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Nov/Dec Books: Whose Story is This? Old Conflicts, New Chapters and Cinderella Liberator
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New reading to explore! Thanks to everyone who took part in the process of that book selection! :)The book title "Cinderella Liberator" makes me think of "Fierce Fairytales: Poems and Stories to Stir Your Soul" by Nikita Gill.
Awesome! Looking forward to reading these books and taking part in some insightful conversations with everyone!
I'm teaching English literatures and cultures at university and feminism has been part of all the courses I've taught so far and is also part of my dissertation. (I'll do a all-female writers Celtic nations course in February too.) I've always told students that feminism isn't a label to be afraid of if defined correctly. Equality is something to look forward to! I am also looking forward to the three books (just ordered them!), thanks for the great intro, Emma!
Mod
Goosebumps.
Thank you for such an inspiring introduction. I look forward to reading the selections. (This was well worth the wait, my thanks for finding the time in your tremendous schedule as well as to the moderators for their continued efforts)
Yes!! I devoured this book!! Sooo good!!
Dear Emma,Thank you very, very, very much for your very passionate post! I feel truly grateful to learn from you! I want to "know" more! I am giving my highest praises to you for overcoming your fear of creating tension by recommending Men Explain Things to Me! You are very inspiring! I am very eager to read the 3 books!
Forever gratefully,
Billy
Maine, USA
Thank you Emma for your passionate and inspiring introduction. I will definitely read all 3 books to learn more from Rebecca Solnit.
Rebecca Solnit opened my eyes to the world. I remember when I first read the essay “Men Explain Things To Me� about 5 years ago. I kept thinking “wait... this happens to other women too? This isn’t just because I work in the male dominated world of mountain biking?� From there, it spiraled and I began devouring more and more feminist books. She’s always been a favorite. Very excited to have an excuse to buy her new work (not that I needed one).
Today is my birthday and thank you Emma for recommending a great new book.
Oh wow, thank you to all who took part in this pick. The books seem very insightful and the introduction was very inspirational and motivating, so I'm looking forward reading them!
I've ordered the Nov/Dec books. By the time I finish "Nickel Boys" they should have arrived!
Amazing!! I loved "Men explain things to me".
I'm looking forward to reading all three of these books.
I was looking forward to read all these 3 books but I just checked their prizes and all of them are above 600 in Indian currency and CINDERELLA LIBERATOR is 1200 which is a lot. Books are usually around 200-300. So maybe I will skip these months selections. This is quite sad for me as I just joined the book club in November itself:(
woow ! Thank you so much for your selection!
I'm sad you have to experience fear of making a choice that seems to be controversial, but feminism is nothing but controversial nowadays especially with elections in the US coming up in 2020!
I hope the new chapters will leads to more equality between women and men, but shall we remain blind on the fact we are not really equal physically and emotionally, let Dr Gray, and men are from march and Women are from venus, make a simple comparison on some of our differences.... And it's also why we should complete one another than always try to dominate one another... I mean as a gay women I hate them but sometimes I wonder why we all have to forget men are really not like us...
Therapy made me think, that in the pas being gay was considered being schizophrenic, because it's not natural to be gay, because women and men are meant to have children's ...
Men are meant to plan our lives, protect us, feed us, Little women is a perfect image of what it was to be a woman centuries ago...
I remember R. Solnit created the term of "mansplanning" in 2008 in an article she wrote, she is so controversial. Men Explain Things To Me, is definitely on my book list !! So many men find excuses to manipulate us in order to establish their domination, based on their own frustration that they can't control us with their physical strength and violence, nowadays, whereas it was allowed in the thirties before the WWII... We know they are stronger physically, that's why they are more women raped than the opposite... Few are the men who accept compromission and let women decide of their own life, but many are those who are gonna find implicit ways to tell you they disagree with the fact you have your own personality and you make decision, that can insecure them... Like speaking about a rape.
