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23 of 25 found the following review helpful:
warm, witty and a bit naughty Dec 02, 2008
By Simone Blomberg
This book is a warm, witty, heartfelt account of a transgender person's transition from male to female. It will be of interest to other trans folks because the author transitioned late in life, after trying to keep her marriage and family together. It will also be of interest to historians of the trans community, as it contains first-hand descriptions of the community in North America during the mid-late 20th century (and of interest to librarians for a first-hand description of the development of modern librarianship in Australia!). In particular, the author was present at the formation of FPE (which was to become the crossdresser "sorority" Tri-Ess). The cover states that Katherine's Diary makes Conundrum read like Enid Blyton. I agree with this! The author has had a remarkably fascinating life. I particularly liked the cameo appearances of some well-known Australian literati (e.g. Clive James and Robert Hughes). This edition of Katherine's Diary is an update of a previous edition, revised and with extra photos (many color). It will appeal equally to new readers and owners of the old edition because the updates are interesting (What _has_ she been doing with her life in the past several years?) and the color photographs really bring the story to life. If you think you've read one too many transgender autobiographies, I urge you to read this book! It's unique in the genre, and very enjoyable.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
One Hell of a Life! May 25, 2011
By T. Dreiling
All I can say is that Katherine Cummings had one hell of a life. I would give anything to have been in her circle of friends. This is instantly one of my all time favorite books, I keep pouring over and over the photos. I love both the Greg Weight photo portrait and the oil portrait by Nick Stathopoulos, where will all this great art end up??? Would look great in my living room! Just a great, great book.
I just completed the revised version Sep 17, 2011
By T. Barnes
"htlba"
Excellent book about a woman who is saddened by the loss of her family yet continues to be successful in her new life that she has made for her. A gut wrenching biography of a truly magnificent person determined to make a better life for her as well as those whom she meets. Her hopes and fears realized as well as some of her dreams. You have to feel for her but at the same time admire her for her determination to live her life her way, and to stand up for others who are transgendered. Bravo!!
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
A devoted husband, father and achiever embraces womanhood. Apr 28, 2011
By Elaine M.
From the age of five, growing up in a close-knit family in the storybook setting of an idyllic coral island in the Pacific Ocean, with sea breezes in the palms and long Pacific rollers breaking on the reef, the author began to sense a curious need. All he wanted was to be a girl. He became aware of the elegant, flowing formal gowns worn by his mother and her women guests as they dressed for dinner in the British Empire style of 1940. He also became aware that boys and girls had different roles in society, and different behaviors were expected of them, and to cross the boundary would bring disapproval and ridicule. Even so, he daydreamed of some magical force that would change him into a girl, so that he could enjoy the wonderful experiences of girls, as he perceived them, permanently. These early thoughts began to coalesce and take more definite form after his family relocated to Australia with the outbreak of World War II. At age 13, he surreptitiously began to borrow from his sister's wardrobe, dress up, improvise cosmetics and with excitement admire himself in the mirror, all the while puzzling over an answer to "Why?" He devised a system to photograph himself dressed as a girl, and wore a shimmery evening gown for his 17th "fancy dress" birthday party, carefully applying full makeup and nail color. "She" enjoyed the day immensely in a way that "her" mildly curious but loving parents did not sense.
Yet as his male self, John served with distinction in the Australian Navy, attended university, found that he was implacably heterosexual and met and fell in love with his future wife. He traveled to Canada, where in Toronto he took a graduate degree. And all the while his compelling desire to be female grew. In Canada he expressed it by acquiring a wardrobe of stylish women's clothes and perfecting his feminine image, and then stepping out in public. He even attended opening night at the Toronto Opera as a glamourous girl, wearing a chic black evening dress and matching jacket, long opera gloves, sheer black nylon stockings, high heels, rhinestone earrings and a tiara. As Katherine, he outdressed most of the women at the opera that night.
