If women talk too much, according to men, why, when you look for quotes on the internet, are they mostly from males?
Category: Feminism
The Walking Dead, Vol. 4: The Heart’s Desire by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’m a Walking Dead fan. As opposed to how I read/watch other stories and come up with the book winning over the show, this book loses. Had I read it long before the show, I think this one would have made sure I was NOT a Walking Dead fan. Nor would I have been impressed with Robert Kirkman.
This book was not about the Heart’s Desire. It was about male testosterone! The Hard’s Desire! The males fought and tried to kill each other because they were just part of the “No Girls Allowed” Spanky McFarland boys club.
Many bits of this book were used in the show but it gets confusing when so much of it isn’t a part. I can see why it was left out of the show. If you want fans you have to remember that 50% of the world’s population are women! And even when this was written the author must have been in his basement not aware the women’s movement had already happened and even in the Zombie apocalypse women needed to be talked to and included and all responsibilities shared.
I would give this book less than three stars but I love reading comics on Kindle. This was a Kindle Unlimited freebie by the way. On Kindle you can tap on the frame of the picture or talking caption you want to see better and it will enlarge it and you can take one frame at a time. You can look over the whole framed picture and see what you might miss on the paper book. Oh, and this book gives the series its name.
I hope the books get better. Michone needs to show grrls are tough!
No this isn’t about Mamas and the Papas. Just couldn’t figure a good title for this small bloggy. Besides, bet that earworm took! 😀
I don’t have enough time to gather all the looms to do a Make-it Monday: Two sock-looms are in use, there are a few dolls I need to stuff and sew closed, a little hat for a doll on the littlest loom, a baby hat on the next bigger, all in process and nothing near finished product.
So, while knitting, binging, right? Tried Royal Pain but too flirty and not enough medical to keep my interest. I’ll try again later. Instead, I went for an old favorite that has added new seasons: Call the Midwife. I love that show. I miss Miranda (Chumie) but the newer cast is still sweet. One of the best parts of this show is following women and health issues over the past couple of centuries. If you were there at the beginning, there were few cars only bicycles. They even went through war.
I’m at about 1962 in a most recent episode. They talk about Kennedy and Cuba crises. So it isn’t just the women’s health it shows what else is going on in the world at the time. On the last episode, they showed the results of the drug given for morning sickness back then Thalidomide.
This show doesn’t hold back when it comes to things women have been through over the years. I do so wish the midwife was a more acceptable way for birth. My last two were homebirths so I have a love for that kind of birth. Don’t get me wrong. There is a good reason to have hospitals and doctors on hand, but I think the woman to woman care is missing for those who need to go to the hospital.
My second experience in the hospital were people running around yelling the phones were out. My first was a most uncomfortable affair with not the slightest care as to what I wanted or what baby and I actually needed. I studied a lot about being a midwife, but by the time I had babies three and four, I didn’t have the time or energy to go for it. So this show helps fulfill some of that. I find I love all the characters and how well they tell the story. And that music gets me going! I can guarantee that I will shed at least a tear with every viewing! This is a herstory that everyone should watch and maybe get the other side of history.
Any Man: A Novel by Amber Tamblyn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I am still torn as to what to say about this book. I finished listening a couple of days ago. Yes, this was an Audible version. It was narrated by Glenn Davis, Robin Miles, Therese Plummer, Dan Bittner, James Fouhey, Michael Crouch, Ben Foster, Marc Maron. Very well acted out. Kept me awake even after I closed the Kindle and crawled under the covers. For that reason, I give the trigger warnings. Rape is the topic. The only difference is it is a man that is raped. Somehow it reads the same regardless of who is the victim. So pain and torture are somewhat spelled out. It doesn’t matter the perp’s gender either.
This could easily help those in the right frame of mind. It seems a therapy of sorts for the author. I do suggest if you get the chance and feel up to it to listen to the Audible version. Meanwhile, it is read at your own discretion. I love Amber Tamblyn. I saw her on a talk show and loved what she has to say about the #MeToo movement and feminism. I’m glad that men showed their support by acting out this story.
I hope this book gets a lot of readers. I think it can help many people. Just be warned.
Bold: Stories of Strong Women by Sandy Ward Bell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I won this book from GoodReads Giveaway. Though I knew it was an anthology of short stories I thought reading about strong women would make it worth my while. So thank you for letting me read your book.
BUT, I just don’t like short stories. Yes, the women seemed to have opinions but I didn’t see them as any stronger than others. Maybe with more story, I would have been impressed with them but, not so much. And it is worse is you read with text-to-speech as it is hard to know when the last story ended and the next story starts. I can’t tell you how many times I had to go back and figure out why it wasn’t making sense suddenly. OH! It’s a new story. I guess that is something to keep in mind when writing for the Kindle market, make sure to put a something there at the end and start the new one with a hashtag or something.
