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Hiding My Candy: The Autobiography of the Grand Empress of Savannah
 
 
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Hiding My Candy: The Autobiography of the Grand Empress of Savannah [Paperback]

The Lady Chablis (Author), Theodore Bouloukos (Author), Robin Bowman (Photographer), John Berenft (Introduction)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews) |
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Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1997
After leaping off the pages with he 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....

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Chablis is a full-time transvestite. In clinical terms, she is a preoperative transsexual," John Berendt explains in his introduction. Chablis takes it from there, presenting a sassy, tongue-in-cheek version of her life story, which she began as Benjamin Edward Knox in 1957. She recounts growing up in Florida as a self-confessed "sissy-child"; recalls being abandoned by both her mother and father and being raised by her classy grandmother; and notes the problems she and her family had coming to terms with her sexuality. She tells of her imprisonment for shoplifting; her debut on stage as a female impersonator in Atlanta in the mid-1970s; taking hormones to grow breasts; and the high cost of electrolysis. After winning the Miss Gay World Pageant, Chablis moved on to Savannah, where she changed her act to include stand-up comedy. Writing with freelancer Bouloukos, Chablis presents a good-natured biography that covers the gamut from sexual adventures with unsuspecting straight males to beauty tips and a listing of her favorite recipes. Photos.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Lady Chablis, the most unforgettable character in John Berendt's best-selling Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (LJ 1/94), stirs up the past to tell all in this witty and entertaining autobiography. Born Benjamin Knox in 1950s rural Florida, Chablis (a.k.a. Y'mama, a.k.a. the Doll) is technically a preoperative transsexual. Being no average drag queen, Chablis more than hides truth of gender by parodying femininity with a lifelong performance beyond any nightclub's. A bittersweet story filled with abuses and ambitions, Chablis's life is a mix of bawdy vaudeville and Southern gothic. The Lady also offers a chapter of homestyle recipes, a glossary of Chablisisms, and a guide to transvestite beauty and fashion. Berendt's introduction calls Chablis "a gifted comedienne whose humor is instintive...[with] a flair for the outageous, and?I trust she'll forgive me for saying so?balls." The same could be said for this book.?David Nudo, "Library Journal.-- a flair for the outageous, and?I trust she'll forgive me for saying so?balls." The same could be said for this book.?David Nudo, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 208 pages
  • Publisher: Pocket Books (August 1, 1997)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0671520954
  • ISBN-13: 978-0671520953
  • Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #730,546 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Authors

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robin Bowman
Lady Chablis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book after seeing the lady chablis in Midnight and the Garden of Good and Evil. If you've seen the movie, the books reads just like she's talking to you. It follows from her beginnings, discovering herself, meeting up with her first drag queens, all the way through to the black people's ball, and hormones. If you're looking for a light, fun read, about a very interesting real-life person, this definately fits the bill. Don't expect perfect grammar, because that's not how she talks, so this is "from the horse's mouth" so to speak.

as a side note, the lady chablis actually does appear in the movie version of the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. the dynamic that she and john cusak have is incredible, and her comments about two tears in a bucket, nearly made me wet my pants from laughing so hard :) the people i went with to see the movie actually didn't even realize that she was a transgender person until half way through the movie....
<!br>if there is any one character that "makes" the movie, it's her.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a plain good read on several levels.

First, The Lady Chablis herself, with the help of a co-author, has managed to convey her highly entertaining stage persona on paper--no mean feat. I suspect, though I have not listened to it, that the audio version of the book is a scream.

Second, the bare facts of her autobiography as she tells them are riveting. One has to respect the desire to be true to an authentic self that is different from the norm when it drives an African-American biological male in the South to dress as a female during adolescence. The Lady could easily have been killed on her way to stardom!

Third, as a "fish" (biological female) myself, I always learn a thing or two about the nature of Glamour-with-a-capital-G from the writings of persons whose femininity comes primarily from their minds. As Blanche DuBois said, fifty percent of a woman's charm is illusion (or something like that). The illusion The Lady creates is uniquely her own.

Finally, The Lady's discussion of why she has not had gender reassignment surgery adds a serious note that is easy to ignore. The Lady Chablis has played well the hand she was dealt in life with more complicated cards than most receive.

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16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Enjoyed it! September 9, 2000
Format:Paperback
I was initially introduced to The Lady in the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I ran across this autobiography at a thrift sale and started casually reading the first few pages. Well I was hook and finished the novel in one sitting (it's a short read). The Lady's life story is interesting, informative and funny. She is quite the character living her real-life drama of struggle with flair and determination. Sassy and quick witted, the Lady tells her story with charm, humor and truth. A nice quick read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
You will fall in love with Lady Chablis!
If you are a fan of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", weather it is the book or the movie. You will remember the lovely Lady Chablis! Read more
Published 11 months ago by Moussemama
"Love This Book and I Love Her"
The Lady Chablis is most known to the public for her oustanding performances in clubs in the south as a drag performer. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Terry Richard
Empress of Savannah
this is a great book about 'her' and her life and how she got started. Mentions of Savannah and other areas. I would say it is written for adults.
Published 18 months ago by Maggie
"Bold and Honest!"
I found "Hiding my Candy" to be both a frank and bold self-exposè by the Lady Chablis of Savannah. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Nikolai Longfellow
Simply Beautiful !!!
Simply Love the Spirit, the Lady, the Grand Empress !!! And Wow !!! Beautiful pictures.
Published on May 17, 2010 by Sunny Oshun
People Should Take My Views w/ Only a Small Grain of Salt...
...because the truth is- even though this book is a very slender volume- I still couldn't force myself through it in entirety. Read more
Published on February 12, 2010 by Kevin J. Olomon
The Lady, or the Doll, is a trip!!!!
The Lady, or the Doll, as she likes to be called, is funny as hell. This light autobiography based on her life in Savannah, GA "society" is quite interesting and amusing. Read more
Published on September 16, 2009 by James Thompson
Give it up for the Lady
If you have read "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" you certainly remember one of the most fascinating and intriguing characters of the book. Read more
Published on August 1, 2007 by Sebastian Fernandez
An Excellent Read
This is a very honest and straightforward book about The Lady Chablis. I bought this for my husband for Christmas and he couldn't put it down. He told me I "had to read this book". Read more
Published on January 11, 2007 by L. Williams
Lady Chablis is the real thing
After seeing Lady Chablis in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", I was looking forward to reading her book. She doesn't hide much in this book. Read more
Published on August 7, 2005 by C. A. Jenkins
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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First Sentence:
IT IS N0T enough to say that Chablis is a drag queen, or even that she is a black drag queen. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
The Doll, Miss Debbie, Miss Tina, The Lady Chablis, Miss Rhond, Miss Bobby Ray, Brenda Dale Knox, Calvin Shearer, Miss Dawn, Miss Denise, Miss Pee-Wee, Benjamin Knox, Friends Lounge, Keith Pyrtle, Miss Benji, South Carolina, Aunt Kate, Larry Marks, Li'l Leo, Miss Gay World, Brenda Knox, Miss Chez Cabaret, Prince George Inn, Desia Mae, Dust Bunnies
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