As with all of this author's books, this was accessible, engaging, and well-researched. I really appreciated the way the book was laid out, and the vaAs with all of this author's books, this was accessible, engaging, and well-researched. I really appreciated the way the book was laid out, and the various interviews and anecdotes were well chosen. I also liked that each section ends with ways the reader can support in each of the areas, though I did think that the "how you can do it too" aspect of the book was less developed than the rest....more
I really enjoyed the concept of this books, which is a collection of essays interspersed with poetry from women at the forefront of the climate movemeI really enjoyed the concept of this books, which is a collection of essays interspersed with poetry from women at the forefront of the climate movement in the United States, told in eight parts. Some of the essays resonated with me more strongly than others, and I with the structural thread was carried more evenly throughout the works, but on the whole I thought this was a powerful and moving collection....more
Thoroughly enjoyable collection of essays and articles covering a whole range of topics. I thought the variety here was great, and most of the articleThoroughly enjoyable collection of essays and articles covering a whole range of topics. I thought the variety here was great, and most of the articles are quick reads, which was great. I very much enjoy Gay's writing as always. Wasn't super interested in the celeb interviews or review of books/movies, but the rest I enjoyed....more
I thought this was an interesting concept and on the whole it quite worked for me. Not exactly revolutionary, but the way the author r3.5 rounded down
I thought this was an interesting concept and on the whole it quite worked for me. Not exactly revolutionary, but the way the author reframes the approach to 'sin as a virtue' was really interesting, and there were a number of thought-provoking concepts throughout. It was quite long (longer than it needed to be) and it's an odd sort of blend between information & memoir that didn't always work for me. The author also mentions a lot of quite 'woo-woo' type stuff (somewhat derogatory, I know, but I can't think of a better way to say it) in a way that I found a bit jarring. She is also a quite unspecific about her career (she talks a lot about the devastation of losing it, but never what it is), and it wasn't until after I finished the book that I learned she'd been Chief Content Officer at Gwyneth Paltrow's goop, which is... not my favorite thing to have learned, and I must admit, has somewhat (negatively) colored by perception of the author, which is perhaps unfair, but I'd also say that goop has toed the line with dangerous misinformation, so....
In the end, though, I thought this was interesting, and I got something out of it....more
Around the World Reading Challenge: BANGLADESH === Interesting concept and I really enjoyed the writing, but I think the Fable aspect here prevented me Around the World Reading Challenge: BANGLADESH === Interesting concept and I really enjoyed the writing, but I think the Fable aspect here prevented me from fully connecting to the story. I didn't totally feel like I really had a strong sense for who Jhumur was as a person beyond her feelings about her husband and marriage, and her choice of revenge just didn't really connect for me. ...more
I found this to be an interesting read and a different take on perfectionism that gave me a lot of food for thought. The concept of the five 'types' oI found this to be an interesting read and a different take on perfectionism that gave me a lot of food for thought. The concept of the five 'types' of perfectionist was thought-provoking, and I did quite appreciate the re-frame. There were several avenues I wanted the author to explore that she didn't, though she does acknowledges the places where the book is lacking and clarifies that this is really meant as a starting point, which I think is accurate. If you're somebody who's got any kind of perfectionist tendencies, I do think this is worth the read....more
Loved the writing style, the content was smart and approachable, and the intersectionality here is super important. I appreciated the author pulling fLoved the writing style, the content was smart and approachable, and the intersectionality here is super important. I appreciated the author pulling from their own experience, and I thought one of the strongest chapters was the one on religion, as that is often not a topic covered in other books I've read in fat liberation. I did feel sometimes the narrative didn't entirely feel cohesive to me, and I think this was a bit more of a memoir than I'd been expecting--I think (for me) this may have worked better if it either leaned harder into the memoir aspect, or if it did so less and instead called on excerpts/experiences from more fat Black women and non-men. She does so occasionally, but usually quite briefly. Still, a relatively minor quibble and I thought this was a really good and informative read....more
Considered one of the earlier feminist texts, I was super curious to read this essay, but was a little underwhelmed. I'm actually not that familiar wiConsidered one of the earlier feminist texts, I was super curious to read this essay, but was a little underwhelmed. I'm actually not that familiar with Woolf's work, but I found the supercilious tone here to be really off-putting. I think I'd have been more impressed if I'd read this earlier in life--I can understand that this might have been quite forward-thinking at the time, but I struggled with the privilege here and the places where it was lacking. Perhaps not entirely "fair" but ehh, I can't really say I thought this was worth the read....more
Very much appreciated this topic and the importance that was given to this "invisible" work that primarily falls to women. The author's POV is fairly Very much appreciated this topic and the importance that was given to this "invisible" work that primarily falls to women. The author's POV is fairly privileged, which she acknowledges, and I appreciated the attempts throughout to bring in other voices to speak to people with other identities. While I liked the topic a lot, it ended up feeling both repetitive and a little unfocused at times, with a lot of bouncing around between macro and micro perspectives that didn't entirely feel cohesive. There were some decent suggestions around how to tackle this imbalance in your own life, but much of it seemed a little vague. I'm also not entirely sure how to put my finger on it, but something about her tone here was occasionally a little grating--there was something almost smug and judgemental that I felt like I was picking up on and that rubbed me the wrong way.
