If women talk too much, according to men, why, when you look for quotes on the internet, are they mostly from males?
Tag Archive: Feminism
The Fallen: The Lost Girls of Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries and a Legacy of Silence by Louise Brangan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Louise Brangan narrated her book about the girls who ended up in the doomed life of doing the laundry for the Catholic nuns (a very loose description). Her Irish accent makes the dreary tale delightful. I could listen to her read the phonebook. Does anyone remember those?
My review sounds lighthearted, but this book is a serious study of a part of Ireland’s history. A part of women’s history. My husband recommended the book to me. He told me it is a subject that he finds interesting.
The author follows a few of the young women’s stories personally, from bad family starts or misguided starts, and the way they were misjudged and punished for implied sins.
Libby didn’t have it when I was looking for it, so I bought the Audible version. I highly recommend it to all of you.
We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America by Norah O’Donnell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Norah O’Donnell (Author, Narrator), Kate Andersen Brower (Author) wrote this book that should be required reading in all history classes. In fact, as much time as we were forced to spend on males and war, we were forced to struggle through in school as girls. Knowing that women were alive and contributing to society, laws, and even wars would have given me a bit more self-esteem, along with the other women growing up in my day.
Sure, we’ve all heard of Betsy Ross. Yes, she was included. But I certainly didn’t see myself sewing a new flag. Knitting a hat now puts me in that league, I guess.
Anyway, I was able to pick up this audiobook from Libby. I barely got it done in time as it was due today. I may buy this later as I want to study it and become more versed in Women’s Herstory.
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Billie Fulford-Brown (Narrator), Laura Benanti (Narrator), Jodi Picoult (Narrator, Author), Jayne Entwistle (Narrator), Andrew Fallaize (Narrator), Joe Jameson (Narrator), John Lee (Narrator), Nicholas Guy Smith (Narrator), Simon Vance (Narrator), Steve West (Narrator),
With this cast of narrators and the beautiful writing and research of Jodi Picoult, I found this book so fascinating that I just bought the Audible version so I can read it again soon.
If you think you know Shakespeare, this gives a possible theory, with convincing evidence of what might have happened.
This is a historic work and a modern work featuring the female condition of the ages.
I highly recommend this book. This audiobook was borrowed from Libby.
An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Below are my first two reviews of this book. Nothing has changed in this third reading. I LOVE the OUTLANDER series, both the books and the television series. Diana Gabaldon is a super author. Davina Porter is the best narrator ever!
Below is my first review of this Audio version of the book. Nothing has changed. This is still my favorite Outlander book. It was great to read it as this season of Outlander streams. In fact, the scene from a couple of weeks ago โI had just read it the same day. Claire got sick. I’ll write no more about that without spoilers.
I took longer to read (listen) this time. Instead of knitting, I spend the listening time on Diamond Painting, a series of dragons. I can only devote an hour or so to that endeavor. So with the before-bed read and creative pursuits, I couldn’t read straight through. I am already set up to read book 8. It’s like I can’t remember what happened next, yet I remember and can’t wait to visit it all again.
***
This book may be my favorite of all the Outlanders. Maybe because of how I chose to read it nearly 24/7. After all, I had reached the skinny-mini underbelly of all streamings–teens or young people who look like Barbie Dolls going through the same-same life issues. Give me some older adults, women of all shapes and colors, real people, not Hollywood mothers, whores, or weaklings. Not enough streaming of strong women holding up half the world. So, back to reading โthe only way I could. Audible.
Also, I was making scrubbies and washcloths while listening. That helped me ‘hear’ better.
By constant reading, I could stay in the story better. And family members came and listened with me on occasion. So it wasn’t a lonely process.
At any rate, I loved watching the cast of characters struggle with life, time travel, and historical moments. I especially loved the parts about Brianna and Roger at Lallybroch recovering letters from Claire and Jamie. And though I used to find Willy obnoxious, I think I clicked with him this time. And I grew more in love with John Grey. How nice to see good, honest, quality men portrayed.
I tried to find something else to read last night as my bedtime read, but couldn’t resist looking for more Outlander. Now I am listening to book 8, Written In My Own Heart’s Blood.
Time to lower my reading goal as I seem stuck in tome reading. I love it! I hope you get the chance to read these. Oh, and Davina Porter does so many voices so well. I still wish for more actual actors, for sometimes Bri and Claire sound the same, and all the children sound the same, and Roger, even with his sore throat, sounds like other men. Still, for one person covering so many people, Davina is fantastic!
Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Blood of My Blood has prompted me to read the series once again. I’m finding the series as good as I did the first time, maybe now with more depth than I had before. But this is a fantastic series in books and on television. Blood of My Blood is moving a bit slow, but maybe there’s a reason. I trust Diana Gabaldon and the writers of the television series to write another great watch.
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I just finished this second read of the fourth book. I wanted to be ready for the new season on television. I didn’t need to read the whole series, although I watched the entire show from season 1. I really love the music by Bear McCreary. I just wanted to refresh my memory of what happens to the Frasers and the rest once they are in America.
I loved the story written, narrated, or acted. Though a little different in each case, it is a fun ride.
