canadiantiquarian's review against another edition
4.0
The Female Man has life -- timeless, unflinching, and idiosyncratic life. It is serious and unflinchingly honest, but it's also energetic and funny. It's a rousing address rather than an angst-ridden lament.
ilyaeve's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alexandr1ne's review against another edition
2.0
I want to apologise for ever calling The Left Hand of Darkness disappointing. In fact, can I take it back? Statement redacted - I started off with the crème de la crème, the absolute peak of science fiction (not even feminist science fiction - science fiction as a whole!) and I had no idea how good I had it. Ursula K. Le Guin, I have always (since I discovered you in May 2022) professed my love for you, but even so, I’ve been taking you for granted. That's on me.
As a general rule, I don’t love to review books by comparing them to other books. I think it’s often (not always, but often) lazy, but more importantly, I don't think it's productive. Not unless you go into the specifics of why X is like Y, in what ways they differ, how they are alike and why the comparison is warranted, and at that point, why not leave the comparisons aside and just talk about the actual book instead?
So. Talking about The Female Man. Ironically, I think Joanna Russ actually does this best herself; there's an entire page interlude (141, if you're reading the same edition I did) where Russ lists, between ellipses, a number of critiques she's received on her work. These include "shrill... shapeless... no characterization, no plot... another shrill polemic... this pretense at a novel..." Etc, etc. Personally, I wouldn't call the author of a feminist sci-fi novel shrill or hysterical and expect my feedback to be taken seriously, but even so, preempting the critiques of your critics does not negate their criticism (say that ten times fast). It could be clever, if any of said critiques had been subverted in any meaningful way. However, they weren't.
A generous reviewer might call the structure of this novel post-modern. Others, including myself, would argue it has no structure at all. Characterisation, plot (linear or otherwise, I'm really not fussy), any semblance at all of a greater arc or story; these were all absent in The Female Man. There are certainly novels that shirk these prerequisites, opting for a more stream-of-consciousness approach - Woolf's philosophical prose comes to mind. But even for 1975, Russ's feminism is tired and unoriginal, her sci-fi boring and uninspired, and neither are strong enough to carry this formless project to the finish line.
Russ earns an extra star for the conclusion of this book, written from the narrator's (who may or may not be Joanna herself) perspective: "Do not get glum when you are no longer understood, little book. Do not curse your fate[...] Rejoice, little book! For on that day, we will be free." The idea, of course, is that when readers can no longer resonate with the experience of these protagonists, women must truly be free. I loved this quote: it encapsulates what, for me, the best and most relevant feminism is about. Not necessarily equality, which is an insubstantial and changeable concept, but true liberation.
Unfortunately, I think the beauty and relevance of this quote is the exception, rather than the rule. I was thoroughly underwhelmed by Russ's imagination, prose, and storytelling, and now that I've spoiled the best part, I would highly recommend you go read anything Le Guin instead.
As a general rule, I don’t love to review books by comparing them to other books. I think it’s often (not always, but often) lazy, but more importantly, I don't think it's productive. Not unless you go into the specifics of why X is like Y, in what ways they differ, how they are alike and why the comparison is warranted, and at that point, why not leave the comparisons aside and just talk about the actual book instead?
So. Talking about The Female Man. Ironically, I think Joanna Russ actually does this best herself; there's an entire page interlude (141, if you're reading the same edition I did) where Russ lists, between ellipses, a number of critiques she's received on her work. These include "shrill... shapeless... no characterization, no plot... another shrill polemic... this pretense at a novel..." Etc, etc. Personally, I wouldn't call the author of a feminist sci-fi novel shrill or hysterical and expect my feedback to be taken seriously, but even so, preempting the critiques of your critics does not negate their criticism (say that ten times fast). It could be clever, if any of said critiques had been subverted in any meaningful way. However, they weren't.
A generous reviewer might call the structure of this novel post-modern. Others, including myself, would argue it has no structure at all. Characterisation, plot (linear or otherwise, I'm really not fussy), any semblance at all of a greater arc or story; these were all absent in The Female Man. There are certainly novels that shirk these prerequisites, opting for a more stream-of-consciousness approach - Woolf's philosophical prose comes to mind. But even for 1975, Russ's feminism is tired and unoriginal, her sci-fi boring and uninspired, and neither are strong enough to carry this formless project to the finish line.
Russ earns an extra star for the conclusion of this book, written from the narrator's (who may or may not be Joanna herself) perspective: "Do not get glum when you are no longer understood, little book. Do not curse your fate[...] Rejoice, little book! For on that day, we will be free." The idea, of course, is that when readers can no longer resonate with the experience of these protagonists, women must truly be free. I loved this quote: it encapsulates what, for me, the best and most relevant feminism is about. Not necessarily equality, which is an insubstantial and changeable concept, but true liberation.
Unfortunately, I think the beauty and relevance of this quote is the exception, rather than the rule. I was thoroughly underwhelmed by Russ's imagination, prose, and storytelling, and now that I've spoiled the best part, I would highly recommend you go read anything Le Guin instead.
felinity's review against another edition
I got about halfway through and then just... stopped. I didn't care about the characters and the plot seemed non-existent.
stefhyena's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- 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
OK so there was a short section which contained significant transphobia. This was ugly and detracted from an otherwise good book. At first I didn't like the way it faded between first person and third person, the fragments and the difficulty in following it but as I persisted I got a sort of poetic sense and certainly some of the parts that describe what I assume are actual experiences of sexism by Russ (or at least by "Joanna" who is a professor and a novelist) are very relatable and there's a sort of relief in having it so angrily written about.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
There's one short section with transphobia but it really is horrendous transphobia so approach with cautionjuliafranzis's review against another edition
3.5
I did not have the easiest time reading this book and I think the main reason is that I expected a little more typical novel
But in general it sums up a lot of problems which are still relevant today
But in general it sums up a lot of problems which are still relevant today
eddiemino's review against another edition
3.0
pro tip: read the book BEFORE you decide to write a term paper about it
snappydog's review against another edition
I need to come back to this one at some point. Wasn't quite in the right mood for reading it the first time through, so put it down and just sort of forgot to pick it up again, but I think it's something I'd like to start fresh and try again.