The story of Odette (code name Lise) was a beautiful exploration of what ingenuity and braveness cam achieve, especially in a brutal world of men. Loved it. ...more
I only knew her story at Wiki-level until I read this book, and it was so worth it.
But beyond the exciting heroics, I think a very important take-awaI only knew her story at Wiki-level until I read this book, and it was so worth it.
But beyond the exciting heroics, I think a very important take-away is the aftermath of her incredible achievements. How the CIA pushed her aside and never gave her meaningful work or the promotions she deserved, because her extraordinary competence made her male colleagues feel intimidated.
These are the stories that need to be told more often, so that we can be aware of it and do better as a society. If we're just presenting female role models in a vacuum, purely presenting their extraordinary deeds and not the unjust resistance they faced (even after they were already famous), nothing will change. ...more
Complaining about the lack of practical pockets in women's clothing has become somewhat of a feminist trope and a staple of internet meme culture. NowComplaining about the lack of practical pockets in women's clothing has become somewhat of a feminist trope and a staple of internet meme culture. Now, with this beautiful book, we understand why & get more background on it, including a fascinating walk through the fashion and textiles history. ...more
I got a really enjoyable social history lesson from it, more color for my representation of Elizabethan England, and it also left me with an exciting I got a really enjoyable social history lesson from it, more color for my representation of Elizabethan England, and it also left me with an exciting to-read list :)
This should be a mandatory read for anyone who thinks exact sciences are exact, objective and unbiased. Case in point: medicine, that is still remarkaThis should be a mandatory read for anyone who thinks exact sciences are exact, objective and unbiased. Case in point: medicine, that is still remarkably male-centric to this day. ...more
Loved it. It's about literally killing joy as a moral obligation if that joy is derived from injustice or supports it. Loved it. It's about literally killing joy as a moral obligation if that joy is derived from injustice or supports it. ...more
A refreshing exploration of menstruation (mostly medical, but also cultural, though less cultural than I would have liked) from a woman-centric POV, aA refreshing exploration of menstruation (mostly medical, but also cultural, though less cultural than I would have liked) from a woman-centric POV, as opposed to a reproduction-centric POV. Finally a view that addresses women only in relation to themselves and not to the function of reproduction. ...more
The tone and themes are a bit radical for me, but the topics are important, the injustices depicted are factually and statistically correct and need mThe tone and themes are a bit radical for me, but the topics are important, the injustices depicted are factually and statistically correct and need more awareness drawn to them. ...more
Very well-documented and presenting the recent history of Palestina with facts and interwoven memoirs, though it's a bit partisan and (understandably)Very well-documented and presenting the recent history of Palestina with facts and interwoven memoirs, though it's a bit partisan and (understandably) one-sided. ...more
I'm all for a more compassionate view on oppressed people and the plight of Palestinians, but this book seems lacking from an academic standpoint.
If I'm all for a more compassionate view on oppressed people and the plight of Palestinians, but this book seems lacking from an academic standpoint.
If its purpose is to just raise more awareness of Palestine among American progressives, it would have been better attained in essay / column form. As it is, it claims a more scientific objectivity while failing to address crucial factors for understanding this very spiny problem: America's relation to the Middle East as a whole (because its attitudes to I/P conflict don't exist in a vacuum) and Israel's own right to exist.
It's very disquieting to see how little room for each other the two ideological sides leave. :/ ...more
A sensitive topic, a public scandal and the investigation that followed which upturned some of the previous certainties. A good example of the misinfoA sensitive topic, a public scandal and the investigation that followed which upturned some of the previous certainties. A good example of the misinformation war. ...more
It's interesting to explore how people give themselves space to change their mind and how they explore reconstructing their narratives and meaning. It's interesting to explore how people give themselves space to change their mind and how they explore reconstructing their narratives and meaning. ...more
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