Scan barcode
mandi_lea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Genocide, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and War
jessthanthree's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, Lesbophobia, and War
Minor: Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
stefhyena's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
So I really enjoyed the book and would probably have given it 5 stars up to the point where Jael came into the story. This was a shame because I was really looking forward to meeting her and the complications she would bring but her battle of the sexes scenario was not very convincing (why do women sell out to the men so much? The motivation was never explained) and the transphobia was just vile. Some of this helped me put into perspective a book by Braidotti which I had found (much more mildly) problematic and even Mary Daly who I had experienced as "yikes". The wandering voice of this was reminiscent of Daly - but this does not claim to be non-fiction.
After the short transphobic section that was not a focus of the book any more. It was still there I can't pretend it wasn't but it wasn't the main point. At the end Russ does a rant about writing a book to make people think (sure worked on me) and that she looks forward to a time when this book will be quaint and out of date. This leads me to partially get back my respect for her (I was really liking her as a writer for most of the book) and imagine that after 1975 (when I was 1) she might have learned better. She died in 2011 so I can't ask her.
Things I found useful- the ambivalence around heterosexuality and homosexuality (some of that was problematic, especially m/m stuff), the problematisation of the role of mother, work, technology, aggression, childhood. This was one of the most mature and least silly treatments of time travel I have ever come across (Octavia Butler is another notable writer who deals with it well). Russ explains why things can get tangled but not contradictory. I tend to not like "alternate universes" as a theory but I think this book knows it is fiction and does what it needs to do to explore its ideas.
There's very little resolution but there is enough for this to be a well crafted book. I don't forgive the transphobia (real people suffered and suffer) but I leave it in its time.
Graphic: Transphobia
There's one short section with transphobia but it really is horrendous transphobia so approach with cautionrileymay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
p.s. I saw one review that said that all the men in the book are all portrayed as terrible. I would have to disagree. While there is a lot of that there are also men who are not intentionally harmful, just ignorant in the things they say and do. For example, reference to the game 'I Must Impress This Woman.' in which men pursue romance despite repeated failure. I have seen these games played by well intentioned boys who are doing what they are taught is romantic.
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Slavery
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, and Blood
Minor: Racism and Transphobia
nozomi's review against another edition
2.75
La estructura del libro a veces lo hace imposible, es difícil seguir el rastro de qué personaje está hablando en qué momento. Principalmente porque no siempre mantiene el mismo criterio y a veces agrega intervenciones de personajes que son bastante irrelevantes.
La mitad de lo que pasa en la historia se me perdió, y la otra mitad te la explica recién al final lo que no te da muchas herramientas para entender la trama.
Igualmente, la trama en sí no es tan relevante y si aprendes a distinguir en qué momento habla qué personaje, se hace bastante llevadero.
Dicho todo esto, tiene algo muy bueno, que es todo el contenido feminista. Pone sobre la mesa distintas situaciones que vivimos las mujeres que son válidas hoy como lo fueron hace más de 40 años, cuando se publicó el libro. Están tan bien contadas que las podés sentir. Generan empatía, y alguien que es ajeno a todo eso podría llegar a comprender mejor la posición de inferioridad y vulnerabilidad a la que nos vemos sometidas constantemente.
Siento que la estructura (y la traducción) es contraproducente a estos efectos. Y el libro, al no decidir ser ficción o no ficción, termina por no ser ninguno.
El final también me genera dudas de cuál es el mensaje que busca manifestar. Cuál es al final su postura ante todo lo que plantea.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Transphobia
lleullawgyffes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Transphobia
booksoverbinaries's review
1.5
Moderate: Transphobia
asnecessaryasbread's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
Minor: Suicide