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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
"We are made of tougher stuff than we can ever imagine."
It's hard to sum up this essay collection in a single review. Each section conveys a pretty distinct tone. Moving between advice for writers, geek culture analysis, personal stories and call-to-action pieces can feel a bit disjointed, with only Hurley's enduring anger acting as a through piece.
I appreciated the anger, but it was a bit grim for me, overall. Still, I picked up the collection for the Geek section, and wasn't disappointed. The Personal section also surprised me, Hurley has a way of telling her own stories in a way that really connected with me, though we've had very different experiences. I also loved hearing about her own internal conflict between acknowledging institutional barriers while still claiming power over her own actions.
It's hard to sum up this essay collection in a single review. Each section conveys a pretty distinct tone. Moving between advice for writers, geek culture analysis, personal stories and call-to-action pieces can feel a bit disjointed, with only Hurley's enduring anger acting as a through piece.
I appreciated the anger, but it was a bit grim for me, overall. Still, I picked up the collection for the Geek section, and wasn't disappointed. The Personal section also surprised me, Hurley has a way of telling her own stories in a way that really connected with me, though we've had very different experiences. I also loved hearing about her own internal conflict between acknowledging institutional barriers while still claiming power over her own actions.
I was falling into a bit of a reading slump this month, but this book took me right out of it. It's fast, conversational, very readable, and so directly relevant to all of my interests. It touches on a variety of topics - feminism, the science fiction and fantasy industry, geek culture, internet bullying, and more. There's an entire essay all about True Detective, featuring the kind of feminist media criticism I live for. She discusses her experience with a chronic illness and how it has changed her outlook on life. And, of course, she talks about writing as a young woman in science fiction and fantasy.
I don't generally read personal essay collections, but I really enjoy reading such collections by fiction writers, because it provides such a deep insight into their work (I've had the same experience with Roxane Gay). I've read two of Hurley's fiction books - one I kind of liked, one I very much disliked. Now, having read about her thought process in creating these works, I find that I understand them better. I still don't think Hurley's style meshes with what I look for in books, but I admire her desire to create something new and different. And I'm still interested in her work, even if I'm not sure I would necessarily enjoy reading it. I just requested her very first book from my library, because I'd like to read it with all of this background info about her in mind and see if that changes my reading experience.
Hurley's writing is straightforward and forthright; she pulls no punches. Even if I didn't always agree with her conclusions, I could understand where she was coming from and respected her logic. I think my one criticism of her style, and the collection in general, is that it's not as meaty as I would have liked it to be. Hurley discusses so much, but much of it she only skims over, when I would have liked more details and a richer discussion. I'm not sure how much of a criticism this is, though, since what I'm actually saying is that I find her an eminently fascinating writer who has lived a very fascinating life and I would love to read more nonfiction from her.
I don't generally read personal essay collections, but I really enjoy reading such collections by fiction writers, because it provides such a deep insight into their work (I've had the same experience with Roxane Gay). I've read two of Hurley's fiction books - one I kind of liked, one I very much disliked. Now, having read about her thought process in creating these works, I find that I understand them better. I still don't think Hurley's style meshes with what I look for in books, but I admire her desire to create something new and different. And I'm still interested in her work, even if I'm not sure I would necessarily enjoy reading it. I just requested her very first book from my library, because I'd like to read it with all of this background info about her in mind and see if that changes my reading experience.
Hurley's writing is straightforward and forthright; she pulls no punches. Even if I didn't always agree with her conclusions, I could understand where she was coming from and respected her logic. I think my one criticism of her style, and the collection in general, is that it's not as meaty as I would have liked it to be. Hurley discusses so much, but much of it she only skims over, when I would have liked more details and a richer discussion. I'm not sure how much of a criticism this is, though, since what I'm actually saying is that I find her an eminently fascinating writer who has lived a very fascinating life and I would love to read more nonfiction from her.
"The Geek Feminist Revolution" sounds like literally everything I would want out of a book of essays. It's one of those books I heard about months ago and instantly marked the release date on my calendar. Unfortunately, while it's a pretty good collection, it definitely suffered from by super high expectations.
