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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Difficult Women is a perfectly fitting title for this book; not because they were difficult but because it is definitely how they would’ve been portrayed at the time. Difficult in this sense actually means empowered, inspired and not afraid to speak the brutal truth. Not simply accepting that women should just put up and shut up about the lack of rights we have or once had in comparison to men. I am a firm believer in egalitarianism (equal rights for everyone) so I would class myself as a feminist but also someone who seeks equality across the board. I have read many, many books on this topic yet this was so refreshing and original showcasing those who have often been neglected in terms of their achievements. Sometimes fact-based nonfiction can be dry and a slog but I found this was eminently readable and raced through its thoroughly enjoyable pages like I would a fiction book. I urge those of you who wish to learn more about the history of feminism to pick this up. It’s well worth your time. Many thanks to Jonathan Cape for an ARC.
This was honestly a breath of fresh air and rather invigorating.
Firstly, the layout is a great time and just makes it enjoyable and accessible to read. I think the pacing of the book was quite well done with good sign posting as you continue throughout the chapters. Although each chapter is obviously a different fight, the main theme (that I got anyways) of imperfection and the value of compromise remained strong throughout culminating to a great ending of needing more organisation and less focus on women's individual choices.
I think this book just really resonated with me and took me back to the roots of feminism and collective fights rather than personal choices women make, which does seem to be the current mainstream in feminism (perhaps because that's a nice easy distraction to avoid any real needed conversations.) Even the chapters you might think you know loads about, you end up learning a lot so a great time.
It was well written, she has a strong voice and quite funny at times. It nice to see someone not shy away from difficult people or difficult conversations that are not popular or palatable.
Yeah overall v happy with this, thx @ will for reading this or I would never have heard of it. Love goodreads, just brings me endless joy.
Firstly, the layout is a great time and just makes it enjoyable and accessible to read. I think the pacing of the book was quite well done with good sign posting as you continue throughout the chapters. Although each chapter is obviously a different fight, the main theme (that I got anyways) of imperfection and the value of compromise remained strong throughout culminating to a great ending of needing more organisation and less focus on women's individual choices.
I think this book just really resonated with me and took me back to the roots of feminism and collective fights rather than personal choices women make, which does seem to be the current mainstream in feminism (perhaps because that's a nice easy distraction to avoid any real needed conversations.) Even the chapters you might think you know loads about, you end up learning a lot so a great time.
It was well written, she has a strong voice and quite funny at times. It nice to see someone not shy away from difficult people or difficult conversations that are not popular or palatable.
Yeah overall v happy with this, thx @ will for reading this or I would never have heard of it. Love goodreads, just brings me endless joy.
This book gave me a really good overview of some of the biggest (and often unremembered) feminist fights.
What I loved most about this book was the ethos behind it, that we need to be okay with difficult. We can't try to make things simple, we have to work with the grey and the unknown. The fight for equality isn't about a simple right and wrong, its messy and complex and that's okay.
It was an insightful, thoughtful, funny and accessible read.
* I received this book for free from Netgalley in return for an honest review*
What I loved most about this book was the ethos behind it, that we need to be okay with difficult. We can't try to make things simple, we have to work with the grey and the unknown. The fight for equality isn't about a simple right and wrong, its messy and complex and that's okay.
It was an insightful, thoughtful, funny and accessible read.
* I received this book for free from Netgalley in return for an honest review*
EDIT: I only learnt today (22/4/23) that Lewis is a TERF and Rowling-apologist.
I still think the book is worth reading as it communicates a history that isn't sufficiently well-known but try not to pay for it.
This is a really important book.
It is important for women to know the history of the fights that have been won and for everyone to see what still needs to be fought for.
I still think the book is worth reading as it communicates a history that isn't sufficiently well-known but try not to pay for it.
This is a really important book.
It is important for women to know the history of the fights that have been won and for everyone to see what still needs to be fought for.
From BBC Radio 4:
An account of the complexities of being difficult and the necessity of being so to achieve change.
Loosely described as a history of feminism, Difficult Women brings into focus some of the lesser known women pioneers and uses their failures and successes to tell the story of how progress has been made, and sometimes thwarted.
Helen Lewis writes with a very engaging mix of wit and determination, wearing her passion lightly but never making light of the challenges and the pain endured by those she writes about.
Written and Read by Helen Lewis
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000k7k9
An account of the complexities of being difficult and the necessity of being so to achieve change.
Loosely described as a history of feminism, Difficult Women brings into focus some of the lesser known women pioneers and uses their failures and successes to tell the story of how progress has been made, and sometimes thwarted.
Helen Lewis writes with a very engaging mix of wit and determination, wearing her passion lightly but never making light of the challenges and the pain endured by those she writes about.
Written and Read by Helen Lewis
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000k7k9
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
fast-paced