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Hiding My Candy: The Autobiography of the Grand Empress of Savannah
After leaping off the pages with her unforgettable debut in John Berendt's bestselling Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the unabashed personality known as The Lady Chablis now brings her irresistible charisma to the remarkable odyssey of fabulousness that USA Today calls "sassy" and "provocative...."
Born Benjamin Edward Knox in Quincy, Florida, "The Doll" always knew she was different. At a Tallahassee club, in her teens, she found the drag mother who would set her on the path to stardom. Before long, The Lady Chablis had a headline drag act replete with trademark saucy wit, down-home wisdom, and, of course, breasts. The rest is "Miss Thang" history....
Born Benjamin Edward Knox in Quincy, Florida, "The Doll" always knew she was different. At a Tallahassee club, in her teens, she found the drag mother who would set her on the path to stardom. Before long, The Lady Chablis had a headline drag act replete with trademark saucy wit, down-home wisdom, and, of course, breasts. The rest is "Miss Thang" history....
208 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1996
13 people are currently reading
1065 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
March 16, 2018
Short succinct and surprisingly funny. Definitely listen to this on audiobook
August 8, 2020
I love “Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil” and have visited many of the locations mentioned, including Club One. My husband and I saw a show there many years ago starring The Lady Chablis. It was one of the best nights ever. She was exactly like she is in the book.
I read the book and listened to the audiobook for “Hiding My Candy.” Sadly, the audiobook is abridged and leaves out over half of the book. But it is narrated by Chablis, so it is a great companion piece. John Berendt’s introduction is super entertaining and not to be missed.
“Two tears in a bucket....”
I read this book for the PopSugar 2020 Reading Challenge category “A Book Written by a Trans Author.”
I read the book and listened to the audiobook for “Hiding My Candy.” Sadly, the audiobook is abridged and leaves out over half of the book. But it is narrated by Chablis, so it is a great companion piece. John Berendt’s introduction is super entertaining and not to be missed.
“Two tears in a bucket....”
I read this book for the PopSugar 2020 Reading Challenge category “A Book Written by a Trans Author.”
December 7, 2017
I read this book as a follow-up to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (and a vacation to Savannah). This was an entertaining and often humorous memories of The Lady Chablis and transexual female and her career as an entertainer. The underlying theme nightlights the struggles and discrimination that individuals with gender dysphoria face. The Lady has recently passed. I wished I had had the opportunity to see her preform. I am happy to knows she was able to have happiness and success in her life.
November 7, 2007
I don't usually read autobiographies, but I was in Savannah, loving the atmosphere, and somewhat obsessed with Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. So I read this. Good telling of what it was like to grow up in a small southern community knowing that you didn't fit in, dealing with poverty, hardship, and being born the wrong sex! Funny, heartwarming, sad, and a quick read.
October 4, 2024
Oh the Lady Chablis, they could never make me hate you
March 11, 2022
If you haven't noticed, I tend to read books set in the areas I live in. My husband and I move around A LOT, which means I get a whole new city to explore through books! Our most recent move brought us to Savannah, Georgia. So obviously, I had to read
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
by John Berendt. His book featured one of the most infamous characters, The Lady Chablis. I immediately grabbed a copy of her book,
Hiding my Candy.
Now, if you haven't read Midnight or are not familiar with the drag scene in Savannah....then you probably have no idea who The Lady Chablis is. She was one of the biggest names on the Drag circuit in the late 1980s all throughout the 1990s. Her stage persona featured comedy, singing, and emceeing. She created a name for herself in show business.
Hiding My Candy details the early life of The Doll, a name The Lady Chablis likes to refer to herself as. Her story is unique for several reasons. I mean this woman was one of the first Trans performers to sashay her way into the spotlight. She let it be known that she was all woman and expected to be treated as such. Which was honestly such a power move, I mean it's the South in the '80s. The Lady Chablis was an all around bad bitch, in the truest sense of the word. She took no shit from anyone. She stayed true to herself and refused to let society change who she was.
