Showing posts with label Book Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book Review. Show all posts
Every so often in life we come across a book that we remember forever. The story and how it made us feel stays for years to come. A couple that comes to mind include Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and Perfume by Patrick Suskind. Now I have another one to add to the collection, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel came out in 2018 and has been on my list for a while. It’s been raved about and I’ve been curious to know what it is about the book that has people so engrossed.
What’s is about (taken from the blurb):
Reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself.
Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.
Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.
My thoughts:
When I picked up this book to read, I did not expect what I would find. I read the whole book in one sitting, eager to find out more about the mysterious Evelyn Hugo. There were so many questions that I had and I loved the way Reid kept me at the edge of my seat throughout the book. Even when a question was answered, another one cropped up.
The book is divided into sections, with each section dedicated to one of the seven husbands. And each sections defines a period in Evelyn’s life. The story and narration flows really well as it switches between the present (Monique’s voice) to past (Evelyn’s voice).
When the book starts, we first meet Monique Grant, a journalist working for a niche magazine. In the entirety of the book, I sympathised with Monique who had been brought on to write the biography of Evelyn Hugo but had so many questions she couldn’t get answers to. What Monique knew and didn’t know was dictated by Evelyn.
Evelyn was an interesting character. She was someone who had lived a life of highs and lows but still struggled with her own identity. At times I sympathised for Evelyn for parts of her life. However, I did think some of her actions were self-inflicted which played with whether she was a likeable or unlikable character.
The novel ended semi-abruptly -in that you knew things were finishing but you still wanted more- and I think that’s part of the charm of the book and skill of Reid. Evelyn Hugo in her prime was a mysterious woman in the spotlight that people were drawn to and Reid managed to mirror that feeling in the reader.
Overall, I loved this book! Sitting here and writing this review, I’m trying to work out what it is about that I loved. Was it the rawness of Hugo's glamorous and scandalous life? Was it that everything was not as it seemed? Or was it that as the reader you’re questioning who is the real Evelyn Hugo? Regardless of what it was, Reid takes you on a journey of emotions and ties everything up in a neat little bow at the end.
Love, Aoife xo
Every so often in life we come across a book that we remember forever. The story and how it made us feel stays for years to come. A couple that comes to mind include Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and Perfume by Patrick Suskind. Now I have another one to add to the collection, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel came out in 2018 and has been on my list for a while. It’s been raved about and I’ve been curious to know what it is about the book that has people so engrossed.
What’s is about (taken from the blurb):
Reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself.
Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.
Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.
My thoughts:
When I picked up this book to read, I did not expect what I would find. I read the whole book in one sitting, eager to find out more about the mysterious Evelyn Hugo. There were so many questions that I had and I loved the way Reid kept me at the edge of my seat throughout the book. Even when a question was answered, another one cropped up.
The book is divided into sections, with each section dedicated to one of the seven husbands. And each sections defines a period in Evelyn’s life. The story and narration flows really well as it switches between the present (Monique’s voice) to past (Evelyn’s voice).
When the book starts, we first meet Monique Grant, a journalist working for a niche magazine. In the entirety of the book, I sympathised with Monique who had been brought on to write the biography of Evelyn Hugo but had so many questions she couldn’t get answers to. What Monique knew and didn’t know was dictated by Evelyn.
Evelyn was an interesting character. She was someone who had lived a life of highs and lows but still struggled with her own identity. At times I sympathised for Evelyn for parts of her life. However, I did think some of her actions were self-inflicted which played with whether she was a likeable or unlikable character.
The novel ended semi-abruptly -in that you knew things were finishing but you still wanted more- and I think that’s part of the charm of the book and skill of Reid. Evelyn Hugo in her prime was a mysterious woman in the spotlight that people were drawn to and Reid managed to mirror that feeling in the reader.
Overall, I loved this book! Sitting here and writing this review, I’m trying to work out what it is about that I loved. Was it the rawness of Hugo's glamorous and scandalous life? Was it that everything was not as it seemed? Or was it that as the reader you’re questioning who is the real Evelyn Hugo? Regardless of what it was, Reid takes you on a journey of emotions and ties everything up in a neat little bow at the end.
Love, Aoife xo
When it comes to romance novels about fake relationships, we all know how it’s going to end. Well, about 99 percent of the time we do. But, that doesn’t stop you from enjoying the novel and discovering where it will take you.