Overall, I'm glad to have read this, if only to have a more expansive way of thinking and speaking about all the work I'm doing in so many facets of my life, though I wouldn't say this particular book was a homerun....more
I thought this was really brilliant! I thought it was super readable and really approachable, as well as warmly written, and the way the4.5 rounded up
I thought this was really brilliant! I thought it was super readable and really approachable, as well as warmly written, and the way the author uses real world examples to illustrate her different points worked really well. There was a lot here I either didn't know, or that was reframed in such a way that there was a bit of a lightbulb moment. Even a couple of moments that had me tearing up. Really recommend this one.
However, this is definitely meant for cis women, which the author makes clear up front, and it didn't feel like there was a ton of intersectionality--queer inclusive but mostly meant for straight women, and it feels very white-centric, with nothing really addressing the ways in which cultural messaging and conditioning differs for Black woman, and other women of color. I still think there could be useful stuff in here regardless, but it might not resonate quite as strongly....more
I listened to a very brief/abridged audiobook version of this (~3 hours) and thought it was super interesting. The author recounts various myths & legI listened to a very brief/abridged audiobook version of this (~3 hours) and thought it was super interesting. The author recounts various myths & legends (Baba Yaga, La Llorena, La Loba, Bluebeard, etc) and then breaks them down from a feminist perspective. It's really about getting in touch with our most authentic, intuitive, wild-woman selves, and I'd definitely be curious to read the full thing at some point! Written in 1992, so there are definitely places where the vocab could be more inclusive--definitely a more gendered/heteronormative approach, but I actually (personally) didn't find it at cringey as I thought I might. This is also just a very brief sampler of the overall book, so I can't speak to the full contents. Still an interesting read for what I had to listen to!...more
Around the World Reading Challenge: SERBIA === 4.5 rounded up
I never really feel like I know how to rate poetry collections, but I thought this was exceAround the World Reading Challenge: SERBIA === 4.5 rounded up
I never really feel like I know how to rate poetry collections, but I thought this was excellent, and I'd absolutely recommend!! ...more
The author's described this as a sort of quick primer, perfect to inform yourself and others of key myths around fatness in a relatively brief, easy-tThe author's described this as a sort of quick primer, perfect to inform yourself and others of key myths around fatness in a relatively brief, easy-to-understand format, and I really think it delivers. If you've spent a lot of time educating yourself on anti-fatness, I don't think there's necessarily much here that you won't have encountered before, and there are definitely times throughout where the information felt a bit repetitive, but that seems largely by design. And, as so many of us know, just because information is readily available and frequently cited, doesn't mean people will internalize it, so I think in a lot of ways the repetition just underscores the information. I listened to it on audiobook since, unlike her first book, this one is read by the author, and beautifully so. I really appreciated that most every chapter included reflection questions, as well as guidance for concrete actions readers can take to fight for fat justice. I really think everybody should read this, and it's particularly perfect for those newer to their work on anti-fat bias....more
Around the World Reading Challenge: MACEDONIA === 4.5 rounded up
Impressive and compelling set of short stories set in Macedonia and all from the POV of Around the World Reading Challenge: MACEDONIA === 4.5 rounded up
Impressive and compelling set of short stories set in Macedonia and all from the POV of different women, ruminating on their lives and relationships with their husbands. Fascinating character studies and just really smart, engaging writing. ...more
Really solid collection of essays and poems from Audre Lorde! It's not my most favorite compilation of essays, as it didn't necessarily feel as tightlReally solid collection of essays and poems from Audre Lorde! It's not my most favorite compilation of essays, as it didn't necessarily feel as tightly cohesive as some of her others I've read, but I do think that's sort of par for the course with a "Best Of" type approach such as this. It was actually my first time reading Lorde's poetry, and I enjoyed it overall, but I can't say it's my absolute favorite....more
Love this concept, and I've been following this author's work for a while, particularly on Instagram. Like others have noted, I'm not totally sure theLove this concept, and I've been following this author's work for a while, particularly on Instagram. Like others have noted, I'm not totally sure the structure/writing style really worked great here. It felt a bit repetitive and I'm not totally sure there was enough here to be stretched into a full book--at least not in terms of what we got--but I'm glad to have read it....more
I think this is a solid book for those who never received a financial education or feel really lost when it comes to managing finances. Really geared I think this is a solid book for those who never received a financial education or feel really lost when it comes to managing finances. Really geared towards beginners, and particularly towards women and there's a lot of great practical advice in here. I will say, while it's clear Tori tries very hard to look at things from an intersectional lens, and has brought other voices into the book from marginalized identities she doesn't possess, I do think this really reads as a geared towards and centering upper-middle class white women with some form of college degree. Which is particularly grating specifically because I really don't think she realizes just how prominent that lens is throughout--you really get the feeling that she feels like she's absolutely nailing the intersectionality, and while I appreciate the attempts, I'm almost more off-put by the lack of awareness, and this is coming from somebody who pretty perfectly falls into the demographic this book is tailored for.
I also just personally really didn't vibe with the ~quirkier~ aspects of the writing style that felt really forced to me, like Tori was trying too hard to be relatable. All the random asides about how she wants to bang her Pilates instructor when she's 70 etc. got old quick. As somebody who listens to her podcast, I was also really super shocked that there wasn't ANY mention of managing money in a partnership/protecting your finances when in a relationship--she talks a LOT about financial domestic abuse on her podcast, and for an entire book about finances, primary geared towards women, it really seemed weird for there to be no chapter focusing on navigating something that affects the vast majority of women--most will, at some point in their lives, have a long-term partner, and finances will inevitably come into that equation, but she offers no advice on how to tackle that, nor does she even acknowledge that following the advice she *does* provide very well could change if you're managing your finances with another person.
Anyway, I do think this is a solid book, particularly for women, and particularly if finance stuff intimidates you. But I'd suggest checking the book out from your library, like I did......more
Around the World Reading Challenge: MOZAMBIQUE === Didn't intend to read this is one sitting but man, I just blazed right through! Really interesting stAround the World Reading Challenge: MOZAMBIQUE === Didn't intend to read this is one sitting but man, I just blazed right through! Really interesting story of a first wife who discovers her husband has multiple families. Distraught, she first reacts in anger towards the women, before realizing that they're stronger together. A humorous, scathing critique of the country's patriarchal culture, from the country's first published female novelist--original published only 20 years ago. I really enjoyed this one!...more
Around the World Reading Challenge: SYRIA === This was an interesting first-person account from a prominent Syrian intellectual who earned the regime's Around the World Reading Challenge: SYRIA === This was an interesting first-person account from a prominent Syrian intellectual who earned the regime's ire by speaking out publicly against the atrocities she witnessed. Told in a diary format, with transcribed interviews throughout, this covers the first 100 days of the Syrian revolution. I wanted to really love this, but something about the narrative style felt incredibly remote, despite the immediacy of the narrator. I could not connect at all to the prose here, and it ended up feeling like a real slog to get through. An important chronicle, but I can't say that it made for a great or cohesive book....more
Enjoyable and fairly brief collection, with her cancer journals taking up about 2/3 of the book and then a few essays/speeches added onto the beginninEnjoyable and fairly brief collection, with her cancer journals taking up about 2/3 of the book and then a few essays/speeches added onto the beginning. I wouldn't say this is the best introduction to her work, but solid if you're more familiar with her. The only bit I really didn't like was the essay, "Sadomasochism: Not About Condemnation (An Interview with Audre Lorde)" by Susan Leigh Star, which felt pretty exactly like a condemnation. This really read like somebody who doesn't actually know much about BDSM or S/m because she was really conflating terms and making some pretty broad and sweeping claims. Frankly, her stance on this one shocked me, and not in a good way....more
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