Now, it was written in 1996, so a lot of the terminology she uses is outdated. But that doesn't change the overall message of her story. She walks us through every single decision she made and why she made it. She talks about discovering her sexuality and what it would mean for her future relationships. I'm positive The Lady Chablis lived the life she never dreamed possible, and she looked killer doing it.
More reviews at A Reader's Diary!
Now, if you haven't read Midnight or are not familiar with the drag scene in Savannah....then you probably have no idea who The Lady Chablis is. She was one of the biggest names on the Drag circuit in the late 1980s all throughout the 1990s. Her stage persona featured comedy, singing, and emceeing. She created a name for herself in show business.
Hiding My Candy details the early life of The Doll, a name The Lady Chablis likes to refer to herself as. Her story is unique for several reasons. I mean this woman was one of the first Trans performers to sashay her way into the spotlight. She let it be known that she was all woman and expected to be treated as such. Which was honestly such a power move, I mean it's the South in the '80s. The Lady Chablis was an all around bad bitch, in the truest sense of the word. She took no shit from anyone. She stayed true to herself and refused to let society change who she was.
Now, it was written in 1996, so a lot of the terminology she uses is outdated. But that doesn't change the overall message of her story. She walks us through every single decision she made and why she made it. She talks about discovering her sexuality and what it would mean for her future relationships. I'm positive The Lady Chablis lived the life she never dreamed possible, and she looked killer doing it.
More reviews at A Reader's Diary!
February 5, 2009
There are very few instances when watching a movie before you read a book is not just enjoyable, it's critical The simple pulp paperbacks dedicated to science fiction is one example, but while only truly obsessive fans would enjoy Lando Calrissian's Milllenium Falcon Adventures the public at large can find benefit from reading Hiding My Candy, even though you should see Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil before you read the book.
The Lady Chablis, a stand-up comedienne Drag Queen, is a witty raconteur with a flair for personally engaging her audience. After seeing the film you can hear her voice narrating the text which adds to the feeling that you're sitting across a table having a private conversation with "The Doll".
While GLBT culture is often shunted to the shadows in America, The Lady Chablis' work insists that you take it seriously. Telling the her life story, from the first stirrings of sexual realization, to overcoming addiction and feeling, often, like a second class citizen, she remains positive, and eager to face future challenges. Through all of this there is humor, love for family, and optimism. From time to time her style and euphemisms become overwhelming. but the overarching feel of the memoir is one of raw honesty. You have to take that kind of honesty seriously, and you can learn serious lessons from reading it.
The Lady Chablis, a stand-up comedienne Drag Queen, is a witty raconteur with a flair for personally engaging her audience. After seeing the film you can hear her voice narrating the text which adds to the feeling that you're sitting across a table having a private conversation with "The Doll".
While GLBT culture is often shunted to the shadows in America, The Lady Chablis' work insists that you take it seriously. Telling the her life story, from the first stirrings of sexual realization, to overcoming addiction and feeling, often, like a second class citizen, she remains positive, and eager to face future challenges. Through all of this there is humor, love for family, and optimism. From time to time her style and euphemisms become overwhelming. but the overarching feel of the memoir is one of raw honesty. You have to take that kind of honesty seriously, and you can learn serious lessons from reading it.
August 27, 2012
I first came to be introduced to the character of the Lady Chablis while watching the movie ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil’. And then after I read the book, I realized that what I saw in the movie was for real.
This person, this character, stood out & stuck with me due to her humor, her ability to speak the truth and whatever else was on her mind. I thought she was hilarious and yet a strong person to not only allow people who read the book and then see the movie, into her life and have it turned upside down, but keep on going like it was merely a small speed bump in her life and yet embrace it all.
Growing up in the South, Chablis felt like an outcast within her family, as well as within her own life. From this she grew up to become a staple on the drag circuit and from there has slowly conquered everything she has put her mind to.
This book is done really well; going over her history and pretty much starting from birth, the story tells itself and pulls you in to want to know this person more & more. Through incredible family hardships to become known as the Grand Empress of Savannah, she has had a long journey to be where she is, but even though the book has an ending, believe me after reading this, you’ll realize too, that Chablis is far from finished.