Mhairi McFarlane’s If I Never Met You features a tale as old as time but she does it justice. It can be hard to retell the same story we’ve all heard many times before. After all, elements of Cinderella still continue to grace our screens and feature in our books. Yet, only a few can do it justice and make it original.
So, what’s it about? (Taken from the blurb)
When Laurie is dumped by her partner of eighteen years, she’s blindsided. Not only does she feel humiliated, they still have to work together. So when she gets stuck in the lift with handsome colleague Jamie, they hatch a plan to stage the perfect romance.
My thoughts…
If I Never Met You could have easily turned into another cliche novel but it didn’t. The characters didn’t immediately “sense a connection” and I liked that it took a while for them to figure it out. I felt like I was constantly going will they, won’t they, no they definitely will, oh maybe not. I liked that Laurie spent time trying to figure out who she was after her break up with Dan (the ex) instead of jumping into being starry eyed with the next guy who showed her some attention.
And speaking of Jamie…I really liked his character. He was known as a bit of a ladies man but had complete and utter respect for the women in his life. Most of the time, the male lead in a fake romance can be made out to be a moody and self-centred arse who’s only after two things- getting money and being the boss. However, while Jamie’s intentions for the fake relationship was to get a promotion, he was also rooting for Laurie to help make Dan jealous.
Final thoughts…
Overall, I loved this book. It was sweet and wonderfully romantic. The characters felt real and had depths to them that weren’t over the top. The relationship between Jamie and Laurie was so effortless and built on respect. I loved that Jamie would stand up for Laurie and have her back.
If you like Beth O’Leary and Lindsey Kelk, I’m pretty sure you’re going to love Mhairi McFarlane too.
What’s your favourite faux romance book?
Love, Aoife x
When it comes to romance novels about fake relationships, we all know how it’s going to end. Well, about 99 percent of the time we do. But, that doesn’t stop you from enjoying the novel and discovering where it will take you.
Mhairi McFarlane’s If I Never Met You features a tale as old as time but she does it justice. It can be hard to retell the same story we’ve all heard many times before. After all, elements of Cinderella still continue to grace our screens and feature in our books. Yet, only a few can do it justice and make it original.
So, what’s it about? (Taken from the blurb)
When Laurie is dumped by her partner of eighteen years, she’s blindsided. Not only does she feel humiliated, they still have to work together. So when she gets stuck in the lift with handsome colleague Jamie, they hatch a plan to stage the perfect romance.
My thoughts…
If I Never Met You could have easily turned into another cliche novel but it didn’t. The characters didn’t immediately “sense a connection” and I liked that it took a while for them to figure it out. I felt like I was constantly going will they, won’t they, no they definitely will, oh maybe not. I liked that Laurie spent time trying to figure out who she was after her break up with Dan (the ex) instead of jumping into being starry eyed with the next guy who showed her some attention.
And speaking of Jamie…I really liked his character. He was known as a bit of a ladies man but had complete and utter respect for the women in his life. Most of the time, the male lead in a fake romance can be made out to be a moody and self-centred arse who’s only after two things- getting money and being the boss. However, while Jamie’s intentions for the fake relationship was to get a promotion, he was also rooting for Laurie to help make Dan jealous.
Final thoughts…
Overall, I loved this book. It was sweet and wonderfully romantic. The characters felt real and had depths to them that weren’t over the top. The relationship between Jamie and Laurie was so effortless and built on respect. I loved that Jamie would stand up for Laurie and have her back.
If you like Beth O’Leary and Lindsey Kelk, I’m pretty sure you’re going to love Mhairi McFarlane too.
What’s your favourite faux romance book?
Love, Aoife x
Well, it seems as though my short love affair with Regé-Jean Page as the Duke of Hastings and regency England over Christmas just wasn’t enough. I told myself I wasn’t going to buy anymore books but my curiosity got the better of me and I caved.
The Bridgerton books have been around for a while and came with my friend's seal of approval. We have quite similar taste in books so if she liked it, I felt positive I'd like it. Anyway, here's what I thought of Bridgerton book 1:
What is it about?
I’m sure most of us are familiar with the Netflix series but for those of you who aren’t. The Duke and I is the first of the nine part Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn. The first instalment belongs to Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset (Duke of Hastings) in a typical enemies to lovers/brothers best friend to lovers tale.
They get together in a fake courtship as a ploy for Daphne to garner more interest from potential prospects and for Simon to ward off pestering Mothers parading their daughters.
So how does the steamy Netflix series compare with the original book?
