts her and those around her. It demystifies the topic of transgendering and you feel yourself rooting for her success and lifelong happiness. I read so much that I don't always remember books very well after I finish them, but this book has stayed with me for a long time.”

  Judy P wrote this review Saturday, January 5 2008. ( reply | permalink )