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shanrichrdson's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Drug abuse, Sexism, and Sexual assault
beanith's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
3.75
This book contains four essays so I'll be rating and sharing thoughts on each.
"1/ In Praise of Navel-Gazing" 3.75/5
"1/ In Praise of Navel-Gazing" 3.75/5
- Febos believes that "navel-gazing" has a feminine (and therefore negative and lesser) connotation in peoples minds and operates mostly from that point of view in this essay. Her response is that this is a tactic of the patriarchy to shame women (and nb or other queer folk) into silence. While her broader feminist points are not new to me, I have never once considered "navel-gazing" to be feminine. On writing, though, Febos says what so many other authors (and visual artists) say: your story has value because it's your story. She also advises to stop avoiding yourself.
"2/ Mind Fuck: Writing Better Sex" 2.5/5
- Every time I've mentally revisited this essay I've rated it lower and lower. I think if there had been an additional essay that focused on the body in other acts (eating, moving, hurting, etc) I might not have been as sensitive to the content here. But the "body" in Body Work is mostly subject to trauma or sex. The most interesting points in this essay for me were ones pertaining to some of the failures of fourth-wave feminism (to be clear, that's my interpretation, Febos never comes out and says that). (Sex-work is not always the #GirlBoss move fourth-wave feminism and social media paint it to be!)
"3/ A Big Shitty Party: Six Parables of Writing About Other People" 4/5
- I think this essay is the one I have the least to say about in response. I'm most moved by the part titled "4. Letting the Writer Win" and how Febos shows her growth from an immature artist (who will make the art at any cost) to a person who has been humbled by how her work may effect others. She's still devoted to the craft but she has also softened.
"4/ The Return: The Art of Confession" 5/5
- Confessional writing has always appealed to me and most musings on the subject are bound speak to me. I feel like my inner workings and interests were reflected here but also that I learned the most from this essay than any of the others. My favorite piece of wisdom written here, "You make the past known in order to know yourself as changed."
I sense Melissa Febos is brilliant and I imagine she's a great professor or workshop leader. If she writes another craft book I hope there is more joy than there is pain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
richelleski's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
sophiaschoice's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault
savvylit's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I don't know about you, but I find forthright, intimate discussions about the craft of writing to be fascinating. Body Work is just that -- a beautifully written book about the writing process. Technically this was written for writers but it would be just as interesting to anyone who loves to read. (Especially if you're a fan of memoirs).
In Body Work, Febos celebrates the immense power of personal narratives. She explores the ways in which memoir can be healing for the author: the ability to freely express trauma can help to alleviate some of the burden of said trauma. She also delves into the ways that personal narratives can help to heal readers. To read a personal narrative and see your own experience reflected back at you is to feel a lot less alone in the world.
Beyond those healing aspects of memoir, Febos also recounts quite a lot of her writing process for her three prior books. One section focuses on the ways that she included real people in her work and how they reacted. Another section is ostensibly about writing good sex scenes but is also about writers honing their ability to express moments the way happen in reality.
All in all, this is an engaging read and a delightful insight into the mind of a very talented author. Highly recommend!
In Body Work, Febos celebrates the immense power of personal narratives. She explores the ways in which memoir can be healing for the author: the ability to freely express trauma can help to alleviate some of the burden of said trauma. She also delves into the ways that personal narratives can help to heal readers. To read a personal narrative and see your own experience reflected back at you is to feel a lot less alone in the world.
Beyond those healing aspects of memoir, Febos also recounts quite a lot of her writing process for her three prior books. One section focuses on the ways that she included real people in her work and how they reacted. Another section is ostensibly about writing good sex scenes but is also about writers honing their ability to express moments the way happen in reality.
All in all, this is an engaging read and a delightful insight into the mind of a very talented author. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
melissagrace's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse and Sexual assault
lowbrowhighart's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
klbrida's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
sammies_shelf's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
"Since when did telling our own stories and deriving their insights become so reviled?"
So, I have to be honest. I have not yet read any of Melissa Febos' memoirs, but she lives in my brain as a master memoirist. Because of this, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of her book in which she talks about writing itself. In BODY WORK, Febos discusses the difficulties and the power of owning and sharing personal narratives. She discusses writing about real people, working through trauma, and healimg through storytelling. It is such a remarkable experience to listen to a writer narrate their own book, and this was no exception. Listening to this book feels like a master class. While I am not a writer, this book gave me the opportunity to assess my use of personal source in my work as an actor as well as the kind of work I want to create and the parts of me that fuel those passions.
If you love memoirs, you will love this look into a memoirist's process! Now, I'm going to go read all of Melissa Febos' books.
BODY WORK is out now!
Thank you so much to Highbridge Audio/RB Media and Netgalley for the ALC!
"I have revised the story of my victimhood and my culpability. I have completed what was interrupted, what stuttered like a skipping record for decades. I have brought to it my questions like some oracle, made myself a supplicant to the past, asked her what I could not when I was her, and told her what she could not tell herself. Through this process, I have become able to love her."
So, I have to be honest. I have not yet read any of Melissa Febos' memoirs, but she lives in my brain as a master memoirist. Because of this, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of her book in which she talks about writing itself. In BODY WORK, Febos discusses the difficulties and the power of owning and sharing personal narratives. She discusses writing about real people, working through trauma, and healimg through storytelling. It is such a remarkable experience to listen to a writer narrate their own book, and this was no exception. Listening to this book feels like a master class. While I am not a writer, this book gave me the opportunity to assess my use of personal source in my work as an actor as well as the kind of work I want to create and the parts of me that fuel those passions.
If you love memoirs, you will love this look into a memoirist's process! Now, I'm going to go read all of Melissa Febos' books.
BODY WORK is out now!
Thank you so much to Highbridge Audio/RB Media and Netgalley for the ALC!
"I have revised the story of my victimhood and my culpability. I have completed what was interrupted, what stuttered like a skipping record for decades. I have brought to it my questions like some oracle, made myself a supplicant to the past, asked her what I could not when I was her, and told her what she could not tell herself. Through this process, I have become able to love her."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual assault