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The Complicated Geography of Alice
The Complicated Geography of Alice is an intimate, portrayal of a transgender teenager, a family in crisis and a mother who believes that her daughter is going to blaze a brave new path if she can just keep her sober long enough to grow up.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2014
4 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Jules Vilmur
2 books56 followersJules Vilmur lives in California with her family and too many greyhounds.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 29, 2014
A definite must read…
There are stories in life that should be told, that need to be told, and this is one of them.
Alice is alive with the fire of life, a yearning to be who she is and to be accepted, and my heart ached for both Alice and for her family. Teenage years are stormy for most, but for a transgender teen, life can be almost impossible. However, this book presents an honest portrayal of a family trying to cope through times of helplessness with humour, love and compassion.
I am full of admiration for Jules Vilmur, and her ability to honour her daughter’s memory, and this book is a fitting tribute. This book will be a huge support and can offer huge hope to those going through similar, or any, personal upheaval.
The tears I shed for Alice and her family were genuine and heartfelt, as were the words tying this story together. Alice’s mother shares her story and writes with raw emotion, truth and grit. This story is a tough read, but one of the most rewarding you’ll find. I hope you will come away, like I did, with both greater understanding and compassion.
There are stories in life that should be told, that need to be told, and this is one of them.
Alice is alive with the fire of life, a yearning to be who she is and to be accepted, and my heart ached for both Alice and for her family. Teenage years are stormy for most, but for a transgender teen, life can be almost impossible. However, this book presents an honest portrayal of a family trying to cope through times of helplessness with humour, love and compassion.
I am full of admiration for Jules Vilmur, and her ability to honour her daughter’s memory, and this book is a fitting tribute. This book will be a huge support and can offer huge hope to those going through similar, or any, personal upheaval.
The tears I shed for Alice and her family were genuine and heartfelt, as were the words tying this story together. Alice’s mother shares her story and writes with raw emotion, truth and grit. This story is a tough read, but one of the most rewarding you’ll find. I hope you will come away, like I did, with both greater understanding and compassion.
March 2, 2016
A book that left me sobbing, but one that teaches us all so much. From the snippets of her life, I read Alice as a vivacious, strong-minded energy that was a brilliant colour in our grey world, and her refusal to 'sit in the back of the bus' despite how difficult that was to reconcile in the world around her is something we should all aspire to. It is our failing as a society that she is not physically with us anymore, but her story and her life still are thanks to her mother's wonderful words, memories, and experiences, and we need to heed them carefully. This book also gave me an insight into life in the US as a culture - their lifestyle, attitudes to mental health, healthcare and trans folk, and to be honest left me feeling grateful that I live in Europe. A worthwhile read, and one I encourage others to journey into.
September 8, 2015
Having just finished this wonderful and brave book, I am blinded by tears. I have nothing but admiration for this book and its author.
She depicts her family with a loving warmth that made me feel as if I knew them. I loved her humour, her optimism and her raw honesty, but what shines through most in this exceptional memoir is the loving family it depicts. Throughout the horrors and stresses they remained mostly optimistic and were able to laugh through their tears. This is motherhood at its finest and most noble. I would recommend this book to anyone, not just with a transgender child, but who wants to read about the power of a loving family.
She depicts her family with a loving warmth that made me feel as if I knew them. I loved her humour, her optimism and her raw honesty, but what shines through most in this exceptional memoir is the loving family it depicts. Throughout the horrors and stresses they remained mostly optimistic and were able to laugh through their tears. This is motherhood at its finest and most noble. I would recommend this book to anyone, not just with a transgender child, but who wants to read about the power of a loving family.
December 2, 2014
Told with humor, anger, frustration, and love, this is an amazing but true story of a family struggling to accept a transgender child who is in turn struggling with her gender and substance abuse. This book is a must for any parent with a child who has gender dysphoria and for any parent with a child who is struggling with substance abuse. Five stars all the way!
