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Sam (228 KP) rated Sorcerer to the Crown (Sorcerer Royal #1) in Books
Aug 8, 2019
Twisting Plotlines (3 more)
Switches in Point of View
Overall Themes
Writing Style
A Magical Nod to the Feminist
An overall wonderful tale that bridges the idea of standing on one's own two feet and overcoming any obstacles. The story's feministic themes partnered with these ideas create a stunningly magical tale that will make it hard to put the book down. I found myself falling in love with just about every character, wonderfully surprised by the in depth background each character has, enjoying the way they expressed these backgrounds and grew from them. I recommended read for anyone who enjoys a good fantasy novel.
Sjon recommended The Hearing Trumpet in Books (curated)
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated The Female Persuasion in Books
May 8, 2018
The Female Persuasion was billed as a feminist novel, and in some ways it is, but we all agreed it's not REALLY about feminism. The main character, Greer, works for a feminist foundation, but you could have changed what the foundation's purpose was, or made her work for a corporation, and the essence of the book would have been exactly the same. It was only tangentially about feminism. It was about women supporting each other, though, and the mentor relationship between an older woman and a younger woman, so in some ways, yes. If I was asked to make a list of books about feminism, though, it certainly wouldn't make the cut.
All of the characters have some major flaws. Greer is selfish, and doesn't understand when things don't go according to plan. Cory's life gets entirely derailed by a tragedy he couldn't prevent, but in some ways he lets the derailment happen. If he'd really wanted what he said he wanted (and perhaps he didn't) he could have fixed his trajectory. Zee is a little brash and headstrong, but the most likable character in the book. Faith - oh, Faith. Faith is the older feminist mentor who turns out to be far more jaded than expected.
I have lots of conflicts about Faith. She is one of those feminists who doesn't seem to care for individual women - she can't even remember most of the women who credit her with changing their lives - but she keeps her eyes on the big picture. And as I brought up in book club, the movement does need people who see the big picture. Those people are important - but they still need certain principles that I think Faith lacks.
IR mentioned that Cory was a good foil to all the female characters in the book, and he needed his flaws, because otherwise he would be the perfect feminist boyfriend. And no one is perfect.
We were all a little disappointed with the ending; it felt like Wolitzer skipped a whole section of the story. How did Greer get from point A to point B? (Well, really, it's more like the book covers Points A, B, C, and E. And skips D.)
I think one of my favorite quotes from the book (I misattributed it to Faith at the book club, it turns out it came from Greer) was the one about being given permission:
"I think that's what the people who change our lives always do. They give us permission to be the person we secretly really long to be but maybe don't feel we're allowed to be. Many of you here in this room.....had someone like that, didn't you? Someone who gave you permission. Someone who saw you and heard you. Heard your voice."
I think that really sums up mentorship, in some ways. Women are often still socialized to not trust their own instincts, to lean on outside opinions for validation. (I know I was.) To be given permission and encouragement to trust yourself can be a life-changing event.
I really enjoyed this book. I saw bits of myself in all four characters - Faith's practicality, Greer's impressionability, Zee's idealism, and even a little of Cory's foggy despair and lack of ambition. I wouldn't call it a feminist classic. But it was a good book.
To see all my reviews (and my experience at the Barnes & Noble Book Club event where we talked about this book!) go to http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
All of the characters have some major flaws. Greer is selfish, and doesn't understand when things don't go according to plan. Cory's life gets entirely derailed by a tragedy he couldn't prevent, but in some ways he lets the derailment happen. If he'd really wanted what he said he wanted (and perhaps he didn't) he could have fixed his trajectory. Zee is a little brash and headstrong, but the most likable character in the book. Faith - oh, Faith. Faith is the older feminist mentor who turns out to be far more jaded than expected.