I finished this book a week or so ago but life got busy and I had to wait to write the review. I honestly can’t remember any of the stories to say more about them. Obviously, there are folks that loved these stories so go read their reviews. You may be one who loves them, too. But give me a series and depth of characters. The stories are well written, I do remember that. I like the cover!
The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times by Jennifer Worth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As an addict of the BBC show, Call the Midwife, I couldn’t resist getting the Kindle and Audible versions of the book. As usual, the book is better than the show, but not by much. Books always give more insight into the thinking of a character, something film cannot capture properly.
Jennifer Worth’s memoir takes us to another time and the way people were then. Science, especially nursing and midwifery were new. Much was done by ‘old wives tales’ in the beginning but as medical science developed, giving birth sometimes took back steps. Ms. Worth shows us the mistakes and the achievements womanhood gained when men took over the most female of jobs.
But these aren’t just about the theories. We learn of Jennifer’s life as a nurse and midwife as she lived in the convent of nuns. The characters of the TV show are there in full glory. My favorite, Chummy, isn’t seen as much as I’d like (neither is Miranda Hart in the show as much as I’d like). But it is comical to watch her learn to be a midwife in her tall, elegant way.
I love how both the show (which seem to stick closely to Worth’s story) carefully lead us through patients lives and how pregnancy and motherhood impacted daily life post-WWII. Jennifer Worth’s writing is impeccable and yet poetic. It is fun to watch as she grows to become a stronger person and midwife as the book progresses.
Oh, and a note for the lovely narrator: Nicola Barber. Though it took me a minute to get used to her, I was so happy I did. She could do the cockney or the more proper British if needed and kept my interest piqued.
I would hope everyone reads and watches these as there is much to learn here. I can’t wait to read the next book.
The Fresco by Sheri S. Tepper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I hate it when I do this: read a book, finish before I’m sleepy, start a new book and nearly forget to write my review of the last book! Boo! Me! And this book deserves reviews!!!
My friend, Kay, gave such a marvelous review that I knew I had to read it. I highly recommend it!
It has everything. Aliens, other planets, other points of view. The main character is female, Benita, who finds herself in a bad, abusive marriage. She is looking to get out and not be found.
What finds her is new opportunities the likes no one would expect to happen. That is all I can give you without feeling I’m spoiling it for you.
Needless to say, there is adventures and space travel, and meeting alien beings. Like all good sci-fi, this has a lot of philosophical, political, social, and spiritual commentary. Much of it tongue-in-cheek humor that may cause snorting of the hot tea if not careful.
If you get the chance to read this, you should. I’m sorry that it isn’t loanable. Seems many Benitas out there might not be able to afford it but would benefit from the read. Benitas need humor, escapism, and ideas. In fact, I think everyone could learn something and enjoy this story.
AND
I want to thank Linda G. Hill for her inspiration! Today’s prompt is Eco.
The prompt sent me to the internet. I found
Ecofeminism
The definition goes on and on. Check it out here. As I studied that I realized that I was upset. Why, if we want people to embrace feminism do make everything so hard to read for the normal person? I remember when I first started reading about feminism I could find nothing simple to read or understand. Sure I understand the word, but if you want ALL humans to get it and the average person has a reading level of 7th or 8th grade, why make your assertions college level. Good, you made it to college but we need to boil it down so that a person who is reading casually might not have to look up every other word to make sure they know what is being said.
I think it was Feminine Mystique that I tried to read when I was pre-marriage, pre-kids that wore me out. I came from a traditional family so all I could see what how snooty these women were and the only way that information would get to the common person it needed to be watered down.
Look. Here’s what I know now. As a stay-at-home mom, I thought I was saving money on a lot of levels. I figured that I birthed them I ought to care for them. And child-care was/is more expensive than any job could pay me. So I followed my heart. Now at retirement, I make less than half the SSI than my ex-husband. How was/is that fair? If you are a stay-at-home mom right now make sure you stuff away money for your retirement. Have your own bank account. Don’t touch the money even if you have a family emergency.
Honestly, I don’t know how I would have done any differently in my life. I love my children and loved raising them to be super adults. And what should I have done when I became a single mom, let my kids starve? Don’t take them to the doctors? Don’t make sure they have a roof over their heads? I didn’t drain the system. But the system drained me! Take that EcoFeminism!
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I didn’t actually read the book but rather listened to the Audible version of the book. Juanita McMahon (Narrator) added her talents to the story so well-written by Sarah Waters. Both the story and the actor made this a wonderful experience.
What can I say that won’t spoil the adventure of the moment by moment read? I can’t seem to come up with anything! I went to look at the blurb and I think even that spoils it. Just know that the main character draws you in and you get curious to see what happens next. Her questions become the reader’s questions and you can only hope for the best and dread anything less.
I wish the ending would have been with the main character stronger from her experiences and then a book two for us to follow her travels. I don’t think that is a spoiler as that is me rewriting the ending. Come back to my review when you finish to tell me if you agree or not.
If you get the chance to read or listen to this book I think you will enjoy it,
Darswords 
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