Customer Reviews

Hidden in Plain Sight

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I've read this book twice and can't say enough about how it has touched me. I am a Transsexual. Though I've waited until late in life to finally begin my own journey of transition, Ms. Townsend's accounts of her feelings and motivations very much mirror my own. While I lived for years in doubt, Leslie is a person who showed the courage and tenacity to do whatever it took to become a real, whole person.

I agree that there are some things that are sad in this book - as it is in any person's life. What Leslie shows is the feelings and motivations that lie behind the course of her life. We get to see behind the facade of outer appearance and look into the heart and soul of a person struggling with gender identity. This is not a "Just the facts, ma'am" kind of book. Rather than a linear acount of 'what happened', we get to see 'what's going on' inside the person of Leslie Townsend.

I highly recommend this book. I also highly recommend an open, non-judgmental mind.

I was one of those who read the online reviews before reading the book. I had the urge to write because earlier reviews are lopsided in one way or the other. Or at least that's my take. If you're interested in transgender issues as someone going through transition, a family member or a close friend, then this book is not recommended. You probably still want to read it because of the cover. You're intrigued by the photo of a beautiful woman who used to be a cute boy. I don't think most transsexuals "pass" well, even harder to be attractive. Leslie is one of those rare lucky ones. I'm sure some transgender person is feeling silently envious looking at her photos. I wish I look feminine like her! My life would be much easier. Wait! It is also her looks that got her into all kinds of shady businesses and places. For a female reader, she's feeling pity and empathy. Yeah, she has the looks but not the right parts. For a male reader, it's freaking him out. What if I become attracted to a transwoman in real life??

If you also happen to be one of those exceptions who doesn't have much body and facial hair, thin and statuesque, look quite feminine and seems to get compliments from men all the time, go read it. You'll probably can relate to stuff she said that are not found in other books.

You won't find topics on passing, getting humiliated, double takes, make-up, dress code, voice therapy or sounding masculine, medical, legal issues and hassles, coming out in workplace, psychological stuff and therapy sessions. Not much at all to help understand a transgender person.

It's quite a sad story about a boy, turned 19 and left home without much education to pursue his dream. To parents of transgender kids, his family is an excellent example of how not to react negatively to your child's identity crisis. He had looks and physical beauty. They should be proud that she blended easily into society. They don't have to be concerned about walking and sitting next to someone looking odd or freakish. She lacked proper education to fall back on and support from family and friends. Because of the type of world that she inhabited, it's also hard for her to find role models or trustworthy friends who can guide her to a higher path. No wonder she had self-esteem problems. I can't blame her for several typos in the book. I'm a fairly good proof-reader. I caught only a handful. It didn't effect the flow. Several times she wrote "brake" in place of "break." That itself paints a more vivid picture of her background and life journeys. She writes much better and wiser than a junior high student.

Physical beauty is a double-edged sword. When strangers look at her, she wonders if it's because she's "different" or "attractive." She thinks it's the former. It probably takes a toll on her self-worth and confidence. I'm guessing most men won't bother staring at a female who looks masculine and unattractive. They know about it all too well ---not worth the effort. Her beauty took her to places (good and bad). If she looked so-so, she'll probably stay in one place, get a decent but borig job, make a living, meet an average Joe, get married. No need to spend wildly on clothes and partying, then always be broke, and then settle for "easy" money. It's like reading a biography about a model, a lot of sex, drugs, alcohol, travel, obsessed with her looks, dumb and stupid, low self-esteem, needing attention from men, never understanding why "men find me attractive, I was an ugly duckling!" all of that except that she has a hidden secret.

True, you probably won't even bother reading about her if she isn't a transsexual. But it won't make you understand another transsexual who is your friend, colleague or neighbor. This is just Leslie's unique story. It will most likely convince you that a young male can turn into an attractive woman. That's something parents of transgender kids should be aware of.

The lesson learned from the book is "With full understanding and support from family, college education or something concrete to make a living, proper medical supervision, a transgender person has a very good chance of living a very fulfilling life." (It appears she never went to college or any vocational school. She didn't seek psychiatric treatments either.) As a side bonus, the transsexual herself will know and understand the workings of this gender-biased world from both perspectives. A rare opportunity indeed.

If you've reached this far, you're probably wondering about my gender identity. M or F or MTF or FTM? Should it matter? It's hidden in plain words.

I just finished reading this book and I can't express in words how profoundly it has impacted me. As a transgender person myself, her descriptions of her experiences were deeply evocative and left me in tears more than once.
The actual events of her transition and life afterwords seem to be more the backdrop of the real story which is her thoughts, feelings and motivations throughout the whole process. It is a search for realness and a struggle for self in an intolerant world and the realization of ultimate triumph.
I highly recommend this book for those coping with their own gender identity as well as those who may be in need of a REAL education - Ms. Townsend certainly provides it!

This book is an AUTOBIOGRAPHY. It is not intended to give practical info to t-girls in their own journeys. It is the story of one t-womans journey. It is a cracking of the nearly impenetrable shell of what goes on in the mind and heart of someone struggling with gender dysphoria and, like salmon, an illumination of the need to swim against the current to find ultimate purpose. If you are prone to being judgmental, perhaps aspects of this book will challenge you. I suggest an open mind and a compassionate heart. This is only one t-woman's journey and is no less relevant than any other journey. I say she should be applauded for her strength, bravery and honesty with what others may consider mere 'seedy details'.

