Lucy Sante can never go wrong as a writer. And after reading her new book, I Heard Her Call My Name: a memoir of transition, I truly like her as a fellow citizen of planet Earth. But I have always loved Lucy through her various books on culture, which I found fascinating. On one level, I Heard Her Call My Name is about Sante’s journey from one world (being a male) to another (being a female), but with that perspective, it also covers New York City culture of the post-punk years and the strange awkwardness of being of two cultures—America and Belgium. I had a hard time pulling myself away from reading the book and only took a seven-hour nap between the readings. Except for my eyes being closed during those hours, I read the book in one sitting.
There are people I admire through their work, such as Duncan Hannah, the painter/writer, and, of course, Lucy. Since I’m an only child like Lucy, I relate to her thoughts on being alone and observing the world around her (or us). All three of us are roughly the same age (until Duncan passed away last year), and in my mind, I want to be in the same club as those two. So, I lost one imaginary brother (Duncan), and I still have my imaginary sister, who was once my imaginary brother. How Lucy perceives her journey and how slowly it dawns on her that she needs to change certain things in her life is a profound reason for writing this memoir. The book is very much a remarkable tale because of how she expresses going from point A to B and how the world is shaken or, at times, not, but it must have been like walking on thin ice, not knowing how the story will end, or what other changes would take place here.
Lucy is of superb taste, and her writing invites the writer to whatever her subject matter is. There is a charm at work, and it comes off on the page and onto the reader. Sante is one of the few writers where I pick up or buy their book without hesitation. I’m drawn to writers like her and Osamu Dazai, and they are very much apart, but for me, there is a charm in them that comes through, even when they write about something difficult. I do not believe in having role models or heroes, but if one has to take that canoe ride in the wild, I feel I’ll be in safe hands with Lucy; but Dazai, I am not sure about that.
For those who are interested in what it is like to transition from one gender to another, this is a must-read. In all honesty, Lucy Sante’s writing is a must; therefore, you should enjoy it, which you will.
Totally agree. I’m on my second reading of Maybe the People Would Be the Times and it just gets richer. I put Cookie Mueller in the same category, covering those decades with keen eyes for humor and absurdity.
very well stated. What a journey.