A review by lknano
The Yellow Wall-Paper, Herland, and Selected Writings by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

dark funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

If I were only to rate Herland, I would have given a much lower rating, however, the short stories and poetry does bring the rating up. The biggest factor to why I disliked Herland, is how it is somehow both misogynistic and ultra-feministic at the same time. Despite the author trying to emphasise and highlight the ‘female power,’ and how utopian and peaceful a female-led society can be, but I found that it still stays within the misogynistic ideal of how the highest and most admirable ‘intrinsic female trait’ is one of “motherhood” (which I found quite oversimplifying and frustrating at times). Perhaps, I’m just reading too much into it, but somehow the story just didn’t quite sit well with me. Nonetheless, I did enjoy some of the short stories and the poetry.