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Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'
Girly Drinks: A World History of Women and Alcohol by Mallory O'Meara
21 reviews
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
informative
medium-paced
I learned a lot. I think I could actually join a trivia team and have a lot to contribute now. I think if you LOVE research and learning history, this book will be awesome for you. I love hearing about the womxn behind different alcohols. Lots of fun facts.
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
What an engaging and informative exploration of the gendered history of alcohol consumption, production and distribution around the world. Loved the feminist bent of this book and the fun, colloquial way in which these stories are told. Absolutely would read more from this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Alcohol
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexism, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation
adventurous
informative
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
This was a really fun, feminist, and informative read about the history of alcohol and women's involvement in the creation and consumption of alcohol. O'Meara's tone is sarcastic and witty, yet celebratory as she introduces us to legions of women who have rebelled and fought for the right to drink (in public).
I think this narrative is a bit more all over the place than O'Meara's previous book, which focused more intensely on the story of one woman. Because of this wider focus, O'Meara is able to introduce stories from around the globe, which I loved. But it also makes each chapter a bit of a mishmash. While a chapter may be themed around the story of a certain woman, her story is interrupted by various short tangents that make it hard to follow the original story when it does make a reappearance. I've noticed this in a few different nonfiction books I've read recently. It seems like a common narrative construction, but I feel like most attempts end up feeling distracted and disjointed, rather than strengthened by these tangents.
Regardless, I found this to be a really delightful read. As a woman who drinks (hello gin ❣️), it was so fun to learn about this history behind the practice. Even if you're not a drinker, this history holds a lot of fun stories, so it could still be an intriguing read.
I think this narrative is a bit more all over the place than O'Meara's previous book, which focused more intensely on the story of one woman. Because of this wider focus, O'Meara is able to introduce stories from around the globe, which I loved. But it also makes each chapter a bit of a mishmash. While a chapter may be themed around the story of a certain woman, her story is interrupted by various short tangents that make it hard to follow the original story when it does make a reappearance. I've noticed this in a few different nonfiction books I've read recently. It seems like a common narrative construction, but I feel like most attempts end up feeling distracted and disjointed, rather than strengthened by these tangents.
Regardless, I found this to be a really delightful read. As a woman who drinks (hello gin ❣️), it was so fun to learn about this history behind the practice. Even if you're not a drinker, this history holds a lot of fun stories, so it could still be an intriguing read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I love whiskey, and it was the first kind of alcohol I ever really liked. Immediately, I was told I drink like an old man. This book gave me so much validation on liking this "masculine" drink - turns out an Old Fashioned was most women's drink of choice post-prohibition! Mallory does an excellent job of unearthing and celebrating all the ways that women truly make up the worldly and winding history of alcohol. Go make a cocktail and read this book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Alcohol
Minor: Sexism, Sexual harassment