Customer Reviews

Woman I Was Not Born To Be: A Transsexual Journey

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
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I have just read this marvelous book and I can't stop thinking about the people and places I saw, through the eyes of the author, that I had never seen in just that way before.

It so happens that I know the author (but I never knew ANY of THIS!). When I met her I immediately admired her -- but I never knew why. I mean, other than the obvious, which she did not stress in her book but which I can personally attest to -- how SMART she is -- which is quite obvious in the book.

Aleshia tells us how, at her dear mother Mozelle's urging, she went to college (which is where we met!). She dashes off her college degree while battling husband and health problems, and it's the latter two that she finds taxing. She breezes through her practice teaching, making it all look easy (and it WAS NOT EASY). Apparently she often made things look easy that cost her a lot.

Later she gets mad because some snotty actor "one-ups" her with his Master's degree. Just to "show him," she goes and gets herself a Master's too! So there! You see, my dear Aleshia, not everybody is capable of doing that, only people who are smart, literate and know how to learn. That's a quality so prevalent in the book. Young people should read this to see how a smart person survives in a hostile world, indeed a lesson for us all.

People on campus who knew I knew Aleshia would sometimes crassly ask me if I had heard that "she" was on sports teams as a boy back in high school. My answer was heartfelt. "I don't know, but I do know that she's more of a woman than I'll ever be." It was true. She admits in her book, she was a slave to the times of Jackie, Marilyn and a woman cleaving to a man not only for food and shelter but also her identity. This "pre-feminist" era is difficult to explain to anyone who wasn't there, but Aleshia does a very fine job.

So yes, I have always admired Aleshia, and I really admire this book. As someone who has known her (off and on) since college, I will tell you that this book is just like sitting down with her on a cozy evening and saying, "So, you castrated yourself, huh?," and she takes it from there, an honest, earnest, touching and amusing story of sexual (genetic?) confusion.

Finally, I look at the picture of "Buddy." I look in "his" eyes and I see the Aleshia I know. It's ALESHIA. I don't have the words, but it is the soul, the essence of "buddy/aleshia," one person... Anyway, whether man, woman, boy or girl... SHE IS. Thank God for that!

P.Murphy
(Fellow Speech & Theater Major at MTSU, now a writer in Hollywood)

Laughing through the tears and whistling past the graveyard and surviving to write it all down. This book is the humourous, down-to-earth account of a very brave boy who never was and woman who longed to be. Brevard takes the reader on a wild ride from the backwoods of her (his) Tennessee childhood in the 40's, to San Fran's Finocchios in the 50's, to the horror of self-castration,required for gender re-assignment surgery in the 60's.

The book evokes the humor and pathos of following this real life adventure. The injustice of having to hide is mixed with Brevard's insecurities and submission to the male dominated attitudes of that time, until finally resolving, within herself, the true value of her life and existence.

The book can occasionally be hard to follow because it moves quickly through many events, but whatever effort is expended, it is well worth the read! In this book, the reader becomes intimately acquainted with one of the most courageous yet charming, engaging and beautiful women of our time.

This autobiographical work, written in a bold, brash, and breezy style, chronicles the journey of Buddy Crenshaw, a shy farm boy from rural Tennessee, who travels along the rocky road of transexualism. It is a journey which culminates in a career in the entertainment field as Aleshia Brevard. It is also an interesting, though bumpy ride, as "Buddy" comes to terms with the gender identity issues that so occupied her early life. Buddy finally made that leap of faith, and, in keeping with the maxim "to thine own self be true", metamorphosed into Aleshia Brevard.

Her life's journey is written about with a great deal of humor, as well as pathos. Ms. Brevard is certainly resilient, having encountered sexism on both sides of the coin, first as a "sissy" boy, later as a buxom, bombshell starlet. Hers is a fascinating life, replete with questions as to what it really means to be a woman in today's society. It also offers a unique glimpse into the early history of surgical intervention for transexualism, as well as a candid view of the transgender experience. A transexual's journey is not an easy one, by any means.

Through the author's experience, the reader can see that women may have come a long way, but still have a ways to go. It is interesting to see Ms. Brevard initially try to conform to stereotypic female norms, only to ultimately question a woman's assigned role in society, as she matures. In breaking away from societal expectations, she eventually becomes all the happier for it. Her journey in life is a quest for self-acceptance and an affirmation of the resiliency of the human spirit.

I baught this book for myself for Christmas 2008. I read it straight through. It floored me! The author is able to reach down inside of the reader and bring up all kinds of wonderful feel-goods about life. The fact that she's transsexual is secondary to the interesting life Aleshia has lived. An actress, a college proffesor, and a great friend to the ones who cross her path. After reading it, I located the Author and was able to see how genuine a person she is. She is brave, and very courageous. You will not be dissappointed with this purchase. I'll treasure mine forever. We can only hope their will be a sequell to keep us informed and entertained! What a gal, Alesia Brevard!

I'm not even completely finished with this book, but feel compelled to post a `review.' I've been fascinated with transsexuals stories since I discovered Canary Conn's (born Danny O'Connor) autobiography when in college. I guess I've been searching for better understanding as to what would cause a person to make the ultimate, surgical, decision. Well, I can honestly say that after reading most of Aleshia Brevard's honest autobiography, I am not only fairly close to understanding, but have the utmost respect for those who have to correct a birth defect in their gender (to paraphrase Ms. Brevard). But, this book isn't merely a transsexual's story - it's a human story about feeling different, and how to correct that difference. I fully applaud Ms. Brevard, not only for her integrity and grit to make that ultimate corrective action, but also for this wonderfully human account that's now shared with the world (and, she's got a great sense of humor). Let's hope that more people, no matter what their gender, read and appreciate this book. To Ms. Brevard I say, BRAVA!

I had been wanting to read this book forever, and earlier this year i bought it here at AMAZON...of course!I was truly floored by her honesty and brashness! I have had the joy of corresponding with this amazing woman personally and she is as genuine in real life as in her book! She invites you into her life and immediately makes you feel like you've known her forever!
The book leads you through her life up to the early Nineteen Eighties, and up to that point no leaf is left unturned and nothing is glorified! Its just 'Smack' in your face ! Take it or leave it! Aleshia Brevard is a pioneer woman, literally! What her generation of TG women have done to lead the way and dig the(sometimes brutal) path for the rest of us needs to mentioned!
For that I personally thank you Aleshia.DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK!
ALEXA

A real life tale that is beyond any fictional biographical material. Written in a steam of consciousness style that puts you in the author's various shoes. And by all accounts... she has a large closet full of them. What a fine tribute to the discovery of the human identity! Read this one. I mean it.

Thoroughly entertaining read that kept me interested all the way through. Also a really good historical perspective on male-to-female transexuality in the very early years. I was glad to learn that Alecia has succeeded in reaching a very admirable level of maturity and contentment.

What can i say about this book. Well It's very rare for me to read any book from cover to cover but this one had me gripped its funny and its also very sad in places. As you read the book you begin to feel like your part of what is taking place you feel like you're in the book especially if you are trans gender or you just like gender related books.
Don't pass this book because the subject of trans-gender doesn't appeal to you buy it and read it and you might find out what it is like on the other side.

Well Ms. Brevard is a true blue 100% female, an actress in major Hollywood movies and a regular on the Dean Martin Show, and Red Skelton, she goes on to marry, continue acting when many women stop, she went on to Star in many dinner theaters when they were really great, a co ed and graduate, an inspiration to many, God Bless Ms. Brevard & God Bless America.