A colossal amount of praise, recognition and credit must be given to Ms. Townsend for her bold and courageous steps revealing her life story, her frank memories of life on the fringes of society and for the rare capacity to keep her humanity and compassion despite the adversity of being a transgender and a life long sex worker.
Living in stealth isn't easy (I know) and must be even more complex and difficult when the support of your immediate family and that of our society is either lacking or totally absent and negative.
Has the book revealed her entire life story? Who really knows, but it does reveal to some level and extend her addiction to sex and her external beauty which may explain why she has always seemed to take the easy way out even after her failed marriage making a living once again in the sex trade.
An honest autobiography and a success story of a woman that keeps her humanity despite all the adversity yes, but other than that a story of a failure of an unfortunate and wonderful soul. Many of us in Europe and probably in the rest of the world that transition early had similar struggles as Ms. Townsend but we still didn't have to resort to prostitution. Hopefully Ms Townsend will realize that there's more to life than sex and make a real effort to become a row model and a success story but not as long as she has a problem of peeling off her past and perusing real happiness.
It is unfortunate that this beautiful soul has tried several times to break out of the "loop" but always when the going got tough went back to her old comfort zone-the sex industry.
I resent the "plug" by one of her friends? reviewing the book especially when she promotes her own book while hiding the fact that she too for years was involved in the sex industry together with Ms. Townsend (Yes I just read Branded T ...), and now appearing to be a" therapist"...well maybe that is a true success story.
Regardless I have the highest respect for the author and I highly recommend her book not just to us in the transgender community but for all people and especially to the teenagers that find themselves in a crossroad, lost, wondering and confused. I was sincerely touched by Ms. Townsend story and wish her real tranquility, serenity success and triumph.

The story of an unfortunate soul experiencing a carefree life on the street as gay, a female impersonator, prostitute, a peep-show girl, and a striper but unfortunately never trying to advance in life as many others did through college and education. I understand that extreme strength, determination and courage were required to go with her transition including the energy to survive the cruelty of society and the life on the fringes but where was the family?
First impression was that this is a passage of a confused gay guy going astray but since the book includes constant cycles of rejection by men and by Leslie alike I came to a different conclusion yet still see the gay pattern in her life style and will not be surprised if she still lives in her teen's fantasy world.
Constantly running away from everything Leslie probably rejected men that have genuinely accepted her while given many reasons and excuses rationalizing her promiscuous life style. Is it a life style to please and suite the author's own sexual desires and fantasies? Probably so but who really cares it's her own life.
The passage of the marriage is also one full of pain, upsetting and disappointing one to the author. Did the husband either realized or noticed some of the male attributes in her triggering his abuse of substances and total withdrawal?
Has Leslie now mustered the ability to relate to men as men, and not just as economic and or sexual venues and entities? Time will tell but after so many years in the oldest profession the probability that she will ever adapt and adjust to "normal" life is quite slim.
Despite the ordinary quality of writing I highly recommend the book as a guide for both the young generation and their parents. In this respect Leslie has done us all a great service.
Credit must be given to the author for exposing major parts of her life as most of us will not dare or even have the courage to open up to anyone including our own selves. It takes great courage to tell the world of our secret, our internal and open struggles, our insecurities, private fears, our dark sides and our little chambers of folly. I found plenty of pride, humility, courage, and most importantly lots of honesty in this book and to Ms. Townsend we can only wish peace, love, harmony and serenity and thank you for sharing.

I just finished reading this book and it left me thinking about the author's struggles and life.
There's no doubt in my mind that Ms. Townsend was very candid in her story but it is also evident that she enjoyed her life long occupation- prostitution. It's obvious that her autobiography was written to help her own persona after living in stealth in so many years. I congratulate her for her honesty and courage but unfortunately she has not taken the step to better herself like so many others in the TS community. After a failed marriage, and still blessed with a rare case of physical beauty, Ms. Townsend takes the easy way out and gets back to the old profession, therefore I couldn't see much success in her modeling and comedy ventures. This is the story about a quasi model with lots of sex, drugs, alcohol, and travel, obsessed with her own looks, low self-esteem and constant needing attention from men.
The lesson learned from the book is that unfortunately for Leslie she's a failure. Other TS have managed to overcome their "past" and become real success stories. Leslie may have the looks but not the will to be happy and successful yet I would like to wish her well and congratulate her for her touching story.

As a professor of psychology in a well established university I have used Leslie's story as a case study of a transgender person including the psychiatric analysis of some causes of prostitution.

Comments by the students varied but in general they have found Leslie's passage to be very interesting, forthcoming to a degree but not totally honest convinced that some important aspects of her life are still shrouded in deep stealth.

It is evident that while on her understandable and equitable quest to become who she really was- a woman, Leslie suffers from very low self esteem.

Prostitution could have been her way to earn the funds to go through the MTF operation but it's a fact that she has never abandoned the profession while seeking the company of men to satisfy her own need to prove to the world and herself her femininity.

Afraid of her own self and possible success, Leslie blames the lack of college education on the ability to provide for herself and at the same time keeps on moving from one place to another and from one disappointing relationship to another.

Leslie talks about rejections and disappointing relationships but at the same time has probably rejected anyone that tried to get too close or open his heart and soul to her. A typical misguided self "fail-safe" mechanism to protect herself from possible future rejections.

It is also evident that the lack of love and compassion from her father has played a major factor in her life.

Several students suggested that Leslie displays classical symptoms of a split gender personality in a female body and will not be surprised if she seeks the company of younger males due to uncontrollable gay male tendencies.

Regardless, I have found Leslie's story to be fascinating, the story of a beautiful human being that journeys through hell in order to become the woman that she is without guidance or help from anyone.

I sincerely believe that given the right circumstances and family support and understanding at an early age, this most amazing woman can and will excel in whatever path she chooses in life. Contrary to my students, I'm convinced that Leslie has embraced in life the goodness and the beauty of the human spirit. She will be wise to settle down with a man that sincerely cares for her, develop any talents she may have and spread the love that emanates from her soul.
Highly recommended book!