The collection is broken into four parts: Level Up, Geek, Let's Get Personal, and Revolution. They're roughly themed into essays about writing, pop culture, the author's life, and social justice movements, respectively. There's some overlap - in fact, a lot of overlap, which is reflective of one of the key problems I had with this collection. Much of the content is repetitive. There are a few major incidents in the author's life that are the focus of personal essays but also appear in many of the other essays, either as a core theme or in passing. The essays are, obviously, generally all related to geek feminism, which I love, but which gets treated with pretty much the same few notes in all of her essays.
It's the same problem I had with "Bad Feminist." I like all the content, but collecting previously-published thinkpieces/personal essays by one author into a collection reveals that 1) the essays are all pretty similar, 2) thinkpieces are short and 3) internet publishing favors strong, vibrant rhetoric over nuanced logical argument. To be clear - I'm not saying that either is better, or that the latter is absent from either of the collections. I favor academic writing because that's what I'm familiar with. If I'd read all of Hurley's pieces separately spread over the several years they were originally published, I'd appreciate them more. She has several pieces where she takes nuanced, controversial stances and defends them well. There are others where she argues from a place of passion for things that I also strongly believe in, but her approach loses all steam if you don't already agree with everything she's saying. Not every piece has to be written to argue, to persuade, to convince - some can just be written to 'y'know what? I think this sucks, don't you?' and vent some steam. But there were too many of those for me in this collection.
It's a breeze to read, though, and I especially loved her essays on her history and her writing. I read the essays in the first section slowly, one at a time, because every time I finished one I immediately wanted to spend the rest of the night writing stories. It was inspiring. And for such a young author, she's lived a (hard, but) incredibly interesting life.
The collection is broken into four parts: Level Up, Geek, Let's Get Personal, and Revolution. They're roughly themed into essays about writing, pop culture, the author's life, and social justice movements, respectively. There's some overlap - in fact, a lot of overlap, which is reflective of one of the key problems I had with this collection. Much of the content is repetitive. There are a few major incidents in the author's life that are the focus of personal essays but also appear in many of the other essays, either as a core theme or in passing. The essays are, obviously, generally all related to geek feminism, which I love, but which gets treated with pretty much the same few notes in all of her essays.
It's the same problem I had with "Bad Feminist." I like all the content, but collecting previously-published thinkpieces/personal essays by one author into a collection reveals that 1) the essays are all pretty similar, 2) thinkpieces are short and 3) internet publishing favors strong, vibrant rhetoric over nuanced logical argument. To be clear - I'm not saying that either is better, or that the latter is absent from either of the collections. I favor academic writing because that's what I'm familiar with. If I'd read all of Hurley's pieces separately spread over the several years they were originally published, I'd appreciate them more. She has several pieces where she takes nuanced, controversial stances and defends them well. There are others where she argues from a place of passion for things that I also strongly believe in, but her approach loses all steam if you don't already agree with everything she's saying. Not every piece has to be written to argue, to persuade, to convince - some can just be written to 'y'know what? I think this sucks, don't you?' and vent some steam. But there were too many of those for me in this collection.
It's a breeze to read, though, and I especially loved her essays on her history and her writing. I read the essays in the first section slowly, one at a time, because every time I finished one I immediately wanted to spend the rest of the night writing stories. It was inspiring. And for such a young author, she's lived a (hard, but) incredibly interesting life.
Excellent
I have been a long time fan of Kameron Hurley and I love this collection of essays. Her thoughts and opinions speak to me on an emotional level.
I have been a long time fan of Kameron Hurley and I love this collection of essays. Her thoughts and opinions speak to me on an emotional level.
I read fiction most of the time and in trying to expand my reading picked this up. This is the first time I've read Hurley's work so I had no idea to expect which put me in a good spot, I think, to be reading this.
There's a lot of points I can agree with such as having to be the first person, sometimes, to make a change, the need to keep pushing yourself, and my favorite learning when to stop feeding into the hate.
Hurley, makes other good points, some coming from her personal experience, others from her professional life, but all are written in a no nonsense way that there's no wondering where you're at with her.
There's a lot of points I can agree with such as having to be the first person, sometimes, to make a change, the need to keep pushing yourself, and my favorite learning when to stop feeding into the hate.
Hurley, makes other good points, some coming from her personal experience, others from her professional life, but all are written in a no nonsense way that there's no wondering where you're at with her.
