Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Hiding My Candy: The Autobiography Of The Grand Empress Of Savannah” as Want to Read:
Hiding My Candy: The Autobiography Of The Grand Empress Of Savannah
The Lady Chablis, the outrageously charming drag queen made famous in John Berendt's bestselling "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", takes us on an unforgettable tour of Savannah in her amazing story-- a triumphant woman's life filled with passion, humor, flair, and resourcefulness beyond the imaginings of mere mortals. With the guts of a five-star general and an ap
...more
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Hiding My Candy
,
please sign up
.
Be the first to ask a question about Hiding My Candy
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
525)
I don't usually read autobiographies, but I was in Savannah, loving the atmosphere, and somewhat obsessed with Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. So I read this. Good telling of what it was like to grow up in a small southern community knowing that you didn't fit in, dealing with poverty, hardship, and being born the wrong sex! Funny, heartwarming, sad, and a quick read.
I first came to be introduced to the character of the Lady Chablis while watching the movie ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil’. And then after I read the book, I realized that what I saw in the movie was for real.
This person, this character, stood out & stuck with me due to her humor, her ability to speak the truth and whatever else was on her mind. I thought she was hilarious and yet a strong person to not only allow people who read the book and then see the movie, into her life an ...more
This person, this character, stood out & stuck with me due to her humor, her ability to speak the truth and whatever else was on her mind. I thought she was hilarious and yet a strong person to not only allow people who read the book and then see the movie, into her life an ...more
There are very few instances when watching a movie before you read a book is not just enjoyable, it's critical The simple pulp paperbacks dedicated to science fiction is one example, but while only truly obsessive fans would enjoy
Lando Calrissian's Milllenium Falcon Adventures
the public at large can find benefit from reading
Hiding My Candy
, even though you should see
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
before you read the book.
The Lady Chablis, a stand-up comedienne Drag Queen, is a witty ...more
The Lady Chablis, a stand-up comedienne Drag Queen, is a witty ...more
Sep 30, 2014
Christiane Evaskis-Garrett
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
People interested in LGBT History
Shelves:
autobiography
,
lgbt
The Lady Chablis is a lady indeed and she has LIVED. If you're wondering where you may have heard of her, she featured quite a bit in the book and movie "Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil" (and she played herself in the movie). Born Benjamin Edward Knox, the Lady Chablis has gone through it all with a sense of humor and a quick wit. I enjoyed hearing about her Christian upbringing in a small rural Florida town and how her inner showwoman loved spreading the Word as a child. I was also surp
...more
Jun 23, 2013
Merredith
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
memoirs-biographies
I just joined the book club my office has, and this was my first book I read for it. This is the memoir of the Lady Chalbis aka Brenda Knox. I'd never heard of her, but apparently she featured prominently in the book/movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I've never read the book but i vaguely remember my dad renting the movie and it being boring and me wandering away or falling asleep, back when i was a kid. I hated the writing style. She refers to herself in the third person a lot, and
...more
I was very intrigued by this character after reading (and watching) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, so when I discovered she wrote an autobiography I had to read it. She is witty, clever, and oh so full of herself... It gets a little wearing after awhile. I was hoping for something a little more serious and behind the scenes perhaps, but The Lady is all about image, and this book is all about perpetuating that, so nothing new here really. Still, it's fascinating to try and understand so
...more
I came to this book hoping for another view of the events of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. While Berendt did contribute a preface and the cotillion and filming are touched on, this is a memoir of The Lady Chablis finding her identity in the deep South and expanding it into an entertainment career boosted by the book and film. written in her dialect and slang with glossaries, this is a quick and entertaining read. she include a includes transvestite beauty tips and her recipes.
i picked up this book after our vacay to savannah. (we also came home and watched midnight in the garden of good and evil)
i had a hard time getting into hiding my candy. the Doll (Lady Chablis) writes how she speaks and sometimes that can be painful to read. once i was able to get into that mind frame, it was better to understand.
she has had a freaking amazing life- full of lots of down and a few ups. its so wonderful to read about a woman her pulled herself up out of a mess and made something o ...more
i had a hard time getting into hiding my candy. the Doll (Lady Chablis) writes how she speaks and sometimes that can be painful to read. once i was able to get into that mind frame, it was better to understand.
she has had a freaking amazing life- full of lots of down and a few ups. its so wonderful to read about a woman her pulled herself up out of a mess and made something o ...more
Just had to read this book. I had read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and enjoyed. But what prompted me the most to read this book was that Lady Chablis lived a few doors down from my apartment in West Columbia, SC. I never saw or met her. Just think she is an interesting character (and has an interesting story).
I thought this book would be much more informative on the topic of transgender persons. I felt many of the issues that would have lent better understanding were made light of and much detail not given. This book is more comedic than informative.
This book was all about The Lady Chablis (Benjamin Edward Knox) and his/her life story from Quincy, Florida to where she resides today as a main attraction personality in Savannah, Georgia.
The life was hard but somehow she got through it. A sometimes hard luck story to read, this queen knows who she is and doesn't apologize for it. She was introduced to us in the novel, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" and also appeared in the 1990's movie.
She has fame, fortune and success now. Not to ...more
The life was hard but somehow she got through it. A sometimes hard luck story to read, this queen knows who she is and doesn't apologize for it. She was introduced to us in the novel, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" and also appeared in the 1990's movie.
She has fame, fortune and success now. Not to ...more
I liked this book, but I like The Lady Chablis. Kind of an eye-opener, if you aren't privy to her lifestyle. It's a good reference to understand the transgender folks.