I have lots of conflicts about Faith. She is one of those feminists who doesn't seem to care for individual women - she can't even remember most of the women who credit her with changing their lives - but she keeps her eyes on the big picture. And as I brought up in book club, the movement does need people who see the big picture. Those people are important - but they still need certain principles that I think Faith lacks.
IR mentioned that Cory was a good foil to all the female characters in the book, and he needed his flaws, because otherwise he would be the perfect feminist boyfriend. And no one is perfect.
We were all a little disappointed with the ending; it felt like Wolitzer skipped a whole section of the story. How did Greer get from point A to point B? (Well, really, it's more like the book covers Points A, B, C, and E. And skips D.)
I think one of my favorite quotes from the book (I misattributed it to Faith at the book club, it turns out it came from Greer) was the one about being given permission:
"I think that's what the people who change our lives always do. They give us permission to be the person we secretly really long to be but maybe don't feel we're allowed to be. Many of you here in this room.....had someone like that, didn't you? Someone who gave you permission. Someone who saw you and heard you. Heard your voice."
I think that really sums up mentorship, in some ways. Women are often still socialized to not trust their own instincts, to lean on outside opinions for validation. (I know I was.) To be given permission and encouragement to trust yourself can be a life-changing event.
I really enjoyed this book. I saw bits of myself in all four characters - Faith's practicality, Greer's impressionability, Zee's idealism, and even a little of Cory's foggy despair and lack of ambition. I wouldn't call it a feminist classic. But it was a good book.
To see all my reviews (and my experience at the Barnes & Noble Book Club event where we talked about this book!) go to http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
Saerie_Faerie (18 KP) rated Black Panther (2018) in Movies
Feb 24, 2018
African culture (3 more)
Feminist
Story/plot
Actors
Everything I wanted
Contains spoilers, click to show
This movie is so important, in the nerd culture community and in the societal human community at large especially for America. An entire movie about African life and culture, celebrating and showing and teaching those things unapologetically. An entire movie that is not specifically for teaching anecdotally about African culture but was a movie for something else that saw that there was the opportunity to take it and force it to also be so importantly about the culture behind the superhero.
On top of the wonderful culture, we get amazingly Badass feminist Black women. They take care of themselves, they fight, they run the science department for the entire country, they save themselves, they go out and save the world, they stand up against stupid decisions. Just absolutely amazing.
You also, of course, get all of the amazing superhero moments. Action-packed for the right amount, the plot makes sense and is followable. A twist that is amazing and once you see it you see all of the lead up to it, which is so absolutely wonderful, it doesn't just appear out of nowhere.
I walked out wanting to immediately buy the dvd and watch it again and that was over a week ago. Absolutely stunning and everyone should go see it and fully absorb it and the message it gives.
On top of the wonderful culture, we get amazingly Badass feminist Black women. They take care of themselves, they fight, they run the science department for the entire country, they save themselves, they go out and save the world, they stand up against stupid decisions. Just absolutely amazing.
You also, of course, get all of the amazing superhero moments. Action-packed for the right amount, the plot makes sense and is followable. A twist that is amazing and once you see it you see all of the lead up to it, which is so absolutely wonderful, it doesn't just appear out of nowhere.
I walked out wanting to immediately buy the dvd and watch it again and that was over a week ago. Absolutely stunning and everyone should go see it and fully absorb it and the message it gives.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Little Deaths in Books
Aug 11, 2017
A depressing tale about victim blaming
This is a deceptively feminist book showing how society portrays women and how they are expected to behave. At first it resembled Albert Camus' The Stranger in which the protagonist is victimised for not behaving the appropriate way after a death. But it looked further into how a mother is essentially blamed for killing her children because she partook in inappropriate behaviour following their murder. The book is intelligent because it leads the reader away from thinking about the real killer and focuses on the mother. Right until the end you almost forget what the story is really about. Surprisingly enjoyable.
Becs (244 KP) rated Heart Talk in Books
Nov 1, 2018
An inspirational book that will help you gain that little push we all need every once in a while.