The Geek Feminist Revolution is a collection of essays by author and social critic Kameron Hurley on being/becoming an sff writer and being a woman in that profession, on sff and geek culture and being a woman in that culture, and on the ways that sexism and geekdom play out in the broader 'mundane' world. In her Introduction to the collection, Hurley says:
"At its heart, this collection is a guidebook for surviving not only the online world and the big media enterprises that use it as story fodder, but sexism in the wider world. It should inspire every reader, every fan, and every creator to participate in building that better future together."
The essays in this collection range widely: from the important of persistence in becoming a writer to a discussion of Joanna Russ's How To Suppress Women's Writing. They are painful, inspiring, rage-honing, insightful, and even funny at times, and include the Hugo Award winning "We Have Always Fought." They are definitely worth reading.
"At its heart, this collection is a guidebook for surviving not only the online world and the big media enterprises that use it as story fodder, but sexism in the wider world. It should inspire every reader, every fan, and every creator to participate in building that better future together."
The essays in this collection range widely: from the important of persistence in becoming a writer to a discussion of Joanna Russ's How To Suppress Women's Writing. They are painful, inspiring, rage-honing, insightful, and even funny at times, and include the Hugo Award winning "We Have Always Fought." They are definitely worth reading.
I really enjoyed this essay collection, especially the first section that aimed its focus on writers (and artists in general). It genuinely inspired me. The collection as a whole gives some great insight into many things but most especially focuses on feminist topics, privilege, the writing industry, geek culture, and Hurley herself. At times it was repetitive, as the essays can stand on their own and as a result they occasionally retreaded some basic groundwork. It's best read in chunks over time so the repetition feels less intrusive and the information can be digested. All in all I really liked this one, and I'm looking forward to more Kameron Hurley in my life.
This review from my blog: http://lostinstory.weebly.com/home/review-of-the-geek-feminist-revolution
The Geek Feminist Revolution is a collection of essays by the sci-fi writer Kameron Hurley. She groups them roughly into chapters about writing, general geek culture, personal essays, and call to action essays.
I asked for this for Christmas based on the recommendations of a BookTuber I adore (booksandpieces), and I was not expecting the amazing collection that I got. As someone who writes, who is a geek, who is a female, and who is a feminist, this book spoke to me and challenged me in so many ways! I've grouped my review into three main reasons I would give this book ten stars, with essays I found especially compelling and a quote.
*** This book made me a better person. ***
Die Hard, Hetaerae, and Problematic Pin-Ups: A Rant
“And I thought about how that let’s-be-sexy-and-take-control-of-the-narrative talk was actually just another part of a fucked narrative. Just another example of presenting flawless bodies for easy consumption — instead of stories.”
In Defense of Unlikeable Women
“Stories teach us empathy, and limiting the expression of humanity in our heresies entirely based on sex or gender does us all a disservice. It places restrictions on what we consider human which dehumanizes the people we see who do not express traits that fit in our narrow definition of what’s acceptable.”
Public Speaking While Fat
“ As a woman, you are always going to be fat. People are always going to trot that one out to try to insult you, like taking up more space in the world, as a woman, is the absolute worst thing you can do.”
***This book made me a better writer***
Wives, Warlords, and Refugees:The People Economy of Mad Max
“[Post-apocalyptic stories] warn us about our reliance on fossil fuels, our abuse of the environment, and where those will lead us. They tell us about the inevitable future were are building by relying on war, and what our reliance on slavery as an economic system means for our humanity.”
A Complexity of Desires: Expectations of Sex and Sexuality in Science Fiction
“As a writer, it’s my job to construct new normals for people.”
Gender, Family, Nookie: The Speculative Frontier
“So the only thing that keeps us from portraying new and different ways of social behavior is simply the limit of our own imaginations, and our willingness to buy into the common narrative of family structures, of gender binary, of conventional procreative sex.”
*** This book opened my eyes to new things. ***
Some Men Are More Monstrous Than Others: On True Detective’s Men and Monsters
“It occurred to me that in a world ruled by misogynist monsters, they end up pushing people into becoming the very stereotypes they’ve created in their own minds.”