January 23, 2015
This is a beautiful story about a transgender teen from the mother's point of view. I appreciated the honesty, humor, frustration, and love. This book has excellent writing and imagery that had me riveted from the prologue. Thank you so much for sharing your story.
January 17, 2015
Truth and love are the forces that connect us all, that remind us of our own fragile, human lives. In this humorous and bittersweet narrative, Jules has given us, not only a cautionary tale of the time we live in, but an absolute straight-from-the-heart gift. Alice’s story is one that needs to be heard, and remembered, and shared.
I have one strong memory of Jory, and one strong memory of Alice, although I did not know her well. I am at the Vilmur’s, in the kitchen with Jules. Jory sails through with a huge piece of cake on a plate and three forks, and meets up with two girlfriends out in the front yard to share this delightful dessert. Watching him through the sliding glass door, I think to myself, how charming, thoughtful and generous he is.
In my other memory, Alice is skipping her way through the gathering at Pride, greeting friends, twirling away and returning to Jules and me, always returning, to hug her mother, to exclaim her joy. Watching her through the colorful crowd, I think to myself, how charming, gleeful and free-spirited she is. It was one of those days we cannot forget, as it was the true beginning place of shedding the boy suit and fully embracing the girl frock.
I applaud my fierce friend Jules, for her resilience and her bravery in voicing her story. I am grateful to her for inviting us into the very center of her soul. May we all keep the spirit of the glorious Alice in our hearts. Always.
I have one strong memory of Jory, and one strong memory of Alice, although I did not know her well. I am at the Vilmur’s, in the kitchen with Jules. Jory sails through with a huge piece of cake on a plate and three forks, and meets up with two girlfriends out in the front yard to share this delightful dessert. Watching him through the sliding glass door, I think to myself, how charming, thoughtful and generous he is.
In my other memory, Alice is skipping her way through the gathering at Pride, greeting friends, twirling away and returning to Jules and me, always returning, to hug her mother, to exclaim her joy. Watching her through the colorful crowd, I think to myself, how charming, gleeful and free-spirited she is. It was one of those days we cannot forget, as it was the true beginning place of shedding the boy suit and fully embracing the girl frock.
I applaud my fierce friend Jules, for her resilience and her bravery in voicing her story. I am grateful to her for inviting us into the very center of her soul. May we all keep the spirit of the glorious Alice in our hearts. Always.
December 19, 2014
The fact that this book took me only 2 days to read speaks volumes in and of itself. This is a MUST READ book without a doubt. Even though I knew the ending from Jules' blog I still cried at the end. Heartbreaking is a gross understatement. But she also manages a good amount of humor and pure love. Thank you Jules for struggling through this horrifically emotional process to share your family's story. It is one of my favorite books already, and I will treasure it always. Blessings & love to you now and forever.
December 27, 2014
Vilmur's writing makes it easy to appreciate the love this family has for a "complicated" child. Told with humor and hubris. Recommended.
September 15, 2019
A book that left me sobbing, but one that teaches us all so much. From the snippets of her life, I read Alice as a vivacious, strong-minded energy that was a brilliant colour in our grey world, and her refusal to 'sit in the back of the bus' despite how difficult that was to reconcile in the world around her is something we should all aspire to. It is our failing as a society that she is not physically with us anymore, but her story and her life still are thanks to her mother's wonderful words, memories, and experiences, and we need to heed them carefully. This book also gave me an insight into life in the US as a culture - their lifestyle, attitudes to mental health, healthcare and trans folk, and to be honest left me feeling grateful that I live in Europe. A worthwhile read, and one I encourage others to journey into.
December 17, 2014
Heart breaking
I also have a m to f child. But to lose before life can stabilize. Broken heart
This is a must read for every parent.
I also have a m to f child. But to lose before life can stabilize. Broken heart
This is a must read for every parent.
August 16, 2015
FTC Disclosure: I received this book free from Goodreads hoping I would review it.
June 3, 2015
A heartbreaking story of a transgender teen and her struggles to find her place in the world. Told by her brave and loving mother, this is a must read book. Couldn't put it down.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews