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A review by bianca89279
Things Are Against Us by Lucy Ellmann
5.0
My first encounter with Ellmann's brilliance was through Ducks, Newburyport, which enthralled me. Then I read the more accessible Mimi, which I also loved.
Needless to say, I was excited to read Ellmann's essays.
Even though these are essays, some of them feature themes that also appeared in the two novels mentioned above: the patriarchy and the many evils men bestow(ed) upon the planet, women, children; the proliferation of guns and nuclear power; the environmental destruction, plus a few other more mundane observations that cracked me up and made me think, "oh, no, you didn't": morning routines that are popular on YouTube and I'm guessing Insta and TikTok, objects, electricity. She makes some very good points on travelling and how much it ruins everything, including the culture, the environment - undeniable facts. I firmly agree with her, especially when it comes to business, academic junkets. Those travels are, for the most part, unnecessary, especially when we have such modern ways of communicating. There's also that perplexing aspect of eco travelling - an oxymoron if ever there was one. Her picking on American travellers had me in stitches. Of course, she generalises and exaggerates, but she also makes very good points.
She's audacious and gutsy, Ms Ellmann, and I love her for that. She even dared to pick on genre literature, particularly on crime novels. As I was saying, she's fearless, picking on the most published/most read genre. It cracked me up.
The essays are varied in both themes and style. As a collection, they just showcase her masterful writing skills and splendid intellect.
I don't know about others, but I feel a particular kinship with Lucy Ellmann, I feel we could be friends, although I'm nowhere near as intellectual or skilled as she is, I do love a good rant about the patriarchy, politics, culture etc.
Lucy Ellman for no 1 leader of the planet Earth
Essays:
Things Are Against Us
The Underground Bunker
Pygmalion in the White House
Trapped Family Fingers
The Woman in the House
Consider Pistons and Pumps
Three Strikes
A Spell of Patriarchy
Sing the Unelectric
The Lost Art of Staying Put
Bras—a Life Sentence
Morning Routine Girls
Ah, Men
Take The Money Honey
I've received this ARC via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this collection.
Needless to say, I was excited to read Ellmann's essays.
Even though these are essays, some of them feature themes that also appeared in the two novels mentioned above: the patriarchy and the many evils men bestow(ed) upon the planet, women, children; the proliferation of guns and nuclear power; the environmental destruction, plus a few other more mundane observations that cracked me up and made me think, "oh, no, you didn't": morning routines that are popular on YouTube and I'm guessing Insta and TikTok, objects, electricity. She makes some very good points on travelling and how much it ruins everything, including the culture, the environment - undeniable facts. I firmly agree with her, especially when it comes to business, academic junkets. Those travels are, for the most part, unnecessary, especially when we have such modern ways of communicating. There's also that perplexing aspect of eco travelling - an oxymoron if ever there was one. Her picking on American travellers had me in stitches. Of course, she generalises and exaggerates, but she also makes very good points.
She's audacious and gutsy, Ms Ellmann, and I love her for that. She even dared to pick on genre literature, particularly on crime novels. As I was saying, she's fearless, picking on the most published/most read genre. It cracked me up.
The essays are varied in both themes and style. As a collection, they just showcase her masterful writing skills and splendid intellect.
I don't know about others, but I feel a particular kinship with Lucy Ellmann, I feel we could be friends, although I'm nowhere near as intellectual or skilled as she is, I do love a good rant about the patriarchy, politics, culture etc.
Lucy Ellman for no 1 leader of the planet Earth
Essays:
Things Are Against Us
The Underground Bunker
Pygmalion in the White House
Trapped Family Fingers
The Woman in the House
Consider Pistons and Pumps
Three Strikes
A Spell of Patriarchy
Sing the Unelectric
The Lost Art of Staying Put
Bras—a Life Sentence
Morning Routine Girls
Ah, Men
Take The Money Honey
I've received this ARC via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this collection.