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meredithgweiss's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
I enjoyed some parts of the book and it was thought provoking at times. I think I would have preferred chapters that discussed topics in more length, rather than many short-hit chapters. Sometimes I’d read through a chapter and still wonder what the conclusion of that chapter was and wonder why it was included in the book.
It felt like it took me a while to get through and that the book was a little slow despite how short the chapters were.
It felt like it took me a while to get through and that the book was a little slow despite how short the chapters were.
drakken's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second book Iâve read that Roxane has been involved in - the first being the brilliant (and often-agonizing) Not That Bad, which she edited - and Iâm pleased to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I appreciate the thoughtful way in which Roxane approaches complex issues and the time she has for nuance where it would be easy to be reactionary. I also respect her self-awareness and her honesty; as she acknowledges in a short piece at the end, her actual day to day behavior doesnât always comport with her theoretical positions on things and the notions of who she âshouldâ be as a feminist, and sheâs learned to be ok with that.
As with most collections, there were some essays that felt particularly resonant or essential and others that left less of an impression - and the style did felt a bit âwanderyâ at times, likely owing to the fact most (?) of these were originally blog posts rather than more academic essays - but I was fine with the overall consistency of quality, and it was rare that a large number of pages went by without new lines or sections getting underlined.
Roxane has become a favorite of mine in recent years; looking forward to reading more of her work.
As with most collections, there were some essays that felt particularly resonant or essential and others that left less of an impression - and the style did felt a bit âwanderyâ at times, likely owing to the fact most (?) of these were originally blog posts rather than more academic essays - but I was fine with the overall consistency of quality, and it was rare that a large number of pages went by without new lines or sections getting underlined.
Roxane has become a favorite of mine in recent years; looking forward to reading more of her work.
emeraldgarnet's review against another edition
2.0
A bit of a misleading title that I suspect was chosen to maximise sales as many of the essays have little to nothing to do with feminism.
In reading this book, it became obvious that I am not the target market. Essays on pop culture from decades past (e.g. Sweet Valley High) and someone else's nostalgia have little interest to me and I think that people who grew up around the same time and in a similar place to Gay would get the most out of this book.
The book succeeds as a work of cultural criticism but it is not the gender studies tome that its marketing suggests.
In reading this book, it became obvious that I am not the target market. Essays on pop culture from decades past (e.g. Sweet Valley High) and someone else's nostalgia have little interest to me and I think that people who grew up around the same time and in a similar place to Gay would get the most out of this book.
The book succeeds as a work of cultural criticism but it is not the gender studies tome that its marketing suggests.
bookwormmelissa's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this at points but did not agree with everything. Most of it was excellent.
brisingr's review against another edition
3.0
A lot of the essays sadly went over my head because I was not familiar with the media discussed, but Gay's writing style is really powerful. As with any collections, there were hit and misses, but overall a good read.
I'd rather be a bad feminist than no feminist at all.
I'd rather be a bad feminist than no feminist at all.
frankenkat's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
vexyspice's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the short stories. I generally like her snarky/ first person writing. Only thing i didnt like is that for some stories i wanted MORE but she never gave it.
gracefullypunk's review against another edition
4.0
Probably would've been 5 stars if I weren't so pop-culture clueless - I just didn't have references for many subjects in some of the essays. But I like her style and believe Gay's voice an important one. Plus, the idea that we can be feminists but often be bad at it is so necessary to hear.