This book is a great introduction to a serious social issue and certainly brings up the results of a number of interesting studies of male academic faThis book is a great introduction to a serious social issue and certainly brings up the results of a number of interesting studies of male academic failure. However, the book becomes increasingly unfocused and even speculative and perhaps the proposed solutions aren’t really fleshed out enough. ...more
As always, Kate Zambreno delivers a witty, creative, funny, smart, innovative, and insightful product. Although this book is a bit of a hodgepodge of As always, Kate Zambreno delivers a witty, creative, funny, smart, innovative, and insightful product. Although this book is a bit of a hodgepodge of different types of writing, and sometimes drips with apparently unwarranted self-pity, it’s filled with interesting ideas about gender, popular culture, and the writing life. It also gave me a new book or film recommendation on nearly every page. ...more
This was a very interesting and often poetic take on the debatably feminist film, Wanda. I really loved reading this after viewing the film and found This was a very interesting and often poetic take on the debatably feminist film, Wanda. I really loved reading this after viewing the film and found the author’s very open-ended reflection on this unique film both fascinating and moving. The author usefully juxtaposes the protagonist in the film with the female director of the film and sometimes compare the two women with her abused mother. I should note that Kate Zembreno covers some of the same territory in her book, Screen Tests. ...more
This unusual memoir offered me a wonderful take on the early 1970s, a historical blindspot for me since I was alive but still too young to have any fiThis unusual memoir offered me a wonderful take on the early 1970s, a historical blindspot for me since I was alive but still too young to have any first hand knowledge of the politics of the era. Prose’s approach to memoir writing is wonderfully novel. By focusing on her rather odd relationship with one of the central characters in Pentagon Papers affair, Prose avoids any hint of solipsism in her description of an era. While the reader learns a lot about the author’s life, he or she learns much more about her friend (at once heroic and tragic) and even more about society in general during this formative era. Most particularly, the memoir examines issues related to the peace movement, feminism, and SSN Francisco’s counter culture. Well-written, analytical, and anything but narcissistic, I’m eager to read my first Prose novel soon. ...more
This book analyzes a number of female authors and thinkers and the decisions they made related to their children. It also tackles how these decisions This book analyzes a number of female authors and thinkers and the decisions they made related to their children. It also tackles how these decisions about child rearing in film. These essays are blended with the author’s own observations about her own life as a mother and writer. The conclusion was wonderful insofar as it reminded readers of how poor mothers often have much harder decisions to make about parenting. I especially admired the chapters elated to Spark, Lessing, and a lesser known (to me at least) Catalonian author, Rodoreda, who I now intend to read. ...more
Lot of interesting essays on a variety of subjects. I liked Lorde’s description of a tour of the Soviet Union most. Some of the essays do feel a littlLot of interesting essays on a variety of subjects. I liked Lorde’s description of a tour of the Soviet Union most. Some of the essays do feel a little dated now....more
I read all three of the author’s short, smart memoirs. I liked them all but since none of them are strictly chronological I can’t remember where one sI read all three of the author’s short, smart memoirs. I liked them all but since none of them are strictly chronological I can’t remember where one starts or leaves off. Anyhow, the books go down easily. ...more
This was probably my favorite of the author’s three linked memoirs. The real estate metaphor seems to work. Not sure why all these books weren’t all pThis was probably my favorite of the author’s three linked memoirs. The real estate metaphor seems to work. Not sure why all these books weren’t all published together. But Levy is great. Maybe Britain’s answer to Ernaux? I also think this is the book in which she recounts her early love of Ballard, which of course got me into Ballard almost immediately. Such an interesting point of inspiration. ...more
Maggie Nelson offers four strikingly original and thought-provoking essays on freedom in four very specific contexts (ie, art, drugs, sex, and the envMaggie Nelson offers four strikingly original and thought-provoking essays on freedom in four very specific contexts (ie, art, drugs, sex, and the environment). As always, I appreciated how well-informed Nelson was on her subjects, and how competent she was at linking her personal life to the realm of the theoretical. I really can’t imagine anyone more deserving of a so-called genius award....more
I adored this book. The book’s structure is exploratory, open-ended, feminist, and open-minded. It’s also a nice blend of memoir, popular criticism, aI adored this book. The book’s structure is exploratory, open-ended, feminist, and open-minded. It’s also a nice blend of memoir, popular criticism, and academic treatise. The writing is clever, erudite, and often funny. The author has some broad arguments to make about the ethics of cancel culture but also provides the reader with a large number of interesting readings of specific artists, musicians, show runners, and filmmakers, and the works they have created. ...more