Women and Gentlemen: On Unmasking the Sobering Reality of Hyper-Masculine Characters
“It’s what we label as ‘soft’ or ‘feminine’ that makes civilization possible… Asking men to cut away their feminine traits asks them to cut away half their humanity, just as asking women to suppress their ‘masculine’ traitors asks them to deny their autonomy.”
The Horror Novel You’ll Never Have to Live: Surviving Without Health Insurance
She outlines what her life was like when she developed a life threatening immune disorder and did not have health insurance. Written in response to the passing of the Affordable Care Act (made me very emotional in light of current politics).
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: On Empathy and the Power of Privilege
“We speak out because we are brave, not because we’re baying for blood.”
We Have Always Fought: Challenging the “Women, Cattle, and Slaves” Narrative
“But ignoring half of it, and pretending there’s only one way a woman lives or has ever lived — in relation to the men that surround her — is not a single act of erasure, but a political erasure.”
The Geek Feminist Revolution is a collection of essays by the sci-fi writer Kameron Hurley. She groups them roughly into chapters about writing, general geek culture, personal essays, and call to action essays.
I asked for this for Christmas based on the recommendations of a BookTuber I adore (booksandpieces), and I was not expecting the amazing collection that I got. As someone who writes, who is a geek, who is a female, and who is a feminist, this book spoke to me and challenged me in so many ways! I've grouped my review into three main reasons I would give this book ten stars, with essays I found especially compelling and a quote.
*** This book made me a better person. ***
Die Hard, Hetaerae, and Problematic Pin-Ups: A Rant
“And I thought about how that let’s-be-sexy-and-take-control-of-the-narrative talk was actually just another part of a fucked narrative. Just another example of presenting flawless bodies for easy consumption — instead of stories.”
In Defense of Unlikeable Women
“Stories teach us empathy, and limiting the expression of humanity in our heresies entirely based on sex or gender does us all a disservice. It places restrictions on what we consider human which dehumanizes the people we see who do not express traits that fit in our narrow definition of what’s acceptable.”
Public Speaking While Fat
“ As a woman, you are always going to be fat. People are always going to trot that one out to try to insult you, like taking up more space in the world, as a woman, is the absolute worst thing you can do.”
***This book made me a better writer***
Wives, Warlords, and Refugees:The People Economy of Mad Max
“[Post-apocalyptic stories] warn us about our reliance on fossil fuels, our abuse of the environment, and where those will lead us. They tell us about the inevitable future were are building by relying on war, and what our reliance on slavery as an economic system means for our humanity.”
A Complexity of Desires: Expectations of Sex and Sexuality in Science Fiction
“As a writer, it’s my job to construct new normals for people.”
Gender, Family, Nookie: The Speculative Frontier
“So the only thing that keeps us from portraying new and different ways of social behavior is simply the limit of our own imaginations, and our willingness to buy into the common narrative of family structures, of gender binary, of conventional procreative sex.”
*** This book opened my eyes to new things. ***
Some Men Are More Monstrous Than Others: On True Detective’s Men and Monsters
“It occurred to me that in a world ruled by misogynist monsters, they end up pushing people into becoming the very stereotypes they’ve created in their own minds.”
Women and Gentlemen: On Unmasking the Sobering Reality of Hyper-Masculine Characters
“It’s what we label as ‘soft’ or ‘feminine’ that makes civilization possible… Asking men to cut away their feminine traits asks them to cut away half their humanity, just as asking women to suppress their ‘masculine’ traitors asks them to deny their autonomy.”
The Horror Novel You’ll Never Have to Live: Surviving Without Health Insurance
She outlines what her life was like when she developed a life threatening immune disorder and did not have health insurance. Written in response to the passing of the Affordable Care Act (made me very emotional in light of current politics).
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: On Empathy and the Power of Privilege
“We speak out because we are brave, not because we’re baying for blood.”
We Have Always Fought: Challenging the “Women, Cattle, and Slaves” Narrative
“But ignoring half of it, and pretending there’s only one way a woman lives or has ever lived — in relation to the men that surround her — is not a single act of erasure, but a political erasure.”
Direct, funny, no bullshit, to the point. Super quick read, but so full of excellent points, strong & succinct arguments, need-to-memorize-or-save-quotes, etc. that I immediately flipped back to page one and read it again. On the spot.