7 January 2015

Review #120: Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite by Lianne Simon



My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Definition of Hermaphrodite as per Wikipedia:
A hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.

Lianne Simon, an American author, left us entranced with her debut novel, Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite , that explores the journey of a teenager growing up in his niche while trying to figure out his both masculine and feminine sides of his demeanor as well as of his body.

Synopsis:
From the heart of an intersex teen, one who must ultimately choose male or female—family or true love—comes the story of a deeply emotional and perilous journey home. This is a young adult novel unlike any other—an authentic portrayal of the issues faced by a child growing up with a sexually ambiguous body.
Jameson can be like other boys after minor surgery and a few years on testosterone Well, at least that’s what his parents always say. But Jamie sees an elfin princess in the mirror, and male hormones would only ruin her pretty face. For him to become the man his parents expect, Jameson must leave behind the hopes and dreams of a little girl. But what is so wrong with Jamie’s dreams that they can’t be her life?



The book has two primary characters- Jamie and Jameson- though they are the same person. Jamie stayed there till 9years old, but when a doctor asks Jamie's parents to treat Jamie like a son, that was the day when a little bit of spark inside Jamie died. Till 16, Jameson tried to put on a good show in front of his parents but all the while he longed for Jamie to return back. But then he leaves for college, where he learns that it is up to him to decide which side to choose, not his parents, but back in those times, children rarely rebelled against their parents and with that Jamie's hope too died!

All the while, the author tried to portray Jamie as the poor and helpless character, unlike Jameson, who was the resultant of his imposing parents. Jamie is sweet, unlike Jameson who is brave yet weak inside his heart. Moreover, the author portrayed both Jamie and Jameson with compassion, love and sensitively, thus making us fall for both the characters equally. But I could not justify with the parents' character, and also with Jamie's peers.

The author's writing is absolutely brilliant and her exquisite prose and crisp prose keeps me glued to the heart of the story. The author has raised so many issues related to a Hermaphrodite back in an era when things other than normal were treated as a sin. Moreover, the challenging options and the choices that Jamie makes related to her identity are striking. Coming from a debut author, her story-telling is so flawless that it gripped me till the very end. This heart-touching and deeply moving tale will provoke your thoughts towards this issue back in the 70s and will enlighten you with the world of an Hermaphrodite.

Verdict: A great and intriguing tale that brilliantly shows the soul of an unique human being whose options are very limited as per his own wishes. A fight between two personality- man and woman!

Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Lianne Simon, for providing me with this engaging book, in return for an honest review. 
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Author Info:
Lianne Simon’s father was a dairy farmer and an engineer, her mother a nurse. She grew up in a home filled with love and good books. 
Tiny and frail, Lianne struggled physically, but excelled at her studies. In 1970, she was awarded a scholarship to the University of Miami, from which she graduated in 1973. Fond memories of her time there remain with her. 
Some years later, after living in several states, and spending time abroad, Lianne settled in to the suburbs north of Atlanta, where she now lives with her husband and their cat. 
While seeking answers to her own genetic anomalies, Lianne met a family whose daughter was born with one testis and one ovary. As a result of that encounter, she spent more than a decade answering inquiries on behalf of a support group for the parents of such children. 
Lianne hopes that writing this book will, in some small way, contribute to the welfare of children born between the sexes.
Visit her here 

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