This is almost a dual biography of Julia Ward Howe and her almost equally famous husband, but perhaps that’s one of the points a feminist historian neThis is almost a dual biography of Julia Ward Howe and her almost equally famous husband, but perhaps that’s one of the points a feminist historian needs to make: the story of even the most famous historian can hardly be told without reference to her make minders. I did love the book. It’s extremely well-written and filled with fascinating history about Howe, America, and the history of upper class women in the 19th century. ...more
So very good. This was an exciting read. It offers a fairly full feminist reading of the modernist canon. It critiques masculine mythologies and gave So very good. This was an exciting read. It offers a fairly full feminist reading of the modernist canon. It critiques masculine mythologies and gave me tons of ideas about books I should be reading. I’ve liked all of the author’s books I’ve read so far but this was probably her best. ...more
I’m falling in love with Zambreno’s writing generally, but this book was particularly special. It’s a deep dive into loss and like much of Zambreno’s I’m falling in love with Zambreno’s writing generally, but this book was particularly special. It’s a deep dive into loss and like much of Zambreno’s work, effortlessly integrates personal reflection with feminism and literary history. The book also seemed to be brilliant blend of prose and poetry. The masculine version of this painful look at the loss of a mother might be Ellroy’s equally honest My Dark Places. ...more
A collection of often original arguments in favor of approaching birth control, unwanted pregnancies, and abortion from a feminist perspective. PerhapA collection of often original arguments in favor of approaching birth control, unwanted pregnancies, and abortion from a feminist perspective. Perhaps a good primer for discussions with teenagers on these subjects. ...more
I don’t know why I dived back into the Greek myths lately but I did, and this was a particularly insightful treatment of the subject. I liked how the I don’t know why I dived back into the Greek myths lately but I did, and this was a particularly insightful treatment of the subject. I liked how the author focused on female-driven myths, and also analyzed how the myths evolved (or failed to evolve) in more modern times. The authors offers lots of interesting interpretations and a command of the original texts. ...more
Although the depth of these essays and occasional speeches was almost necessarily uneven (many pieces were casual speeches and short book introductionAlthough the depth of these essays and occasional speeches was almost necessarily uneven (many pieces were casual speeches and short book introductions), I very much enjoyed spending this time with Atwood. I particularly liked her introductions to other Canadian authors and other forays into literary criticism. I appreciated her persistent warnings about the environment too but didn’t exactly learn to think about related issues in new ways. She did give me new environmental writers to read. And her essays on her own works have already gotten me to buy a copy of the Blind Assassin. ...more
Loved these essays. I’ve only recently discovered Gornick. Now I’ve found another feminist essayist I like as well. Speaking of feminist writers, how Loved these essays. I’ve only recently discovered Gornick. Now I’ve found another feminist essayist I like as well. Speaking of feminist writers, how sad we have lost bell hooks. ...more
What can I say? I’ve become a Vivian Gornick super fan. She’s a brilliant writer and a pretty impressive thinker. She’s a talented memoirist, social tWhat can I say? I’ve become a Vivian Gornick super fan. She’s a brilliant writer and a pretty impressive thinker. She’s a talented memoirist, social theorist, and literary critic. This collection is sort of a hodgepodge of varied short essays but still very worthwhile. I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing, or what this says about me, but the feminist polemical essays (just a small part of the book) here feel dated, but still of historical interest. Gornick is almost exactly the age (84 I think?) my feminist mother would be if she hadn’t died 36 years ago. So it’s just great to see Gornick’s evolution as a thinker and to get a glimpse of early second wave feminism, consciousness raising, ERA amendment, Ms. magazine controversies and all. It brings back memories of my mom dragging my brothers and me to lobby (unsuccessfully) for the ERA in Springfield, Illinois....more
Another wonderful book by Gornick, master essayist, memoirist, feminist, and—above all—stylist. I especially loved the hilarious essay on her time as Another wonderful book by Gornick, master essayist, memoirist, feminist, and—above all—stylist. I especially loved the hilarious essay on her time as a waitress in the Catskills and her penatrating essay on the dysfunctions of university life. Only four stars on this one because a few essays seemed a little diffuse or abstract, as if she was stretching to make a difficult personal theme clear but never quite got there....more
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