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zach_collins's review against another edition
4.0
A Short History of Women is a surprising transcendent novel. Despite the suggestions of the title and the protests of the characters, this is not a political statement, nor is it an academically detached study, but a stirring, thoughtful story of uncertainty, desperation and identity.
Though the narrative is non-linear, often jumping between characters at different points of their lives, never once does the narrative feel haphazard; instead there is a natural motion, a movement toward a point of understanding, a moment of clarity that stretches over five generations of independent women, though the moment is not always recognized for what it is, much like the women in the novel, each constantly struggling to identify who she is as a mother, a daughter, a wife, a protestor, a student, a mentor, a capitalist, an idealist or some bizarre combination of all of them.
This is not a novel exclusively for feminists or stay-at-home moms or any other particular group of women; A Short History of Women is written for anyone, woman or man, who cares about the decisions and relationships that define us.
Though the narrative is non-linear, often jumping between characters at different points of their lives, never once does the narrative feel haphazard; instead there is a natural motion, a movement toward a point of understanding, a moment of clarity that stretches over five generations of independent women, though the moment is not always recognized for what it is, much like the women in the novel, each constantly struggling to identify who she is as a mother, a daughter, a wife, a protestor, a student, a mentor, a capitalist, an idealist or some bizarre combination of all of them.
This is not a novel exclusively for feminists or stay-at-home moms or any other particular group of women; A Short History of Women is written for anyone, woman or man, who cares about the decisions and relationships that define us.
steller0707's review against another edition
3.0
A fictional "history" of women in one family, from the early British suffragist to the modern American college student. Although the issues the women grapple with through the generations ring true, because the "history" is short there is not space for depth or resolution. A fast read with interesting character sketches.
abbeybrooke's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
2.0
robintinani's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
kneessa's review against another edition
2015 Book challenge - a book at the bottom of your to-read
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k8iedid's review against another edition
I love the idea of intergenerational stories, but they are so hard to execute. (or they are so hard for me to do in audiobook?) Right when things are getting good, you get shuttled off to another character in a completely different setting. And for me, for this book, (with multiple characters with the same name!) it was too disorienting.