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A review by tessa_talks_books
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
5.0
What's it about (in a nutshell):
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill is a poignant look at the subjugation of women throughout history and what it took for them to break free from the knots that bind them.
Initial Expectations:
Reading the blurb, I expect a unique women empowerment story of down-trodden women metamorphosing into dragons. It sounds like it will be poignant, horrifying, and ultimately utterly heartfelt and rallying. I've read a few empowerment stories lately, and this one stands out because of the fantasy angle. I wonder if women turning into dragons is a metaphor. Lastly, the cover is gorgeous, and if you look closely enough, you will see the dragon hidden among the foliage.
Actual Reading Experience:
First off, I love dragons in stories, and the thought of women breaking free from all the patriarchal knots by becoming dragons made my heart happy on so many levels. The poetic justice of it all did not escape my notice, but I also loved that the women found power in a place that couldn't even be touched by men. The dragon world is an exciting and shocking take on what a women-dominated world might look like.
I love that the book is set in the 1950s-1960s. That period happened in the near enough future for any reader to relate and marvel at the changes that have taken place since then. It made me think about my grandparents and their marriages in a whole new light. And to think of hundreds of thousands of women turning into dragons during that time, with the reaction that tells that period, is just a perfect juxtaposition.
The metaphors abound in this story, as I anticipated that they would. From the knot metaphors to the dragons themselves – it's all about women's need to be who they are meant to be without a patriarchal society dictating who and what they will become. I love a good women empowerment story, and When Women Were Dragons did not disappoint on that in the least.
At first, the pace is relatively slower but builds once the dragons take flight. Overall, this is a quick read that flowed with cleverness and passion as women reveled in their ability to break free and soar – metaphorically and actually. All the attributes I anticipated were spot on, and I definitely appreciate a book that delivers on my expectations.
Characters:
This beautiful story's main character and the narrator is Alexandra ("it's Alex. ") Green. When the book begins, she is only four years old. The book ends when she is in her golden years, so the reader gets to experience her life's journey with all the challenges and pitfalls of a woman growing up in the 50s and 60s. Her first-person perspective gives the story a poignancy and provides a greater understanding of how women could choose not to break free of the system, which is foiled nicely by the women choosing to take a new form. Her telling of this story makes it possible to see all sides of the bigger story and not from today's perspective but from the perspective of that period.
To Read or Not to Read:
If you are looking for a clever women's empowerment story with a fantasy bent to it, When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill is just the book for you and will leave you passionate about empowering women worldwide.
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill is a poignant look at the subjugation of women throughout history and what it took for them to break free from the knots that bind them.
Initial Expectations:
Reading the blurb, I expect a unique women empowerment story of down-trodden women metamorphosing into dragons. It sounds like it will be poignant, horrifying, and ultimately utterly heartfelt and rallying. I've read a few empowerment stories lately, and this one stands out because of the fantasy angle. I wonder if women turning into dragons is a metaphor. Lastly, the cover is gorgeous, and if you look closely enough, you will see the dragon hidden among the foliage.
Actual Reading Experience:
First off, I love dragons in stories, and the thought of women breaking free from all the patriarchal knots by becoming dragons made my heart happy on so many levels. The poetic justice of it all did not escape my notice, but I also loved that the women found power in a place that couldn't even be touched by men. The dragon world is an exciting and shocking take on what a women-dominated world might look like.
I love that the book is set in the 1950s-1960s. That period happened in the near enough future for any reader to relate and marvel at the changes that have taken place since then. It made me think about my grandparents and their marriages in a whole new light. And to think of hundreds of thousands of women turning into dragons during that time, with the reaction that tells that period, is just a perfect juxtaposition.
The metaphors abound in this story, as I anticipated that they would. From the knot metaphors to the dragons themselves – it's all about women's need to be who they are meant to be without a patriarchal society dictating who and what they will become. I love a good women empowerment story, and When Women Were Dragons did not disappoint on that in the least.
At first, the pace is relatively slower but builds once the dragons take flight. Overall, this is a quick read that flowed with cleverness and passion as women reveled in their ability to break free and soar – metaphorically and actually. All the attributes I anticipated were spot on, and I definitely appreciate a book that delivers on my expectations.
Characters:
This beautiful story's main character and the narrator is Alexandra ("it's Alex. ") Green. When the book begins, she is only four years old. The book ends when she is in her golden years, so the reader gets to experience her life's journey with all the challenges and pitfalls of a woman growing up in the 50s and 60s. Her first-person perspective gives the story a poignancy and provides a greater understanding of how women could choose not to break free of the system, which is foiled nicely by the women choosing to take a new form. Her telling of this story makes it possible to see all sides of the bigger story and not from today's perspective but from the perspective of that period.
To Read or Not to Read:
If you are looking for a clever women's empowerment story with a fantasy bent to it, When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill is just the book for you and will leave you passionate about empowering women worldwide.