-
Jennifer Finney Boylan
hi ladies … i was wandering through dymocks book store the other day … they are having their traditional post xmas sale. so little time, so little money … so many books!
anyway, i was passing another trestle heaving from the weight of books loaded up, when, for some unknown reason, i looked down and picked up a book called “she’s not there” (some of you sixties chicks may remember a song by the zombies of the same name). a quick flick through the intro, a scan of the comments etc on the back, and low and behold it’s about … yep … another male to female transformation story.
jennifer is a great writer – she should be, she’s a professor of english at colby college, maine – a sort of semi-ivy league uni. she is also a novelist. and her story is written with warmth, and mimics many stories that you hear of and read about, and no doubt you can relate to many of the situations she encounters.
but for me, i guess, it’s a great tale because it was one of those success stories where everything went right … great support from family, colleagues, and general public (maybe she didn’t accentuate the negative).
so it’s certainly a story of hope, and definitely a story that, with some luck, non transgendered people might also read to get a better understanding of some of things that go in the whole spectrum of stages that people go in transition from closet cd through to full surgery. it is also another story that shows that we are not a bunch of weird monsters out to molest children or a bunch of serial killers (well, i speak for myself, anyway).
it’s also a great insight into the agonies that partners go through too, so if your significant other is a little doubting or wants to know more, i would highly recommend this book.
if you are in sydney, wander along to george street and see if there are any copies left, or your local dymocks store may have a copy. if you really want a copy, it is also available from amazon.com (but not at dymocks rock bottom price). and dymocks building also has a shoe store specialising in larger sizes located there. oh, and did i mention the bridal shop on level 2, where you can fantasize about what you would get married in (with matching shoes)?
jennifer (or jenny, as she is also now called) also has a web site: http://www.colby.edu/personal/j/jfboylan/index.htm and has a link to her speech that she made at the most recent southern comfort gender conference. the name makes it sound like a serious affair, but if you visit the site at http://www.sccatl.org/ you will see that it looks like a great time is to be had by all … i’d choose the so-co-a-go-go night myself … get those white boots and mini skirt out of the closet … they may even play the zombies!!!
anyway, i thought i might share that with you … give you something to look up if you have not come across it before.
hugs,
vps sorry about the verbiage … i’ll try and not ramble on so much next time …
xox
-
3 Replies
-
Thanks Virginia.
She’s certainly someone to add to the list of TG luminaries. I loved her keynote speech to the Southern Comfort Conference.
Fiona xx
-
I too enjoyed Jenny’s story, she is a good writer. Our local library has a copy so I guess it is available through the NSW library services if you request it. My ex SO read it and identified strongly with Jenny’s spouse who could not deal with the changes. I guess that is the price to be paid for being ones own self!
-
I have to agree with the above. I just loved the speech. What a wonderful person. Maybe we can get her to come her for a talk?
Helen