The recipe section wasn't really helpful to me as a borderline vegan, but the rest of the book was pretty arresting. There were a few times that she would make fun of other women for not "doing" femininity right or basically take cheap shots like that, which threw me off. Light stuff, fun read.
Feb 15, 2010
Sara
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
It took me a long time to finish this book because I had trouble staying interested. I liked her story in theory, but it's written like she talks and that gets old really quickly. So I kept reading a few pages at a time and then letting it sit. Today I brought it with me on the ferry so I had over 2 hours with nothing to do but read it, and I finally finished. Her story was interesting but it never felt fleshed-out. There seemed to be so much left out that it was a little hard to follow in place
...more
I read and loved "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil". I'm from Savannah, and I've been to Club One several times for their shows and have seen "The Lady Chablis" perform, so my mother in law gave me this book for Christmas and thought I'd enjoy reading her life story. I really liked it. It was interesting to read about her struggle to make it as not only an entertainer but to really discover and be proud of who she is. A must-read for anyone who has seen her shows or read/enjoyed "midnight
...more
The Lady Chablis shines so bright in this honest, hilarious and sometimes gut wrenching story of one woman's struggle to be just that - a woman.
I very much enjoyed The Lady Chablis' book (read most of it while getting a pedicure!) - but there were some really heavy emotional topics in the book - physical abuse, drug addiction, etc. and it was all sort of glossed over with a "la-tee-dah, life goes on!" attitude-- which I suppose is The Lady Chablis' trademark calling card - resilience and grace, no matter what ... but it made me sad that there wasn't a little more acknowledgement of just how intense a life The Lady Chablis has been throu
...more
Someone gave this to me as a gag gift several years ago after I had bored them one too many times about my appreciation for "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."
In it, the Lady Chablis is both open and sassy in recounting her life and evolution into the person she wanted to be. While not quite a wordsmith and certainly without the levels of drama and accomplishment necessary for a great biography, I was still charmed with the story of a person who turned herself and her life into what she w ...more
In it, the Lady Chablis is both open and sassy in recounting her life and evolution into the person she wanted to be. While not quite a wordsmith and certainly without the levels of drama and accomplishment necessary for a great biography, I was still charmed with the story of a person who turned herself and her life into what she w ...more
The autobiography of drag queen/personality extraordinaire The Lady Chablis, who made her debut in John Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and the subsequent movie thereafter, tells the world her life story.
I finished this book in 2 days, it's written as if it were narrated by the Lady herself and I couldn't put it down. I don't think I've read an autobiography so amusing since, well, ever.
If you were even slightly piqued by her in either Berendt's book or her big screen debut, yo ...more
I finished this book in 2 days, it's written as if it were narrated by the Lady herself and I couldn't put it down. I don't think I've read an autobiography so amusing since, well, ever.
If you were even slightly piqued by her in either Berendt's book or her big screen debut, yo ...more
I think i was hoping this would be less of a one-note wonder than it was. I think The Lady chablis is probably quite entertaining in person, but her style in writing doesn't translate for me. I skimmed the second half, including the recipes, lexicon and beauty/fashion tips.
The plan is to release this somewhere, along with Midnight in the GArden of good and Evil. I just have to think of a good spot. Savannah, maybe? A drag club? Hmmmm.....
The plan is to release this somewhere, along with Midnight in the GArden of good and Evil. I just have to think of a good spot. Savannah, maybe? A drag club? Hmmmm.....
It's the autobiography of the drag performer featured in John Berendt's
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
, who plays herself in the film of the same name. It's interesting. Tha narration is sometimes entertaining, sometimes annoying. Basically told in the same voice/character she uses in her act. There are recipes and beauty tips in the back, and glamour shots throughout.
...more
This was enjoyable, not only for the sassy text, but also for the many photos taken in some of Savannah's finest landmarks.
Campy for sure. The Lady uses humor to cope with the many indignities afforded to her as trans woman living in the South. The tone is more Priscilla Queen of the Desert than Boys Don't Cry .
Campy for sure. The Lady uses humor to cope with the many indignities afforded to her as trans woman living in the South. The tone is more Priscilla Queen of the Desert than Boys Don't Cry .
What a fabulous read! Such fun! The Lady Chablis, made famous by John Berendt's best-seller Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, tells her life story with wit and passion. She's hilariously funny but also gives you an insight into the extraordinary difficulties of growing up transgendered in the South.
The Lady Chablis is of course one of the biggest personalities in the South, and this little lifetime collection of anecdotes is a cute two day read. If you liked her in Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil then you'll want to know more which is exactly what this book gives you. A good time two day read.
Forget scene stealing, The Lady Chablis stole the entire book. She is a bigger-than-life character introduced in the non-fiction tale, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and this is her autobiography. Bonus: The recipes in the back are amazing!
If you've seen the movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil" you will love this book. It feels as if you are interviewing the "Lady Chablis" personally. The autobiography is written in the "speak" she uses on stage. Very poignant yet very funny!
If you liked Midnight and the Lady Chablis, then this book is for you. I thought it was hilarious and sad at the same time. This is her autobiography....not the best written book that I have ever read....but still a good read.
Mar 05, 2009
Ashley (cnthrdlywt2bwz)
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
year-2009
My "Candy in title" selection for WBC. I said to the librarian when I left there with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, a Vegetarian Cookbook, a book about the supreme court, and THIS book, I am nothing if not unpredictable.
Great book for anyone who is also obsessed with Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. At a times a bit much, but this is the Lady Chablis! Two tears in a bucket...
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
