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“In other words, books are instructions, you read them to be a man, and that‘s why men need their own list.”
The Mother of All Questions: Further Feminisms | 
“In other words, books are instructions, you read them to be a man, and that‘s why men need their own list.”
pickNot my favorite Solnit, but she set the bar REALLY high with her other works. I agree with previous reviews that the title, and introduction, are misleading, as this has almost nothing to do with “the motherhood question.” It does have a lot to do with misogyny, female existence, silence, and the violence against women in our current (-ish, mainly from about 2015) world.
pickI love Solnit, but this was a hard read. The first essay was about the choice to be a mother, and I thought that would set the tone for the collection, but most of the essays were about rape culture and sexual assault. Be careful of that is a TW for you. Overall a solid collection, but not my favorite from her.
Up to six bingos for #bookspinbingo!! Closing in on that blackout! @TheAromaofBooks 👍🏻
One orange cover for @gradcat #ispy
I‘ll tag ... @Lynnsoprano @BookwormAHN and @Erofan to spy a book with a MOOSE on the cover
pickAmazing!!!
My first Solnit!! I‘m only two essays in, and I just keep saying “yes” and nodding my head a lot.
It is a fact universally acknowledged that a woman in possession of an opinion must be in want of a correction.
pickEvery time I read Rebecca Solnit, I wonder why I do not read her work more often. Intelligent, eloquent, thoughtful feminist writing. What more could a woman want?
pickRebecca Solnit, man. Every time I read her, I feel like my mind opens a bit more, and I can see things a little more clearly. In this collection of essays, she focuses her sharp, grounded powers of analysis mainly on the subject of silence - who is silenced (spoiler: it's basically everyone except cishet white men), how, and what happens when the silence is shattered.
Photo: Haymarket Books Twitter
“...if there is no one book that saved me, it‘s because hundreds or thousands did.”
“... maybe the whole point of reading is to be able to be able to explore and also transcend your gender (and race and class and orientation and nationality and moment in history and age and ability) and experience being others.” 📸: Espacio 186 in Boyle Heights 📚😎👊🏽
“...a book without women is often said to be about humanity, but a book with women in the foreground is a woman‘s book.”
“...what was once a radical idea becomes so woven into everyday life that people imagine that it is self-evident and what everyone always knew. But it‘s not, it‘s the result of struggle— of ideas and voices, not of violence.”
pickRebecca Solnit is a keen analyst who takes time to explore the complexity and hypocrisy of life in these times. She explores silencing, categories, rape “jokes,” men‘s book lists and much more in this collection of compelling essays.
”Maybe our obsession with happiness is a way not to ask those other questions, a way to ignore how spacious our lives can be, how effective our work can be, and how far-reaching our love can be.”
January TBR! I‘m hoping to participate in #boutofbooks and #24in48 this month, so there will be more tbrs to come. I‘ve already finished the tagged book and it was fantastic. Love Rebecca Solnit.
The weather outside is frightful and I‘m so glad to be back inside with my tea and my book. 🌬❄️🍵📖
As a woman, there is no right way to be these days. If you do not have children, you are considered less than. If you have children, then you are as soon as that you have no other goals or Ambitions in life. We need to change this View.
From the essay “Men Explain Lolita to Me”
I can always count on doctors appointments to give me time to catch up on some reading 😄
I‘m really loving this book so far. Glad I‘ll have a chance to discuss at book club later this week!
pickToday what I was reading was mirrored in my life and I'm upset about it. Solnit's essays on misogyny and rape culture are sharp and relevant and important. In the middle of this I had to pause my audio book to listen to a co-worker (female) tell me about how most rape accusers are lying. I tried to explain that speaking up is often risky and unlikely to yield results, but she was adamant that rape is rare and people lie about it for attention. 😠
I‘m bailing on ‘The Honest Toddler‘ it‘s just not for me anymore. It‘s humorous, but I‘m too far disconnected from the toddler years. I‘m still going to pass it along to SIL and Bro, if they don‘t want to read it they can give it away or donate it.
I‘m not sure which of these I will stick with. I‘m going to start one tonight and one tomorrow and see which pulls me in the most.
Language = Power was a concept I based my classes around. How I wish I still had my own class ‘cause I‘d be expanding and revising my lesson plans.
1. I feel cheated not knowing this until now.
2. Imagine if we all knew this.
#patriarchalpowers #incompletetruths #feminism
You know you have a problem when.....
A) you have so many books to read you forget about a prime package for 1 year
B) you find the package under a stack of winter clothes you haven't worn since last winter
C) you ordered the package out of urgency at the best prices but left it unopened because you knew you wouldn't get to it soon
D) finding & opening year-old package still feels like Xmas morning
E) all of the above
📦📦📦📦📦 #bookmail
pickI found this book at times brutal but always necessary.
😂 a lot of this collection is great and/but depressing so it's nice to encounter some levity (although even that part is depressing in its own way!)
pickSometimes it‘s a difficult undertaking to read an entire book of essays written by the same author, but not so with Rebecca Solnit. Her essays are intelligent, informative, thought provoking, humorous, and entertaining. She is a feminist with a strong voice and a strong message. This is the first of her books that I have read. It will not be the last.
Rebecca Solnit is such an intelligent writer. Lunch & feminism for the win!
Somehow, we're already half way through September—how does this happen?!? Anyway, this means we have a new episode! Our full review and discussion of THE MOTHER OF ALL QUESTIONS and THE FIRE THIS TIME is live. Check it out and let us know your thoughts about these books.
pickThis was a short read, but I found it to be really powerful. Solnit offers commentary on women who refuse to be silenced, misogynistic violence, and fragile masculinity. While I have read some of the same arguments before, Solnit spins them in is such a great way. She is smart, witty and her writing is so sharp. I would love to sip tea and discuss all things feminism with her. ❤️💛💚
"There is always something unsaid and yet to be said, always someone struggling to find the words and the will to tell her story. Every day each of us invents the world and the self who meets that world, opens up or closes down space for others within that."
pickRead it right through, pen in hand, as always. Rebecca Solnit is a national treasure.
Another day, another extraordinary book by Rebecca Solnit.
pickGreat finish to the trilogy. These essays are condensed feminism and very powerful. Solnit has this talent to talk about these issues and hit the nail on the head with precise language.
#jubilantjuly day 12: #cheerful
I haven't been very good at keeping up with my own challenge of late!! Will try to do better this week...! (Summer feels very tiring this year)
Anyway this is a cheerful colour for a cover but it's definitely not a #cheerful read at all. Insightful and important - yes. I like how Solnit makes her ideas and thoughts accessible. Love her writing.
#jubilantjuly day 3: #starsandstripes
Erm well my kids' swimming bag is a stripey one and Solnit is a star in my books so here we are, #starsandstripes sort of 😀
This little library only opens on Wednesdays and while it's got a great picture book selection there are only a few shelves for adults. I did however spot this on the new arrivals shelves and knew I was meant to pick it up!
#WeAreNotHysterical #StrandBookstore #RebeccaSolnit
Just saw this today.
@strandbookstore/we-are-not-hysterical-1f4b21e33d0c?subid=21771239&CMP" rel="nofollow" target="_top">https://medium.com/@strandbookstore/we-are-not-hysterical-1f4b21e33d0c?subid=217...