I’m always a little apprehensive about reading a book after I've watched the onscreen adaption. I'm not a fan of having to read the same scenes over again even if they've been made slightly different. If I can, I'll read the book first as they'll tell the whole story without cutting out certain scenes.
You can tell that the Netflix series is based on the book. It's similar but different enough to be its own entity. And I liked that. The book is all about Daphne and Simon whereas the Netflix series has other characters’ stories running through it. To me, the book felt a little more personal and private compared to the series which made their love story feel like it was being shared with the rest of the ton.
What I really liked about the series were the vibrant colours and modern feel to regency England. The costumes alone were incredible. I loved the tension onscreen and it was definitely a lot more steamy than the book. Now, the book is by no means an accurate depiction of regency England but it definitely feels more…regency and a little reserved.
Final Thoughts…
Would I have read the book if the Netflix series didn’t exist? In all honesty, I probably wouldn’t have. I've only read one historical romance and that was enough for me. The talk about horses, carriages, and seasons go straight over my head.
Admittedly, it did take me a little while to get into the book. I picked it up and put it down a couple of times. I think this was down to how closely the TV series had replicated scenes in the book. I was about halfway through when I started to get into it and the pace in the book picked up.
I'm tempted to read the other books in the series before the Netflix release more seasons. I just need to work through my TBR pile first.
Love, Aoife xo
Well, it seems as though my short love affair with Regé-Jean Page as the Duke of Hastings and regency England over Christmas just wasn’t enough. I told myself I wasn’t going to buy anymore books but my curiosity got the better of me and I caved.
The Bridgerton books have been around for a while and came with my friend's seal of approval. We have quite similar taste in books so if she liked it, I felt positive I'd like it. Anyway, here's what I thought of Bridgerton book 1:
What is it about?
I’m sure most of us are familiar with the Netflix series but for those of you who aren’t. The Duke and I is the first of the nine part Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn. The first instalment belongs to Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset (Duke of Hastings) in a typical enemies to lovers/brothers best friend to lovers tale.
They get together in a fake courtship as a ploy for Daphne to garner more interest from potential prospects and for Simon to ward off pestering Mothers parading their daughters.
So how does the steamy Netflix series compare with the original book?
I’m always a little apprehensive about reading a book after I've watched the onscreen adaption. I'm not a fan of having to read the same scenes over again even if they've been made slightly different. If I can, I'll read the book first as they'll tell the whole story without cutting out certain scenes.
You can tell that the Netflix series is based on the book. It's similar but different enough to be its own entity. And I liked that. The book is all about Daphne and Simon whereas the Netflix series has other characters’ stories running through it. To me, the book felt a little more personal and private compared to the series which made their love story feel like it was being shared with the rest of the ton.
What I really liked about the series were the vibrant colours and modern feel to regency England. The costumes alone were incredible. I loved the tension onscreen and it was definitely a lot more steamy than the book. Now, the book is by no means an accurate depiction of regency England but it definitely feels more…regency and a little reserved.
Final Thoughts…
Would I have read the book if the Netflix series didn’t exist? In all honesty, I probably wouldn’t have. I've only read one historical romance and that was enough for me. The talk about horses, carriages, and seasons go straight over my head.
Admittedly, it did take me a little while to get into the book. I picked it up and put it down a couple of times. I think this was down to how closely the TV series had replicated scenes in the book. I was about halfway through when I started to get into it and the pace in the book picked up.
I'm tempted to read the other books in the series before the Netflix release more seasons. I just need to work through my TBR pile first.
Love, Aoife xo
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. Its rich descriptions took my breath away and is a truly an unforgettable read. No wonder it was one of the most popular books last Summer! It’s not the type of book that I’d usually pick up but it caught me off guard and I soon found myself hooked on every word.
What's it about?
The book tells the story of a young Kya Clark, the so-called ‘Marsh Girl’, living just outside of Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. The book is divided into two parts; the Marsh and the Swamp. The chapters alternate between 1952, where we meet a young Kya, and 1969, when the town discovers a local boy has been murdered and a trial ensues. The town suspects Kya but as the book flickers between the two, and as the years get closer, you get the feeling that Kya’s world and the town’s world are complete opposites.
My favourite thing...
One thing I love about Kya Clark is her independence and strength. I think those qualities made it easy for me to connect with her and by the end of the book, I felt like Kya’s number one cheerleader. She came from a childhood overshadowed by trauma and as the reader, you can’t help but sympathise for Kya. However, her resilience and utter contentment, makes her truly remarkable. She was dealt with a shit hand and made something spectacular out of it. I wish I had her courage!