This person, this character, stood out & stuck with me due to her humor, her ability to speak the truth and whatever else was on her mind. I thought she was hilarious and yet a strong person to not only allow people who read the book and then see the movie, into her life and have it turned upside down, but keep on going like it was merely a small speed bump in her life and yet embrace it all.
Growing up in the South, Chablis felt like an outcast within her family, as well as within her own life. From this she grew up to become a staple on the drag circuit and from there has slowly conquered everything she has put her mind to.
This book is done really well; going over her history and pretty much starting from birth, the story tells itself and pulls you in to want to know this person more & more. Through incredible family hardships to become known as the Grand Empress of Savannah, she has had a long journey to be where she is, but even though the book has an ending, believe me after reading this, you’ll realize too, that Chablis is far from finished.
November 30, 2024
This was such a wonderfully written and crafted autobiography, from the photoshoots sprinkled throughout the book to the recipe book tucked in the back. The Lady Chablis does not disappoint and never will. From this day on, I am doing steam facials with chamomile at least once a week.
September 7, 2022
This is the life story (well until 1996 or so) of a trans performer who was born in Quincey Florida but ended up performing primarily in Savannah, Ga, and Columbia SC. It tells the story of her life.
Her relationship with her family is detailed, with its ups and downs. Her father was pretty much gone from her life and her mother was an iffy presence. She was subjected to physical abuse at times, but other relatives were loving and supportive.
The book includes a look at her myriad friends and loved ones, and fans and employers. Much of the book is fairly humorous and she also mentions the book that she was a character in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
And if all that isn't enough, she also gives beauty tips and cooking lessons using her iconic "drag queen sense of humor" all the while. (secretly, I suspect there is a dash of exaggeration in a lot of her stories however...she might be the most trustable of narrators)
Her relationship with her family is detailed, with its ups and downs. Her father was pretty much gone from her life and her mother was an iffy presence. She was subjected to physical abuse at times, but other relatives were loving and supportive.
The book includes a look at her myriad friends and loved ones, and fans and employers. Much of the book is fairly humorous and she also mentions the book that she was a character in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
And if all that isn't enough, she also gives beauty tips and cooking lessons using her iconic "drag queen sense of humor" all the while. (secretly, I suspect there is a dash of exaggeration in a lot of her stories however...she might be the most trustable of narrators)
June 30, 2025
I grabbed a copy of this book at a Library Book Sale a year or two ago but hadn’t picked it up. After my Book Club read, “Midnight in the Garden Of Good and Evil,” not to mention it being Pride month, I decided now was the perfect time to read it.
The Lady Chablis was a larger than life person and character who I had the pleasure of sharing a drink with at a club when she visited my hometown. Her story is filled with all the prejudice, hate, and tragedy that one might assume a trans woman’s life would be filled with growing up in the South in the 70’s, but The Lady is able to tell her story with all the wit, charm, and humor one would also expect.
Her story is inspirational, and a great Pride Month read. The Lady was taken from us too soon, so it is amazing that we have her story, in her own words, left to immortalize her.
I highly recommend this one with 4 out of 5 stars.
The Lady Chablis was a larger than life person and character who I had the pleasure of sharing a drink with at a club when she visited my hometown. Her story is filled with all the prejudice, hate, and tragedy that one might assume a trans woman’s life would be filled with growing up in the South in the 70’s, but The Lady is able to tell her story with all the wit, charm, and humor one would also expect.
Her story is inspirational, and a great Pride Month read. The Lady was taken from us too soon, so it is amazing that we have her story, in her own words, left to immortalize her.
I highly recommend this one with 4 out of 5 stars.
January 11, 2025
I recently read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and it was an easy 10/10—absolutely captivating. One standout for me was The Lady Chablis, aka The Grand Empress, aka The Doll. Though she was a side story in the book, she brought such undeniable main character energy. When I discovered she had her own book, Hiding My Candy, it felt like the perfect sequel I didn’t know I needed. Her memoir dives into her experiences growing up Black, poor, and questioning, as well as her journey toward self-discovery and earning respect as a trans woman. It also touches on her perspective of having John Berendt, the author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, in town. While the two books aren’t directly connected, reading them back-to-back was an absolute delight!
