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0rph3us's review against another edition
5.0
Life changing!
If you are someone who falls outside of the traditional image of "man" when it refers to people, almost everything Rebecca Solnit writes in Recollections of My Non-Existence will strike true. Silently, there has been a war raging against people of color, women and queer people.
The experiences Solnit writes about unfortunately resonate. From being talked over, dismissed as a liar, to being followed home in the dead of night. But the way she writes (making the fight for equality equal to poetry, a love story) has not managed to scare me, only to inspire.
She perfectly conceptualizes what is wrong and in her explanation of her fight for change, she instills hope in the reader in how they can also help. That things have changed (although not yet enough) and that will continue to change.
I recommend this book to everyone. Read this book. Be upset. Be a little in love. Be hopeful!
If you are someone who falls outside of the traditional image of "man" when it refers to people, almost everything Rebecca Solnit writes in Recollections of My Non-Existence will strike true. Silently, there has been a war raging against people of color, women and queer people.
The experiences Solnit writes about unfortunately resonate. From being talked over, dismissed as a liar, to being followed home in the dead of night. But the way she writes (making the fight for equality equal to poetry, a love story) has not managed to scare me, only to inspire.
She perfectly conceptualizes what is wrong and in her explanation of her fight for change, she instills hope in the reader in how they can also help. That things have changed (although not yet enough) and that will continue to change.
I recommend this book to everyone. Read this book. Be upset. Be a little in love. Be hopeful!
morandareads's review against another edition
5.0
This is Rebecca Solnit’s crowning achievement. I loved this book. I had read Men Explain Things To Me and liked but not loved it. I read A Field Guide to Getting Lost and liked it but wasn’t moved by it. This book however is superb.
We follow her through her growth as a young woman and into an adult but it’s cerebral, contemplative, and exploratory. It reads almost like stream of consciousness at times but neater, cleaner. You can follow her threads and you come out the other side feeling like she’s brought your through her genuine experience. That is an extremely difficult effect to achieve and I applaud her for it.
I am going to do a deep dive into her writing now. I waited a while to read this book and I’m so glad I finally did. A fascinating and ruminating read to delve into.
We follow her through her growth as a young woman and into an adult but it’s cerebral, contemplative, and exploratory. It reads almost like stream of consciousness at times but neater, cleaner. You can follow her threads and you come out the other side feeling like she’s brought your through her genuine experience. That is an extremely difficult effect to achieve and I applaud her for it.
I am going to do a deep dive into her writing now. I waited a while to read this book and I’m so glad I finally did. A fascinating and ruminating read to delve into.
noodal's review against another edition
5.0
I have been a fan of Solnit's writing since [b:Hope in the Dark|28048|Hope in the Dark|Rebecca Solnit|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388245698l/28048._SY75_.jpg|75603] and her latest memoir was the perfect companion to this year's Women's History Month (though women, their achievements and personhood, should be celebrated and appreciated at all times of the year). This is one I would read again and again, looking for the quotes and insightful prose that I missed the first time around. Every time I opened the book up again, there was always something to catch my eye. Very glad to have been exposed to this.
bckyflmn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
elena_1902's review against another edition
4.0
Io non sono fatta per i memoir e questa è stata la mia prima prova col genere, ma mi è piaciuto molto inaspettatamente! Un mix tra ricordi, argomentazioni di tipo emotivo tanto quanto politico e sociale, una traversata nella storia dei decenni passati e una carica di speranza per il futuro
modeislodis's review against another edition
3.0
I respect it, but I didn’t enjoy reading it. The storytelling was disjointed and perhaps too “poetic” or “artistic” for my taste? But I recognize her importance, liked learning about the fires in which she was forged, and appreciate that despite it all, she’s an optimist.
juliedefrance's review against another edition
The title sounds promising and I loved another work from the same author. This just didn't catch me, the storyline drags itself and I grew bored. Since I own the book maybe I'll try another time, not sure yet
esessa's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this, and loved listening to it as an audiobook. Listening to Solnit is like listening to the ocean: generally calm and comforting, but with powerful undercurrents and occasional crashing waves that startle you into alertness. These essays on femininity and her own history are fascinating and empowering.