Where the Crawdads Sing is a combination of a coming-of-age narrative and a murder mystery. If I’m honest, the murder mystery provided a thread through the novel but I found myself focusing more on Kya’s story. I loved how she developed as a character and blossomed into a remarkable young woman. Kya’s story was wrapped in eloquent and poetic descriptions of nature. Despite Kya’s bleak childhood, Owens pays close attention to the vibrant and sometimes muted colours of the marsh.
This book reminded me of when I was in secondary school reading books with heavily detailed descriptions. We were always taught to pay attention to the significance of the setting in relation to the characters and story. This book is almost solely centred around the marsh and the relationship between the nature and humans.
Final review...
Where the Crawdads Sing is a surprising but delightful read that will be at the top of my recommendations list for anyone looking to see the world from a different perspective. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s not the book I usually pick up but it was refreshing to read a story about something other than fame, fortune and the urban lifestyle.
Have you read it yet?
Love, Aoife xo
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. Its rich descriptions took my breath away and is a truly an unforgettable read. No wonder it was one of the most popular books last Summer! It’s not the type of book that I’d usually pick up but it caught me off guard and I soon found myself hooked on every word.
What's it about?
The book tells the story of a young Kya Clark, the so-called ‘Marsh Girl’, living just outside of Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. The book is divided into two parts; the Marsh and the Swamp. The chapters alternate between 1952, where we meet a young Kya, and 1969, when the town discovers a local boy has been murdered and a trial ensues. The town suspects Kya but as the book flickers between the two, and as the years get closer, you get the feeling that Kya’s world and the town’s world are complete opposites.
My favourite thing...
One thing I love about Kya Clark is her independence and strength. I think those qualities made it easy for me to connect with her and by the end of the book, I felt like Kya’s number one cheerleader. She came from a childhood overshadowed by trauma and as the reader, you can’t help but sympathise for Kya. However, her resilience and utter contentment, makes her truly remarkable. She was dealt with a shit hand and made something spectacular out of it. I wish I had her courage!
Where the Crawdads Sing is a combination of a coming-of-age narrative and a murder mystery. If I’m honest, the murder mystery provided a thread through the novel but I found myself focusing more on Kya’s story. I loved how she developed as a character and blossomed into a remarkable young woman. Kya’s story was wrapped in eloquent and poetic descriptions of nature. Despite Kya’s bleak childhood, Owens pays close attention to the vibrant and sometimes muted colours of the marsh.
This book reminded me of when I was in secondary school reading books with heavily detailed descriptions. We were always taught to pay attention to the significance of the setting in relation to the characters and story. This book is almost solely centred around the marsh and the relationship between the nature and humans.
Final review...
Where the Crawdads Sing is a surprising but delightful read that will be at the top of my recommendations list for anyone looking to see the world from a different perspective. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s not the book I usually pick up but it was refreshing to read a story about something other than fame, fortune and the urban lifestyle.
Have you read it yet?
Love, Aoife xo
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary is the cutest book I have read in a long time. A really long time! Like most romcoms, you could see how it was going to pan out from the beginning but that still didn’t stop you from enjoying the ride.
Goodreads Sypnosis:
“Tiffy and Leon share a flat
Tiffy and Leon share a bed
Tiffy and Leon have never met…
Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.
But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window…”
When I first started reading the book, I instantly loved Tiffy. She’s your typical chatty narrator who seems to get herself in a pickle, making it a fun read. It took a little while to connect with Leon since his narration had a lack of pronouns which made him seem quite detached. He’s quite an aloof character. Not in a dark, mysterious and handsome way but more of an introverted character. I soon got over the differences in narration and ended up quite liking the difference in personalities between the two main characters.
The chapters alternate throughout the book between Tiffy’s POV and Leon’s. The book doesn’t drag on and has a quick pace. I like that it keeps moving forward rather than going back over things like some books can. I also liked how there was more going on in the book than just the story between the two main characters. Such as Tiffy's obsessive ex, Leon's brother in prison and both of them trying to locate an ex-partner of one of Leon's patients. You were rooting for them to be together but also that rooting for other things too like getting Leon's brother out of prison etc.
One of my favourite parts of the book was reading the notes between Tiffy and Leon. Tiffy’s are always long, chatty and oversharing while Leon is on a more need-to-know basis.
Overall, I really liked this book and it was a fun read. I can imagine sitting by the pool, soaking up the sun rays, drinking a mojito and reading this book.
