Scan barcode
A review by mxsallybend
Femlandia by Christina Dalcher
1.0
Okay, for starters, let me make something clear. I read this as a nonbinary/femme in a female-led relationship. I firmly believe in the principles of female domination and female leadership, and I believe a community by women for women could be wonderful place. You'd think I'm the perfect audience for this.
That said, I struggled with the fact that every single man we meet in the first third of the book is a monster or a creep. To a man, they're violent and cruel and selfish, either animal-like rapists and murders or cowardly suicides, the very worst examples of their gender.
At the same time, I was getting a really bad feeling about these Femlandia communes, misogynistic sanctuaries by man-hating women for man-hating women. I'm not saying it's the author's bias or opinion, as I know nothing about her, but Femlanida itself is super TERF-y.
That was at 34%, and that's where I gave up. I'm sure there's twists to come, revelations that may define some kind of theme or meaning, but this is either a celebration of the kind of TERFs I want nothing to do with, or a condemnation of feminism itself, which is hardly more appealing.
If I gave a damn about a single character, I might have kept reading . . . but given how little I enjoyed this, I doubt it.
https://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com/2021/10/thriller-book-review-femlandia-by.html
That said, I struggled with the fact that every single man we meet in the first third of the book is a monster or a creep. To a man, they're violent and cruel and selfish, either animal-like rapists and murders or cowardly suicides, the very worst examples of their gender.
At the same time, I was getting a really bad feeling about these Femlandia communes, misogynistic sanctuaries by man-hating women for man-hating women. I'm not saying it's the author's bias or opinion, as I know nothing about her, but Femlanida itself is super TERF-y.
"Sister Jen has a strong preference against anything with a dick."
"I need to satisfy myself that you were always a woman."
"They can identify as a fucking hedgehog for all I care. I'm talking about what they are. Not what they think they are or what they want to be."
That was at 34%, and that's where I gave up. I'm sure there's twists to come, revelations that may define some kind of theme or meaning, but this is either a celebration of the kind of TERFs I want nothing to do with, or a condemnation of feminism itself, which is hardly more appealing.
If I gave a damn about a single character, I might have kept reading . . . but given how little I enjoyed this, I doubt it.
https://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com/2021/10/thriller-book-review-femlandia-by.html