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jasminepeile's review
3.0
This book is valuable as a piece of feminist due to its inversion of gender roles and the subsequent reaction of the narrator, Van, and the two other male characters. This inversion brings to light how women are diminished outside of Herland and the assumptions made about women by men.
However, Herland also comes with some quite strong racist remarks as well as racist undertones throughout the book, due to Gilman’s strong views on white supremacism. To an extent, the racism present in the book takes away from its feminist focus.
However, Herland also comes with some quite strong racist remarks as well as racist undertones throughout the book, due to Gilman’s strong views on white supremacism. To an extent, the racism present in the book takes away from its feminist focus.
janessaalexis's review against another edition
4.0
Surprised by how much I loved this.
Popsugar Reading Challenge 2018: A book about feminism
Popsugar Reading Challenge 2018: A book about feminism
booksmellers's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
lollypopzoo's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
derekdavis31's review against another edition
4.0
This would be my first review of a short story collection. In this review, I am going to consider the book as a whole, and then list off the works in this collection I felt were the best.
Overall, I think Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a very strong writer, and she is able to communicate her feminist ideas in each story . This especially is true of Herland, which was the first entry in the collection. In it, Gilman uses a male main character who reports his findings about the women who live in the country of Herland. Gilman uses his narrative voice to explain her ideas and I think she performs well in that function. For a writer of her time, she is easy to understand and is very good at incorporating humor and seriousness in her prose.
Here are the stories I felt were the best in the collection:
Herland
The Yellow Wallpaper (probably the best story and the reason why I bought the collection in the first place)
Her Housekeeper
When I Was a Witch
Martha's Mother
The Boys and the Butter
Turned
Spoken to
Joan's Defender
Mrs. Beazley's Deeds
With a short story collection, it is difficult to give an overall rating, but to do an average of the ratings of each story, which is how I derived at the collection being a 4/5 book for me. As much as I enjoyed Herland and Yellow Wallpaper (these were the best for me), I would prefer to donate this book and let someone else experience her writing.
Overall, I think Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a very strong writer, and she is able to communicate her feminist ideas in each story . This especially is true of Herland, which was the first entry in the collection. In it, Gilman uses a male main character who reports his findings about the women who live in the country of Herland. Gilman uses his narrative voice to explain her ideas and I think she performs well in that function. For a writer of her time, she is easy to understand and is very good at incorporating humor and seriousness in her prose.
Here are the stories I felt were the best in the collection:
Herland
The Yellow Wallpaper (probably the best story and the reason why I bought the collection in the first place)
Her Housekeeper
When I Was a Witch
Martha's Mother
The Boys and the Butter
Turned
Spoken to
Joan's Defender
Mrs. Beazley's Deeds
With a short story collection, it is difficult to give an overall rating, but to do an average of the ratings of each story, which is how I derived at the collection being a 4/5 book for me. As much as I enjoyed Herland and Yellow Wallpaper (these were the best for me), I would prefer to donate this book and let someone else experience her writing.
laurabb's review
3.0
A good collection of stories. But Terry (in Herland)? Dude, I totally want to punch you in the face... :)
chocolatelady1957's review against another edition
5.0
Around a century ago, Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a well-known feminist fiction writer, including "Herland" and "The Yellow Wallpaper." Find out what I thought of this collection of her work in my review here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2017/02/19/feminist-stories-from-the-past/
arlangrey17's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Only read Herland for class. I've read The Yellow Wallpaper before and I'd like to read the rest of these at some point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
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