Reviews

Das weibliche Prinzip by Meg Wolitzer

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tellsbooks's review against another edition

3.0

I thought this book was insightful because it spoke to the culture of idol-worship of “inspiring” outspoken people and the ways that we let them slide as we seek to befriend or become them. It reminds me of this current Kanye West situation, where everyone is seeing him for who he really is and not who they have projected him as or who they want him to be. The Female Persuasion is just a great reminder that famous inspirational people, they - like all of us - are human and have flaws, insecurities and just plain out and out fucked up ways.

I know so many people like the Faith Frank character and I, like many people who work for NGOs/NPOs who strongly believe in their work, have had those same eye-opening experiences that Greer Katedsky has had when you meet and have had the opportunity to work for people who inspire you on levels. There’s always two-sides to every coin, even the so-called “do-gooder” coin. I think that both focal characters are very relatable.

One of the most unique elements of this book is the fact that the main character Greer reeks of this like white-privilege sort of wants-but-doesn’t-necessarily-“deserve” this type of up-close and personal, well-paid experience/education working at Loci but is going to get it anyway, because that’s how the world works and here she goes with all the power because that’s how shit works -type of vibe.

I think it’s ironically is exactly the type of vibe that the magnetic Faith Frank has lured her in with.. its pretty much summed up in the line her friend Zee stated to her which is something along the lines of “there’s two kinds of feminists, the famous ones and every one else.. everyone else who’s quietly doing what they’re supposed to do and doesn’t have someone saying to them that they’re doing a good job.” Reading this entire book was worth the wait/weight of that one line.

Read it if you’ve got the time.

shailydc's review against another edition

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2.0

I'm not sure what the point of this one was or what I was supposed to take away from it...

chloelad's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

micheherz's review against another edition

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inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

My rating of this may or may not change as I sit with this book. It felt contrived and outdated at times but the emotion of the characters shone through despite those weird plot points.