Customer Reviews

My Story

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Caroline "Tula" Cossey's book tells the fascinating story of a male-to-female transsexual. Written as so many such books are in the first person, unlike most in this genre, it reads fresh, if a little one-sided. Most distinguishing however is that Caroline is a famously beautiful woman, who, as a model much in demand need never have told anyone she had been born a boy. Had she not been forced by wretched journalistic cruelty to reveal the most intimate details about her private and until then quite successful life, we might never have thought her life worthy of a book. Now, we can be glad perhaps that we are able to gain an insight into her world.

Caroline attempts to relate as honestly as she can a story which is at times incredible, and possibly horrifying to some. Throughout we find evidence of her hope and great belief in her basic right to live a normal life.

This is a freedom which only now, thanks largely to her efforts, is beginning to be recognised in most civilised countries. Caroline is in many ways an unwilling champion of the rights of people who find themselves in a similar situation to herself. Part of the fascination I felt in reading her story was that such an obviously beautiful and talented person could have had such strength to recover from bitterness and defeat to press on and retain her dignity. What was done to her by the English gutter press would have driven many to suicide.

Her gripping trials make inspirational reading for those who may be likewise afflicted and look to her for hope for themselves. For others, her book serves as a testiment to the power of determination against formidable odds. Caroline deserves our utmost respect, indeed, our admiration.

I too,like the other reader from Canada would love to e-mail Caroline to tell her how grateful I am for her gripping life story. I too, have followed a similar path as her and was moved to tears when I read of her failed message. I originally purchased her first book, Tula: I am a Woman in the 1980's and was very familiar with her life, but "My Story" really brought home how difficult it is for us transexuals to live our lives and be accepted as human beings and not some kind of circus freaks. Thank you Tula for bringing home dignity to our cause. Thank you.

Caroline has done nothing less than a superb job in telling of her story and the may hardships and adventures. Her ability to convey these events as they took place is a very heart warming tale of her journey through a very difficult situation that some of us must make in our lives.

Her hardships are tempered with those of happy days where she had found many friends. Her vivid descriptions of the heataches is telling of the tribulations she has endured.

Her loves and tragic losses are given in such a way that the reader feels her pain as well as her joys. She now lives in the U.S.A. somewhere near Atlanta. But her life has and continues to bring many of us warmth and hope through her books.

This is one book that I have enjoyed reading and will always cherish my entire life. I only wish I had transitioned as early as her and had known this beautiful woman.

Like so many I would love her to autograph the book.

I remember Caroline Cossey when I was very young and growing up in England - she was splashed all over the British Newpapers and I remember my parents going on about it. I took one glance at her and she became my inspiration. I am a transsexual successfully living as a woman these days and I've just read Caroline Cossey's first book "Tula - I am a Woman" and her follow up book "My Story". I was moved to heart wrenching tears. I guess I have a story - but hers is so special. I wish I could someday make contact with her somehow - she is still my inspiration and always will be. I hope life is bringing you the best - as you deserve Caroline. You ARE a woman. [hugs]

I could not put this book down once I started reading. Caroline is very frank and honest detailing her life, yet the tone of her book is one of quiet dignity. She takes us from her childhood up to the time the book was published.

I was appalled at how the press mistreated her and ruined her acting career. But that wasn't enough for the vultures--they had to cause irreparable damage to her first marriage. The Groom (READ: Schmuck) was a coward who didn't disclose to his family about Caroline's transsexualism. His family learned about it in the tabloid press and demanded he divorce Caroline post haste. So he followed Mother's Orders and did just that. The marriage did not even last a month.

She carefully details her transition from male to female, which is very interesting. I think what she went through will help other MTF people who are also transitioning. They will have a better of idea of what to expect. This also will help the general reader to see what struggles transgendered people have to go through. It is not easy.

Although it was painful to read of her disastrous marriage, Caroline is amazing--she displayed so much strength and courage in the face of such adversity. A weaker person would have given up and crawled into a hole. I have a lot of admiration at how she survived the destruction by the press. She is a very strong lady, but then again, somebody going through what she did to be the person she was meant to be would not be weak.

Her beauty is stunning. There are several modeling photos in the book, both as her days as a Chorus Girl and as a Fashion Model. She was able to have different looks and would have been a hugely successful model, had she not been so hounded by the media. Caroline was ahead of her time. Had she come along now, she might have had a longer-lasting modeling and acting career.

What is admirable is how she has fought for rights of transgendered people. But I don't wish to give away everything good in the book, so if you can snag a copy through Amazon's Marketplace, you're in for an EXCELLENT read. I was lucky to get a rare hardback copy that I will treasure.

Wherever Caroline is, I hope she now has the happiness and peace she deserves. I understand she has remarried. Much Happiness & God Bless, Caroline.

Caroline Cossey was a successful model and appeared in rock videos such as SOME LIKE IT HOT, RIO, and others. She was outed as a transsexual and her modelling career was damaged. This book is a great read of a woman who has survived and thrived despite childhood abuse and transphobia as an adult.

I was suprised to learn Caroline Cossey ("Tula") had a birth defect with XXXY chromosomes. The medical term is Klinelter's Syndrome. Many transsexuals also have XXY chromosomes. The book is an excellent auto-biography of a person who tried very hard not to let the public know about her transgender life. Many people transitioning are paranoid about being "read" while cross-living. The public is becoming more accepting and "street wise" about knowing the differences between the gender of males, females, and transgendered people.

I have mixed emotions about this book, for purely personal reasons. I too have transitioned and indeed underwent surgery in May 2003. I read this book back to back with April Ashleys Odessey. It was a wierd sensation, like holding up a mirror to my own life. In the case of Caroline's story our lives diverged at around 17, when she showed a level of courage I lacked, it cost me 20 years of my life and a great deal of heartache to find my way back. This book like April's should never be out of print. It should be available in every school and every library. One thing that doesn't change is the level of general ignorance and the unbelievable disregard that journalists show for real peoples emotions and lives. Whereever you are Caroline I wish you all the happiness there is.

Worth reading if you can find a copy, she was a trail blazer , going unapologetically in the honest direction of her impulses. Written in a very intimate way but not salacious at all.

Truly Amazing. I would have never guesed a boy could ever look so good. This bok reveals insight to her turmoils and triumphs. You definitely get to know her better, and understand how hard it is to truly transition.