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A review by anna_hepworth
Cranky Ladies of History by Tansy Rayner Roberts, Tehani Croft Wessely
4.0
Decidedly pretty book, with an interesting premise. I was reading this with the assumption that it was speculative fiction, but I would probably have engaged with it better if I had been reading it purely as 'historical'. Comments on the stories (hopefully in anthology order), with some 'in the moment' reactions:
Queenside (Liz Barr) -- It's a nice little piece, a reasonable opener for the collection, about the realities of politics as a woman in Henry VIII's England, but. (3/5)
The Company of Women (Garth Nix) -- love the opening - grabs thoroughly. As does the whole story. It holds up well to rereading. (5/5)
Mary Mary (Kirsten McDermott) -- I really like the language, but I struggle with it even so. And while it is probably mostly historically accurate, the weird addition of the Grey Lady, while bringing it more to the speculative genre, does not endear the story to me. (3/5)
A song еКfor Sacagawea (Jane Yolen) -- Not memorable - pleasant, interesting in a historical perspective sense, boring. And the 'as much as the white men did and then some' is understandable, but still a trope. (3/5)
Look how cold my hands are (Deborah Biancotti) -- Nasty. It is at this point that I wonder that we have such a collection of nasty stories. Nix's was about nasty people, nasty situation, but didn't leave me feeling nauseated. Unlike now. And basically - how did we get from angry women to evil? How is this the right way to go? to take the idea of women's anger and make it dark and untouchable? еК(4/5)
Bright Moon (Foz Meadows) -- *This* is a story of a woman using anger as strength. I still find it hard to read, but it is a much stronger story. (5/5)
Charmed Life (Joyce Chng) -- another one that fits the title well, a woman finding her anger, and changing her world with it. A smaller change than the previous. But still, decidedly historical. (4/5)
A Beautiful Stream (Nisi Shawl) -- Very subtle, the twists and turns of the mind of the protagonist and her race for survival of herself and her daughter. (5/5)
... and for some reason, my note are missing on the remaining stories.
Queenside (Liz Barr) -- It's a nice little piece, a reasonable opener for the collection, about the realities of politics as a woman in Henry VIII's England, but. (3/5)
The Company of Women (Garth Nix) -- love the opening - grabs thoroughly. As does the whole story. It holds up well to rereading. (5/5)
Mary Mary (Kirsten McDermott) -- I really like the language, but I struggle with it even so. And while it is probably mostly historically accurate, the weird addition of the Grey Lady, while bringing it more to the speculative genre, does not endear the story to me. (3/5)
A song еКfor Sacagawea (Jane Yolen) -- Not memorable - pleasant, interesting in a historical perspective sense, boring. And the 'as much as the white men did and then some' is understandable, but still a trope. (3/5)
Look how cold my hands are (Deborah Biancotti) -- Nasty. It is at this point that I wonder that we have such a collection of nasty stories. Nix's was about nasty people, nasty situation, but didn't leave me feeling nauseated. Unlike now. And basically - how did we get from angry women to evil? How is this the right way to go? to take the idea of women's anger and make it dark and untouchable? еК(4/5)
Bright Moon (Foz Meadows) -- *This* is a story of a woman using anger as strength. I still find it hard to read, but it is a much stronger story. (5/5)
Charmed Life (Joyce Chng) -- another one that fits the title well, a woman finding her anger, and changing her world with it. A smaller change than the previous. But still, decidedly historical. (4/5)
A Beautiful Stream (Nisi Shawl) -- Very subtle, the twists and turns of the mind of the protagonist and her race for survival of herself and her daughter. (5/5)
... and for some reason, my note are missing on the remaining stories.