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lcolium's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed how this book focused on the same characters throughout different parts of their lives, examining how people change over time and how that affects relationships. All with an excellent side dose of strong female characters.
cemoses's review against another edition
3.0
While I enjoyed this book, I think some key issues in its story bonds between women of different generations. The novel does not deal with the changing roles/expectations across different generations. I think this can be a major source of stress among women of different generations.
jzav37's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
carolineolesky's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really enjoyed this book but mostly because it really resonated with where I am in life right now as in my early/mid-20's. I spend so much time wondering about my place in the world, my values, and how to integrate my passions into my work. I am also navigating the challenges of maintaining my support system after graduating college. This was not the most amazing or groundbreaking novel, but it was good to read at this time in my life.
keiyi's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wollitzer has a way of breathing life into her characters. The book wasn't long or difficult to read but tracked the flaws and growth of her four characters extremely well.
novelvisits's review against another edition
5.0
{My Thoughts}
What Worked For Me
A Timely Topic – How lucky was Meg Wolitzer that the #MeToo movement and other women’s issues moved so firmly to the forefront of our world these last six months. Could she have asked for a better lead-up to a book featuring characters in the center of the feminist movement? It may have involved some luck on Wolitzer’s part, but I can’t help believing that she had to see some of this coming. It’s time. The Female Persuasion does a beautiful job of framing the history of the women’s movement, while at the same time moving it forward in a world rife with instant access, blogs, and social media. The historical review Wolitzer slipped into her novel leant context to all that is happening today.
Mentor/Mentee Relationship – Looking back on my own life I can find mentors here and there for short bursts of time, but nothing like the relationship Greer had with her mentor, Faith Frank. When Greer reluctantly agreed to go hear Frank speak on a rainy fall evening during her freshman year, she had no idea the lasting impact Frank would have on her. At the end of that evening, Frank slipped Greer a card and though it took her years to use the contact information, just having it brought Greer strength. Later, both women were clear with and comfortable in their roles with one another. Greer wanted to think of herself as more to Frank, but realized there had been others. Frank valued Greer and understood Greer’s needs, but limited their relationship. Faith speaking to a friend about mentoring:
“Showing an interest is only one part,” she said. “You also take them under your wing, if that’s what they seem to want. But then there’s another part, which is that eventually you let them go. Fling! You fling them away. Because otherwise they think that they can’t manage on their own. Sometimes you fling them too hard. You have to be careful.”
The Telling – I appreciated the way Meg Wolitzer chose to structure The Female Persuasion. In addition to the two central characters, Greer and Faith, she used Greer’s boyfriend, Cory and her college best friend, Zee, to fully flesh out the story. Almost all chapters were told from the perspective of one of these four. As expected, those revolving around Faith were powerful and those around Greer propelled the story, but those centered on Zee and Cory were surprisingly touching. In many ways their chapters felt like the heart, the emotional side of this book.
Cory – Some might disagree with me here, but I loved the character of Cory for so many reasons. First, even as a teenager, he so clearly saw the world around him. When Greer’s parents diminished her worth, he was incensed for her. He struggled with high ideals versus paths more easily taken. And when tragedy struck his reaction was far from what might be expected of a man in his early 20’s. In some ways Cory’s part of this story speaks the loudest for feminist ideals.
What Didn’t
An Ending That Went Too Far – The last chapter of The Female Persuasion wasn’t called an epilogue, but it felt very much like one. Like most epilogues, I didn’t think it was necessary. Almost everything that the reader learned in that last chapter had already been hinted out earlier in the book. I’d have been perfectly happy had the last chapter been completely eliminated and I was left to fill in any small gaps myself.
{The Final Assessment}
Make no mistake about it, I loved The Female Persuasion. No one is quite like Meg Wolitzer when it comes to developing a rich story over a span of years. From the history lessons, to the vivid characters, to the variety of conflicts, to the women’s movement today, this book had it all. One less chapter might have made it perfect, but I still highly recommend The Female Persuasion. Grade: A-
Originally at Novel Visits: https://novelvisits.com/the-female-persuasion-by-meg-wolitzer-review/
What Worked For Me
A Timely Topic – How lucky was Meg Wolitzer that the #MeToo movement and other women’s issues moved so firmly to the forefront of our world these last six months. Could she have asked for a better lead-up to a book featuring characters in the center of the feminist movement? It may have involved some luck on Wolitzer’s part, but I can’t help believing that she had to see some of this coming. It’s time. The Female Persuasion does a beautiful job of framing the history of the women’s movement, while at the same time moving it forward in a world rife with instant access, blogs, and social media. The historical review Wolitzer slipped into her novel leant context to all that is happening today.
