Hidden in Plain Sight [Paperback]

Leslie Townsend (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 12, 2002

Leslie lives life to the fullest. She is loved and respected by her family and friends. Throughout her life, she has achieved many goals including working as a model, getting married and entertaining audiences as a stand-up comedienne. However, all the while, Leslie has been hiding a secret about her past. Always fearful of being rejected and ostracized if the truth came to light, Leslie kept her past just that, the past.

But secrets weigh heavy on her mind and after years of lies and covering her tracks through career pursuits and relationships, she has decided to tell the truth about her transsexual history and the struggle to live with the legacy of her decision.

This story follows the journey of a child in confusion, an adolescent in turmoil and a young adult, who embarks on a quest for wholeness. It is a story of breaking gender barriers and of crossing the chasm from male to female.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ms. Townsend has worked as a model, Actress and Stand-up comedienne. Now with the publication of her autobiography, she ventures into a new arena as author with a candid look at her past. Always an entertainer, Leslie embraces her new role of educating through her personal appearances and college lectures.

Product Details

• Paperback: 158 pages
• Publisher: Writers Club Press (August 12, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595237827
• ISBN-13: 978-0595237821
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,036,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching....but sad, April 9, 2005

By 

Awesomeguy (Atlanta, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hidden in Plain Sight (Paperback)

I bought this book yesterday after having ordered it from Borders last week. I wanted the book because my interest in Leslie was piqued because she looked so absolutely female. It is really unbelieveable that she was born male. Anyway, here's the review. Its a short book and an easy read. I finished it in a couple of hours. To me, the prevailing theme of the book is unfulfillment and sadness. It seems to me that Leslie cannot find her true self and go on to find hapiness. The longer i read the book the more i was hoping she was going to say that she had finally found peace and hapiness. Alas though, i never read anything that said she did. I just kept reading about disappointment after disappointment. I would have liked the book to be a little longer and gone into greater depth detailing her mom, dad and sister and what is going on with them and her relationship with them in the present day. I wish Leslie all the hapiness in the world and will pray that she finds it. Good luck Leslie.....you deserve it.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Inspirational Woman, July 18, 2005

By 

Roger Ling "Roger" (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hidden in Plain Sight (Paperback)

As a medical student in a well known Texas University I had the pleasure to attend a panel discussion by a group of transgender women. Ms. Townsend was one of the participants. I was impressed by her openness and sincerity. Since I will be working in the field of psychology, I was intrigued by her story and wanted to read her book.

I found "Hidden in Plain Sight" to be a very inspirational book. It expands not only the mind but the level of compassion for those dealing with gender issues as well. However, it also transcends her gender issue and speaks to the human spirit. It shows how far one person will go to fulfill such an enormous pursuit. In a society and era where an individual's existence is either prejudged or taken for granted, Ms. Townsend exposes her inner self and life to all of us without fear or reservations.

This candid account is about a real life, a real woman and what she's been through. Ms. Townsend's book gives rightful pride to her as she has the courage to embrace her own past without regrets, learn from her most incredible experiences while looking and going forward with her life without bitterness. Although it did not go deeper into the medical and psychological aspects of transsexualism, it revealed enough of her feelings to show where her true self lied.

Ms. Townsend's lecture and her book have given me an essential insight into the transgender experience. My goal is to provide unbiased, fair and quality care to my future patients. I now feel better equipped to handle a person walking into my office who may be struggling with gender issues.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hidden no more, February 16, 2003

By 

Diane Sutton (Branchbur, N.J. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hidden in Plain Sight (Paperback)

In this book Leslie shows the fortitude that is required to transition and the ability to hide this fact for so many years. Her skill as a author is evident and her fluidly telling of her life's story is compelling and well worded.

Her eventual realization that nothing lasts forever is like that of so many others. In the end her understanding that the past is not so easy to hide or that she wishes to continue on with this very secret comes out in a marvelous way.

One of the better written books dealing with this touchy subject. Her path was and is something to be admired. I only wish I could have such adventures. Even if some of them have not been happy times her life has been anything but boring.

Highly recommended while the supply is available. I expect this book to become just as scarce as the one by Caroline Cossey.