I was honestly not expecting to love this little book so much. As I first began the book, I was so iffy about it being just another self-help book and that it wouldn't really phase me. Boy, was I wrong! I got emotional. I got motivated. I got inspired. This book appeases to my feminist side. It is a wonderful inspirational poetry collection that I feel like everyone should read.
You can find more of this review on my blog at bookingwayreads.wordpress.com
You can find more of this review on my blog at bookingwayreads.wordpress.com
The Craggus (360 KP) rated Greta (2019) in Movies
Apr 25, 2019
Greta (2019) is a dark urban feminist fairy tale masquerading as a B-movie potboiler.
Neil Jordan has taken the streets of New York City and turned them into the sinister forest of a dark urban fairy tale only this time, it’s the evil witch herself leaving the trail of breadcrumbs across the city – in the form of emerald green handbags – all the better to lure the unwary children to her home for (spiked) milk and cookies. It riffs on fairy tale tropes from Hansel and Gretel to Sleeping Beauty, with the magnificent (maleficent?) Isabelle Huppert weaving her terrible and terribly camp spell at the core of this poisoned Big Apple...
FULL REVIEW: bit.ly/CraggusGreta
FULL REVIEW: bit.ly/CraggusGreta
Jenny Houle (24 KP) rated Literally Me in Books
Jan 13, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for an unbiased opinion.
We live in a world where everyone can become "famous" in a matter of mere moments. Houts has a devote following on Instagram where she is considered "Instagram's favorite illustrator". To me, this collection of dark and satirical illustrated essays ran like a stream of entertaining consciousness best enjoyed while just a touch stoned. Would I buy this book as a gift for someone else? Probably not. Would I recommend following Houts on Instagram for entertainment value? Absolutely, and already have (she's jooleeloren on Instagram).
My favorite from the book: "How To Be A Perfect Feminist", though the adventures of the four women of the Apocalypse were pretty great, too.
We live in a world where everyone can become "famous" in a matter of mere moments. Houts has a devote following on Instagram where she is considered "Instagram's favorite illustrator". To me, this collection of dark and satirical illustrated essays ran like a stream of entertaining consciousness best enjoyed while just a touch stoned. Would I buy this book as a gift for someone else? Probably not. Would I recommend following Houts on Instagram for entertainment value? Absolutely, and already have (she's jooleeloren on Instagram).
My favorite from the book: "How To Be A Perfect Feminist", though the adventures of the four women of the Apocalypse were pretty great, too.
Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) rated The Second Time Around (1961) in Movies
May 25, 2019
Feminist roles (2 more)
Debbie Reynolds
Thelma Ritter
Contains spoilers, click to show
I was initially disappointed that a lot of the humor was seeing the main female character in so many humiliating pratfalls and fails, however, it turns around some with Thelma Rotter's strong female role and her hiring Debbie Reynolds' character as a female ranch hand instead of hiring a male ranch hand, Reynolds' determination in working hard to support her family instead of taking the easy way out and becoming someone's wife and relying on a man to support her, and Reynolds' eventually becoming sheriff of this frontier town. There is a lot of corny humor in this movie but it's worth a watch. It was great seeing Andy Griffith in the movie and as one of her love interests.
Dana (24 KP) rated On Liberty and Other Essays in Books
Mar 23, 2018
I am not a fan of reading essays. Though they give interesting views, they are not entertaining in the slightest. I was more intrigued by the last essay out of all of them which is called "The Subjection of Women." It seems as if he is a feminist of the Victorian era, which is very cool to be able to see. He has a lot of good ideas in there that are still very relevant today. Out of all of these essays, I would recommend this one out of all of them.
The one thing I didn't like about any of these essays is that they are all very repetitive. They seem to say the same thing over and over again which gets very boring, very quickly.
The one thing I didn't like about any of these essays is that they are all very repetitive. They seem to say the same thing over and over again which gets very boring, very quickly.