The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things- Hoax!?!!- So Fucking What?
Current mood: determined
I just watched the movie The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, finally; the book has been a favorite of mine for a long time. The supposed author was JT Leroy, a young male to female transexual who had grown up in very abusive circumstances, and who as an adult was near reclusive. The real author of the books was his "roommate," Laura Albert, aka "Speedy." The person who posed as Leroy in public appearances was Speedy's boyfriend's half-sister, if I remember correctly. The novels have a fictionalized biography feel to them and were promoted as such.
I don't care. Whether or not the stories were true for the author, they ARE a reality for many of us. The sexual, physical and emotional abuse, the moving around from foster family to relatives and back again, etc.,- for me and many others, this is how we grew up. Stories like these need to be told. People need to be knocked out of their complancency. Everyone was sucked in by JT, even those who had never experienced anything like that felt a deep connection to this sweet young survivor. This world has enough of that stereotypical syndrome of the injured person on the New York sidewalk being ignored by passerby- please think about who you have walked around, because you felt it wasn't your responcibilty and you couldn't help anyway. THESE ARE YOUR FORGOTTEN SELVES.
Beyond my own words, if anyone wanted to know what it was like for me, I would tell them to read this book and also White Oleander by Janet Fitch. To a lesser extent, they could watch the movies. They are certainly beautiful art, especially The Heart..., which was directed by Asia Argento, a true genius, but the harsher aspects are glossed over in both movies. People unfamiliar with the type of experiences portrayed may claim it's unrealistic. If this is you- I assure you, both the harshness and the sweet beauty are real- life is both more difficult and more beautiful than you know. Let in the other "you's" who know. We'll show you.
Current mood: determined
I just watched the movie The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, finally; the book has been a favorite of mine for a long time. The supposed author was JT Leroy, a young male to female transexual who had grown up in very abusive circumstances, and who as an adult was near reclusive. The real author of the books was his "roommate," Laura Albert, aka "Speedy." The person who posed as Leroy in public appearances was Speedy's boyfriend's half-sister, if I remember correctly. The novels have a fictionalized biography feel to them and were promoted as such.
I don't care. Whether or not the stories were true for the author, they ARE a reality for many of us. The sexual, physical and emotional abuse, the moving around from foster family to relatives and back again, etc.,- for me and many others, this is how we grew up. Stories like these need to be told. People need to be knocked out of their complancency. Everyone was sucked in by JT, even those who had never experienced anything like that felt a deep connection to this sweet young survivor. This world has enough of that stereotypical syndrome of the injured person on the New York sidewalk being ignored by passerby- please think about who you have walked around, because you felt it wasn't your responcibilty and you couldn't help anyway. THESE ARE YOUR FORGOTTEN SELVES.
Beyond my own words, if anyone wanted to know what it was like for me, I would tell them to read this book and also White Oleander by Janet Fitch. To a lesser extent, they could watch the movies. They are certainly beautiful art, especially The Heart..., which was directed by Asia Argento, a true genius, but the harsher aspects are glossed over in both movies. People unfamiliar with the type of experiences portrayed may claim it's unrealistic. If this is you- I assure you, both the harshness and the sweet beauty are real- life is both more difficult and more beautiful than you know. Let in the other "you's" who know. We'll show you.
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About the pix . . . No, those definitely aren't from a camera phone. That would be awesome, though! I've got a little Canon point-and-shoot that's gone through a few rough bumps but still works alright. I'd really like to get a nice camera sometime, though.
Have you ever read Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban? If not I highly recommend it.