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septan's review against another edition
5.0
This book made me want to scream and cheer at the same time. It's so refreshingly angry and (mostly) just so RIGHT. Would give it more than five stars if I could.
eososray's review
2.0
To start, I skipped over all the essay's about Trump. I know, I've heard, new articles are being written everyday.
For the rest, these very much come across as articles written as 'click bait'. They are short, emotional and on controversial or dramatic subjects.
So, all 20 something girls should be single. I think this is strange. We don't tell men this. We don't think that they will be less independent or that they will be making wrong decisions. I think that this statement of staying single means something else. I think has nothing to do with the actual singleness, I think it has to do with independence and how we view this as imperative to do on your own. I don't agree.
Also, this vision that so many writers have of a world where the roles were reversed. Like, if men were the ones who got pregnant. Why do we always think this would be better, that the things we want as women would automatically exist just because men are experiencing these things. Maybe it would be worse, maybe it would be exactly the same. Automatically thinking that it would be better, is something we should stop. Because it's probably not true.
I think Emma Watson, Beyonce and Mad Max need to be dropped as feminist subjects. These are tired discussions, endlessly written about. First, these women should be left to live their lives however they want. Second, it's a movie, not a feminist icon.
And lastly, I actually am insulted that she considers Jane Austen to have written 'horror' stories about women with no other choice but to catch a man.
These books are satires on life in those times and in that era, no doubt. But to classify them as horror stories about women trapped does them a great disservice.
For the rest, these very much come across as articles written as 'click bait'. They are short, emotional and on controversial or dramatic subjects.
So, all 20 something girls should be single. I think this is strange. We don't tell men this. We don't think that they will be less independent or that they will be making wrong decisions. I think that this statement of staying single means something else. I think has nothing to do with the actual singleness, I think it has to do with independence and how we view this as imperative to do on your own. I don't agree.
Also, this vision that so many writers have of a world where the roles were reversed. Like, if men were the ones who got pregnant. Why do we always think this would be better, that the things we want as women would automatically exist just because men are experiencing these things. Maybe it would be worse, maybe it would be exactly the same. Automatically thinking that it would be better, is something we should stop. Because it's probably not true.
I think Emma Watson, Beyonce and Mad Max need to be dropped as feminist subjects. These are tired discussions, endlessly written about. First, these women should be left to live their lives however they want. Second, it's a movie, not a feminist icon.
And lastly, I actually am insulted that she considers Jane Austen to have written 'horror' stories about women with no other choice but to catch a man.
These books are satires on life in those times and in that era, no doubt. But to classify them as horror stories about women trapped does them a great disservice.
adrianlarose's review
4.0
A clear vision for what's wrong and what's needed. Published / edited shortly after the 2016 US election, it's interesting, if depressing to see how pointed many of the - well, points, made in these essays are today. Laurie Penny writes clearly and piercingly about our problems.
jkteut's review
1.0
I gave it the good old college try in finishing this book. Tbh, I couldn't finish it. Too white feminism, too cishet, too I am everywoman.
janedoelish's review
4.0
Smart, compelling, opinionated:
I really appreciate Laurie Penny's essays. The only reason why I withheld the final star was because I was already familiar with most of the material in this anthology; virtually all of these essays were available before, and I would have hoped for more previously unpublished essays.
Still, Penny's writing is as important as ever.
I really appreciate Laurie Penny's essays. The only reason why I withheld the final star was because I was already familiar with most of the material in this anthology; virtually all of these essays were available before, and I would have hoped for more previously unpublished essays.
Still, Penny's writing is as important as ever.
nyssahhhh's review
4.0
Yes, it took me forever to finish this. And, to be quite honest, it was partially on purpose. I didn't want to finish because it is too good. So many phrases and paragraphs I noted, so won't be typing them up this time. Thank you, Laurie, for saying things others won't, and explaining things like no one else can.
idratherread_'s review
5.0
Laurie Penny speaks the truth - an absolute must read! This collection of essays basically tackles all the crucial questions of feminism. Also, I love Penny's writing style, it's absolutely hilarious.