Boylan, who in her other life was a successful author by the name of James Finney Boylan, is a professor of English and Creative Writing at Colby College, Waterville, Maine, where she was voted Professor of the Year in 2002. As a child, James had always known he "felt female", yet he managed to suppress his inclinations throughout his school and college years, rightly guessing that coming out as a girl/woman would have lasting and irreversible repercussions. He married, happily, and he and his wife had two sons before the torment of living a public life and a private other self became too much.
Boylan finally told his wife and children, other family and best friends, and he underwent Premarin therapy for a year before having the corrective surgery that completed his transformation from man to woman. The dramatic story of how this affected his colleagues, his best friend (author Richard Russo), his mother (supportive) and his sister (still not speaking to him) is an inspiring, yet heartbreaking account. His wife, Grace, has lost a husband yet still has a sister or friend, and his children decided to call him "Maddy" instead of "Daddy" (or "Dommy", another possibility!)
The great value of this important book is that it is informative and explanatory, not sensational or argumentative. The author is not looking for converts or supporters, but is simply helping readers to understand a little-explored terrain. It is not political, but it IS personal, witty, humble, and a "great read". It helps when a real writer is writing about his life!
If you can't beg or borrow this book from Carol Hamilton and Peter Johnson, I recommend that you request it from your library A.S.A.P. It's never too late for all of us to gain some new insights.
Lois Pulliam for the
Welcoming Congregation Committee