Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'
After Sappho: Longlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize by Selby Wynn Schwartz
9 reviews
gvstyris's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
We dreamed of islands where we could write poems that kept our lovers up all night. In our letters, we murmured the fragments of our desires to each other, breaking the lines in our impatience. We were going to be Sappho, but how did Sappho begin to become herself?
After Sappho centers a cast of white sapphic historical figures as they grapple with their position in 19th/20th century Europe. My primary takeaway from this novel - or perhaps more accurately, series of vignettes - was its appreciation for different mediums of art, particularly as a form of escapism and political/emotional expression. Schwartz's usage of first person plural pronouns to position the narrator as a Greek chorus also highlighted the communal aspect of the search for queer liberation and joy, which was another standout for me. I understand why this book is validating for so many people.
Despite that, I struggled in the reading process quite a lot. The non-linear storytelling is difficult to follow, especially as each woman's story is interconnected and their trajectories are relatively similar. I repeatedly lost interest and came close to DNFing, but persevered because the novel picked up quite significantly once we reached the First World War. I also imagine that the focus on white women was deliberate given Schwartz's academic background, but it definitely felt like a missed opportunity to me.
As someone who usually adores non-linear novels (especially if they're all vibes and no plot!), I'm a bit surprised this missed the mark for me as much as it did. Unfortunately, I've just read better, and am now craving a re-read of Girl, Woman, Other.
That being said, Schwartz's prose is gorgeous. A couple other highlights:
But some of us have always seen the modern world as a sea meant to drown us.
The only thing she feared was compromise, the soothing voice that licks down rage until it is nothing but a small smooth lump in your hand.
There is always this risk, in life, that we have our parts in a tragedy and we do not know it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Lesbophobia, and Misogyny
Minor: Rape, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Sexual assault
grace_cr1's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
This book is beautifully written, the language is varied and poetic. This book is also quite a dense and somewhat inaccessible read, it was difficult to remember the amount of people named throughout the novel and so was hard to follow. I recommend this book but its definitely a novel you have to be in the mood to read đź“š
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
juliabristow's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 for personal enjoyment, would give it a 4 for my overall opinion of it-
This was an interesting read for me, because I always love genre-defying novels, and to my knowledge, nothing has ever been done quite like this, so I have to give it props for that alone. The actual experience of reading it, though, was clunky and a bit difficult for me at times. I don't know if that's due to the wealth of literary and historical references, or the prose itself - probably both. There were several times where I had to re-read sentences and struggled to understand what I was supposed to be taking away from it. But at the same time, I think in at least some cases that was intentional, as part of the point of the stories, especially towards the first half, was to show how discreet sapphics and women in general had to live their lives in the 19th and early 20th century.
I did quite enjoy learning about all the women laid out here, and I've added quite a few things to my reading list from them. I also had no idea Virginia Woolf was queer?? and I feel like a bad lesbian for that.
Anyways, "becoming Sappho" was a really interesting concept, and to see how she inspired so many of the queer women to carve out a space in literature for themselves was, frankly, inspiring. And even though there were points where it seemed that all of the work was for nothing (during the Fascist era), the figures were undeterred because they knew no matter what they would always have Sappho, and if they needed to, they could go back to living under her guise, with more resourcefulness but equal happiness.
The last few chapters I really enjoyed as it turned almost meta, with Woolf's inception of the fictional biography and writing "little pieces of life," as she would call it. It tied together not only all of the past vignettes and fragments together, but also the novel itself, as the author seems to have taken quite a bit of inspiration from Woolf and the other writers used as characters.
Finally, one of my favorite fragments was also one of the earliest - "there are always those rare few that 'the applepickers forgot-/no, not forgot; were unable to reach'"
This was an interesting read for me, because I always love genre-defying novels, and to my knowledge, nothing has ever been done quite like this, so I have to give it props for that alone. The actual experience of reading it, though, was clunky and a bit difficult for me at times. I don't know if that's due to the wealth of literary and historical references, or the prose itself - probably both. There were several times where I had to re-read sentences and struggled to understand what I was supposed to be taking away from it. But at the same time, I think in at least some cases that was intentional, as part of the point of the stories, especially towards the first half, was to show how discreet sapphics and women in general had to live their lives in the 19th and early 20th century.
I did quite enjoy learning about all the women laid out here, and I've added quite a few things to my reading list from them. I also had no idea Virginia Woolf was queer?? and I feel like a bad lesbian for that.
Anyways, "becoming Sappho" was a really interesting concept, and to see how she inspired so many of the queer women to carve out a space in literature for themselves was, frankly, inspiring. And even though there were points where it seemed that all of the work was for nothing (during the Fascist era), the figures were undeterred because they knew no matter what they would always have Sappho, and if they needed to, they could go back to living under her guise, with more resourcefulness but equal happiness.
