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weaverh's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
thelibraryofimagination's review against another edition
4.0
When I was offered a place on the tour for The Crux, I knew I had to participate. I enjoyed The Yellow Wallpaper the first time I read it and I appreciate it even more for a bunch of different reasons since reading it later in life. So naturally I’d want to read a piece of work that has been in and out of print. I’m so glad that @leamingtonbooks has published Gilman’s work to be admired once again.
The forward gives an insight to the patriarchal society where the expectations of women at the time were rather dim. And as Charlotte does, she challenges the norm with her prose. In real life she was a lecturer and writer who called herself a humanist rather than a feminist.
The Krux is story of Vivian and her friends who take the opportunity to run a boarding house, somewhat of a rarity at the time, and therefore, it is a story of women challenging their place in the world. Not only challenging societal expectations but their own values and beliefs. These women made brave decisions that went against the norms of the early nineteenth century. I admire Gilman. She was ahead of her time. It’s like reading a Jane Austen novel about Gloria Steinman. Gilman was, after all, a major influence on the early women's movement.
I highly recommend this book if you’re a feminist, a humanitarian or an avid read of classical fiction. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
This post was my spot on the tour. @leamingtonbooks kindly sent me a copy to read. This book is one book in their Gothic World Literature Editions. Hint, hint, I’d happily read the other books in this series.
Also thanks to @loveboostours and @igbooktours for the place in this tour. #ad #pr
The forward gives an insight to the patriarchal society where the expectations of women at the time were rather dim. And as Charlotte does, she challenges the norm with her prose. In real life she was a lecturer and writer who called herself a humanist rather than a feminist.
The Krux is story of Vivian and her friends who take the opportunity to run a boarding house, somewhat of a rarity at the time, and therefore, it is a story of women challenging their place in the world. Not only challenging societal expectations but their own values and beliefs. These women made brave decisions that went against the norms of the early nineteenth century. I admire Gilman. She was ahead of her time. It’s like reading a Jane Austen novel about Gloria Steinman. Gilman was, after all, a major influence on the early women's movement.
I highly recommend this book if you’re a feminist, a humanitarian or an avid read of classical fiction. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
This post was my spot on the tour. @leamingtonbooks kindly sent me a copy to read. This book is one book in their Gothic World Literature Editions. Hint, hint, I’d happily read the other books in this series.
Also thanks to @loveboostours and @igbooktours for the place in this tour. #ad #pr
carsonbailey's review against another edition
5.0
I actually really enjoyed this book, but probably because I was reading it from the female perspective of the 21st century. The entire books promotion of women being obligated to marry and have children is automatically different, especially when the book is also promoting women to fear men since 75% of men of some type of STI that will prevent healthy offspring. It felt like a book devoted to promote healthy breeding and groom women into being fearful and cautious in marriage because the entire world is dependent on them. An odd book that I wasn't expecting to enjoy, but definitely found quite funny.
frombethanysbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
First published as part of a serial in The Forerunner magazine, this unique story follows a group of women opening a mens boarding house in western America. Vivian, our main narrator, is struggling with her own expectations of femininity and the societal expectation to marry and produce healthy babies, but she has fallen in love with one of the many men with a devastating STI so her journey to marriage is fraught with danger and heartbreak. She has a choice - expectation, or desire.
In it’s way, despite reading differently now, this was a statement of Perkins own feminist beliefs and her observations on society as a whole. It firmly follows the want for a woman to marry and have children which of course doesn’t follow modern feminism but it also explores the conflict and warns women to think carefully about the men she encounters and be wary of the risks they pose.
This has been out of print for quite some time now, and of course the prose is dated, it’s over a century old - but there is a charming air about the writing style that still reads quite easily and actually portrays women as three-dimensional humans with thoughts and feelings.
A story of female friendship, growing up and the roots of feminism, this is definitely a classic that everyone should add to their reading lists.
[ I was gifted a reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review]
In it’s way, despite reading differently now, this was a statement of Perkins own feminist beliefs and her observations on society as a whole. It firmly follows the want for a woman to marry and have children which of course doesn’t follow modern feminism but it also explores the conflict and warns women to think carefully about the men she encounters and be wary of the risks they pose.
