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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
cbaker27's review
3.0
I did what I had to for my class. It’s written well, and the arguments are there along with the language. I think the reason I was slightly turned off by it was because I was reading it on a computer. One of the last lines is so incredible. It’s as such: “flee, flee, my ladies—under these smiles are hidden deadly and painful poisons.”
agathe_'s review
3.0
Très intéressant, notamment pour la modernité du regard de l'autrice avec le côté "empowerment" version 15e siècle (un peu triste de se dire qu'on en a encore besoin 6 siècles plus tard, mais en même temps ça donne envie de se dire "quand même ça fait 6 siècles alors ayons confiance en nous, soyons à la hauteur de Christine"). Intéressant aussi sur l'influence du christianisme sur la façon de penser de l'autrice, et sur la facon de présenter les martyrs. Un peu un côté catalogue dans la structure. Etonnant de constater la prévalence des exemples tirés de l'antiquité par rapport à l'époque contemporaine de l'autrice.
whatshereadyesterday's review
4.0
I spent most of the first half of "The Book of the City of Ladies" with my jaw on the floor. The contemporary in me wants to fist bump the air while the historian just wants to shrug and say "undefined feminism has always been there, you just have to look."
While Christine's welcome at the end to the ladies of this newly created city seems to contradict the book, I almost feel to evolve with this book is to, whether you like it or not, observe it as a product of its time and the time was heavily centered around the church and how women struggled or existed within it. It could be Christine's blind spot where the divinity never quite aligns with the system of Christianity. Regardless, I would be fascinated to read a Christian female studies criticism, the secular arguments of the forwards didn't entirely match with the text itself. But then I have a tendency to slightly turn into a reader of whatever time the classic was written.
But The Book of the City of Ladies, or at least its more secular arguments, COULD NOT BE anymore timely than right now in 2019. Every woman should take note.
While Christine's welcome at the end to the ladies of this newly created city seems to contradict the book, I almost feel to evolve with this book is to, whether you like it or not, observe it as a product of its time and the time was heavily centered around the church and how women struggled or existed within it. It could be Christine's blind spot where the divinity never quite aligns with the system of Christianity. Regardless, I would be fascinated to read a Christian female studies criticism, the secular arguments of the forwards didn't entirely match with the text itself. But then I have a tendency to slightly turn into a reader of whatever time the classic was written.
But The Book of the City of Ladies, or at least its more secular arguments, COULD NOT BE anymore timely than right now in 2019. Every woman should take note.
bluereen's review against another edition
3.0
"Drive back these treacherous liars who use nothing but tricks and honeyed words to steal from you that which you should keep safe above all else: your chastity and your glorious good name."
***
The book is divided into three parts and chronicles Christine's encounters with the three blessed ladies: Rectitude, Justice, and Reason. It provides a lengthy account disputing all the falsehoods purported by men against women—e.g., they are gossipers, unfaithful, tactless... the list goes on. Basically every misogynistic remark one could think of. While I did enjoy reading through the stories of all these historical women and their valiant deeds, I felt the third part of the book was self-defeating. Pizan spent so much time proving how women were worth so much more than the men made them out to be, yet the ending gives way to her internalized misogyny.
One could read the City of Ladies as an early feminist piece yet it also lends itself to deconstruction. Because Pizan was a devout Catholic, her religious beliefs pervade the entire book. In the end, she upholds the tenets of traditional femininity—arguing that only the women who adhere to these qualities are deserving of a place inside the city. Pizan enjoins women to "be humble and long-suffering.... [for] patience is the key to paradise."
Around 300+ pages worth of buildup re feminine power only for wives to be advised in the end to remain long-suffering and tolerate their abusive husbands; for maidens to preserve their virtue and modesty. Quite a letdown—but I'm reading this for a class so I had no choice really.
***
The book is divided into three parts and chronicles Christine's encounters with the three blessed ladies: Rectitude, Justice, and Reason. It provides a lengthy account disputing all the falsehoods purported by men against women—e.g., they are gossipers, unfaithful, tactless... the list goes on. Basically every misogynistic remark one could think of. While I did enjoy reading through the stories of all these historical women and their valiant deeds, I felt the third part of the book was self-defeating. Pizan spent so much time proving how women were worth so much more than the men made them out to be, yet the ending gives way to her internalized misogyny.
One could read the City of Ladies as an early feminist piece yet it also lends itself to deconstruction. Because Pizan was a devout Catholic, her religious beliefs pervade the entire book. In the end, she upholds the tenets of traditional femininity—arguing that only the women who adhere to these qualities are deserving of a place inside the city. Pizan enjoins women to "be humble and long-suffering.... [for] patience is the key to paradise."
Around 300+ pages worth of buildup re feminine power only for wives to be advised in the end to remain long-suffering and tolerate their abusive husbands; for maidens to preserve their virtue and modesty. Quite a letdown—but I'm reading this for a class so I had no choice really.
esthersweet08's review against another edition
3.0
Me parece super fuerte que no se tenga como referente de feminismo a Christine de Pizan!!
sinningsammy's review
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-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