Returning to Australia, John married, established his career and developed groundbreaking innovations in his field. He fathered three children and, after negotiation, was allowed by his less than accepting wife limited expression of his cross-dressing need. This involved, among other things, adventures in Australia, the United States and Europe appearing in couture evening gowns at parties and fancy dress balls, in revealing lingerie for more intimate moments with friends and for modeling, and wearing a sexy custom-designed black leather and lace maid's costume, black nylon hose and 5" stiletto heels. Afterward, he would carefully put away the satin and lace, and return to the conservative masculine role of loving husband, father, inspirer of academic excellence in his children, and steady provider for his family.
After 23 years of marriage and becoming suicidal, John had no choice but to finally acknowledge the undeniable reality and irrepressible force of his true gender self. His wife pleaded with him to give up cross-dressing and he succeeded for nearly six months. But during that abstinence he felt black dispair closing in. There was a woman inside who cried out for release, just for a day, just for an evening. In anguish he finally stepped off the cliff and left his family. He took an apartment and began his transition, living as a woman for more than two years. During this time of release and liberation, Katherine enthusiastically explored her new full-time feminine self. With her doctor's guidance, she intensified her female hormone therapy and blossomed in shapeliness, softness of skin and confidence, as an attractive, 5'6", well-educated, well-read woman with a sharp, mischievous wit and a taste for the arts.
Katherine proudly forged ahead and continued in her successful career with welcoming colleagues and friends who had known and respected her work as John. To her surprise and delight, she also made new friends who had not been close as John, but who sought her out for friendship as Katherine. She also kept writing professionally as a book reviewer for the "Sydney Morning Herald," Australia's most prestigious newspaper, and delivered book reviews over-the-air for the ABC (the Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Moreover, as Katherine, she wrote and presented a series of scripts documenting her progress during transition for the "Health Report," a program on Radio National of the ABC. The series was nominated twice for the Australian Human Rights Award for a radio documentary.
She then completed her transition to womanhood with gender affirmation surgery in 1989. By doing so, Katherine sacrificed her marriage and her family, for which she still grieves.
Those who are contemplating gender reassignment (gender affirmation) surgery will find valuable the author's candid description of her mental preparation and her feelings as she approached the monumental Day, her experiences at the hospital, her moments just after regaining consciousness, written with clarity and characteristic humor.
Since her journey to Katherine, she has also made numerous appearances on Australian television and given press interviews to discuss her personal story and transgender issues generally. She became active in the transgender community in Sydney and was commissioned by the New South Wales Attorney General to write a report on anti-transgender violence and strategies to prevent it. The report was funded through the Gender Centre of New South Wales, where Katherine began an association as the editor of its quarterly magazine "Polare." She has also presented papers at seminars and conferences. In addition, Katherine gives popular guest lectures on the subject of transgender to university and college classes, at one time presenting mixed gender signals to a class to illustrate the point that gender is a social construct by appearing in a pin-striped pants suit with high heels, a man's shirt and tie, and full makeup and jewelry.
Through all this scholarship and achievement, Katherine also found the emotional need for friendship, romance and love with three quite younger women. One of these relationships lasted ten years and included several overseas trips: to the United States, Canada, Wales, England and Scotland. Katherine would say, "My [gender reassignment] surgeon made me a lesbian."
This is an inspiring personal memoir, for it expresses with erudition, sharp wit and a graceful style the monumental yet elegantly simple truth that we are all different, some in small ways and some in larger ways, and we all have the intrinsic right to pursue our life's course in the way we see as natural and true to ourselves, with dignity and respect as productive, valued and often exceptional citizens and human beings.
Highly recommended for those who may be uncertain about their gender identity and are casting about for answers and a true-life example to guide them, or for those who are quite secure in their gender persona, but have the curiosity and eclectic taste to enjoy a unique and entertaining story of high literary value that expands the understanding of gender and its remarkable complexity and diversity.
The first version of "Katherine's Diary" won the 1992 Australian Human Rights Award for Non-Fiction. With 155 photos.
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