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elisabeth1st's review against another edition
5.0
cheapo bargain book I picked up. Love it. Again, like the Century of Letters, this is a wonderful historical account of life and interesting look at writing styles during a time period.
lidy_ugh's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
4.0
kathyxtran's review
1.0
In a few words: a collection of letters written by women with lots of expectations set regarding their scope, but a lot of severe limitations (editing, and/or marketing issues?)
What: Kindle library loan
Why: just randomly picked it out, browsing the electronic catalogs of the library, and I really have been meaning to get into a good letter collection or anthology, but this was not it.
The huge, glaring: western, whiteness at the center of the way this collection has presented "800 years of women's letters," lives, and experiences. The entire travel section really almost made me throw the book across the room. The letters really spoke plainly about racism, even at its most benign ("Ugh, I do hate oppression, but how awful it is to look at a slave and how miserable they might be!"). But they were presented with very little context, which seemed strange compared to many other letters. I got the sense that Kenyon was out of her depth collecting these letters, or any letters outside of the western, white sphere--so why couldn't this collection have just been that, in name and self awareness?
Earned its star: because there are a few fascinating, gems in here, including letters written by Charlotte Bronte, Isabelle Bird, Marina Tsvetayeva, ...
What: Kindle library loan
Why: just randomly picked it out, browsing the electronic catalogs of the library, and I really have been meaning to get into a good letter collection or anthology, but this was not it.
The huge, glaring: western, whiteness at the center of the way this collection has presented "800 years of women's letters," lives, and experiences. The entire travel section really almost made me throw the book across the room. The letters really spoke plainly about racism, even at its most benign ("Ugh, I do hate oppression, but how awful it is to look at a slave and how miserable they might be!"). But they were presented with very little context, which seemed strange compared to many other letters. I got the sense that Kenyon was out of her depth collecting these letters, or any letters outside of the western, white sphere--so why couldn't this collection have just been that, in name and self awareness?
Earned its star: because there are a few fascinating, gems in here, including letters written by Charlotte Bronte, Isabelle Bird, Marina Tsvetayeva, ...
nwhyte's review
http://nhw.livejournal.com/844062.html[return][return]Completely bounced off this one.
ventriloquist's review
4.0
[4.5]
I’m so thankful for this anthology. Each epistle was deeply moving in its portrayal of what it meant/means to be a women in a society constructed, in large, by and for men. I especially enjoyed the section on woman-woman friendship.
My only criticism relates to the Eurocentrism of the letters; an inclusion of more non-western letters would have been extremely valuable. Nevertheless, this was a great introduction to the letter text type :-)!!
I’m so thankful for this anthology. Each epistle was deeply moving in its portrayal of what it meant/means to be a women in a society constructed, in large, by and for men. I especially enjoyed the section on woman-woman friendship.
My only criticism relates to the Eurocentrism of the letters; an inclusion of more non-western letters would have been extremely valuable. Nevertheless, this was a great introduction to the letter text type :-)!!
mabith's review
4.0
I would actually give this three and a half stars if that were an option.
A wonderful compilation of women's letters grouped into various categories, though very much focused on western Europe and North America. It was great to read through, but I can see why it was remaindered.
The organization, editing, and short commentary on the letters really needs some improvement. Sometimes Kenyon made it sound like a letter would include certain things when it didn't, and sometimes her short blurbs before each letter didn't contain enough background information. The cover was also kind of bad, and that really does matter in selling books. She also occasionally uses letters from novels, which rather annoyed me.
It was a little depressing at times, given how so many of the women's problems and concerns are still our problems and concerns. It's hard to read these things, and books like A Room of One's Own, and feel like we've made no progress (obviously we have, in many arenas, but prevailing social/cultural attitudes take a lot longer to address).
Really a treasure trove of neat letters and perspectives, but I feel like there are better collections out there.
A wonderful compilation of women's letters grouped into various categories, though very much focused on western Europe and North America. It was great to read through, but I can see why it was remaindered.
The organization, editing, and short commentary on the letters really needs some improvement. Sometimes Kenyon made it sound like a letter would include certain things when it didn't, and sometimes her short blurbs before each letter didn't contain enough background information. The cover was also kind of bad, and that really does matter in selling books. She also occasionally uses letters from novels, which rather annoyed me.
It was a little depressing at times, given how so many of the women's problems and concerns are still our problems and concerns. It's hard to read these things, and books like A Room of One's Own, and feel like we've made no progress (obviously we have, in many arenas, but prevailing social/cultural attitudes take a lot longer to address).
Really a treasure trove of neat letters and perspectives, but I feel like there are better collections out there.
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