Mentor/Mentee Relationship – Looking back on my own life I can find mentors here and there for short bursts of time, but nothing like the relationship Greer had with her mentor, Faith Frank. When Greer reluctantly agreed to go hear Frank speak on a rainy fall evening during her freshman year, she had no idea the lasting impact Frank would have on her. At the end of that evening, Frank slipped Greer a card and though it took her years to use the contact information, just having it brought Greer strength. Later, both women were clear with and comfortable in their roles with one another. Greer wanted to think of herself as more to Frank, but realized there had been others. Frank valued Greer and understood Greer’s needs, but limited their relationship. Faith speaking to a friend about mentoring:
“Showing an interest is only one part,” she said. “You also take them under your wing, if that’s what they seem to want. But then there’s another part, which is that eventually you let them go. Fling! You fling them away. Because otherwise they think that they can’t manage on their own. Sometimes you fling them too hard. You have to be careful.”
The Telling – I appreciated the way Meg Wolitzer chose to structure The Female Persuasion. In addition to the two central characters, Greer and Faith, she used Greer’s boyfriend, Cory and her college best friend, Zee, to fully flesh out the story. Almost all chapters were told from the perspective of one of these four. As expected, those revolving around Faith were powerful and those around Greer propelled the story, but those centered on Zee and Cory were surprisingly touching. In many ways their chapters felt like the heart, the emotional side of this book.
Cory – Some might disagree with me here, but I loved the character of Cory for so many reasons. First, even as a teenager, he so clearly saw the world around him. When Greer’s parents diminished her worth, he was incensed for her. He struggled with high ideals versus paths more easily taken. And when tragedy struck his reaction was far from what might be expected of a man in his early 20’s. In some ways Cory’s part of this story speaks the loudest for feminist ideals.
What Didn’t
An Ending That Went Too Far – The last chapter of The Female Persuasion wasn’t called an epilogue, but it felt very much like one. Like most epilogues, I didn’t think it was necessary. Almost everything that the reader learned in that last chapter had already been hinted out earlier in the book. I’d have been perfectly happy had the last chapter been completely eliminated and I was left to fill in any small gaps myself.
{The Final Assessment}
Make no mistake about it, I loved The Female Persuasion. No one is quite like Meg Wolitzer when it comes to developing a rich story over a span of years. From the history lessons, to the vivid characters, to the variety of conflicts, to the women’s movement today, this book had it all. One less chapter might have made it perfect, but I still highly recommend The Female Persuasion. Grade: A-
Originally at Novel Visits: https://novelvisits.com/the-female-persuasion-by-meg-wolitzer-review/
natfavre's review against another edition
4.0
“there’s nothing we can’t do, but there’s a lot they’re afraid to do”
this!!! book!!!! whew!!! pains me to say that it kinda lost me towards the end, but MAN was the beginning amazing. such an interesting take on being a woman and how we got to where we are today. also loved the sense of growing up alongside Greer. she made me feel less alone in this confusing time.
this!!! book!!!! whew!!! pains me to say that it kinda lost me towards the end, but MAN was the beginning amazing. such an interesting take on being a woman and how we got to where we are today. also loved the sense of growing up alongside Greer. she made me feel less alone in this confusing time.
mansireanna's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-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
2.0
A book that just has no substance when you get down to it. It plays with interesting ideas, and has some really honestly great sections (Cory and Z’s storylines were by far the best bit of the book imo) but the glue holding it all together, Greer and Faith and even feminism just lacks the bit and interest to sustain the novel. There’s truly a good book in here somewhere but it’s not really the story we got, which is a shame. As I said I did genuinely like bits of this quite a lot, but I left the whole thing feeling hollow and empty and kinda wondering what the point was. Oh well, there are other books out there that tackle similar themes but done better. If you liked the ideas of this but wanted more intersectionality I would recommend Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera, which I didn’t even love that much but which at least felt coherent and honest.