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Doll Parts
Spend an evening getting intimate with Amanda Lepore, the internationally renowned walking work of art and New York City’s reigning queen of nightlife for three decades. Paving the way for today’s “trans revolution,” Amanda is one of the world’s most famous transsexuals. In this poignant and revealing memoir, Amanda takes off the makeup, peels back the silicone, and reveals to the world the woman she truly is, all with a sense of divine certainty, humor, and charm.
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
July 20, 2025
2025 reread: I just really love Amanda. This book helped me realize I was trans (something I had been questioning for years before I read this in 2017), and I’ve been questioning what procedures I might want to get and how I want to progress in my transition really and what I want out of life and this reread as only helped me more. This is my Bible lol, I love Amanda Lepore
I think the biggest take away from this book is that, ghost written or not, Amanda has lived a very interesting and unique life. She is 100% Amanda Lepore 100% of the time.
I don't want to actually talk about a lot of the events of the book (mostly because I don't want to take away the joy of reading from people by possibily giving some of the interesting bits away, but also because it is very... NC-17 to say the least), but I think anyone would find this interesting, regardless of whether or not you know who Amanda is.
Personally, Amanda is a role model of mine. I think she is really beautiful, and in a lot of ways she has helped me come to terms with my own gender identity. I think she is such a cool woman, and I wish there were more people like her.
I think the biggest take away from this book is that, ghost written or not, Amanda has lived a very interesting and unique life. She is 100% Amanda Lepore 100% of the time.
I don't want to actually talk about a lot of the events of the book (mostly because I don't want to take away the joy of reading from people by possibily giving some of the interesting bits away, but also because it is very... NC-17 to say the least), but I think anyone would find this interesting, regardless of whether or not you know who Amanda is.
Personally, Amanda is a role model of mine. I think she is really beautiful, and in a lot of ways she has helped me come to terms with my own gender identity. I think she is such a cool woman, and I wish there were more people like her.
June 20, 2017
Amanda Lepore is a recording artist, model, rule breaker, international LBGT icon, the reigning queen of NYC nightlife, and a self-made woman. She has been the photographic muse for pop culture visionary David LaChapelle and countless others for decades. Doll Parts is her first book.
I have to admit, I have never heard about Amanda Lepore before, though she looked familiar to me. Most likely I came across the pictures of her on the internet. I have to say to my excuse that I normally don't read the tabloid press and don't watch news about it girls or boys or self-proclaimed celebrities. But I made an exception for an American transgender woman.
It was an interesting read, not because the writing was great, but because her life is worth it to write about and also read about. Would I consider her as an inspiration or a idol for all transgender people? Probably not. For me it is rather Bobbi Logan. It is not very fair, because Bobby is a fictional character and Amanda is real, but those who read this series, know for sure what I mean.
Still - my recommendation. Read almost in one sitting. A big thank you to my GR friend Juxian who attracted my attention to this book. And you won't do anything wrong purchasing it. An unbeatable price-performance ratio!
If you won't get a hardcover, it is better if you can read this book on a device that gives you possibility to enjoy art photography (and kindle it is NOT).
June 15, 2017
I don't usually read biographies but Amanda Lepore was fascinating, so I wanted to try this one. Well, as I was reading, she went from fascinating to amazing, fantastic, awesome, worship-worthy and more. A kickass book, compact, smart, entertaining, with some moments sad, some touching, some funny - but always eye-opening. The photos alone are breathtaking. And it's 0,99$ now on Amazon, not to be missed.
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November 9, 2019Breathtakingly sexist. Fun read.
January 2, 2021
Taking book recommendations from Violet Chachki
June 18, 2017
says a lot without actually saying a lot, which i guess is standard for a celebrity memoir. still she's had such an interesting life that i thought it was disappointing. it makes sense that someone whose entire persona is based on fantasy would want to be obscure, i suppose.
david lachapelle sounds like an asshole, but i already knew this.
david lachapelle sounds like an asshole, but i already knew this.
January 20, 2023
Entertaining, icky, funny, self-exploitative, and occasionally extremely upsetting, all the more so because it glosses over those moments. This book makes me think of a glossy magazine you'd find lying in the gutter that's stained around the edges with muddy water, but still reeking with perfume samples and bursting with artificial colors.
July 11, 2023
Amanda is a trailblazer for the queer nightlife community. This book offers a look into her upbringing, trans identity, early life in NYC, and so many tales of her successes and how she remains a global icon today.
June 24, 2021
What a fucking icon
June 25, 2024
“…In America we have the luxury of focusing on things that don't really matter. Like lip gloss."
"Lip gloss does matter, Michael."
"Lip gloss does matter, Michael."