Women would therefore always be too emotional (or not enough!). Victims must pay close attention to their "performance" during their trial, otherwise their testimony could be in the form of a revenge. Here is the magic formula for turning a man's speech - for example, a rape - to focus on the dramatic consequences this crime will have for him. As if it were the victim, and the court system was not responsible for the consequences on woman's psyche...
Well, thank you to talk about that subject with so much deepness in your words, and so much compassion for the victims!
I'm happy we are gonna have to discuss about it, while some may prefer to close the door pretending to be perfect, untouchable because of their social status! Thank you so much !
I'm sad you have to experience fear of making a choice that seems to be controversial, but feminism is nothing but controversial nowadays especially with elections in the US coming up in 2020!
I hope the new chapters will leads to more equality between women and men, but shall we remain blind on the fact we are not really equal physically and emotionally, let Dr Gray, and men are from march and Women are from venus, make a simple comparison on some of our differences.... And it's also why we should complete one another than always try to dominate one another... I mean as a gay women I hate them but sometimes I wonder why we all have to forget men are really not like us...
Therapy made me think, that in the pas being gay was considered being schizophrenic, because it's not natural to be gay, because women and men are meant to have children's ...
Men are meant to plan our lives, protect us, feed us, Little women is a perfect image of what it was to be a woman centuries ago...
I remember R. Solnit created the term of "mansplanning" in 2008 in an article she wrote, she is so controversial. Men Explain Things To Me, is definitely on my book list !! So many men find excuses to manipulate us in order to establish their domination, based on their own frustration that they can't control us with their physical strength and violence, nowadays, whereas it was allowed in the thirties before the WWII... We know they are stronger physically, that's why they are more women raped than the opposite... Few are the men who accept compromission and let women decide of their own life, but many are those who are gonna find implicit ways to tell you they disagree with the fact you have your own personality and you make decision, that can insecure them... Like speaking about a rape.
Women would therefore always be too emotional (or not enough!). Victims must pay close attention to their "performance" during their trial, otherwise their testimony could be in the form of a revenge. Here is the magic formula for turning a man's speech - for example, a rape - to focus on the dramatic consequences this crime will have for him. As if it were the victim, and the court system was not responsible for the consequences on woman's psyche...
Well, thank you to talk about that subject with so much deepness in your words, and so much compassion for the victims!
I'm happy we are gonna have to discuss about it, while some may prefer to close the door pretending to be perfect, untouchable because of their social status! Thank you so much !
Thank you, Emma! I’m sure these will be great!
Sara wrote: "I was looking forward to read all these 3 books but I just checked their prizes and all of them are above 600 in Indian currency and CINDERELLA LIBERATOR is 1200 which is a lot. Books are usually a..."Hi, I cannot make any promises but... I'll be in India next February, if you still don't have one of the book I could take and post one of them when I'll be in India (International shipping would be too expensive for me). I was planning to put OSS books in my luggage while going in India anyway.
Let me know whether it could be a solution for you or not.
Thank you, Emma for always selecting amazing books.
Thank you very much Emma, for introducing me to these wonderful books. I am really looking forward to exploring them. I admire your words about the Me Too movement especially; to those who need to verbalise and tell their stories, it is a crucial time and one in which we must strive to keep people listening.Just as I start to lose confidence in my speech, you shine a light on the need to never give up. Thank you.
I absolutely love this introduction and cannot wait to pick these up.
OMG! Rebecca Solnit is one of my all-time favorite writers. Just today, I was referencing one of her other brilliant writings, Wanderlust. So glad to see her work promoted here.
What compelling thoughts on these books. I don't think I would want them read them if you had not written this. Thank you!
Thank you for you recommendation Emma! Seems very interesting! I hope to read it soon!
