A review by tani
Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center by bell hooks

3.0

I find nonfiction incredibly hard to review, so I think I'm going to keep this short and sweet. bell hooks has been on my to-read list for quite some time, and I'm glad that I finally read something by her. I do have to admit, though, I didn't find this particularly ground-breaking. Since it was published before I was born, I suppose I should have expected that. And yet, I still think it's a relevant book. She addresses a lot of issues of race and socioeconomic status that remain very relevant today. At times, it was an uncomfortable read for me, because I am white and middle-class. It's not that hooks was overtly aggressive or accusatory. It was just that she was raising issues that grate along the edges of my white privilege. It's just a sign that I need to keep raising my awareness of these issues, because they do still make me uncomfortable and aren't always along the most natural line of thought for me. So, although this book didn't cover a lot of new ground for me, it did make me think about what I already know, which is always welcome, and I recommend it for anyone looking for a greater awareness of the intersections of civil rights with feminism.