January 28, 2025
Pure Amanda, one of the most interesting humans to ever live
August 11, 2018
Fascinating.
November 11, 2018
A page turner.
September 19, 2023
This book is unapologetically Amanda, and I mean that as the highest possible praise.
January 5, 2020
What a life! Review to come.
February 1, 2018
4.5 stars, rounded up.
The pictures in this book are stunning -- definitely NSFW though, so I'd recommend reading it at home! Mostly of the bare boobs/pasties variety, although the very first picture is a full body nude, and there's one picture of her with a watermelon in front of her crotch that's cut suggestively.
I intended on just flipping through this book to look at the pictures, but I ended up reading it from cover to cover and devouring the entire thing in one sitting. Amanda Lepore has lived a super interesting life and been through a lot of shit, and I have a ton of respect for her. For as materialistic as she is, she's not a "mean girl."
There was another quote, something she said herself, but I made the mistake of returning the book to the library before writing this review, oops. But yes, even though she looks like a Barbie Doll and acts the part of vain supermodel, she's still a genuinely kind-hearted person and I think that's great.
Oh, another little part I liked: when she was going to beauty school and talking about how her friends took her out to a gay bar.
The only reason why I'm hesitant to give this a resounding five stars is because of some casual comments about her eating disorders, to the tune of "it's no big deal." It's almost romanticized. She also does use the words tranny (mostly in the context of "tranny bars") and transsexual (mostly used in reference to herself and her sex change -- I believe sex reassignment surgery or srs is what most people usually say today, but that's how she phrased it) a handful of times, both of which have negative connotations today. However, she did use the word transgender 90% of the time.
The pictures in this book are stunning -- definitely NSFW though, so I'd recommend reading it at home! Mostly of the bare boobs/pasties variety, although the very first picture is a full body nude, and there's one picture of her with a watermelon in front of her crotch that's cut suggestively.
I intended on just flipping through this book to look at the pictures, but I ended up reading it from cover to cover and devouring the entire thing in one sitting. Amanda Lepore has lived a super interesting life and been through a lot of shit, and I have a ton of respect for her. For as materialistic as she is, she's not a "mean girl."
"He said you looked intimidating and asked if you're a bitch of if you're nice." Richie was jumping up and down with excitement.
"What did you tell him?"
"I said you only had one mean bone in your body and you'd already had it removed."
There was another quote, something she said herself, but I made the mistake of returning the book to the library before writing this review, oops. But yes, even though she looks like a Barbie Doll and acts the part of vain supermodel, she's still a genuinely kind-hearted person and I think that's great.
Oh, another little part I liked: when she was going to beauty school and talking about how her friends took her out to a gay bar.
The only reason why I'm hesitant to give this a resounding five stars is because of some casual comments about her eating disorders, to the tune of "it's no big deal." It's almost romanticized. She also does use the words tranny (mostly in the context of "tranny bars") and transsexual (mostly used in reference to herself and her sex change -- I believe sex reassignment surgery or srs is what most people usually say today, but that's how she phrased it) a handful of times, both of which have negative connotations today. However, she did use the word transgender 90% of the time.
March 29, 2018
The book was really good. Some of it felt exaggerated but mostly it was just raw and real. I cried a few times, too. Highly recommend, if you like Amanda. GREAT pics in it, too. It is about 50% photos and 50% reading.
June 29, 2021
*3.5-almost 4 stars?? quick read in the best way, a fascinating character study and loved her voice. was not in love with the ending b/c it felt very movie / awards show speech but it did exactly what i came for / expected it to do and was interesting in how it handled gender/bodies/presentation/expression/realness esp against her own experience
June 28, 2017
Soooo...I kind of inhaled this book.
No matter what you think of Amanda Lepore, you have to admit she's fascinating.
No matter what you think of Amanda Lepore, you have to admit she's fascinating.
December 30, 2020
the best book ever actually
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October 3, 2025I’ve admired Amanda Lepore for quite a few years now. She is so visually appealing and honestly a work of art. That said, I’d never actually read up on her backstory beyond a few interviews here and there.
The photographs and photoshoots in this book are just chef’s kiss.
Memoirs are always tricky to rate. If you give it a low rating, are you saying someone’s life wasn’t interesting? And if you rate it high, are you just applauding the fact they lived it at all? So I’m staying neutral here. Rating aside, I really enjoyed reading about Amanda’s life, it was definitely a page-turner.
I understand this is a memoir, but a few parts did feel a little far-fetched. For example, Amanda describes dating Michael for several months before revealing she was originally born male. After a violent fallout and suicide attempt, Michael’s dad sits them both down and offers Michael the choice of using his car birthday money towards Amanda’s sex change instead. Michael agrees, Amanda makes a “new car vs new vagina smell” joke, and suddenly it’s a laughing happy family moment. It just sounded a bit exaggerated to me.