Love, Aoife xo
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary is the cutest book I have read in a long time. A really long time! Like most romcoms, you could see how it was going to pan out from the beginning but that still didn’t stop you from enjoying the ride.
Goodreads Sypnosis:
“Tiffy and Leon share a flat
Tiffy and Leon share a bed
Tiffy and Leon have never met…
Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.
But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window…”
When I first started reading the book, I instantly loved Tiffy. She’s your typical chatty narrator who seems to get herself in a pickle, making it a fun read. It took a little while to connect with Leon since his narration had a lack of pronouns which made him seem quite detached. He’s quite an aloof character. Not in a dark, mysterious and handsome way but more of an introverted character. I soon got over the differences in narration and ended up quite liking the difference in personalities between the two main characters.
The chapters alternate throughout the book between Tiffy’s POV and Leon’s. The book doesn’t drag on and has a quick pace. I like that it keeps moving forward rather than going back over things like some books can. I also liked how there was more going on in the book than just the story between the two main characters. Such as Tiffy's obsessive ex, Leon's brother in prison and both of them trying to locate an ex-partner of one of Leon's patients. You were rooting for them to be together but also that rooting for other things too like getting Leon's brother out of prison etc.
One of my favourite parts of the book was reading the notes between Tiffy and Leon. Tiffy’s are always long, chatty and oversharing while Leon is on a more need-to-know basis.
Overall, I really liked this book and it was a fun read. I can imagine sitting by the pool, soaking up the sun rays, drinking a mojito and reading this book.
Love, Aoife xo
It was International Women's Day yesterday and I wanted to dedicate this post to all the amazing women out there. Today's post features a book that I really connected with over Christmas break and celebrates everything female and everything gender equality too. It's written by an amazing spread of women but read the post and I'll tell you more. Aoife x
Feminism; a word, that sadly, has the power to start wars but also, to unite people. What does feminism mean to you? To me, it’s about having equal rights. For someone to look at both a male and a female and acknowledge they have the capability to achieve the same things; for them to actually look at us and see value; to be treated the same way.
* * *
Feminism; a word, that sadly, has the power to start wars but also, to unite people. What does feminism mean to you? To me, it’s about having equal rights. For someone to look at both a male and a female and acknowledge they have the capability to achieve the same things; for them to actually look at us and see value; to be treated the same way.
Feminists Don’t Wear Pink And Other Lies (curated by Scarlett Curtis) is a book made up of essays written by a variety of influential women from film stars to influencers to activists and many more. Each essay shares the writers' relationship they have with the F word. Some of them are quite funny and others are more on the emotional side. One thing that’s clear is everyone has a different relationship with the word. And fundamentally the same principle -of achieving equal rights- forms the basis of all their meanings. That’s my most favourite thing about the book; it accepts that everyone is going to see things differently and celebrates that fact.
And in reality, feminists can wear pink. I call myself a feminist and half my wardrobe is a dusty shade of pink. Feminists can also wear pads and tampons. They can wear baggy clothes, tight clothes, loads of clothes or hardly any clothes at all; and still, be a feminist.
One of my favourite essays in the book is Evanna Lynch's Cat Women. She wrote a piece on how she thought period pants made you more of a feminist. The idea buying tampons and pads were a patriarchal communist strategy, and a real feminist wouldn’t give in to that. In the end, she realised that period pants weren’t for her, and she’d be a tampon wearing feminist. It was written in a comical way but also expressed underlying self-doubt. The idea that I’m less of a feminist than her because I don’t do this. And the truth is, you’re a feminist regardless.
Instead of me talking about the book, here are three reasons why you should open this book and give it a read:
- Our versions of what a 'feminist' is are all different. This book features a wide range of women’s opinions, and collectively, they’re all related in some way. You’ll find yourself somewhere in the pages while reading it.
- It’s enlightening. Feminism is not just a black-and-white type of word; it’s a multi-faceted, multi-coloured word. Usually, when it comes to books on such topics, it’s written by one person who shares a one-sided view. More often than not, they’re white. This book contains more than one view and from more than one race. It’s not written by one white feminist but rather by women of all cultures, representing a larger group of feminists.
- It’s not just a bunch of essays. 'Essay' is such a boring word *yawn*. Although they use the word, it’s not your typical boring introduction, argument, argument, argument, conclusion. They’re creative writing pieces. Some people have gone for the simple mini stories while others have gone for poetry or actual essays. Each piece is someone’s account of something they feel contributes to our understanding of feminism.
