Geraldine by Andrea Thompson is a fictional story that realistically portrays the challenges and frustrations, both physically and mentally, and the perceptions of others for a gender diverse person.
This is Geraldine’s story from childhood to the present day.
Gerald always knew she was Geraldine.
Geraldine was born into the Strumer family in Yorkshire and was called “our Gerald” by her father Frank, mother Grace, and older brother Harry.
Frank’s search for a better job takes the family to Rhodesia, back to the UK and finally to Australia. Life in Zambia had its challenges for the family, with Harry and Geraldine sent to a boarding school in Rhodesia. They ran away and then attended a boarding school in the UK.
After seven years, the family moves back to the UK and Geraldine attends a local high school. Remaining true to herself, her school years are a challenge with few real friends.
Her escape was a love of reading. At age 13, she receives a record player, which opens up her world to music, which she loves.
Harry and Geraldine have a close relationship and she is able to negotiate a deal to become the manager of the band Harry plays in. This, in turn, opens up a world of pop music, band gigs, drug dealers — although Geraldine’s initial drug of choice is hormones!
Frank’s decision to seek a better life in Australia is met with resistance from adolescent Geraldine. Harry has disappeared, her parents are not accepting her as Geraldine, and she has no other option left but to go with her parents. Arrival in Australia sees her break away from her parents and forge her own life with friends who understand her.
Geraldine finds a doctor who listens. His wise words to her were, “It’s not really you who needs to change, it’s almost everyone else.”
Geraldine’s story is both heart warming and heart breaking as she keeps her individuality, her courage, her resilience and belief that she can fight and make a difference in the world.
The book is written in a way that makes it is easy to read. The family life and relationships within the family, and also her school life are portrayed realistically. Although there is humour in the retelling of these events, we feel her frustration and sadness. It is a story that keeps you reading, wanting to know the outcome for Geraldine.
Andrea Thompson has drawn on her own experiences in the telling of Geraldine’s story.
The story includes the fight for LGBTQIA+ equity, significant events, and law reform in WA.
In the author’s notes at the end of the book, Andrea acknowledges her “chosen family who are often the difference between life and death, and I love the warm embrace of those who recognise me for who I am without question or need for explanation.”
The book has enlightened me on a subject I knew little about. This is a thought provoking and rewarding read.
Thank you to Andrea for having the courage to write this book, for fighting to make a difference in the world, and the inspiration she has given others.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club members are reading Geraldine by Andrea Thompson. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
I love to read, any book on any topic. I now love ebooks as they are easier to store, I was running out of bookshelves! My other interests are family, gardening and our beautiful King Charles spaniel dog who is my reading companion.
Andrea Thompson beautifully explores the tumultuous life experienced by transgender persons, in her recently published, Geraldine! I was at first, very perplexed and confused with the non alignment of personal pronouns and re read the first 100 pages several times before I was finally enlightened. This I feels, adds to the story; I was feeling a very small percentage of the frustration felt by Geraldine when she was being perceived by others as something different. Confused, bewildered……not truly understanding what it was I was actually reading. Yes, it gave me a little personal insight into a world of which I had absolutely no personal knowledge.
Being a female of considerable age my values are a product of my upbringing and the influence of my family and the friends I have met along the way. I do admit, I don’t adequately understand the trials and tribulations encountered by members of a marginalised minority community. However, I do feel that all people have the same rights and dignity regardless of their race, religion, ability or gender identity.
I enjoyed reading Geraldine and give great thanks to Fremantle Press, Random House and Beauty and Lace for the opportunity.
Congratulations, Andrea Thompson, thanks for educating this old lady who is always willing to learn!