February 18, 2025
4/5 stars! What a short but sweet memoir and perfect companion piece to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The Lady Chablis is delightfully witty and unapologetically herself, all which makes me eager to find an audiobook version. Reading her words makes it easy to understand why she’s such an iconic performer and host. This is also a fun book to have around, with her quirky lexicon, recipes, and stunning photos scattered amongst the often depressing reality of her memoir. This is a must read for those in or in Allyship of the queer community.
October 28, 2020
Entertaining, but clearly written to try to capitalize on fame over anything else. Lady Chablis was the best part of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. (Though it's been 20 years since I read that book.) Some of this book's language is outdated, written in 1996, and she never dives too deep into the painful parts of her life. (And we certainly aren't entitled to it either.) It is important to hear from our queer ancestors first hand, and no one can deny the trailblazing Lady Chablis.
May 23, 2023
I really enjoyed this heart felt memoir. They opened up alot about their hardships and I deeply enjoyed seeing their journey into stardom. I wish there was more details throughout the books but I can understand not as much of their life was open to be discussed. I loved their vernacular very much how they spoke in real life. Felt a little bit stretched out. Loved the photos and recipes in the back.
June 28, 2021
My book club read "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." The Lady Chablis is one of the most fascinating characters and really shines. I knew that she had written an autobiography but I hadn't taken the time to read it.
I loved it. The Lady Chablis radiates from the pages. All of the sassy shown in the movie version of Midnight translates to the written word.
I loved it. The Lady Chablis radiates from the pages. All of the sassy shown in the movie version of Midnight translates to the written word.
March 14, 2022
A beautiful woman, with an interesting story to tell. I loved hearing Chablis speak through her words and phrases. If you haven't read or watched Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil do so before you read this book, and you will understand about her speaking. This wouldn't be the book it is, if it was her voice and phrases.
February 16, 2018
I enjoyed how she wrote the book, it felt like she was reading the events of her life to me. It was very personable, and what an amazing life it was. I would highly recommend this book if you wanted to learn what it was like growing up in the south as the Lady Chablis from the 60s until the 90s.
November 29, 2018
Really enjoyed this book. Of course, the first time I heard of Lady Chablis was because of the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. She writes like she talks and I rather enjoyed it as you could here her voice and personality come through the pages.
July 1, 2019
As with anything having to do with The Lady Chablis, I wanted more, more, more! I hate that I never got to see her perform live before she passed away. That had been a dream of mine since I was a teenager. She was incomparable.
December 24, 2019
Can't believe I forgot to add this one! I read it after our book club nominated Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and I think this is a necessary companion in some ways. It's quick, charming and and more of frankly the best part of Midnight.
January 3, 2024
The Lady Chablis is incredibly funny and unapologetically honest about her life story; from her childhood, her journey in finding her identity, to her rise to fame. I highly recommend the audiobook read by the Lady Chablis herself.
Read
September 2, 2024After reading 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' and seeing its musical in Chicago, where Lady Chablis had such a prominent role, I wanted to read their book. It wasn't a great read, but I'm not sorry I read it.
Read
October 23, 2024While the premise was intriguing, I felt that the pacing was a bit too slow for my liking. The middle section dragged on, but the strong character development kept me reading. Overall, it’s a good book, but it could have been more concise.
October 5, 2025
I came to know of The Lady Chablis thanks to the southern scandel in Savannah, GA (‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’). In this memoir, I got to know her a little better. She had quite a life and was never afraid to live her truth.
December 31, 2018
Fun and funny
January 2, 2020
Compelling story of a very ballsy lady. Pun intended.
December 13, 2020
Great book! Funny, entertaining, and you’ll see why she stole the spotlight in the Midnight book
June 3, 2021
Entertaining quick read, and a great reminder of the roots and history of drag - a must read for anyone who thought 'y'mama' and 'yes gawd' started with Drag Race.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews