I applaud Hirsch for putting this book together. It's quite the feat for the audiobook to have so many famous and important women read the different cI applaud Hirsch for putting this book together. It's quite the feat for the audiobook to have so many famous and important women read the different chapters.
This history of women in objects heavily leans on the last few centuries, which makes sense, as the socioeconomic and political transformations were greater, there were more inventions, and more records.
Was this book perfect? Of course not. At times I thought some of the examples were tenuous, still, this book informed me and made me ponder. I won't deny I had some quibbles about the mentioning of Thatcher and Golda Meir, and worse, Kardashian - but I can recognise my biases.
This book made sure to remind us or inform us (if you were in the know) about the dismissal of women's contributions, and their omission from history, in pretty much every field. And of course, men have always been very good at taking credit for women's work.
As the recent events in the US, Afghanistan and other countries around the world show, we can't rest on our laurels as men are only too willing to control women's bodies and their rights. As far as I'm concerned, even in the so-called developed countries there's still a lot of work to do: until there is no femicide by current or former male partners, until women are paid on par and their caring work is recognised financially - there is no equality.
As the amazing Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said: We should all be feminists.
NB: I used to qualify my statements re men's wrongdoings with "not all men". I won't anymore. If it bothers you and can't get the context, I suggest perhaps you should look in the mirror and consider why that is. Thank you. Bye....more
I watched and loved the movie Poor Things, which I thought was brilliant. It had been a long time since I loved a movie that much. Reading about it, II watched and loved the movie Poor Things, which I thought was brilliant. It had been a long time since I loved a movie that much. Reading about it, I discovered it was inspired/adapted from a novel by Alasdair Gray, a writer I hadn't heard of. Of course, I had to read the book. I'm glad that I did as the novel had so many more facets than the movie - and I'm not one of those people who expect the screen adaptations to be exact representations of the text that inspired the script.
This novel was original and had so many things that appealed to me: a strong, interesting female character, feminist themes, anti-colonialism, anti-patriarchy, and anti-religion. Gray played beautifully with form and the changes in PoVs worked well to unfold the story, I was surprised, to say the least, by how the novel ended. I hope I get the time and disposition to read the book in print, as I wasn't as taken with the narrators, I don't know why, they did a decent job.
After having read the book, I'm even more in awe of Yorgos Lanthimos and Tony McNamara for how they adapted the novel. In saying all that, there is room for another adaptation - perhaps a mini-series that will be closer to the novel, as there's so much great material.
Anyway, I urge you to read the novel and watch the movie, in whatever order, although, as far as I'm concerned, I'm glad I did the movie first.
I was after something lighter, so this title grabbed my attention. The novel is about two fraternal twin sisters, forty-two, both unmarried. They are I was after something lighter, so this title grabbed my attention. The novel is about two fraternal twin sisters, forty-two, both unmarried. They are ladies of means, who never had to labor. When their father dies, the brother inherits everything, so they have to make do and adapt to their new circumstances.
Despite being twins, the two sisters are opposite in character and appearance - Lady Augusta is tall, not necessarily the demure, fainting kind, she's quite feisty and doesn't suffer fools. Her sister, Julia, is more demure, and calmer, and dislikes conflict.
The two find themselves in all sorts of troubles which eventually push them to seek to help women as much as they can. The novel brings to light domestic abuse, women's insane asylums, and a few other injustices and inconveniences women had to put up with back then.
Things I liked about this: the main characters - it's refreshing to have heroines who are not young and hot. Of course, Gus was my favourite, but I liked the sisters' relationship, they complemented each other well. The sisters' cases of rescue brought to the surface some of the many unsavoury realities of the time, which made the novel darker.
What I disliked - I don't read historical novels often because I find them unbelievable, or I can see the author's hand in them, which I find jarring. A few times I got annoyed by the overexplaining and telling us things we already knew/know. I also felt this was too long, even though I was often listening at 1.5x speed.
Women over fifty-five are the fastest-growing group to experience homelessness in Australia. The number one reason for homelessness is escaping domestWomen over fifty-five are the fastest-growing group to experience homelessness in Australia. The number one reason for homelessness is escaping domestic violence, unexpected, major life circumstances and lack of affordable and social housing.
This book was published in 2019, and since then, the issues have grown exponentially, the increased cost of living affecting an increasing number of people.
Jane Caro looks back at her time growing up, and at the achievements of feminism, including the #meetoo movement. She's concerned about the plight of women of a certain age, who after years of caring for their families and putting everyone's needs ahead of theirs, find themselves in their fifties and sixties with no superannuation or very little, single, no housing and no possibility to get decent employment due to lack of skills and/or ageism and sexism. Society, patriarchal beliefs, the tax system, the lack of adequate and affordable childcare, and especially the fact that women do the majority of caring are some of the many barriers that see women 's financial disadvantage compounding.
Of course, there had never been more women with power and financial affluence, which allows women over a certain age to finally have the time to do volunteer work and enjoy hobbies and take up new interests that they could never find the time to do while caring for kids and/or working. We need more women in power, in all fields. The saying/stats show that if you lift a woman out of poverty, she'll bring up four other people with her.
We need more women to be in power, not only because women represent over 50% of the population. And most importantly, we should demand and expect that women's contributions as carers are recognised in a tangible way, and by tangible I don't mean the crappy Mother's Day gifts - as in financial recompense so that their later years are comfortable. Like it or not, if women stopped providing care services, nobody would achieve anything. Just think about it, everything women do is devalued. Women do most of the cooking, who are the most celebrated chefs - men! Women did most of the sewing and mending, yet men are the "great designers" - yes, I'm rolling my eyes big time and may have said very "unlady" like words (speaking of which, using lady to describe certain attributes is another way of keeping women in their place - be pretty, demure and most importantly, quiet, but I digress).
I could write an essay on the book and its topics, but I've got to go cook dinner......more
Larissa Behrendt wrote an enjoyable novel that uncannily mixes the story of an Aboriginal family from a small town in Australia with a trip to the UK Larissa Behrendt wrote an enjoyable novel that uncannily mixes the story of an Aboriginal family from a small town in Australia with a trip to the UK to visit famous writers' homes.
Indigenous layer Jasmine asks her mum, Della, to accompany her on a trip to visit revered British writers' sites. It's Della's first time abroad. Their relationship is relatively frayed due to spoken and particularly unspoken truths.
The trip is a great opportunity for the two to strengthen their relationship and to come to some realisations.
Despite its heavy themes such as child abuse, child murder, trauma, racism, After Story is a story of rebirth, survival and appreciating what you have. My heart was full.
I also enjoyed the virtual trip around the sites where famous writers lived. I hope one day I'll get to see them in person, although they sound like they're visited by too many tourists....more
I came across this novel due to its longlisting for the Women's Prize 2023.
The novel takes place in a rural locality in the North of India. Geeta i4.5
I came across this novel due to its longlisting for the Women's Prize 2023.
The novel takes place in a rural locality in the North of India. Geeta is a thirty-something-year-old, her rubbish husband had left her without saying anything, everyone assumes she had something to do with his disappearance. She doesn't correct the record, there are advantages to others thinking of you as a badass. Geeta makes wedding jewellery and is part of a group that receives micro-loans. The group members are diverse, Geeta is not well regarded, her former best friend and the group leader hates her guts and makes sure Geeta knows it. But then, one of the group members needs Geeta's "husband disappearing expertise".
Rural India seems to be replete with poverty, hunger, alcoholism, domestic violence, sexual assault, tradition, religion and superstitions, and a caste system - patriarchy at its worst! Most of the men in this novel are horrendous, despicable creatures. I rejoiced when bad things happen to them.
The themes in this novel usually make my blood boil. Shroff's writing kept things sort of light - not the right word - with its natural, conversational writing, which changed direction often, so I was never bored.
I appreciated that the women were flawed, different but also ordinary.
Occasionally, there's humour sprinkled throughout. It cracked me up that whenever the women in the group would have small or bigger complaints about their respective kids, they would immediately follow it with (paraphrasing) "joys of motherhood, so rewarding", with the other women echoing the same phrase.
This novel pays tribute to and was inspired by Phoolan Devi - nicknamed the Bandit Queen - a woman born in poverty, in a lower caste, who was married off at age 11, to a much older man and who suffered horrendous sexual and domestic abuse throughout her life. She joined a gang and took revenge on some men. Her legend was born. She also spent a long time in prison, was released and become a politician, before she was assassinated, you guessed it, by a man, when she was only 37 years old.
To conclude my ramblings, The Bandit Queens is a fun feminist/revenge novel, in which women take control of their lives. It's dark, humourous and fast-paced, which made it for a satisfactory reading journey.
Oh, I forgot to mention, there's also a cute dog called Bandit, just in case I needed to add another enticement for you to read this. :-) Don't worry, it's not a talking, philosophying dog. :-)
Queen Bee by Ciara Geraghty is about a menopausal Irish writer, Agatha Doyle, who's about to turn fifty. She's bamI haven't laughed this hard in years!
Queen Bee by Ciara Geraghty is about a menopausal Irish writer, Agatha Doyle, who's about to turn fifty. She's bamboozled by the changes in her body that include: insomnia, hot flashes, night sweats, extreme moodiness/crankiness, brain fog and many other smaller and bigger irritations. Why didn't anybody warn her? How is she going to write her next historical novel when she's got brain fog, and can't concentrate on anything?
This novel was delightful, that rare combination of unintentionally funny, sarcasm, language play and situational humour, with a splash of Irishiness, which made it even more charming.
From one contrary woman to another, Agatha Doyle, I salute you!
Shout-out to Angeline Ball whose splendid narration made me feel like I was in the room with Agatha.
This is going to be on my 2023 favourite reads of the year....more
A short book about Mexican women, written in a simple, journaling like style.
Laura, a thirty-something woman and the narrator of this novel, decides A short book about Mexican women, written in a simple, journaling like style.
Laura, a thirty-something woman and the narrator of this novel, decides not to have children. Her decision breaks her long-term relationship.
Her best friend, Alina, works hard at getting pregnant, spending a lot of money in the process. When she eventually falls pregnant, after the exhalation and planning of a future life with the perfect baby, she finds out mid-pregnancy that her baby will very likely die when she's born. We hear of her anguish and everything she and her partner get through.
Laura has a neighbour whose eight-year-old son is abusive, throwing expletives and objects at his mum - those tantrums were something else, I found them disconcerting, to say the least.
This novel brings into view women's work. Even when women choose not to have children, they mother in other ways, better said, they care in other ways, by being there for their friends, relatives, neighbours, and parents.
This novel also touches on the machismo and femicide occurring in Mexico. Hopefully, things will change. It breaks my heart when I think about it....more
An essay published by Amy Remeikis, the Guardian political reporter at the Australian Parliament in Canberra.
Remeikis got triggered by the fumbling, iAn essay published by Amy Remeikis, the Guardian political reporter at the Australian Parliament in Canberra.
Remeikis got triggered by the fumbling, inappropriate response of Scott Morrison, the Australian Prime Minister at the time (thank the goddess that idiot is gone), responding to allegations of rape by the Attorney General, and to another case involving a young female staff who was raped (allegedly) in an office in the Parliament House. Yep, you read that right - rape in the Parliament House.
I'd never agreed more with the messages of a novel however, I grumbled throughout this audiobook. It's as if Garmus took every 2.5 May Contain Spoilers
I'd never agreed more with the messages of a novel however, I grumbled throughout this audiobook. It's as if Garmus took every feminist rhetoric, issue and stance and made Elizabeth Zott the denouncer of every.single.one - gender pay gaps, stay-at-home mothers not being appreciated, women in STEM, working women, sexual harassment and the whole gamut of issues. I had to double-check the period this novel was set in. There were quite a few aspects that felt anachronistic. Anachronisms drive me crazy and their presence ruined many historical novels for me. I also think it's lazy and assumes that the readers are ignorant, not to mention, that it doesn't take that long to google.
And then there was the preachiness, and the monologues, and the overexplaining. Oh, and it's all tell no show. Also, I got no sense of the time and place.
I'm a staunch feminist and I agreed and/or recognised most issues, still, I just found this novel annoying, heavy-handed, and way too on the nose.
I like my literature nuanced and I don't want things to be (over)explained, I am (still) capable of chewing my food/ideas, thank you very much.
NB: I watched the TV series, I didn't mind it, the script was pretty good. ...more
My first encounter with Ellmann's brilliance was through Ducks, Newburyport, which enthralled me. Then I read the more accessible Mimi, which I also lMy first encounter with Ellmann's brilliance was through Ducks, Newburyport, which enthralled me. Then I read the more accessible Mimi, which I also loved. Needless to say, I was excited to read Ellmann's essays.
