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ibergill's review against another edition
4.5
The first half of this novel was my favorite, and then there was a section in the middle that didn't do it for me as much, but I felt the ending pulled it all back together. This is a novel full of flawed, imperfect characters who know they are imperfect and who still try to help the world. It didn't feel like a nearly 500 page book at all, and I really enjoyed reading it. I've really enjoyed the Meg Wolitzer books that I've read.
bookph1le's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. I thought the characters were so well done and so complex, and I really liked what Wolitzer had to say about feminism. The book considers it from so many angles and doesn't try to downplay the intricacies of modern feminism, and what a thorny topic it can be. I also really liked the portrayal of the relationships between Zee and Greer and between Greer and Cory.
My real problem with this book, though, is that it doesn't feel like a novel to me so much as a bunch of knitted-together short stories. I didn't get a sense of an overarching plot or that the characters were moving toward anything. I have no problem with novels that are concerned mostly with being character studies, but while I did enjoy the characters in this book, something about it was incomplete to me. Maybe it was because it felt lacking in an overarching story to me, which made me feel more like I was reading a bunch of character portraits than a cohesive story. Whatever it was, while I did like this novel and admired the writing, I can't help but feel kind of lukewarm about it.
My real problem with this book, though, is that it doesn't feel like a novel to me so much as a bunch of knitted-together short stories. I didn't get a sense of an overarching plot or that the characters were moving toward anything. I have no problem with novels that are concerned mostly with being character studies, but while I did enjoy the characters in this book, something about it was incomplete to me. Maybe it was because it felt lacking in an overarching story to me, which made me feel more like I was reading a bunch of character portraits than a cohesive story. Whatever it was, while I did like this novel and admired the writing, I can't help but feel kind of lukewarm about it.
smfrazer's review against another edition
3.0
I think it was overhyped. Too long, too many character POV. It was fine overall.
hispoetry's review against another edition
4.0
This book really captivated me. I enjoyed her writing style immensely!
barsen's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
spatterson12's review against another edition
4.0
More in line with 3.75 for me.
The Female Persuasion was a bit slow, but by Part 2 I was in it and understanding the rhythm more. With longer chapters than I’ve been reading lately, it felt as though each one was dedicated to examining how each character learned and defined feminism in their life and how that definition can change or evolve throughout time.
The story is centered on Greer, starting with her freshman year in college and following the next decade of her life. She became to idolize the popular feminist Faith Frank and through this following she learned the importance of listening, letting people tell their stories on their terms, and developing her “outside voice.”
Space is given to her boyfriend Cory, as he endures a family tragedy that derails his life plans for after the Ivy League, and to her best friend Zee, as she discovers how she can serve her communities through activism work that her cookie cutter parents can approve.
There were a few moments I didn’t care for, like that Greer sulked about her parents messing up her college dreams - because in all reality she had been taking care of herself when she was a young child. It didn’t make sense she wouldn’t have helicoptered the college application process and made sure everything was done perfectly correct. Or how the writing would randomly take you out of a moment to mention “btw, in the future this happens.” And then a few others that would be spoilers.
I also don’t need 1000 mentions of the boots Faith wears, but that’s just me.
The Female Persuasion was a bit slow, but by Part 2 I was in it and understanding the rhythm more. With longer chapters than I’ve been reading lately, it felt as though each one was dedicated to examining how each character learned and defined feminism in their life and how that definition can change or evolve throughout time.
The story is centered on Greer, starting with her freshman year in college and following the next decade of her life. She became to idolize the popular feminist Faith Frank and through this following she learned the importance of listening, letting people tell their stories on their terms, and developing her “outside voice.”
Space is given to her boyfriend Cory, as he endures a family tragedy that derails his life plans for after the Ivy League, and to her best friend Zee, as she discovers how she can serve her communities through activism work that her cookie cutter parents can approve.
There were a few moments I didn’t care for, like that Greer sulked about her parents messing up her college dreams - because in all reality she had been taking care of herself when she was a young child. It didn’t make sense she wouldn’t have helicoptered the college application process and made sure everything was done perfectly correct. Or how the writing would randomly take you out of a moment to mention “btw, in the future this happens.” And then a few others that would be spoilers.
I also don’t need 1000 mentions of the boots Faith wears, but that’s just me.
seymone's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent coming of age story, that touches heavily on internal and external womanhood - what that means and how to fully grow in to it.
On another note, I really loved the topic surrounding women using their outside voice. This stuck with me.
On another note, I really loved the topic surrounding women using their outside voice. This stuck with me.
livrawds's review against another edition
1.0
DNF / got halfway through and just couldn’t continue I wasn’t gripped to the story which was messy and unclear and the story at all which is disappointing because I wanted to love Wolitzer’s writing may try in the future
pianorunner421's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
tater_reads_on's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The story was good, most of the writing was enjoyable, but I could not tolerate the multiple repeated cliff-hanger digressions. I had to put down the book unfinished after the 5th time there was a digression to the past in the middle of a cliffhanger event. “She stood up to speak, and her voice caught..” (10 minute digression to the background that formed her feelings) “..and she was able to speak.” Aaaugh!