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teathoughtsandreads's review against another edition
0.5
awful misogynistic bio-essentialist bulls hit wrapped up in a “woke intellectual” novel
theyoungveronica's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book a while ago, counting in book-time (As in 6 or 7 books ago—temporally, not too long ago).I can't articulate my thoughts on this titan of a book as of now. I know I loved reading it as well as I know that I disagreed with most of its primary assertions.
Also,
I have a strange desire to physically fight Camille Paglia.
I'm a waif, so I definitely would not hurt her. She simply seems like she would be a fun person to wrestle.
(Paglia in a video: "I'm in an in-your-face feminist", during which she accuses feminists of being puritanical and orders them to 'go read a book, go to an art store, go look at a painting, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, go look at Greek art!')
amadswami's review against another edition
1.0
Nope!
This pedantic, self-hating woman (Grr), spends 700+ pages trying to perpetuate the myth the women have always (and should continue to be) powerless. But hey, at least we get to be mysterious vaginous voids!
I can’t even call her a “tool” or “dildo” at those would be useful items.
This pedantic, self-hating woman (Grr), spends 700+ pages trying to perpetuate the myth the women have always (and should continue to be) powerless. But hey, at least we get to be mysterious vaginous voids!
I can’t even call her a “tool” or “dildo” at those would be useful items.
fletchorama's review against another edition
5.0
one of the craziest books i have ever read and i can't wait to read it again. the kind of book that makes you want to read other books (like moby dick, or the ancient greeks)
salemdoorstop's review against another edition
1.0
I remain confused, disappointed, and angered by Paglia. within the first few pages, she takes time to praise the "brilliance" of Freud's psychodynamic family romance theory, and goes on to discuss the failings of feminism at length, at one point saying the vagina "has invisible teeth, males leave less than they enter"
I've honestly never read anything so deeply misogynistic and off base that wasn't written in jest, much less written by a woman. I assume much of it was written to be shocking, and while it achieved that goal, I was unable to get past the first chapter.
I've honestly never read anything so deeply misogynistic and off base that wasn't written in jest, much less written by a woman. I assume much of it was written to be shocking, and while it achieved that goal, I was unable to get past the first chapter.
catherinepbartnikgmailcom's review against another edition
I WILL be a good grad student if it kills me. Actually, that's a lie, but I'm liking general lit crit books at the moment. They kill time between an endless string of children's books.
gab1202's review against another edition
forgive me for thinking this was going to be so much more than it was. paglia writes just as she talks — as if she’s just done a line — which i can appreciate, but this is just... man.
i was going to read it for my coursework. she brought up some interesting points but overall it’s more of a bioessentialist contrarian fuckfest. fun, but too staccato.
i was going to read it for my coursework. she brought up some interesting points but overall it’s more of a bioessentialist contrarian fuckfest. fun, but too staccato.
msjenne's review
4.0
Okay, I didn't read ALL of this book, but it made my brain hurt in a good way. I tried to get like, ANYONE I KNEW to read it so I could discuss it with somebody, but no joy.
Still, after reading Maureen Dowd's "Are Men Necessary" I kind of want to go back to this for a less stupid perspective on women and culture. I don't agree with everything she says but it's certainly thought-provoking.
Still, after reading Maureen Dowd's "Are Men Necessary" I kind of want to go back to this for a less stupid perspective on women and culture. I don't agree with everything she says but it's certainly thought-provoking.
123honeybee's review against another edition
1.0
I spent 40 hours of my life reading this cover to cover just so I could conclusively say fuck off in an informed manner. Fuck Off Camille.
featheryantenna's review
1.0
Can't believe this was written in 1990, because it was so unbearably sexist. You aren't a feminist if you repeatedly allege that men are more objective than women.