Conundrum

[Guest AlexanderG]

by Jan Morris, who went through transition in the seventies when the phenomenon of transsexualism was barely known.

An interesting read.

[Carolyn Marie]

Thanks for the "review" Alexander. Any further comment beyond "Interesting?"

On Alexander's scale of 1-10, 10 being best, what do you give it?

Carolyn Marie

[Guest ChloëC]

It's been a long time, but I'd give it a 7 . It was sort of dry (well, she is English, I believe ). A lot about her emotional state as she was growing up in a male world, and then how people around her responded, if I remember correctly. She was (is?) a writer, so I would guess she probably wrote most if not all of it (as opposed to some 'authors' today).

She was back in the 60's or 70's when sex-change was still a startling activity. She was possibly one of first who was well known but not ostentatious (being out there) to publically transition. I walked away knowing a little more about what a person felt being born in the wrong body, but for me, it was only one part of a much bigger puzzle. Mostly, I'd recommend it for people to see what was going on 40-50 years ago and compare it to today.

Chloë

[Carolyn Marie]

I finished reading it a couple of weeks ago. I agree with you, Chloe, in that I found it dry and rather clinical. I think Morris comes across as a "typical" Brit, in a sort of stiff-upper-lip sort of way. For me, that made it harder to empathize with her as a person. But it certainly does illustrate well what Transsexuals went through back then, as compared to now.

Hard to believe, but we have it relatively easy.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Sam_P]

I finished reading it a couple of weeks ago. I agree with you, Chloe, in that I found it dry and rather clinical. I think Morris comes across as a "typical" Brit, in a sort of stiff-upper-lip sort of way. For me, that made it harder to empathize with her as a person.

I always find it interesting to see what people's impressions of 'a typical Brit' are.

Might have to find myself a copy of this and see if I agree or whether as a fellow Brit I see it a different way.