Even though these are essays, some of them feature themes that also appeared in the two novels mentioned above: the patriarchy and the many evils men bestow(ed) upon the planet, women, children; the proliferation of guns and nuclear power; the environmental destruction, plus a few other more mundane observations that cracked me up and made me think, "oh, no, you didn't": morning routines that are popular on YouTube and I'm guessing Insta and TikTok, objects, electricity. She makes some very good points on travelling and how much it ruins everything, including the culture, the environment - undeniable facts. I firmly agree with her, especially when it comes to business, academic junkets. Those travels are, for the most part, unnecessary, especially when we have such modern ways of communicating. There's also that perplexing aspect of eco travelling - an oxymoron if ever there was one. Her picking on American travellers had me in stitches. Of course, she generalises and exaggerates, but she also makes very good points.
She's audacious and gutsy, Ms Ellmann, and I love her for that. She even dared to pick on genre literature, particularly on crime novels. As I was saying, she's fearless, picking on the most published/most read genre. It cracked me up.
The essays are varied in both themes and style. As a collection, they just showcase her masterful writing skills and splendid intellect.
I don't know about others, but I feel a particular kinship with Lucy Ellmann, I feel we could be friends, although I'm nowhere near as intellectual or skilled as she is, I do love a good rant about the patriarchy, politics, culture etc.
Lucy Ellman for no 1 leader of the planet Earth
Essays: Things Are Against Us The Underground Bunker Pygmalion in the White House Trapped Family Fingers The Woman in the House Consider Pistons and Pumps Three Strikes A Spell of Patriarchy Sing the Unelectric The Lost Art of Staying Put Bras—a Life Sentence Morning Routine Girls Ah, Men Take The Money Honey
I've received this ARC via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this collection....more
I sometimes think I don't need to read any more feminist books, after all, I'm an unabashed feminist, I keep up with the issues and am very vocal. LucI sometimes think I don't need to read any more feminist books, after all, I'm an unabashed feminist, I keep up with the issues and am very vocal. Luckily, I'm also aware of my limitations, not to mention my incessant need to learn which compel me to read on subjects that I am (relatively) well versed in.
I loved this collection of essays. Gay is a prolific consumer of popular culture. I admit I sniggered at some of her favourite things to watch and listen to (ie reality shows, some misogynistic rappers' songs etc). I guess we all have our contradictions and bad taste when it comes to certain things (not me, of course ;-) ). Nobody is perfect, so I shouldn't expect feminists to be everything to everyone, because there's no such thing as the ideal/perfect feminist, people are imperfect.
Many essays analyse in great detail some popular culture movies, books, music and musicians and other personalities. Most of them were known to me, ie Hunger Games, Fifty Shades of Gray, The Help, 12 Years a Slave, plus the movies of Tyler Perry and his dubious morality, everyone's favourite director and screenwriter - Tarantino (she gave voice much better to some of the issues I've had with his movies); some rap songs and musicians such as Chris Brown, Taylor the Creator + plus Robin Thicke (they can all go to hell as far as I'm concerned).
Of course, the rape culture features greatly throughout the essays.
Oh, yeah, Gay also discussed the double standards when it comes to writing by women and how men's writing is universal and women's writing is just for women. As a reader and someone who knows a few writers, I'm well aware of this debate. Basing my opinion on my own reading and paying attention to awards, I believe things are getting much better. It's interesting that I almost never see discussions about men not reading in general, and if they do, they never read fiction. (I sleep with one of those).
I appreciated reading Gay's views on intersectional feminism.
I think Gay is an easily palatable feminist, as she likes nuance and doesn't come across as "aggressive" *Insert sigh and eye-rolling - another one of those adjectives thrown at women for voicing their opinions sternly and with assurance. She's also willing to show herself and to be vulnerable and recognise her failings as a feminist, as a woman, as a human.
Anyway, this was right up my alley and I recommend it to everyone....more
This was hilarious, breezy and relatable. There's no dry academic feminism talk to be found anywhere. Personal anecdotes and stories serve as launc4.5
This was hilarious, breezy and relatable. There's no dry academic feminism talk to be found anywhere. Personal anecdotes and stories serve as launching pads to discuss feminist issues ranging from motherhood to abortion, sexism, weddings, plastic surgeries and so on.
Having Moran herself read the book was like having a chat between the girls over a glass of wine or two. She's funny, swears a lot, and is unapologetic. I dig her!
