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Well there were so many reviews I had to make another page to
hold them all! I love it though simply because it's a growing
resource of information for everyone in the Transgender
Community!
Again, if you've read a book that isn't in this list and is a good
source of information and support please drop me a line and let
me know. Send your review, if you care to write one, or just a
brief summary of what you think about the book.
Thanks again,
Aimee
hold them all! I love it though simply because it's a growing
resource of information for everyone in the Transgender
Community!
Again, if you've read a book that isn't in this list and is a good
source of information and support please drop me a line and let
me know. Send your review, if you care to write one, or just a
brief summary of what you think about the book.
Thanks again,
Aimee
“Dress Codes”, by Noelle Howey (ISBN# 0312422202,
$14.00), was a Good Morning America Read This! Book club
selection. This memoir traces, as the author describes on the
cover,” three girlhoods- my mother’s, my fathers and mine”.
Told in an easy, engaging style, Noelle shows us her changing
family. Her father, at age 45, moved out of the house and started
his transition to become Rebecca Christine (Chris). Noelle
juxtaposes this with her own journey through adolescence, and
her mother’s rediscovery of her own femininity.
“So, you’re dating?” Dad said awkwardly. “That fun?” Mom
nodded, and launched into a girlfriend-to-girlfriend description of
the date. When she was finished, dad was red-faced and clenching
his paper cup. “I thought you wanted to be girlfriends”, Mom said
sharply. “Yes, but I was your husband,” Dad whined in her high-
pitched voice.” What do you expect me to think?” “Well, do you
want to be my ex-husband or my girlfriend? Pick one,” my Mother
snapped, “because I can’t keep track.”
After the divorce and during Chris’ transition, both of Noelle’s
parents start to date men named Michael.
Towards the end of the book, Noelle and her “Da” discuss a
renewed interest in a relationship with women: “Are we on coming
out #3 now, or #7? I’ve lost track?” Blushing, Da muted the TV
and cleared her throat. Da said she was attracted to women. (The
fling with heterosexuality a few years back, she explained, was
merely an adolescent attempt to seem more “normal” for once.)
She paused, and she said that she loved my mother. I already
knew that much. She added that my mother was exactly the kind
of woman she hoped to meet someday. “I don’t know how to
interpret that”, I said. “Let’s just say that my life is very ironic in
certain respects, Da said. This discussion just moved me to tears.
If you and your partner have children, I would certainly suggest
that you both read this book. This is a sensitive and unflinching
look at a family.
“Middlesex”, by Jeffery Eugenides (ISBN# 0312422156,
$15.00) is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel about a young girl named
Callie and her Greek family. Callie grew up to become Cal , and the
novel covers the span of three generations of the Stephanides
family as she recounts her journey.
I included this novel in my suggestions not only because it is so
well written, but also because it gives insight into the thoughts of
someone who felt she wasn’t living true to herself.
At 14, Cal finds that she is hermaphroditic, raised as a girl. She hid
her not-quite-fully female genitals for years, knowing that she
wasn’t quite like the other girls.
This book is a good read, and very helpful in understanding
intersexed/ hermaphrodite.
“The Lazy Crossdresser”, by Charles Anders (ISBN# 1890159379,
$13.95). I saw this book on-line, and was interested because the
point-of-view is so different from Aimee’s.
In the introduction, Charles writes: “A lot of the short cuts can be
summed up in one phrase: I don’t want to look like a woman.
Making people believe you were born female is the Holy Grail for
many crossdressers. But I don’t worry about creating any kind of
“illusion,” either glamorous or womanly. I want to look good and
have fun. To have fun, I have to feel comfortable and banish
worries about getting away with deception.” This is SO NOT Aimee.
On page 5, Anders writes” There’s a common joke in the
transsexual community: “What’s the difference between a
crossdresser and a transsexual? Two years.” He goes on to say,
however, that he believes there are many many layers between the
desire to dress and having SRS.
Anders covers makeup, fashion, lingerie, dating, body image and
hairstyles. For a significant other, this book can give insight into
the thoughts and concerns of your partner. Though Charles
states he isn’t that concerned about “passing”, he goes into great
detail on how to do just that.
