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lucykateburns's reviews
106 reviews
The Case Against the Sexual Revolution: A New Guide to Sex in the 21st Century by Louise Perry
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Listen to your mother.
Perry inspires me. She makes sense of a discomfort I have felt since adolescence amongst heterosexual girl friends when talking about our relationships with men. In the female friend group of my mid/late teens, hyper-sexuality was a pillar of our feminist beliefs and, as a young woman, I couldn't find the words to express my discomfort with it. My friends were ambitious in their efforts to engage in sexual activity in the same way our male counterparts would, and many did so with good feminist intentions, but, inevitably, the girls would always suffer threefold the consequences (in more ways than slut-shaming or stigmatising them). It was never to the benefit of the girls, and for as much as i believed in equality and the motivations of their actions, i have always resisted the narrative that men and women are the same in every area of life - something that is more and more controversial to believe in many young liberal spaces. Perry, in a wonderfully accessible way, explores the reasons behind the instinctual rejection many young women feel towards the imbalance of the modern "sexual marketplace" (i dislike this term). I am convinced Perry could change the mind of many young women who are avid in their belief that sex is "just" sex. I really recommend that young liberal women read Perry, although her views may be a bit more conservative than those typically shared in Gen-Z feminist spaces (she advocates for avoiding drinking in mixed gender settings, not using dating apps, and monogamous marriage), she is truly trying to help the young women of our generation to have fulfilling and successful relationships.
Why not 5 stars?
Although the intentions behind her anti-pornography and anti-prostitution arguments are ones I deeply respect, I do think her critique of some contemporary radical liberal feminist work (for example, Revolting Prostitutes) was poorly argued and didn't consider the nuance. Albeit these topics fall under the same umbrella as Perry's work, this is not her area of expertise. However, her chapter on rape was insightful, thoughtful, and cautionary.
Perry inspires me. She makes sense of a discomfort I have felt since adolescence amongst heterosexual girl friends when talking about our relationships with men. In the female friend group of my mid/late teens, hyper-sexuality was a pillar of our feminist beliefs and, as a young woman, I couldn't find the words to express my discomfort with it. My friends were ambitious in their efforts to engage in sexual activity in the same way our male counterparts would, and many did so with good feminist intentions, but, inevitably, the girls would always suffer threefold the consequences (in more ways than slut-shaming or stigmatising them). It was never to the benefit of the girls, and for as much as i believed in equality and the motivations of their actions, i have always resisted the narrative that men and women are the same in every area of life - something that is more and more controversial to believe in many young liberal spaces. Perry, in a wonderfully accessible way, explores the reasons behind the instinctual rejection many young women feel towards the imbalance of the modern "sexual marketplace" (i dislike this term). I am convinced Perry could change the mind of many young women who are avid in their belief that sex is "just" sex. I really recommend that young liberal women read Perry, although her views may be a bit more conservative than those typically shared in Gen-Z feminist spaces (she advocates for avoiding drinking in mixed gender settings, not using dating apps, and monogamous marriage), she is truly trying to help the young women of our generation to have fulfilling and successful relationships.
Why not 5 stars?
Although the intentions behind her anti-pornography and anti-prostitution arguments are ones I deeply respect, I do think her critique of some contemporary radical liberal feminist work (for example, Revolting Prostitutes) was poorly argued and didn't consider the nuance. Albeit these topics fall under the same umbrella as Perry's work, this is not her area of expertise. However, her chapter on rape was insightful, thoughtful, and cautionary.
Quantas Madrugadas Tem a Noite by Ondjaki
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
very good until the end. i predicted who the narrator was and the ending, and i would have liked to have been more surprised!
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter--And How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
Post Office by Charles Bukowski
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Biggest pile of shite I’ve ever read
I understand why they tell you to avoid men who love Bukowski now
I understand why they tell you to avoid men who love Bukowski now
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity and Xenophobia
Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love by Amir Levine
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5