I'll have to get my hands on her latest book on the dreaded M.
The Female Persuasion was a decent book. It failed to make a strong impression on me, despite its main theme - feminism through the eyes of t3.5 stars
The Female Persuasion was a decent book. It failed to make a strong impression on me, despite its main theme - feminism through the eyes of the older and the younger generation.
Faith Frank is the distinguished, feminist figure who's in her sixties. Hearing her speak at university left a strong impression on young Greer Kadetsky. After finishing college, Greer ends up working for the new foundation Faith Frank had started with the help of a Venture capital investment firm. Greer is devoted to Faith Frank, she admires her energy, her kindness, poise and sense of justice.
I appreciated several aspects in this novel: - the juxtaposition of different kinds of feminism; - the fact that nobody is perfect, even with the best intentions, outside forces, be it financial, personal, social, affect everyone. - it's important for the older feminists/women to inspire and propel the younger generations. - The Sisterhood is essential.
I didn't object to any ideas, characters in this novel. The novel's structure and the way it was written contributed to my somewhat diminished appreciation. There was a bit too much back-story, unnecessarily long at times.
This is yet another novel that should have resonated much more than it did. In saying all that, I'm not sorry I read it.
It is with great sadness and inner conflict that I decided to quit on this novel around the 40% mark. There's a huge discordance between how much I carIt is with great sadness and inner conflict that I decided to quit on this novel around the 40% mark. There's a huge discordance between how much I care about the issues at the core of this novel and how little I've enjoyed it. I appreciate what Perlman is doing and I'm convinced he had the best intentions, it just didn't work for me. I'm sorry to say that I found it trite, at times, the conversations were unbelievable, moralistic and read like essays on women's discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
This was one of the books I was most excited to read this year, but it turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments. :-(...more
Mrs. Everything is the first Jennifer Weiner novel I read.
This novel is all about women. Women as daughters, girlfriends, wives, single mothers, stay-Mrs. Everything is the first Jennifer Weiner novel I read.
This novel is all about women. Women as daughters, girlfriends, wives, single mothers, stay-at-home mothers, working mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and friends.
This novel spans decades, from the 1950s to the contemporary era. Jo and Bethie Kaufman are American Jewish. They couldn't be more different - Jo is the academic, sporty, tomboy, who also happens to like girls. Her younger sister, Bethie, is her exact opposite, demure and very girly, she's her mother's favourite. Nobody knows what paths their life will take. Will it be the beaten path, will they forge their own? Are there many options for girls and women? It's a historical time of great change, from the post-war new-found prosperity and the rise of the middle class to the 60s and 70s, a period of great social change and upheaval to the present - this novel covers lots of ground through the two sisters' lives, with all their ups and downs.
This was a very satisfying read, as you can tell it's only taken me just over two days to finish it, despite its 460 pages.
Mrs. Everything was engaging, relatable and touching.
This review contains opinions (I'm sure some will be unpopular), some profanity etc. Generalisations will occur. Oh, by all means, #NotAllMen (insert This review contains opinions (I'm sure some will be unpopular), some profanity etc. Generalisations will occur. Oh, by all means, #NotAllMen (insert eye rolling emoji). The what-about-ists need not comment.
Women are scared they'll be killed, men are scared they'll be laughed at.
It's incredibly liberating reaching my mid-forties and realising how little I care about people's opinions of me. Men's opinions matter even less. I'm heterosexual - I know, quite the tragedy, as I like to joke to most people's astonishment. And guess what, most feminists are not men-haters, although I'm sure some are and I'm certain they have good reasons for that. It actually gives me great satisfaction when occasionally I discover that a certain man, usually a friend's partner, can't stand me. It's usually because instead of fluttering my eye-lashes and gushing over their ... whatever it is we are supposed to gush over - I challenge their sexist remarks, jokes and attitudes and so on - not that I spend that much time in their company, I'm bored out of my mind by sports talk.
Anyway, let's review ...
For those of you outside Australia, Clementine Ford is one of the most prominent feminists in Australia. It's redundant to say I admire her. I like and treasure all feminists, no matter if they're the suave, diplomatic, conciliatory type or the acerbic, cussing, don't-give-a-fuck kind. Feminists come in all shapes and colours, just like women do.
I won a signed copy and a t-shirt for asking a question that was read on a live Facebook event. I listened to this via audiobook and I loved it as it was narrated by Ford herself (she's quite good).