On thing that I really appreciated was the advice to tell your
partner about the dressing.
Although this may not be the groundbreaking book for an SO to
understand all about their partner, it gives additional information
for you two to discuss. The reference section is also very good
and includes both shopping and support groups.
" Miss Vera ’s Cross-dress for Success: A Resource
Guide for Boys who want to be Girls", by Veronica Vera ,
(ISBN# 0812991958, $12.95). This is another on-line find,
although I have since found references to Miss Vera ’s New York
City crossdressing Academy in many books and articles. A GG
(Genetic girl), Miss Vera also wrote “ Miss Vera ’s Finishing School
for Boys who want to be Girls, although I haven’t yet read it.
This book covers in its chapters, makeup, hair, fashion,
accessories, various foundation garments, shopping and outings,
relationships.
A good 40 pages are devoted to resources, both groups, on-line
and physical shops.
There is a section for wives and significant others, as well as
exploring different sexual desires. While not written as shockingly
graphic, it is very frank, and I found it thought provoking.
Miss Vera specializes in fulfilling special days, giving instruction in
dressing and deportment. She also provides sex workshops and
supervised nights out.
There are several stories both by CD ladies and some from their
partners.
I do suggest this book, especially if you wish to support your
partner. It will give you quite a few things to talk about, and may
be helpful if you participate in assisting her with dressing and
makeup.
There are several other books that I have found but not yet read:
" From The Inside Out", by Morty Diamond (ISBN#
0916397963, $13.95). This book explores FTM gender
transformations.
" I AM My Own Wife", by Charlotte von Mahlsdorf (ISBN#
1573442003, $12.95). This book inspired the Pulitzer Prize and
Tony Award winning play of the same title. (I first heard of it when
I watched the Tony’s last year.) A child in prewar Berlin, Charlotte,
(born Lothar), grew to triumph over a violent childhood and the
brutalities of the Nazis and Communists.
" The Man Who Would be Queen" , by J Michael Bailey
(ISBN# 0309084180, $24.95). I haven’t yet read this all the way,
but I have skimmed it. A cross between case studies/personal
histories, and psychological dissertation, I bought it because it has
a chapter titles “Men Trapped in Men’s Bodies”. This is a variation
to what I have heard Aimee say, that she is “a woman trapped in a
man’s body”. Bailey writes about a term that is new to me:
“autogynephilia”. It is something that I would like to read more
about and discuss with Aimee. I plan to read this one next.
$14.00), was a Good Morning America Read This! Book club
selection. This memoir traces, as the author describes on the
cover,” three girlhoods- my mother’s, my fathers and mine”.
Told in an easy, engaging style, Noelle shows us her changing
family. Her father, at age 45, moved out of the house and started
his transition to become Rebecca Christine (Chris). Noelle
juxtaposes this with her own journey through adolescence, and
her mother’s rediscovery of her own femininity.
“So, you’re dating?” Dad said awkwardly. “That fun?” Mom
nodded, and launched into a girlfriend-to-girlfriend description of
the date. When she was finished, dad was red-faced and clenching
his paper cup. “I thought you wanted to be girlfriends”, Mom said
sharply. “Yes, but I was your husband,” Dad whined in her high-
pitched voice.” What do you expect me to think?” “Well, do you
want to be my ex-husband or my girlfriend? Pick one,” my Mother
snapped, “because I can’t keep track.”
After the divorce and during Chris’ transition, both of Noelle’s
parents start to date men named Michael.
Towards the end of the book, Noelle and her “Da” discuss a
renewed interest in a relationship with women: “Are we on coming
out #3 now, or #7? I’ve lost track?” Blushing, Da muted the TV
and cleared her throat. Da said she was attracted to women. (The
fling with heterosexuality a few years back, she explained, was
merely an adolescent attempt to seem more “normal” for once.)
She paused, and she said that she loved my mother. I already
knew that much. She added that my mother was exactly the kind
of woman she hoped to meet someday. “I don’t know how to
interpret that”, I said. “Let’s just say that my life is very ironic in
certain respects, Da said. This discussion just moved me to tears.
If you and your partner have children, I would certainly suggest
that you both read this book. This is a sensitive and unflinching
look at a family.
