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rosannajhunt's review against another edition
4.0
A very interesting insight into Penny Wong’s life and career. It’s written in a formal, journalistic style and sometimes goes into a little more detail than I thought necessary - but tells an engaging story nonetheless. One of the most revealing parts of the book is the story behind it - that Wong really didn’t want it to be written. She eventually came around to giving interviews, and no doubt the book is much stronger for it.
tiggany's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
mayaweaver's review against another edition
idk how to rate this because it was interesting but i just wanted it to be an autobiography
luisa_joy's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
eyla's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 **
My mum introduced me to Penny Wong on one of the biggest days of my life. On the day the result of 61% was announced, I was huddled in an English classroom with the countdown on the screen. The entire class cheered as the results were announced, quite a few of the students being LGBT, myself included. My mum showed me the famous images of Penny Wong later that night, she had been a big fan of hers for a while by then. I had not been in politics enough to know of her.
I delved into an interest in politics, a shallow one but one nonetheless. But the more I learn and see, my admiration for Penny Wong continues to grow. I understand the significance of a woman of colour and a lesbian woman being 'in the room' and I admire her political prowess. Her ability to compromise is not one I share yet, but I understand the necessity.
This biography was a great insight into Australian politics and the way that Wong worked and handled her portfolios. While it was a slow read, it was a good one with chapters that I surprisingly flew through. It was a shame that the book was written against the wishes of Penny and Sophie though, it really did make the read a bit of discomfort. But I am grateful that I got the chance to read it, it's given me a bit of an insight that's changed a few perspectives of mine that I was stuck on, and it's an eternal inspiration to see a woman like her in parliament. God knows I don't want to enter politics myself, but it's amazing to see someone fight so hard for her rights, my rights and the rights of all LGBTQ+ peoples. This is a bit of a mess of a review, but I really did find the book an interesting read. Gods I don't even know how to rate it though.
My mum introduced me to Penny Wong on one of the biggest days of my life. On the day the result of 61% was announced, I was huddled in an English classroom with the countdown on the screen. The entire class cheered as the results were announced, quite a few of the students being LGBT, myself included. My mum showed me the famous images of Penny Wong later that night, she had been a big fan of hers for a while by then. I had not been in politics enough to know of her.
I delved into an interest in politics, a shallow one but one nonetheless. But the more I learn and see, my admiration for Penny Wong continues to grow. I understand the significance of a woman of colour and a lesbian woman being 'in the room' and I admire her political prowess. Her ability to compromise is not one I share yet, but I understand the necessity.
This biography was a great insight into Australian politics and the way that Wong worked and handled her portfolios. While it was a slow read, it was a good one with chapters that I surprisingly flew through. It was a shame that the book was written against the wishes of Penny and Sophie though, it really did make the read a bit of discomfort. But I am grateful that I got the chance to read it, it's given me a bit of an insight that's changed a few perspectives of mine that I was stuck on, and it's an eternal inspiration to see a woman like her in parliament. God knows I don't want to enter politics myself, but it's amazing to see someone fight so hard for her rights, my rights and the rights of all LGBTQ+ peoples. This is a bit of a mess of a review, but I really did find the book an interesting read. Gods I don't even know how to rate it though.
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