The first word that comes to mind to describe this book is unapologetic. Like many other feminists, young Clementine was your typical girl, brought up in a loving family, together with her older sister and brother. She couldn't quite find her place in the world, being a chubby girl (I know the biggest crime of them all!), until she became a teenager who decided "to take control" by becoming anorexic and bulimic. Interestingly enough, but not unusual, nobody in the family noticed, she was getting lots of compliments for losing that weight to become attractive. Her parents were loving and quite enlightened by comparison, still, they weren't perfect. The mixed messages we give girls, the ever-changing goalposts of what it means to be attractive, of what's acceptable and not acceptable. Just think of how we were parented and how we parent our boys and girls: for the girls - be nice and kind, make yourself pretty, cute, followed by don't go out at night, don't show too much leg, wear a bra, wear girly clothes, of course, not too revealing we don't want people to call/think you a slut. Shave your underarms, shave your legs (why is it so different for men?). The boys are mostly left to be themselves, go explore, be conquerors, be a leader, assertive, encouraged to go after what they want etc. Completely different messages.
Ford confesses to having had two abortions, but unlike most other women, besides being unapologetic about it, she's also not wringing her hands to explain herself beside the fact she wasn't ready for a child. She's got zero, zip, nada regrets about them. Case closed. I'm, of course, pro-choice but I can't remember seeing this stance - the narrative around abortion is that, surely, there must be some regret, shame etc. It's kind of refreshing to hear it's not the case for everyone. NB: If you're not pro-choice, I'm not interested in hearing about it - it's never ever going change my views - so don't waste your time).
Ford describes and reads the abuse she gets online, day in and day out, from angry, vile men. It’s atrocious!
Other issues addressed in this book are the rape culture and horrendous statistics on domestic violence.
Here are some statistics to help demonstrate the prevalence and severity of violence against women:
• On average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner. • 1 in 3 Australian women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15. • 1 in 5 Australian women has experienced sexual violence. • 1 in 6 Australian women has experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner. • 1 in 4 Australian women has experienced emotional abuse by a current or former partner. • Australian women are nearly three times more likely than men to experience violence from an intimate partner. • Australian women are almost four times more likely than men to be hospitalised after being assaulted by their spouse or partner.
My favourite part of the book was the last chapter It’s OK to Be Angry I’ll conclude this overly long review with a quote:
Be angry. Be rageful. Be loud. Be unrepentant. Be assertive. Be aggressive. Be the kid of she-beast that trains her fire-filled eye on the male gaze and burns it down. Be everything that women are always told not to be, and commit to giving zero fucks about who may or may not have a problem with that. It is okay to be angry. It is fucking okay.
The day Somebody McSomebody put a gun to my breast and called me a cat and threatened to shoot me was the same day the milkman died. He had been shot The day Somebody McSomebody put a gun to my breast and called me a cat and threatened to shoot me was the same day the milkman died. He had been shot by one of the state hit squads and I did not care about the shooting of this man.
And so it begins – one of the most extraordinary novels I’ve ever read. I got what I call “the giddiness” early on, but gave myself a talking down to not get ahead of myself, because really, can anyone sustain such a high level of interestingness for three hundred plus pages?
Written in the first person, through the eyes of an eighteen-year-old, who refers to herself as the middle sister, Milkman is very original. The setting is an unnamed place, somewhere in Northern Ireland during the 1970's Troubles.
The characters in this novel don’t have names, in the traditional way, but they are easily recognisable, I never got confused. Speaking of characters, they're interesting, diverse and unusual. There’s Milkman who’s not really a milk man, he’s married, forty and he’s taken to stalking our protagonist. There’s also the real milkman who delivers milk and is also a friend of the family. There’s a maybe-boyfriend because they’re having a maybe-relationship. There’s ma who’s pious, hardened by life and who doesn’t trust our protagonist; pa, who had suffered from mental health issues, is dead now. The wee sisters are eight, nine and ten, they’re extremely intelligent and always together. There’s Somebody McSomebody who stalks her and can’t accept that she’s not interested. There’s the third brother in law, a man who’s in awe of women and who’s a compulsive runner, just like our protagonist. There’s even an issues women group aka the feminists. There’s the renouncers or those who take the republican side; there’s also a more vague category the beyond-the-pales those who society have deemed too different. Our protagonist is apolitical, so much so, she takes refuge in reading mostly nineteen century literature. She’s trying her best to go unnoticed. She’s not pro or against anything. She doesn’t like to gossip, but that doesn’t stop others gossiping about her. People are put off by her walking and reading. Also, they think she’s the Milkman’s mistress. The absurdity of it all compels her to keep quiet, why have to explain herself and deny something that’s untrue? When she finally denies it, nobody believes her, not even her ma. Life becomes hell for the middle sister, as she joins the ranks of the beyond the pale.
