Laurie Halse Anderson is best known for her award-winning young adult and middle grade novels, particularly Speak, Wintergirls, Fever 1793, and Chains. She is also the author of a rather interesting non-fiction picture book (illustrated by Matt Faulkner) about Sarah Hale, a 19th century American woman who transformed Thanksgiving from a regional ( Read more... )

Yes, I know.  It's been a while, yes?  We'll see how on top of this series I manage to be this time.

Chapter 2 - Bad Faith

Back when I worked at the bookstore, one of my tasks - one of the tasks of every employee - was to greet every patron.  Since, depending on how busy we are, this could meant that an individual customer might be greeted several ( Read more... )

Before I move onto chapters 2 and 3 of How to Suppress Women's Writing, which are both read and waiting to be talked about, I wanted to say one more thing about time constraints and creative work - more specifically this time about gender.

I have noticed that a great many of the female writers I know often feel a need to justify their existence. The ( Read more... )

Reading Russ: Chapter 1 - ProhibitionsNow that school is out, I have time to read books that are not teen novels.  Books like: How to Suppress Women’s Writing by Joanna Russ.

In the first chapter Russ immediately tackles the false idea that hurdles must be codified into law in order to matter.  In fact, the prohibitions Russ focuses on first are ( Read more... )

(I feel like I mentally start out half my posts with "I should be asleep, but I HAD TO SHARE THIS THOUGHT WITH YOU."  If only you knew how true that was this time around.)

Part 1.

This is the list of science fiction books that Flavorwire suggests for girls.  Note the lack of of modern female writers, the dearth of female protagonists, and the way ( Read more... )

(sorry.  no, not that John.  this John)

I think perhaps it was not the best idea to read Looking for Alaska while also reading How to Suppress Women's Writing and having conversations about Manpain.

(that last link is courtesy of hawkwing_lb)

I'm only to page nine of How to Suppress Women's Writing and I am already struck both by how lucky I am and how pervasive this shit still is.

It's important to note what has changed - more opportunities, more rights, and sometimes even a glimmer of understanding that housework is to be shared - because it's necessary in combating the aura of ( Read more... )