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seduced_with_literature's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
I had never heard of Silver Moon before Gays the Word promoted this book on their Instagram (I’ve yet to visit in person).
I loved the concept because what book lover doesn’t dream of a bookshop of their own. Even better one with such a positive political slant!
I had to read their story and live vicariously through what they actually accomplished.
It’s a sad ending, all good things must come to an end. But what a mark they made and a legacy they left behind.
Reading this has added a mass of books to my to be read pile, which I always welcome especially from more diverse authors.
Jane has a wonderful way of writing, and as I listened to her reading on the audiobook it truly felt as though I was hearing all the tales on a personal level.
I loved the concept because what book lover doesn’t dream of a bookshop of their own. Even better one with such a positive political slant!
I had to read their story and live vicariously through what they actually accomplished.
It’s a sad ending, all good things must come to an end. But what a mark they made and a legacy they left behind.
Reading this has added a mass of books to my to be read pile, which I always welcome especially from more diverse authors.
Jane has a wonderful way of writing, and as I listened to her reading on the audiobook it truly felt as though I was hearing all the tales on a personal level.
alishacantread's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
mollyburgess96's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
celtic67's review
4.0
I must admit I had never heard of the Silver Moon Bookshop. I decided to give this book a go for two reasons ; one being to add more non-fiction to my reading diet and to find out more about feminism. Well I'm a male after all.
Jane and her partner at the time Sue decided to open Silver Moon in Margaret Thatcher's Britain. They were brave women, not only was their bookshop championing the cause of feminism through literature but they were also lesbians. So the odds were stacked against them but they decided to beat the system and go their own way.
Part memoir, part collective history, part archival work / documenting the evolving UK feminist movement from the late 80's onwards / part tribute to everyone who took part in the Silver Moon Women's Bookshop journey.
This is also a love song to the power of literature to change lives and empower women and change the male attitude.
This is a book I'm glad to have read, glad Jane wrote and took the steps forward for women in literature. I recommend to everyone; especially the male of the species.
Jane and her partner at the time Sue decided to open Silver Moon in Margaret Thatcher's Britain. They were brave women, not only was their bookshop championing the cause of feminism through literature but they were also lesbians. So the odds were stacked against them but they decided to beat the system and go their own way.
Part memoir, part collective history, part archival work / documenting the evolving UK feminist movement from the late 80's onwards / part tribute to everyone who took part in the Silver Moon Women's Bookshop journey.
This is also a love song to the power of literature to change lives and empower women and change the male attitude.
This is a book I'm glad to have read, glad Jane wrote and took the steps forward for women in literature. I recommend to everyone; especially the male of the species.
tdk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
elixierbroth's review
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
3.0
Very enjoyable. Jane has a lovely conversational style so even with the bits with the driest facts, it's easy to stay with her! It makes you feel both the struggles and fun times the Silver Moonies went through in its history.
It also really made me feel what I missed. I never even knew Silver Moon existed until this book came out - I suppose I was only just at the age of being allowed to explore the city on my own when it closed in 2001, and I still feel sick with jealousy I missed it!
I have been recommending it to everyone.
I would love to see a bookshop like this rise again but I see all the reasons in 2024 that, likely, none will. Jane lists the shops on Charing Cross road in 2020 in chapter 20 (Bastard Landlords). The three book shops remaining then, are now down to two. There's a predominance of bakery and beauty shops, which does give the street a more distinct character than in 2020, but when I think of having had a whole street mostly of bookshops, a mini Hay-On-Wye in London Town, it makes me angry the city continues to drive towards the bottom dollar than any attempt at cultivating character for different areas of the city.
I'm not an economist, nor even a city planner. I just live here. I'm sure there's an importance to making money over conservation or even the convenience for the city dweller of being able to find clusters of related shops...I just sometimes wonder what this drive towards profits is all for, ultimately. Itself?
I don't read a lot of non-fiction so I wasn't sure what to say about pacing!
It also really made me feel what I missed. I never even knew Silver Moon existed until this book came out - I suppose I was only just at the age of being allowed to explore the city on my own when it closed in 2001, and I still feel sick with jealousy I missed it!
I have been recommending it to everyone.
I would love to see a bookshop like this rise again but I see all the reasons in 2024 that, likely, none will. Jane lists the shops on Charing Cross road in 2020 in chapter 20 (Bastard Landlords). The three book shops remaining then, are now down to two. There's a predominance of bakery and beauty shops, which does give the street a more distinct character than in 2020, but when I think of having had a whole street mostly of bookshops, a mini Hay-On-Wye in London Town, it makes me angry the city continues to drive towards the bottom dollar than any attempt at cultivating character for different areas of the city.
I'm not an economist, nor even a city planner. I just live here. I'm sure there's an importance to making money over conservation or even the convenience for the city dweller of being able to find clusters of related shops...I just sometimes wonder what this drive towards profits is all for, ultimately. Itself?
I don't read a lot of non-fiction so I wasn't sure what to say about pacing!
jenmulsow's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
ehstarsong's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0