“Middlesex”, by Jeffery Eugenides (ISBN# 0312422156,
$15.00) is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel about a young girl named
Callie and her Greek family. Callie grew up to become Cal , and the
novel covers the span of three generations of the Stephanides
family as she recounts her journey.
I included this novel in my suggestions not only because it is so
well written, but also because it gives insight into the thoughts of
someone who felt she wasn’t living true to herself.
At 14, Cal finds that she is hermaphroditic, raised as a girl. She hid
her not-quite-fully female genitals for years, knowing that she
wasn’t quite like the other girls.
This book is a good read, and very helpful in understanding
intersexed/ hermaphrodite.
“The Lazy Crossdresser”, by Charles Anders (ISBN# 1890159379,
$13.95). I saw this book on-line, and was interested because the
point-of-view is so different from Aimee’s.
In the introduction, Charles writes: “A lot of the short cuts can be
summed up in one phrase: I don’t want to look like a woman.
Making people believe you were born female is the Holy Grail for
many crossdressers. But I don’t worry about creating any kind of
“illusion,” either glamorous or womanly. I want to look good and
have fun. To have fun, I have to feel comfortable and banish
worries about getting away with deception.” This is SO NOT Aimee.
On page 5, Anders writes” There’s a common joke in the
transsexual community: “What’s the difference between a
crossdresser and a transsexual? Two years.” He goes on to say,
however, that he believes there are many many layers between the
desire to dress and having SRS.
Anders covers makeup, fashion, lingerie, dating, body image and
hairstyles. For a significant other, this book can give insight into
the thoughts and concerns of your partner. Though Charles
states he isn’t that concerned about “passing”, he goes into great
detail on how to do just that.
On thing that I really appreciated was the advice to tell your
partner about the dressing.
Although this may not be the groundbreaking book for an SO to
understand all about their partner, it gives additional information
for you two to discuss. The reference section is also very good
and includes both shopping and support groups.
" Miss Vera ’s Cross-dress for Success: A Resource
Guide for Boys who want to be Girls", by Veronica Vera ,
(ISBN# 0812991958, $12.95). This is another on-line find,
although I have since found references to Miss Vera ’s New York
City crossdressing Academy in many books and articles. A GG
(Genetic girl), Miss Vera also wrote “ Miss Vera ’s Finishing School
for Boys who want to be Girls, although I haven’t yet read it.
This book covers in its chapters, makeup, hair, fashion,
accessories, various foundation garments, shopping and outings,
relationships.
A good 40 pages are devoted to resources, both groups, on-line
and physical shops.
There is a section for wives and significant others, as well as
exploring different sexual desires. While not written as shockingly
graphic, it is very frank, and I found it thought provoking.
Miss Vera specializes in fulfilling special days, giving instruction in
dressing and deportment. She also provides sex workshops and
supervised nights out.
There are several stories both by CD ladies and some from their
partners.
I do suggest this book, especially if you wish to support your
partner. It will give you quite a few things to talk about, and may
be helpful if you participate in assisting her with dressing and
makeup.
There are several other books that I have found but not yet read:
" From The Inside Out", by Morty Diamond (ISBN#
0916397963, $13.95). This book explores FTM gender
transformations.
" I AM My Own Wife", by Charlotte von Mahlsdorf (ISBN#
1573442003, $12.95). This book inspired the Pulitzer Prize and
Tony Award winning play of the same title. (I first heard of it when
I watched the Tony’s last year.) A child in prewar Berlin, Charlotte,
(born Lothar), grew to triumph over a violent childhood and the
brutalities of the Nazis and Communists.
" The Man Who Would be Queen" , by J Michael Bailey
(ISBN# 0309084180, $24.95). I haven’t yet read this all the way,
but I have skimmed it. A cross between case studies/personal
histories, and psychological dissertation, I bought it because it has
a chapter titles “Men Trapped in Men’s Bodies”. This is a variation
to what I have heard Aimee say, that she is “a woman trapped in a
man’s body”. Bailey writes about a term that is new to me:
“autogynephilia”. It is something that I would like to read more
about and discuss with Aimee. I plan to read this one next.
More Book Reviews