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criticalreader's review against another edition
3.0
It was really fun to read and introduced me to a whole host of amazing women from various centuries and countries. The way it was written started grating on me halfway through with the whole twitter lingo. I appreciate its the humour and this book was based on a tweet series by Mackenzi Lee, it just didn't translate as well. With the terms 'otp' etc, I'd pause to roll my eyes. So whilst books like these are important and I loved the host of women represented, I also wish more were ancient characters as I felt like most of the women were from the 19th century onwards.
3.5/5
3.5/5
apireading's review against another edition
5.0
De magnifiques et insolites portraits de femme décris par la plume moderne, drôle et emplie de pop culture de Mackenzi Lee. Les illustrations sont magnifiques et étayent les portraits de toutes ces incroyables femmes à la vie extraordinaire, qui ont changé l’Histoire mais que l’Histoire a oublié.
À lire et relire à l’infini <3
À lire et relire à l’infini <3
attytheresa's review against another edition
3.0
How do I rate thee? Let me count the ways...good and bad.
The very good: I now know about a whole lot of amazing women who had an enormous impact on history - either global and parochial. I already knew quite a lot about 4 or 5, had at least heard of another 4 or 5. That leaves about 42 to 44 that I had never heard a thing about. Pretty shocking considering my education, extensive reading, and interests! Granted, in same cases, my ignorance was a result of my own inattention, but still...shocking.
Also good are the diversity and inclusivity the author exercised in choosing her featured women, the extensive bibliography (author did her research), illustrations, quotations of others about the subject of each essay, and the very entertaining manner each short bio is written (this is also a problem).
BUT...
There is plenty of bad too. The book is actually a collection of the author's year-long weekly blog posts about overlooked women in history. While there was some editing, these still read like blog posts which don't translate all that well IMHO to book form without significant rewriting. Even if you read them a few at a time over a few days. In book form, read as a whole, these short bios are rather insubstantial, too shallow, too much on the surface, or at least felt that way to me. The extensive bibliography that makes it easy to read more about any of these women does not compensate.
The blog posts [I looked after finishing the book] also had additional illustrations and even photographs that would have added to the reading experience.
Most of all, the author's colorful writing style is a little too up-to-the-minute and filled with contemporary references that are unlikely to be recognized beyond the near future (I struggled a little bit at times, having to resort to a few quick web searches. But I am probably a few decades older than the original target demographic - the author's contemporaries. It left me at times thinking this was just too 'cutesy' or, as the Brits would say, 'twee'. Which is seriously unfortunate given the superior subject matter. The writing style works well when reading once a week as a blog, but seems irreverent in a negative way for a subject like this in book form. A little more editing would have improved it without losing the entertaining liveliness.
I also think that with a little judicious editing, this would make a fabulous middle grade reading experience! Introduce 'em young, I say!
In the end, I now have a long list of amazing women to be inspired by and read more about. And an author who I hope uses some of these women and their stories to inspire her future fiction writing.
ATY 2019 #52 book with intriguing title.
The very good: I now know about a whole lot of amazing women who had an enormous impact on history - either global and parochial. I already knew quite a lot about 4 or 5, had at least heard of another 4 or 5. That leaves about 42 to 44 that I had never heard a thing about. Pretty shocking considering my education, extensive reading, and interests! Granted, in same cases, my ignorance was a result of my own inattention, but still...shocking.
Also good are the diversity and inclusivity the author exercised in choosing her featured women, the extensive bibliography (author did her research), illustrations, quotations of others about the subject of each essay, and the very entertaining manner each short bio is written (this is also a problem).
BUT...
There is plenty of bad too. The book is actually a collection of the author's year-long weekly blog posts about overlooked women in history. While there was some editing, these still read like blog posts which don't translate all that well IMHO to book form without significant rewriting. Even if you read them a few at a time over a few days. In book form, read as a whole, these short bios are rather insubstantial, too shallow, too much on the surface, or at least felt that way to me. The extensive bibliography that makes it easy to read more about any of these women does not compensate.