Milkman is a dense novel, with some of the longest paragraphs I’ve ever read (with perfect punctuation, kudos to Ms Burns and/or editors). It’s both very readable and hard work. This was the closest I’ve ever come to completing/staying with a mindfulness exercise (in case you can’t tell from my all-over-the-place, unedited reviews, I have a very ADD brain). I didn’t mind taking my time with this novel, as I wanted to savour every line, turn of phrase, tangent and thought bubble. The writing is exquisite, playful, smart, insightful and all together bonkers, in a good way. The times were bonkers. The constant surveillance, suspicion, the imminence of death, affect everything and everyone. Everything is seen as a political statement. What you do and don’t do is labelled. There’s no escaping. The sense of self is easily eroded.
There’s so much to ponder and unpack. I am gobsmacked by this novel’s originality and complexity. I loved living in the eighteen-year old’s head. She may have come across as aloof and impenetrable, but she saw and understood more than anyone around. I even related to certain situations, despite having a different nationality. Somehow, in spite of the serious themes and undercurrents, this novel was quite amusing at times, not the slapstick kind of funny, but the kind derived from the absurdity of situations and people’s reactions.
This is where I gush about the importance of awards, especially for literary fiction, which seems to have become a niche genre. I read somewhere that each of the Man Booker short-listed novels sold less than six thousand copies in the UK. Had it not been for the Man Booker Prize, I, like many others, would have never come across this incredible novel. That would have been a shame.
Ms Burns, I take a bow and thank you for the words....more
The recent announcement that Saudi women are finally! allowed to drive prompted me to read this memoir sooner rather than later.
Manal Al- Sharif has The recent announcement that Saudi women are finally! allowed to drive prompted me to read this memoir sooner rather than later.
Manal Al- Sharif has become (in)famous for getting arrested for driving while female. For most of us around the world, this is beyond ridiculous. Well, show me a religion that doesn't discriminate, oppress women in some ways. Then add to that a tribal society, with extreme, fanatical religious beliefs and customs and you've got Saudi Arabia.
Besides Al-Sharif's troubles for driving, I've learnt so much more about the Saudi society. I'm afraid, I can't think of one positive thing. I was seething reading about the million and one injustices and hardships bestowed upon Saudi women. I was both calmed and annoyed with Al-Sharif's somewhat detached, elegant and delicate writing. I'm not sure if it's the translation or that's just how she wrote or it could just be a cultural thing, after all, Saudi women have been taught for many generations to keep quiet, to hide in plain sight. They're not even referred by their own names, but by their male guardian's! (Insert very unladylike words).
Al-Sharif's strength and courage are to be admired and praised. As it's, unfortunately, the case for the people who push the societal boundaries, she paid a huge price, including losing custody of her son from her first marriage. As I was saying, I was seething while reading, which is nothing compared to what Al-Sharif and the Saudi women have to suffer through. As it's often the case, education more often than not means liberation. Financial independence means freedom. You don't have to be very smart to realise why in so many less developed countries women are discouraged from getting an education. Although Al-Sharif came from a very poor family, with both her mum and father being almost illiterate, she, her older sister and younger brother got a tertiary education. With that came knowledge, learning of different views, and not in the least, the ability to get a job.
Al-Sharif's travelling for work to some Western countries, including living and working in the USA for one year, opened up her mind even more. The Internet, for all its drawbacks, is without a doubt one of the most important factors that contributed to many people's liberation through information and, most importantly, by providing the means for communication. Facebook and Twitter allowed Al-Sharif to organise other women and then communicate with the world about her plight. Without the world knowing about her, she would have probably perished.
I'll conclude by saying that Daring to Drive was well worth getting me fired up against religion and/or men - Neanderthal men, that is.
Best wishes to Manal Al-Sharif and to the Saudi women and other women subjugated by men and/or religion.
I've received this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review....more
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