The last few chapters I really enjoyed as it turned almost meta, with Woolf's inception of the fictional biography and writing "little pieces of life," as she would call it. It tied together not only all of the past vignettes and fragments together, but also the novel itself, as the author seems to have taken quite a bit of inspiration from Woolf and the other writers used as characters.
Finally, one of my favorite fragments was also one of the earliest - "there are always those rare few that 'the applepickers forgot-/no, not forgot; were unable to reach'"
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Misogyny
readingbrb's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Deadnaming
Minor: Suicide, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and War
hannahbailey's review against another edition
dnf @ 45%.
Usually I catch myself a lot earlier persisting with a text I’m not enjoying, but the short vignettes kept me hopeful that the pace would pick up. This was an idea that should’ve been captivating, but sadly it was tedious and clunky to read. Exploring female artists throughout history and connecting them in fiction sounds like a great idea, but when they’re mostly aristocratic white women spouting Ancient Greek there’s a lot less for me to empathise with.
This may appeal to classicists and European historians who understand all the Ancient Greek references — unfortunately my IQ isn’t high enough for this one.
Usually I catch myself a lot earlier persisting with a text I’m not enjoying, but the short vignettes kept me hopeful that the pace would pick up. This was an idea that should’ve been captivating, but sadly it was tedious and clunky to read. Exploring female artists throughout history and connecting them in fiction sounds like a great idea, but when they’re mostly aristocratic white women spouting Ancient Greek there’s a lot less for me to empathise with.
This may appeal to classicists and European historians who understand all the Ancient Greek references — unfortunately my IQ isn’t high enough for this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Homophobia, and Violence
mothie_girlie's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Misogyny, and Lesbophobia
thebankofbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide attempt, Death, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Confinement, Drug use, Hate crime, Suicide, War, and Mental illness
booking_along's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
this is so different and strange but somehow worked very well for me and dragged me in and along for the ride this book was.
it was such an unexpected read in all ways a book can be.
it was an emotional read, i felt for the women, was yet again reminded that i just can’t understand our history and still continues fight of women being seen as human beings and at least as worth of being treated as such by men as men seem and deemed themselves as.
the different characters were fantastic even if i can’t really explain way?
the writing was strange but worked and it’s just… this book is an experience that you just have to be willing to go along with and let yourself be swept up in.
i honestly can not understand why this wasn’t shortlisted for the 2022 book but especially “treacle walker” was.
but k am very thankful for the long lost to have brought it to my attention since i didn’t even know about it or hear about it before that!
it was such an unexpected read in all ways a book can be.
it was an emotional read, i felt for the women, was yet again reminded that i just can’t understand our history and still continues fight of women being seen as human beings and at least as worth of being treated as such by men as men seem and deemed themselves as.
the different characters were fantastic even if i can’t really explain way?
the writing was strange but worked and it’s just… this book is an experience that you just have to be willing to go along with and let yourself be swept up in.
i honestly can not understand why this wasn’t shortlisted for the 2022 book but especially “treacle walker” was.
but k am very thankful for the long lost to have brought it to my attention since i didn’t even know about it or hear about it before that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Homophobia, War, Lesbophobia, and Sexism
serendipitysbooks's review
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
After Sappho, arguably the most experimental of the Booker longlisted novels, won’t be for every reader. I, however, was fascinated by this collective, speculative, interlinked biography of some incredibly creative, unconventional, fiercely intelligent, and queer women, which spans the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Given the title and the connections with Sappho the fragmentary nature of this work, where snippets of different lives interweave with each other, seems appropriate. While some of the women featured in this book were already familiar to me - Virginia Woolf, Isadora Duncan - many were women I’d never heard of, which tells you something about the fate of women in the historical record and the fact that I’m less familiar with women from continental Europe than those from the US and UK. I’m sure there will be much debate about the women who weren’t included - this book is very white. Obviously I loved learning about their lives, and happily spent time Googling, not because I had to in order to understand the book, but because it inspired me to learn more. The way in which these women expressed themselves whether through dance, writing or painting, they way they discussed and debated ideas in salons, and especially they way they pushed back against the social mores and laws of the day which attempted to limit what they could do and how they could live was inspiring. As was the support they gave to each other and the love - platonic, romantic and sexual- that they shared. I also loved the use of first person plural, a really effective way of including the reader in the story, emphasising that the women featured were not the only ones but were actually part of a larger whole, and encouraging the reader to continue their legacy. This book is meticulously researched so in many ways it reads like non-fiction. Yet its fragmentary nature and the prose itself give it a poetic feel. These two statements sound contradictory yet the reading experience was never jarring. Rather it was a joyous (deliberately so), feminist, inspiring, genre-bending delight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
More...