I understand that a book on feminism isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it's not really mine. And I get that there’s a stigma around openly showcasing that you’re a feminist. At uni, I told my Flatmate’s I’d joined the feminist society, and got eye rolls thrown at me. “Oh, she’s one of them.” The truth is, you have to own that identity. If you admit to yourself that you’re a feminist, and other people have a problem with that, are you really the one at fault? No, hun.
Read the book, give it a try. There’s nothing to lose from it. I loved this book. It’s not really an educational book (although, there’s a bit at the end which is) it’s a book about understanding and sharing each other's stories. I’m going to write a blog post soon on what my relationship with feminism is, so keep your eyes out for that.
Have you read it yet or will you be giving it a go?
Love, Aoife xo
It was International Women's Day yesterday and I wanted to dedicate this post to all the amazing women out there. Today's post features a book that I really connected with over Christmas break and celebrates everything female and everything gender equality too. It's written by an amazing spread of women but read the post and I'll tell you more. Aoife x
Feminism; a word, that sadly, has the power to start wars but also, to unite people. What does feminism mean to you? To me, it’s about having equal rights. For someone to look at both a male and a female and acknowledge they have the capability to achieve the same things; for them to actually look at us and see value; to be treated the same way.
* * *
Feminism; a word, that sadly, has the power to start wars but also, to unite people. What does feminism mean to you? To me, it’s about having equal rights. For someone to look at both a male and a female and acknowledge they have the capability to achieve the same things; for them to actually look at us and see value; to be treated the same way.
Feminists Don’t Wear Pink And Other Lies (curated by Scarlett Curtis) is a book made up of essays written by a variety of influential women from film stars to influencers to activists and many more. Each essay shares the writers' relationship they have with the F word. Some of them are quite funny and others are more on the emotional side. One thing that’s clear is everyone has a different relationship with the word. And fundamentally the same principle -of achieving equal rights- forms the basis of all their meanings. That’s my most favourite thing about the book; it accepts that everyone is going to see things differently and celebrates that fact.
And in reality, feminists can wear pink. I call myself a feminist and half my wardrobe is a dusty shade of pink. Feminists can also wear pads and tampons. They can wear baggy clothes, tight clothes, loads of clothes or hardly any clothes at all; and still, be a feminist.
One of my favourite essays in the book is Evanna Lynch's Cat Women. She wrote a piece on how she thought period pants made you more of a feminist. The idea buying tampons and pads were a patriarchal communist strategy, and a real feminist wouldn’t give in to that. In the end, she realised that period pants weren’t for her, and she’d be a tampon wearing feminist. It was written in a comical way but also expressed underlying self-doubt. The idea that I’m less of a feminist than her because I don’t do this. And the truth is, you’re a feminist regardless.
Instead of me talking about the book, here are three reasons why you should open this book and give it a read:
- Our versions of what a 'feminist' is are all different. This book features a wide range of women’s opinions, and collectively, they’re all related in some way. You’ll find yourself somewhere in the pages while reading it.
- It’s enlightening. Feminism is not just a black-and-white type of word; it’s a multi-faceted, multi-coloured word. Usually, when it comes to books on such topics, it’s written by one person who shares a one-sided view. More often than not, they’re white. This book contains more than one view and from more than one race. It’s not written by one white feminist but rather by women of all cultures, representing a larger group of feminists.
- It’s not just a bunch of essays. 'Essay' is such a boring word *yawn*. Although they use the word, it’s not your typical boring introduction, argument, argument, argument, conclusion. They’re creative writing pieces. Some people have gone for the simple mini stories while others have gone for poetry or actual essays. Each piece is someone’s account of something they feel contributes to our understanding of feminism.
I understand that a book on feminism isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it's not really mine. And I get that there’s a stigma around openly showcasing that you’re a feminist. At uni, I told my Flatmate’s I’d joined the feminist society, and got eye rolls thrown at me. “Oh, she’s one of them.” The truth is, you have to own that identity. If you admit to yourself that you’re a feminist, and other people have a problem with that, are you really the one at fault? No, hun.
Read the book, give it a try. There’s nothing to lose from it. I loved this book. It’s not really an educational book (although, there’s a bit at the end which is) it’s a book about understanding and sharing each other's stories. I’m going to write a blog post soon on what my relationship with feminism is, so keep your eyes out for that.
Have you read it yet or will you be giving it a go?
Love, Aoife xo
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