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caty_murray's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
fnnbnjmnks's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
This was a good book, and definitely an important one in British LGBTQ+ and feminist history, but it lost its momentum to me at several points. Can’t wait to meet the author on Friday!
shanaqui's review against another edition
informative
reflective
4.0
Silver Moon was a feminist bookshop in London -- one of the first in the UK, and ultimately the largest in Europe, with the aims of showing there was a market for books for women, books about women, books about lesbians, etc, in all kinds of genres. They started out naive and hopeful, and mostly kept the hope alive through the years of downturns and bastard landlords and men coming in to wank in front of the lesbian bookshelves (really).
Jane Cholmeley was one of the founders, and this book is a little bit her memoir, and mostly the story of the bookshop. It's selective, of course, though Cholmeley tries to have her eyes open to her own faults, and muses at times on what she did wrong, or on situations she might've handled differently. It's clear that it was an important resource for many, and the support for LGBT women came at just the right time during a period where gays and lesbians needed visibility, to be given a place where they were normal, because of Thatcher's section 28.
Sometimes it's infuriating and depressing, sometimes you have to roll your eyes at the earnest naivety of two young feminists starting a bookshop with relatively little knowledge of the requirements, sometimes you just have to cheer them on. And I very much appreciated Cholmeley's self-examination, and her eagerness to include the anecdotes and perspectives of the people who worked at Silver Moon, including those which were critical.
It sounds like it was a lovely and vital place, and it made me sad for all we lost in the closing down of the bookshops (not just Silver Moon) on Charing Cross Road.
Jane Cholmeley was one of the founders, and this book is a little bit her memoir, and mostly the story of the bookshop. It's selective, of course, though Cholmeley tries to have her eyes open to her own faults, and muses at times on what she did wrong, or on situations she might've handled differently. It's clear that it was an important resource for many, and the support for LGBT women came at just the right time during a period where gays and lesbians needed visibility, to be given a place where they were normal, because of Thatcher's section 28.
Sometimes it's infuriating and depressing, sometimes you have to roll your eyes at the earnest naivety of two young feminists starting a bookshop with relatively little knowledge of the requirements, sometimes you just have to cheer them on. And I very much appreciated Cholmeley's self-examination, and her eagerness to include the anecdotes and perspectives of the people who worked at Silver Moon, including those which were critical.
It sounds like it was a lovely and vital place, and it made me sad for all we lost in the closing down of the bookshops (not just Silver Moon) on Charing Cross Road.
elementarymydear's review against another edition
5.0
What a delightful read!
I’ll admit, I had never heard of the Silver Moon bookshop before this book. In my defence, I was 5 years old when it closed! But it is clear from this book how much of an impact it had on feminism, LGBTQ rights, and the book industry at large.
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Jane Cholmeley vividly recreates the highs and lows of Silver Moon, and I really appreciated how she acknowledged the struggles and difficulties alongside the achievements and celebrations, especially when that included reflecting on her own shortcomings. She proves that even when you make mistakes or come up against immense challenges it is possible to overcome them and succeed.
One thing that really struck me in this book was how feminism butted heads with capitalism. A lot of radical second-wave feminism was very anti-capitalist, and I found it fascinating to read about how Jane and her colleagues balanced their different ideals with the reality of running a business in a capitalist society. I think it’s useful reading for any of us who move in progressive spaces.
I really got a sense for what life was like for queer women at that time, the struggles under Thatcherism balanced with the excitement of a new endeavour and a burgeoning feminism movement. More importantly, it made me even more grateful for Jane and the other women like her. It is thanks to their efforts that I have the rights that I do today, and it’s a timely reminder not to take them for granted.
Above all, I got a real sense of the community that Silver Moon fostered, and while I am sad that I will never be able to visit in person, I’m glad that for a few hours I was able to be transported there through this book.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
I’ll admit, I had never heard of the Silver Moon bookshop before this book. In my defence, I was 5 years old when it closed! But it is clear from this book how much of an impact it had on feminism, LGBTQ rights, and the book industry at large.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
Jane Cholmeley vividly recreates the highs and lows of Silver Moon, and I really appreciated how she acknowledged the struggles and difficulties alongside the achievements and celebrations, especially when that included reflecting on her own shortcomings. She proves that even when you make mistakes or come up against immense challenges it is possible to overcome them and succeed.
One thing that really struck me in this book was how feminism butted heads with capitalism. A lot of radical second-wave feminism was very anti-capitalist, and I found it fascinating to read about how Jane and her colleagues balanced their different ideals with the reality of running a business in a capitalist society. I think it’s useful reading for any of us who move in progressive spaces.
I really got a sense for what life was like for queer women at that time, the struggles under Thatcherism balanced with the excitement of a new endeavour and a burgeoning feminism movement. More importantly, it made me even more grateful for Jane and the other women like her. It is thanks to their efforts that I have the rights that I do today, and it’s a timely reminder not to take them for granted.
Above all, I got a real sense of the community that Silver Moon fostered, and while I am sad that I will never be able to visit in person, I’m glad that for a few hours I was able to be transported there through this book.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
baratheonbooks's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Homophobia
leahthenerd's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
it was beautiful I just wish I had read it faster