Sexual Metamorphosis: An Anthology of Transsexual Memoirs

by Jonathan Ames (Editor)

But who could describe my fright when, on the next morning, I awoke and found myself feeling as if completely changed into a woman. — Case 129, Autobiography, from Psychopathia Sexualis, a Medico-Forensic Study by Richard Von Krafft-Ebing
At the time the passage above was written, people who felt trapped in the wrong gender automatically became case-studies. Today they become the men and women they always felt they were. Transsexuals test our notions of what it is to be male or female and, more provocatively, what it means to be one self as opposed to another. “Their stories,” says Jonathan Ames, “hold the appeal of an adventurer’s tale.”

In Sexual Metamorphosis , Ames presents the personal narratives of seventeen gender pioneers. Here is Christine Jorgensen, the first celebrity transsexual, greeting thousands of well-wishers from the stage of Madison Square Garden. Here is Caroline Cossey, former model and Bond (as in James) girl, being outed in the tabloid press. Here is novelist and English professor Jennifer Finney Boylan discussing her impending transformation with her heartbroken spouse and supportive yet confused colleagues. The result is a fascinating and compulsively readable book, filled with anguish, introspection and courage.

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT, Queer, Gender, Memoir, Transgender, Biography

336 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

About the author

Jonathan Ames is an American author who has written a number of novels and comic memoirs, and is the creator of two television series, Bored to Death (HBO) and Blunt Talk (STARZ). In the late '90s and early 2000s, he was a columnist for the New York Press for several years, and became known for self-deprecating tales of his sexual misadventures. He also has a long-time interest in boxing, appearing occasionally in the ring as "The Herring Wonder".
Two of his novels have been adapted into films: The Extra Man in 2010, and You Were Never Really Here in 2017. Ames was a co-screenwriter of the former and an executive producer of the latter.

Reviews

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive and eye-opening collection of essays, letters, and excerpts from transsexual people, both male-to-female and female-to-male. From the early diagnoses of sexual dysfunction to the later treatments and operations, I was transfixed.

(Heh, transfixed, that was unintentional. Sorry.)

I read this collection to gather materials for a mini-unit on gender identity. As part of my graduate program, I am required to plan a mini-unit for high school Language Arts, on any topic or theme.

I considered the gaps in my own high school education, and realized that I not only had no positive reinforcement of gay and lesbian people from the books that I read (see: my last presentation), but I also had no positive examinations of gender identity, especially when identity does not match physicality. This unit is intended to provide a glimpse of that world and all of its intricacies, and I believe the essays of Jan Morris, Deirdre McCloskey, and Jennifer Finney Boylan accomplish this with grace, eloquence, and emotion.

You may notice that I selected no FTM stories from this collection. I regret having to reject those selections, because some of them, especially Loren Cameron's essay, capture a lot of the feelings that I hope to explore in this mini-unit. Unfortunately, with the weights of school censorship and departmental approval on my shoulders, I had to pass on these selections for their graphic explanations of gender reassignment surgeries. I would use them in a heartbeat for a college-level course, but for the public school crowd, I have to keep it tidy or risk losing permission on the whole shebang. The selected MTF essays accomplish these objectives, and I hope will still speak in part of the FTM experience.

Pardon the digression. In all, one essay in here is terrible, a lot are okay, most are brilliant, and all bear significance.

Thanks, Kara!

Buy this title from Powell's Books.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book researching for a class. I was looking for some personal accounts of people who have decided to become transgendered. This book suited that purpose just fine. You will either like this book or you won't. If you want to hear the points of view of the people who go through this transition, you will find what you are looking for in this book.

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay <3

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

One (I hope to see more of) anthology of memoirs from transsexual folks' journeys using their POV. More real talk means more understanding and acceptance and less violence.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of excerpts from memoirs of transgender people, arranged chronologically. As with any anthology, the pieces vary in quality, but as someone who has not read much in the way of transgender biography/autobiography, I could appreciate the variety of experiences (all though not a racially diverse variety to be sure...)

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4 stars. Very insightful read. I learned so much and have a much appreciated insight into transexual life. This was a hard read as the stories were a collection of memoirs so didn’t have much flow. Ames edited the book so I do miss his writing. Some of these stories will stick with me for a very long time. An impressive collection.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Essays ranging from detailed description of sex change surgeries and post-op recoveries to poetic, moving pieces putting ineffable states into words, esp excerpt from Jan Morris’ autobiography. But still (and so?) hard to read.

[em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Transsexuals r awesome

[Ángel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of transsexual memoirs so expect variety in writing style. Some of my favorite excerpts were from "She's not there" by Jennifer Finney Boyland, "Crossing" by Deidre McCloskey, "Body Alchemy" by Loren Cameron, and "Conundrum" by Jan Morris. I believe all these passages can be found in the original books. Expect a few memoirs to be filled with extreme detail on surgical procedures and insights about physical and emotional pain. I enjoyed the most those who were about dealing with past/present/future and family experiences. Some writing styles were unappealing to me but I still red the full stories. Others made me very anxy. In general, an anthology of heroic memories. I'm keeping this book.

[Athena Dykman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely incredible inside view of the many faces of transsexualism and the struggles and sufferings they go through in order to feel comfortable in their own skin. From the 1800s comes a wonderful memoir of a man who had a problem he couldn't even put a name to, all the way to recent stories of adjusting families and uneasy acceptance.
I read this is two sittings, and it was an excellent, albeit coincidental buy. It shows me that yet again, people are people, and that their incredible journey is something we can all identify with.

[Chris Ma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice anthology that especially pays attention to the many aspects of transition: the physical change procedure, the decision-making, the protection of privacy, religious/spiritual support, familial conflict, romantic relationship, etc. - the variety shown in this small volume is impressive. I would recommend it especially to people who are not familiar with this topic and non-activist/academic/professionals, since its selection has a nice literary tone and a rhetorical power, which makes me awe and admire the authors' courage and strong spirit at every turn of the page.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some were...blah. Others...wow! Who knew that a female tennis great and one of the Bond girls used to be males... I couldn't tell
which one the Bond actress was in the group picture ("This one is really tall...but so are many women. This one doesn't have wide
hips...well, neither do I...hmmm) But frankly, who cares, they are happy in the bodies they were meant to have and so am I. Let's
all have a toast to our amazing bodies!

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a series of excerpts from individual's gender transition stories. It starts very early in the century and goes up through the 2000s. It includes and excerpts from Christine Jorgenson and Jennifer Finley Bolin. I found this to be a wonderfully intriguing book that made me want to read more about people's transition stories. The stories do not sugar coat the difficulties that these individuals have had to endure, so at times this book is quite sad.

[Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read; first couple were not very interesting and somewhat hard to follow; middle ones were good, and the last couple were sad, but also good.

Pretty quick read.

[Shayna Goldstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my fav. He compiled these stories but didn't write them.

[Haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book helped me decide what to get my masters in

[Nicholas Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this anthology entertaining and enlightening all-together. I would re-read this book.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. Very good. Very interesting.