"started to suggest that TIME’S UP and #MeToo had gone “too far�Your comment reminded me of this poem:
What a perfect opening to the thoughts and discussions we will wander through in these books. I’m a big fan of Solnit and looking forward to diving into the selections. Here’s what the intro stirred for me. Brave individuals continue to stick their neck out, creative extremists, feel the backlash and support. How one deals with this tension on an individual level is a humanistic part of the story & greatly appealing to us on our connection and personal interest levels. When these individuals also manage to cross into collective change, social movements and a societal push for something different I also become immensely interested in systems theory and the various shifts and overlaps between the individual and collective voices. I think both Emma and Rebecca are beacons for opening these doors and having these conversations in relevant, timely ways. So looking forward to what unfolds here over the next few months!
Finally! Thank you so much Emma for the amazing selection!
Florian wrote: "New reading to explore! Thanks to everyone who took part in the process of that book selection! :)The book title "Cinderella Liberator" makes me think of "Fierce Fairytales: Poems and Stories to ..."
That was exactly what it reminded me of! Looking forward to the new reads :)
Emma your MLK´s introdutcion really touches muy heart in this moment. In Chile we are living the most caotic politic crisis since the Pinochet´s dictatorship in 1973. The state´s violence and the civil responce is growing up every day. The human rights´ rape and destruction have been normalized for one month. As a citizen and as a lawyer I´m trying to use my knowledge to build bridges of comunication, information and education in order to find a pacific way to unite people. In that way, I always use Gandhy and MLK as role models to follow. Your letter really resonates with my thoughts througout this difficult month. The idea of "non-violent, direct action and creative extremism" is absolutely necessary for muy country right now. Thank you for such a powerful and opportune message. And of course, the books were chosen in the right moment for me and my people.. no more turning away!Thank you Emma..
I can't thank you enough for the intro to Rebecca Solnit. I downloaded all 3 books and then 1 more. I have been reading all day. She mirrors my thoughts and frustrations. She is articulate and funny. I found myself downloading books from others that she recommended.
Thanks for your suggestions .As I read your writing, I remembered Goethe's poem :
(in German)
Frauen sollen nichts verlieren
Reiner Treue ziemt zu hoffen
Dear Emma,Thank you so much for selecting "Cinderella Liberator" as one of our Nov/Dec books! Today I truly enjoyed reading the fascinating book! You continually amaze me! You are very inspiring! I love learning from you! I am giving my best wishes to you!
Forever gratefully,
Billy
Maine, USA
Sara wrote: "I was looking forward to read all these 3 books but I just checked their prizes and all of them are above 600 in Indian currency and CINDERELLA LIBERATOR is 1200 which is a lot. Books are usually a..."Get them here:
they have "sales" from time to time and you can download them for 1 dollar.
Whoa! Very well said, as always, Emma. Your words convey your passions, and compassion for humanity, in ways that many cannot, or have not. They always rouse my curiosity. Thank you!I will certainly check out the November/December reads.
Dear moderators,Can you please create "Pay it forward"-thread for these books? I have two copies that I wish to pay forward to someone else.
Thank you in advance.
I find the books very good reads! :)
Revisiting your list. I thought I’d expand on my reading this year into the subject of feminism. Thanks Emma.
In Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘Letter From a Birmingham Jail�, he contemplates the use of the word “extremist�. Almost certainly in the context in which it was used to label him, it was meant derogatorily. Ultimately, he decides to embrace these labels and suggests that perhaps the world is in need of “creative extremists�. In spite of the fear of being seen as non-conformist, of creating disorder and tension when people so often value the contrary, King suggests that non-violent, direct action and creative extremism should be considered an important civic duty in the face of injustice.
It was my own fear of creating tension that made me hesitant to recommend Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit, even though it is one of my favourite books. The title, I felt, was immediately ‘confrontational�. A close friend and activist explained to me recently that they don’t use the word feminist because it “just gets people’s backs up and that isn’t useful for getting anything done�. But if the purpose of good art is to “comfort the disturbed and disturb the comforted�, I would argue the word feminism fits this task rather well. For those who have accepted into their hearts and minds the notion that society should function equally well for people of all genders and are uncomfortable with a status quo that doesn’t uphold that belief, the word has no rub. For those questioning, or for those who are uncomfortable with the necessary struggle it takes to move social justice movements forward, perhaps, yes it’s rather uncomfortable. For those who place ease or order (to go back to MLK’s letter) as most important in the hierarchy of things, I can understand why the word might be contrary to their goals and objectives.
