Showing Out: A Novel

By Timothy Reed

Book Overview

Tiffany works in Peeps Castle, keeping her coked-up boyfriend in drugs, her crazy mother off the streets, and her vulnerable friends together as best she can in this unblinkingly powerful debut by Timothy Reed. From the depths of abuse and neglect to the ironic stability of her lucrative job performing in a glassed-in booth on 42nd Street, Tiffany, still haunted by the voices of her "swine chorus," is at the center of Showing Out, the story of a young woman and several of her co-workers. From her close friend, the birdlike Melanie who's been in the flesh trade since she was thirteen years old, to the obnoxious transvestite Meeca, Showing Out paints indelible portraits of a handful of courageous fellow performers as they try to deal with their own love lives, drugs, AIDS, and the work. Punctuated by Tiffany's memories of a childhood that included sexual abuse, an alcoholic mother, and an absent father, Showing Out tracks Tiffany's struggle to move beyond her current life at the old Times Square--and Peeps Castle with it--juggernauts to its own end. Written by the daughter of renowned novelist Ishmael Reed, Showing Out is raw, real, and by turns hilarious and harrowing.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1560254378
• ISBN13: 9781560254379
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Thunder's Mouth Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.8" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

the drama carries you through to the end

Showing Out is well-written and edited. The vivid descriptions, including so many smaller details, made me feel as though I lived in that apartment with Tiffany and worked beside her at Peep's. I admired Tiffany's courage in facing her terrifying inner villains; I deplored her for sticking around for Colder's crap. I know very little about schizophrenia, and got a pretty insightful look into the illness. Tiffany didn't experience a miraculous improvement by the end of the book, nor did she come to any great superficial realizations about herself. I liked that she made a few important changes and was alone and uncertain on the last page. That is realism. I do know something about working in the adult industry, and Ms. Reed was right on about the girls' vulnerability, insecurity about aging, overt competition with each other, and rationalizing about why they chose that line of work. I liked Appacharia, who showed courage during an awful long-lasting dilemma. I was annoyed by the obnoxious transgendered co-worker. And I got a bit bored whenever reading descriptions about Tiffany's costume and make-up regimens. But the drama rarely waned; every chapter brought another bout of violence or a crazy sex proposition or a fight about someone else's business. Troubles with family and illness were there, and shaky loyalty among friends, and enough plot twists to keep anyone mesmerized till the last page.

Showing Out

Showing Out is an extremely well written inciteful story of a contemporary young woman confronting her mental demons. I met Timothy not knowing that she was an acclaimed author. One day she offered me a book and said I am Timothy.

Timothy Reed An Astonishing New Voice

Make no mistake, neophyte novelist Timothy Reed can write. Her command of language and plot is enthralling in this breakneck paced tale of a young woman, recovering from a long bout with alcohol and drugs, working in a peep show in Times Square and supporting an abusive boyfriend. The story has an undeniable ring of truth, and Reed keeps you rushing from chapter to chapter to find out what will happen next in the lives of her indefatigable heroine, Tiffany, and her friends, family and co-workers as she emerges from years of abuse and wrong thinking and learns to show out in more ways than one. The peep show milieu is fascinating and presented without judgment, quite a feat, and my jaw dropped at the end of the final chapter. Timothy Reed is an astonishing new voice and I cannot wait to read what she has in store for us next.

good read

i enjoyed reading this book because its unlike many books that are out now. The story is a bout a young girl living in New York City who's in an unhealthy realtionship and works nights as a stripper. Through her at times deeply painful lifestyle, there is a gentle melancholy beauty to the way she tell hers story and lives of the people around her. A fascinating read.

The Fast Life

Tiffany lives life in the fast lane..She's got more $ than she knows what to do with.. A beautiful lady suffering with schizophrenia, troubled by horrible visions and voices of a woman who abused her as a child.The abuse doesn't stop there...Tiffany goes thru the daily motions, makin that money at Peeps, just to keep her drug addicted, abusive man off the streets..No matter that he is no good for her, at least she doesn't have to hear the "voices" in her head as long as he's around.Tiffany's mom isn't much better, she's an alcoholic and always has her hand deep in Tiffany's pocket. Tiffany's friend Melanie, who also works at Peeps, has HIV and a myriad of problems of her own..Throw in a few fellow dancers, who at times will show themselves to be both friend and foe,one whom is a transvestite who shares a shocking secret with Tiffany, and you've got the makings of a hell of a ride! Showing out never stops moving..It's a page turner to say the least..Timothy Reed did an outstanding job in her debut..Keep an eye on her.Diagnosed as a schizophrenic herself in 1988, this lady is ontop of her game..She's definately got a story to tell....I couldn't put this book down, I read it in two days (a girl has got to sleep you know)..The descriptions of the characters weren't over the top..She gave you just the right mix of words to get you to picture everything as it was, in your head..It wasn't overly vulgar like some books can be..But it still got it's point across..Just don't let your 13 year old read it..It was funny at times, sad at times, tragic at times, but it was true to life.If anyone has ever wondered what life is like on the schizo side of things, this book will give you a peek....I don't know about you, but I'd like to see a sequel to this!