This has been out of print for quite some time now, and of course the prose is dated, it’s over a century old - but there is a charming air about the writing style that still reads quite easily and actually portrays women as three-dimensional humans with thoughts and feelings.
A story of female friendship, growing up and the roots of feminism, this is definitely a classic that everyone should add to their reading lists.
[ I was gifted a reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review]
nguyetha_ng's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
taylormorgantm's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
elementarymydear's review against another edition
challenging
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
The Crux is a little-known work from Charlotte Perkins Gilman, best known for The Yellow Wallpaper. It tells the story of a group of women who move west to begin a business together, and is a parable for what Perkins Gilman saw as the hidden dangers facing young women at the time.
Reviewing a book like this is always a conundrum. My enjoyment and appreciation of the book is as much for its historical context and insight as it is for the book itself.
📚Find this and other reviews on my blog!📚
This is where a good introduction can make a huge difference, which this book accomplishes with its new introduction by Ambrose Kelly. Kelly lays out the context brilliantly, drawing our attention to the key themes and explaining how they fit into first-wave feminism.
Having read that introduction, I enjoyed the book much more. We follow a varied group of women, from the young aspiring teacher to the world-weary doctor, as they fight to be informed and in control of their own health and futures. As broad goals, these concerns are very much still at the heart of the feminist movement, even if some of the finer details have changed.
The finer details are, in my opinion, where the most interesting part of this book lies. It sheds light on the importance of eugenics to many early white feminists. It starts an important discussion about how much feminism has changed – and how much still needs to change. What is presented by Perkins Gilman as a simple cautionary tale could potentially spark a very interesting and nuanced conversation over a century after its initial release about health, fertility and autonomy.
Thank you to the publishers for providing me with a copy for review. All opinions are my own. I have written and published this review as part of Love Books Tours.
Reviewing a book like this is always a conundrum. My enjoyment and appreciation of the book is as much for its historical context and insight as it is for the book itself.
📚Find this and other reviews on my blog!📚
This is where a good introduction can make a huge difference, which this book accomplishes with its new introduction by Ambrose Kelly. Kelly lays out the context brilliantly, drawing our attention to the key themes and explaining how they fit into first-wave feminism.
Having read that introduction, I enjoyed the book much more. We follow a varied group of women, from the young aspiring teacher to the world-weary doctor, as they fight to be informed and in control of their own health and futures. As broad goals, these concerns are very much still at the heart of the feminist movement, even if some of the finer details have changed.
The finer details are, in my opinion, where the most interesting part of this book lies. It sheds light on the importance of eugenics to many early white feminists. It starts an important discussion about how much feminism has changed – and how much still needs to change. What is presented by Perkins Gilman as a simple cautionary tale could potentially spark a very interesting and nuanced conversation over a century after its initial release about health, fertility and autonomy.
Thank you to the publishers for providing me with a copy for review. All opinions are my own. I have written and published this review as part of Love Books Tours.
georgiarose710's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
vik_reads_books's review against another edition
3.0
So I'll admit I don't normally get on with books that are older or the 'classics' I can struggle to gel with the writing and normally find it a bit boring but that wasn't the case with this book.
This book was originally published in 1911 and was aimed at 'young and impressionable women primarily, followed by men and anyone else willing to listen', and to be honest I feel that this could have been written more recently rather than 90 years ago. I found Vivian really likeable and felt her frustration of wanting to do more than just be her womanly duty and marry and have children which I feel is something I still feel is still expected of women now though maybe not conveyed in the same way! Although this was supposed to be a warning to women and ti education them on topics not discussed then, it didn't feel like it and would be interested to learn more about Charlotte and read more of her works
This book was originally published in 1911 and was aimed at 'young and impressionable women primarily, followed by men and anyone else willing to listen', and to be honest I feel that this could have been written more recently rather than 90 years ago. I found Vivian really likeable and felt her frustration of wanting to do more than just be her womanly duty and marry and have children which I feel is something I still feel is still expected of women now though maybe not conveyed in the same way! Although this was supposed to be a warning to women and ti education them on topics not discussed then, it didn't feel like it and would be interested to learn more about Charlotte and read more of her works
baratheonbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Misogyny