Man Enough to Be Woman

Rating:
Summary: "He doesn't even have his wig on."
Review: Author Jayne County was born as Wayne County. The book "Man Enough to be a Woman" is the entertaining account of her life as a transvestite. The author, who was born male, grew up in a small town near Atlanta, Georgia. The author's stories of her family make it clear that some relatives were more than a little unusual, and early memories include Wayne announcing he wanted to be a girl. Throughout childhood, Wayne identified with women--especially the glamorous film stars of the day. Soon Wayne was entertaining the neighbourhood with 'shows' in which he wore outrageous costumes and loads of make-up. After graduating from high school, Wayne moved to Atlanta and immediately submerged into the subculture of drag queens. As a transvestite, Wayne became Jayne and worked in America, London, and Berlin and was a singer, actress, stripper, journalist, and briefly--a prostitute.

Jayne recalls the Stonewall riots, Andy Warhol films, the Punk Rock scene, and Berlin nightlife. The list of celebrities she knew is extensive. There are glimpses into David and Angie Bowie's marriage, tidbits about Andy Warhol, Burgess Meredith's swanky parties, Blondie as a waitress in Max's cafe, Sting from the Police etc. Jayne also recounts her relationships with other queens--including Jackie Curtis, Candy Darling, and Holly Woodlawn.

The book bogs down a little in Jayne's details regarding her participation in the New York underground film scene, but the book is written with a very clear, clean writing style and surprisingly little humour. Jayne obviously spent a great deal of time analyzing her identity, and it shows in the final chapters. Jayne sought out hormone therapies at one point and considered a sex change, but in some amazing statements about her metamorphosis, she explains her theories of the spectrum of gender identity and why she decided to remain a transvestite. I don't think I've yet read a better explanation of one person's vision of gender. All in all, quite amazing stuff. If you like this book, I also highly recommend Holly Woodlawn's autobiography "A Low Life in High Heels."--displacedhuman

Rating:
Summary: Life of boy turned girl
Review: I love Jayne County. I loved Wayne too. This is all about Wayne transforming into Jayne, the true-life tale of a gender-bending rock'n'roll survivor. Jayne describes her early years, as a "sissy boy" who dared to wear lipstick in a southern small town during the '60's. Young Wayne was actually shot at by local rednecks. County wisely decided to get out of town, ditching small-town hell for the much more cool NYC, Andy Warhol scene. Jayne describes the influence gender-bending Warhol superstars had on the pre-Ziggy David Bowie. Bowie is described as a hippy who's only saving grace (at that time) was his outrageous wife, Angie. County describes turning down Bowie flat ("He was of no interest to me sexually."), and un-requited lust for...Rod Stewart! Very entertaining anecdotes about roomates Holly Woodlawn and Jackie Curtis, both Warhol Factory and Max's Kansas City fixtures. Highly fascinating account of her life in Berlin, and transformation from Wayne to Jayne.

Rating:
Summary: Life of boy turned girl
Review: I love Jayne County. I loved Wayne too. This is all about Wayne transforming into Jayne, the true-life tale of a gender-bending rock'n'roll survivor. Jayne describes her early years, as a "sissy boy" who dared to wear lipstick in a southern small town during the '60's. Young Wayne was actually shot at by local rednecks. County wisely decided to get out of town, ditching small-town hell for the much more cool NYC, Andy Warhol scene. Jayne describes the influence gender-bending Warhol superstars had on the pre-Ziggy David Bowie. Bowie is described as a hippy who's only saving grace (at that time) was his outrageous wife, Angie. County describes turning down Bowie flat ("He was of no interest to me sexually."), and un-requited lust for...Rod Stewart! Very entertaining anecdotes about roomates Holly Woodlawn and Jackie Curtis, both Warhol Factory and Max's Kansas City fixtures. Highly fascinating account of her life in Berlin, and transformation from Wayne to Jayne.

Rating:
Summary: To Be, Or Not To Be (A Girl, That Is)
Review: Riddle me this, Batman: when is a grrl not quite a grrl?

Why, when she's the lovely and talented Miss Jayne County, of course! Born Wayne Rogers (no, not that guy from M*A*S*H!), but having lived as Jayne for most of her life, County has written a raucous autobiography, recounting her more than 30 years as a performer, and the personal challenges she faced both as a boy and a grrl.

Jayne County first gained notoriety when she burst upon the New York glam rock horizon in the early 1970s, her shows as much outrageous performance art as they were concerts.

As well-populated as a good night at Studio 54 or one of Warhol's legendary Factory parties, Jayne's saga does drop, drop, drop those names for us (Candy Darling, Johnny Rotten, Sting, David Bowie, and Debbie Harry, for a start) and gives us a glimpse into the struggles that made up life on the road for this eclectic performer.

This book is a great trip through the "other" side of the female rock experience, for those of us who'll never have the opportunity to be there.

Thank heaven for (all) little grrls. . .

Rating:
Summary: i loved this book.
Review: this is a great document of the glitter glam, Max's Kansas City New York /Warhol scene, and Jayne)the artist formerly known as Wayne) is the Forrest Gump of rock and roll. This is must reading for fans of punk. all that's missing is the interplay with punk pioneers Jimi La Lumia & the Psychotic Frogs, the group that started the "death To Disco-Disco Sucks" movement, but you can't have it all,. Jayne's saga deserves to be a movie. this is must reading.