this book is part essay, part memoir, part late-night-rambling, part sociological reportw: rape, sodomy, rape culture, incest, homophobia, transphobia
this book is part essay, part memoir, part late-night-rambling, part sociological report. i appreciate the global and personal perspectives abdulali presents to her reader. many discussions on rape and rape culture tend to focus on western countries, and the usa in particular. it was also really interesting to hear from many different individuals who have diverse perspectives on what it means to be a survivor and how to go about healing and living.
i feel weird saying i “enjoyed” this book but i’m really glad i read it and, if you feel like you are able to, i suggest you pick it up too....more
i had to read this for a class and after having finished it, i realize it's a book i would probably have not picked up myself or likely would have dnfi had to read this for a class and after having finished it, i realize it's a book i would probably have not picked up myself or likely would have dnf'ed. while i appreciate that this novel brings the important idea of intersectional feminism to young readers, it felt very rudimentary to me. there was very little complexity or nuance to conversations regarding body image, racial stereotyping, and "smashing the patriarchy."
i think if i'd read this book when i was a teenager, i would have really connected with it and learned a lot. but now, as a woman in her early twenties? it just didn't work....more
this book made me want to punch a wall but like not in a bad way?? but also kinda in a bad way??? does that make sense????? anyway we love gi4.5 stars
this book made me want to punch a wall but like not in a bad way?? but also kinda in a bad way??? does that make sense????? anyway we love girls supporting girls, open discussions about reproductive rights, and honest depictions of abortion and the lengths some women have to go to take control of their own bodies and futures....more
“asking for help is never a sign of weakness. it’s one of the bravest things you can do. and it can save your life.”
trigger warning: mentions of eat “asking for help is never a sign of weakness. it’s one of the bravest things you can do. and it can save your life.”
trigger warning: mentions of eating disorders, binge eating, anorexia nervosa, bulimia, addiction, and emotional abuse
i downloaded the audiobook of this on a whim while i was at the gym and got through it one sitting and i have to say i really enjoyed it. lily herself was narrating and that definitely added to the experience.
the start of this autobiography was fairly standard and filled with some kind and fairly basic rhetoric about embracing our differences and being true to who we are. it was nothing new. where this book really hit its stride is when lily began to go in depth and spoke about her personal experiences with anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and abusive relationships. eating disorders are still such a taboo and misunderstood issue and lily puts herself int the difficult position of allowing readers into her mind, intrusive thoughts and all, and describing how this disorder severely impacts people’s lives. and she does a remarkable job.
i was particularly intrigued by the candid way that lily opened up about her strained relationship with her father and how it went on to impact her romantic relationships with men throughout her life. i also appreciated her thoughtfulness and ability to take the harshest experiences in her life and turn them into learning moments for the reader.
i’m not the biggest fan of memoirs and the like but lily’s voice was powerful and reassuring at the same time and her story is an important one to share....more
moral of the story: women named bertha are evil, the patriarchy is a real downer, and true love doesn't actually prevail moral of the story: women named bertha are evil, the patriarchy is a real downer, and true love doesn't actually prevail ...more
this one hit just a little too close to home and it's going to stick with me for a long time.this one hit just a little too close to home and it's going to stick with me for a long time....more
“But here is a sad truth: Our world is full of men and women who do not like powerful women. We have been so conditioned to think of power as male tha“But here is a sad truth: Our world is full of men and women who do not like powerful women. We have been so conditioned to think of power as male that a powerful woman is an aberration. And so she is policed. We ask of powerful women: Is she humble? Does she smile? Is she grateful enough? Does she have a domestic side? Questions we do not ask of powerful men, which shows that our discomfort is not with power itself, but with women.”
Only an author as talented as Adichie could pack such a punch in less than seventy pages. This is not just a good book. This is not just an important book. It is a necessary one.
It is necessary to make sure girls know they are not less than simply because of their gender identity. It is necessary to encourage girls to stay motivated, work to be the best, and share their passion with others. It is necessary to tell women that their husbands should never be called “helpers” or "babysitters” when they are looking after their own child. It is necessary to inform society that marriage is not the be-all and end-all of a woman’s existence. It is necessary to remind parents not to scold their daughters for asking questions, raising their voices, or exploring. It is necessary to teach girls that they don’t need to be nice all the time. It is necessary to allow girls to speak up and live and be fully human....more
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