The blog posts [I looked after finishing the book] also had additional illustrations and even photographs that would have added to the reading experience.
Most of all, the author's colorful writing style is a little too up-to-the-minute and filled with contemporary references that are unlikely to be recognized beyond the near future (I struggled a little bit at times, having to resort to a few quick web searches. But I am probably a few decades older than the original target demographic - the author's contemporaries. It left me at times thinking this was just too 'cutesy' or, as the Brits would say, 'twee'. Which is seriously unfortunate given the superior subject matter. The writing style works well when reading once a week as a blog, but seems irreverent in a negative way for a subject like this in book form. A little more editing would have improved it without losing the entertaining liveliness.
I also think that with a little judicious editing, this would make a fabulous middle grade reading experience! Introduce 'em young, I say!
In the end, I now have a long list of amazing women to be inspired by and read more about. And an author who I hope uses some of these women and their stories to inspire her future fiction writing.
ATY 2019 #52 book with intriguing title.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
5.0
A 2018 staff favorite recommended by Ann. Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sbygone%20badass%20broads__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
lelex's review against another edition
4.0
This was informational and funny and I absolutely loved the art!
"Eustaquia had the sort of life where servants with palm fronds brought her diamond plated martinis, but like many rich girls, she was lonely. Not for a friend- she wanted a hot girl to get it on with (which in history is often coded as a "friend.")"
"Her husband, in spite of being in possession of the incredibly badass name Wolfe, was basically soggy cornflakes molded into human form."
"In these days of great trouble and unrest, it is good to have something outside our own planet, something fine and distant and comforting to troubled minds. Let people look to the stars."
"Eustaquia had the sort of life where servants with palm fronds brought her diamond plated martinis, but like many rich girls, she was lonely. Not for a friend- she wanted a hot girl to get it on with (which in history is often coded as a "friend.")"
"Her husband, in spite of being in possession of the incredibly badass name Wolfe, was basically soggy cornflakes molded into human form."
"In these days of great trouble and unrest, it is good to have something outside our own planet, something fine and distant and comforting to troubled minds. Let people look to the stars."
itskatiekoalafiednerd's review against another edition
5.0
This is kind of a new experience for me, reading non-fiction books is not really my thing, until NOW.
This is a book comprised of inspiring women throughout history who somehow did not get enough public attention, and to me, it is amazing that this book did its job well, giving the rightful dedication to all these wonderful ladies. They should all be hailed and remembered for their amazing doings throughout history.
And my reaction throughout this book? Might as well be summarized with these two words:
This is a book comprised of inspiring women throughout history who somehow did not get enough public attention, and to me, it is amazing that this book did its job well, giving the rightful dedication to all these wonderful ladies. They should all be hailed and remembered for their amazing doings throughout history.
And my reaction throughout this book? Might as well be summarized with these two words:
rileyjarman's review against another edition
4.0
This book was interesting and educational. I only recognized a few of the women mentioned in this book which made me sad, but I loved learning about important women in history. I like the way the author write each story, with an easy to understand quick notes version of each woman and their accomplishments but I sometimes found myself wishing there was more to the story. Overall a wonderful book that has inspired me to research more about the women mentioned in it.
figthefruit's review against another edition
4.0
Very informative and funny too! I love the way the author sheds light on not just white women, but woc and queer women as well.
bizzybee429's review against another edition
update 2/10/18
in less than three short weeks I will have another Mackenzi Lee book in my hands so yeah February's a great month smh
--
can you believe that this and [b:Rejected Princesses|28820006|Rejected Princesses Tales of History's Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics|Jason Porath|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466691940s/28820006.jpg|49037710] are creating a new genre of nonfiction that I never knew I needed
in less than three short weeks I will have another Mackenzi Lee book in my hands so yeah February's a great month smh
--
can you believe that this and [b:Rejected Princesses|28820006|Rejected Princesses Tales of History's Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics|Jason Porath|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466691940s/28820006.jpg|49037710] are creating a new genre of nonfiction that I never knew I needed