Davina Porter narrates with such a varied voice that one always knows whose viewpoint we are hearing. Every now and then, I get confused between Bree and Clair or Roger and Jamie. But it doesn’t take long before a person can know who they are hearing.
I have already started book five, as it has more about the American Revolution through the Frasers’ eyes. I can’t wait to see how they do it on the show. I love all the time travel. I love visiting other countries and hearing the histories brought to life by Diana Gabaldon, whose research and knowledge are portrayed in the books and the show.
***
The following was from my first reading/listening from March 2020.
Oops! I nearly forgot to review this one. I just moved into the next read (a library book).
I really wish I had read this before the series on television. I liked the rhythm of the story better. I like the viewpoints presented here, as Clair’s rather than Bree’s, as the television series has it. It is different not having the information about the daughter making the voyage back in time and back to America.
I think we got into Roger’s head a little more, too. It doesn’t take away from the show. Interestingly, the directors and actors adapted the storyline without losing its essence.
No spoilers here. Just glad I read (listened to the Audible) it and can’t wait to get into the next one!
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The following is the review of Outlander Kindle, Audible, and the show. Since Blood of My Blood started on Hulu, we began rewatching Outlander from the beginning, and I decided to re-read the series. I finished the first book a few days ago. And Drgonfly in Amber. I’m well into Voyager now. I stand by my original review.
~~~
It has been several days since I finished book one. I still feel caught in the afterglow of it.. While I was reading it, I binge-watched the show. First with my son and brother. Then with my friend. Then with my husband. So this review includes the book, the Audible version, and the show.
I borrowed the book from the local e-library. I noticed it came with text-to-speech. But the show was full of Gaelic, so I didn’t want to hear the TTS mispronouncing those words. So I used my credit to pick up the Audible version to whispersynch.
Narrated by Davina Porter, made the story come alive. Her voice isn’t like that of the actress, Caitriona Balfe, from the show, which was a bit of a surprise, but Davina did a great job acting out the different characters from the book.
I must admit that I will often recommend the book over the show. The explicit rape scenes may trigger those who watch the show. The book leaves more to the imagination. It spent more time on the story itself than details of the acts.
My only complaint about the book was that it was so long I didn’t finish before it was due back. Who knew that the email saying a book is due on Monday means you only have part of Monday to finish it? They took the book back Sunday night at midnight. I was forced to buy the book with only 10% left to read. Oh, well, now I can share it with my husband and read it again someday.
With the trigger warning for the show, I highly recommend the book, audio, and show for everyone. Those days spent back in history, especially in Scotland, were dreamy! I wish I could actually go and experience the whole of the UK.
Fear of Flying by Erica Jong
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I read this as a newlywed. However, I don’t recall much of it. Maybe I read a bit and gave up? I felt that way as I read it this time, but I kept listening. Hope Davis (Narrator) gave the book more life than my eyes might have enjoyed. Still, it felt the author was full of woes that the rest of us didn’t have the choice to rise to.
This just didn’t bring the excitement it seemed to project. The erotica was not. Which is okay. It was considered progressive back in the day, but with shows like Game of Thrones and The Boys, it is naive.
Still, many of the issues presented for women remain, if not more repressed than in the 1970s. And the issues women, their mothers, and daughters face persist. So for these issues, it is worth the read.
Escaping the Twilight by Sigrid Weidenweber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Kindle ASIN B0080XHDC2
I am not sure where I learned about this book, but it has been on my TBR shelf for a long time. Although it appears to be an autobiography, it is actually well-researched fiction.
Here, read the blurb from GoodReads:
In this coming-of-age story, Amina, a Sudanese girl experiences a traumatic event at age nine. Intensifying her struggle for identity in the silent world of women, she cannot erase the pain and humiliation of that experience. With steely determination, she vows to do whatever is necessary to prevent her daughter from suffering the same demoralizing fate–even if it means going against the wishes of her husband and the rules of her family. Will she succeed in helping her daughter rise above her own personal tragedy and humiliation? The detailed descriptions of customs and lifestyle give a deep, fascinating insight into the Sudanese culture, as well as entry into the cloaked world of Muslim women in a story about survival, tradition and triumph.
This was an intense story. I hope it is read a lot. I would have loved it in audio form, but text-to-speech on Kindle helped a lot.
Goldilocks by L.R. Lam
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Patricia Rodriguez (Narrator) told L.R. Lam’s story expertly. It was a fun ride from the very beginning. The reviews and blurbs seem to draw comparisons to other books of extremes. I think this is more of a cautionary tale proving fault can be found anywhere. True, the patriarchal society makes it seem the men were all wrong and the women were saints. However, what we ultimately see is a need for moderation, the scientific method, and a need to thoughtfully repair the planet, as well as a need to reconsider our rigid thinking.
Philosophy aside, this is fun science fiction with space travel and exploration as a possibility.
I didn’t like the ending. I wanted more exploration and experience elsewhere. That could have been a book two, or at least a nice second part, instead of rushing the ending like the author couldn’t wait to leave the book behind.
Still, it is an enjoyable ride. I found the audiobook on Libby. Thank you, Kay, for another great recommendation.
Darswords 
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