Still, Amanda’s voice shines through in her sharp wit and camp glamour. A few standout quotes:
- ‘When I’m not writing, or ending world famine (by not eating)…’ - dead.
- ‘I was also totally anorexic. I guess that’s bad, but I looked great.’ - slay.
- ‘Oh, like I ever eat. I went inside and threw away the single strawberry I had been saving for breakfast.’ - iconic.
There were so many parts of this book that had me Googling to learn more, especially those murders. Wow, what an interesting life.
The photographs and photoshoots in this book are just chef’s kiss.
Memoirs are always tricky to rate. If you give it a low rating, are you saying someone’s life wasn’t interesting? And if you rate it high, are you just applauding the fact they lived it at all? So I’m staying neutral here. Rating aside, I really enjoyed reading about Amanda’s life, it was definitely a page-turner.
I understand this is a memoir, but a few parts did feel a little far-fetched. For example, Amanda describes dating Michael for several months before revealing she was originally born male. After a violent fallout and suicide attempt, Michael’s dad sits them both down and offers Michael the choice of using his car birthday money towards Amanda’s sex change instead. Michael agrees, Amanda makes a “new car vs new vagina smell” joke, and suddenly it’s a laughing happy family moment. It just sounded a bit exaggerated to me.
Still, Amanda’s voice shines through in her sharp wit and camp glamour. A few standout quotes:
- ‘When I’m not writing, or ending world famine (by not eating)…’ - dead.
- ‘I was also totally anorexic. I guess that’s bad, but I looked great.’ - slay.
- ‘Oh, like I ever eat. I went inside and threw away the single strawberry I had been saving for breakfast.’ - iconic.
There were so many parts of this book that had me Googling to learn more, especially those murders. Wow, what an interesting life.
March 24, 2024
ohhhhh my god ok i found a pdf of this online and i sat down and was like 'yeah ok ill start reading a little bit it'll be good to just check it out. NO!! i sat down and read this all in one go. i love you amanda lepore.... save me amanda lepore....... ive been starting to channel her brand of confidence recently but i think that i can do more in her honor hehehehe. save me amanda lepore. anyways. god. she's so cool. i love amanda lepore so much. sometimes i forget this and it's wonderful to be reminded of her. i soooooooo badly wanna put that marilyn amanda picture on my wall somewhere ive gotta do this hehehehhehehe. anyways. god. save me amanda.
March 7, 2025
This was a very fun ride through the life and adventures of Amanda Lepore, a true queen of the night club scene. I appreciated the time and the depth it devoted to her experience of growing up and discovering herself and coming to terms with her family situation. But it was also really fun to hear her anecdotes about the club kids, and David LaChapelle, and so on. A true modern classic of trans memoir writing, by a glorious diva.
June 11, 2021
I finally got my hands on a library copy after 3+ years of wanting to read it. This was a short book but it was really good.
Lepore really is what she is on the surface, all the way down. Her story is full of twists and turns and I can't imagine how she made it out alive and clean. She seems to have a strong self-protective streak and great instincts that have served her over the years.
Lepore really is what she is on the surface, all the way down. Her story is full of twists and turns and I can't imagine how she made it out alive and clean. She seems to have a strong self-protective streak and great instincts that have served her over the years.
June 30, 2017
Until I read this book, Amanda Lepore was just a weird blow-up doll to me. She still is, in some way, but at least now I know why. The book aside from containing a marginally interesting biography, is a visual feast, offering up candid and professional images of Lepore dating back to the 1990s.
July 16, 2020
Love love love this book. Was a huge fan of Amanda's before and this book has made me an even bigger one. The writing is in her style and she has such a fascinating backstory which makes me appreciate her and all of those who surround her even more.
September 27, 2020
Well this was a fascinating read. Didn't really know who she was before reading this but I've seen pictures of her. And this kinda left my breathless, due to her life and those pictures. I say it again this was fascinating
June 23, 2021
A Wild Read
I picked this up randomly when it was on sale and thought it would be an interesting read and I was not at all disappointed. I had never heard of Amanda Lepore before now, but what an amazing woman and I loved reading her story.
I picked this up randomly when it was on sale and thought it would be an interesting read and I was not at all disappointed. I had never heard of Amanda Lepore before now, but what an amazing woman and I loved reading her story.
December 3, 2023
Such a fun read. Amanda always had a mysterious mystique about her and I was very intrigued to hear more about her; her beginnings and struggles and accomplishments. Her metamorphosis into Amanda Lepore was a fun journey.
August 17, 2017
Very interesting read. Amanda Lepore is still an icon to this day. Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews