This is Chaz Bono's memoir of her decision to transition into a male. Easily the best book I've read this year. It's not salacious or icky in any way. Chaz is extremely articulate and honest, very insightful and - dare I say it? - healthy.
When someone is outside the norm, especially a celebrity, the tendency is to hide it, be defensive and combative, sneer at people who happen to notice, etc. Chaz does none of that. She comes across as just a phenomenal person, explaining her situation in depth with clarity and candor. She realizes that people are uncomfortable with transgenders and can feel threatened, and she does her best to....not normalize it, but help us understand what exactly she went through and how she came to her decision. She puts a very human face on the disorder.
It would have been easy for her to blame her parents, but she never does that. She recounts her circumstances very matter-of-factly - this is just the way it was. There is no self-pity, no recriminations, none of that. She is truly a remarkable person, and extremely together emotionally and mentally.
You all have seen my posts on here about transgenders. While I don't hate them or wish them harm, I've expressed disdain and considered them mentally ill. Well, it *is* an illness, and Chaz acknowledges that, but it's a lot more than that, and she is very forthcoming in describing it in detail to help her readers understand. But, again, not in a lewd or gratuitous manner.
Highly recommended read and Chaz is just incredible.
When someone is outside the norm, especially a celebrity, the tendency is to hide it, be defensive and combative, sneer at people who happen to notice, etc. Chaz does none of that. She comes across as just a phenomenal person, explaining her situation in depth with clarity and candor. She realizes that people are uncomfortable with transgenders and can feel threatened, and she does her best to....not normalize it, but help us understand what exactly she went through and how she came to her decision. She puts a very human face on the disorder.
It would have been easy for her to blame her parents, but she never does that. She recounts her circumstances very matter-of-factly - this is just the way it was. There is no self-pity, no recriminations, none of that. She is truly a remarkable person, and extremely together emotionally and mentally.
You all have seen my posts on here about transgenders. While I don't hate them or wish them harm, I've expressed disdain and considered them mentally ill. Well, it *is* an illness, and Chaz acknowledges that, but it's a lot more than that, and she is very forthcoming in describing it in detail to help her readers understand. But, again, not in a lewd or gratuitous manner.
Highly recommended read and Chaz is just incredible.
and FTM trans are usually more believable. His interaction with his gf is a little strange though..their relationship is strained now because his gf is a lesbian and I think he is now more "manly" then she pictured him being. He is also petulant and annoying most of the time 
but it does strike you how kinda "normal" he and his life are.