Rebecca Solnit, author of 20 feminist books, so far, including her latest, Whose Story is This? Old Conflicts, New Chapters, strikes me as someone who has made total peace with her role of what some might call being ‘antagonising� in order to do the very important work of telling the truth or getting as close as we can to it, with all the possible bias and participation mystique. In her essay from her new book, “They Think They Can Bully the Truth�, she demonstrates, in our increasingly authoritarian society, how dangerous our flippancy with the truth really is. “Lies are aggressions�, she says. “Gaslighting�, she further explains, is “a collective cultural phenomenon�, not just a concept that applies to individuals. Men’s outrage when women choose to speak their truth says so much about how, as a culture, even when women have been done wrong, their silence is implicit and expected. Silence in the face of wrongdoing has become a perverse and expected kind of loyalty. Commitment to accuracy even in your personal connections, is “resistance that matters�, Rebecca reminds us.
I have been curious to listen and watch as many commentators, even after less than a year or two, started to suggest that TIME’S UP and #MeToo had gone “too far� - despite the acknowledgment that sexual harassment among girls and women was at epidemic proportions and that it was affecting their work lives. At the end of 2019, known perpetrators have not gone to jail and many still enjoy flourishing careers. But it’s all still…too far…which boggles my mind slightly.
I think a crucial part that many commentators missed was how significant it was in and of itself that women were speaking up. If you have never been part of a majority that has been silent for thousands of years, this act might not register as revelatory, but to the women who have suffered, that is indeed what it was and is. Rebecca puts it so beautifully when she says: “The feminine has just crawled out of the water, it hasn’t stood up�. To come out and comment on a woman speaking her truth as being a disproportionate response, when the woman speaking that truth has no say in what the punishment for the abuse uncovered actually is, but was asserting a long overdue, nerve-wracking but important human right, did seem at best misguided and at worst offensive.
I would not be doing Rebecca justice simply to call her an adept disrupter and seeker of ‘truth�. Her craft is also beautiful. At the beginning of the chapter titled “Long Distance�, she says, “The present is by common definition, the instant between the not yet and the already, a moment as narrow as a tightrope�. Sentences like this are so taut, rich and elegant... You all of a sudden find yourself at spiritual epiphany when you thought you were absorbing information about current affairs.
Her writing is also generously personal. In “On Women’s Work and the Myth of the Art Monster�, she argues that “good creative work� is feminine, IS nurture. She makes a stand on behalf of her own life choices in a way that is truly moving (and enlightening). Rebecca just thinks about things in a different and liberating way. In “The Problem with Sex is Capitalism� (one of the all-time great essay titles) shots are fired. I won’t ruin it for you, but the mix of the rousing, the spiritual, the political, the personal and the humorous all together is completely exhilarating.
This is, after all, a book club, and perhaps my favourite Rebecca moment from the book is her discussion on knowledge. “It is an old truism,� she says, “that knowledge is power. The inverse and opposite possibility - that power is ignorance - is rarely aired. The powerful swathe themselves in obliviousness in order to avoid the pain of others and their own relationship to that pain. It is they from whom much is hidden, and they who are removed from the arenas of the poor and powerless. The more you are the less you know.� Her book and all of her books give us the chance to “know� more and that we should want to know more. I am grateful to Rebecca for her work as ‘creative extremist�, ‘nurturer� and ‘truth seeker�. I feel better able to see, feel and express myself because of her. We all have many different types of mothers - intellectual, creative, political - Rebecca Solnit is one of mine... and I don’t care if it antagonises anyone to say so. I hope you enjoy these Our Shared Shelf picks for November/December: Whose Story Is This? and Cinderella Liberator. Do look back at Men Explain Things To Me as well, if you have time.
All my love,
Emma