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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I really wanted to love this book but I had to stop reading when I felt Dederer was placating the middle line and not really taking a stance. She attempts to excuse Roman Polanski’s abusive and predatory behavior by reminding us of the trauma he endured growing up. She gives us multiple anecdotes about men who still love and defend Woody Allen, while also claiming everyone is cancelled or about to be cancelled. Clearly not. And this is also a bleak narrative. People won’t be cancelled if they’re not problematic.
Additionally, she states the calling these men “monsters” is leaning toward a hysterical reaction, which undermines the whole point of the book.
Additionally, she states the calling these men “monsters” is leaning toward a hysterical reaction, which undermines the whole point of the book.
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
This book started strong and stayed strong until you hit about 50 pages left. I'm not a mother (to a human child), and I will not become one. Talking about "Mom Guilt" for a large portion of the book killed it for me.
This book might become a 2-star after I think about it more......
This book might become a 2-star after I think about it more......
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this one. I went in with the impression that it would be more essay than memoir, and it was kind of the opposite.
There are some good points and discussions within the book, but as soon as she gets into deeper analysis, she pulls out of it and comes back to a surface-level point. For example, the whole book ends with saying that capitalism is the problem, so individuals can’t be held responsible. It seems like she is getting somewhere, but then just copes out instead. I wonder if she was more concerned with marketing the book rather than actually making a point or discussing it. She does talk about funding monsters by buying their art, and she discusses many different kinds of monsters, but she doesn't stick the landing. Maybe she would have written the ending differently today with the recent JKR-funded anti-trans legislation. But I'm sure there are examples like that from before this book was out.
When I first started reading, it also felt very “not like other girls,” and at points it goes one step further and seems like she is describing feminism as just man-hating or pointing fingers rather than doing any real work. I think the author needed to unpack her views of women/feminism a bit more before writing this book, or, if this isn't what she meant, it needed to be better edited.
Overall, I'm not sure where I stand because I’m not actually sure what the point was. In my opinion, this needed to be cleaned up and clarified rather than left open. The book has some good points, but overall, it's just surface-level without enough substance. I wouldn’t recommend reading it.
There are some good points and discussions within the book, but as soon as she gets into deeper analysis, she pulls out of it and comes back to a surface-level point. For example, the whole book ends with saying that capitalism is the problem, so individuals can’t be held responsible. It seems like she is getting somewhere, but then just copes out instead. I wonder if she was more concerned with marketing the book rather than actually making a point or discussing it. She does talk about funding monsters by buying their art, and she discusses many different kinds of monsters, but she doesn't stick the landing. Maybe she would have written the ending differently today with the recent JKR-funded anti-trans legislation. But I'm sure there are examples like that from before this book was out.
When I first started reading, it also felt very “not like other girls,” and at points it goes one step further and seems like she is describing feminism as just man-hating or pointing fingers rather than doing any real work. I think the author needed to unpack her views of women/feminism a bit more before writing this book, or, if this isn't what she meant, it needed to be better edited.
Overall, I'm not sure where I stand because I’m not actually sure what the point was. In my opinion, this needed to be cleaned up and clarified rather than left open. The book has some good points, but overall, it's just surface-level without enough substance. I wouldn’t recommend reading it.
reflective
medium-paced