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Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear . . . and Why
Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear . . . and Why | Sady Doyle
She s everywhere once you start looking for her: the trainwreck. She s Britney Spears shaving her head, Whitney Houston saying, crack is whack, and Amy Winehouse, dying in front of millions. But the trainwreck is also as old (and as meaningful) as feminism itself. From Mary Wollstonecraft who, for decades after her death, was more famous for her illegitimate child and suicide attempts than for"A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" to Charlotte Bronte, Billie Holiday, Sylvia Plath, and even Hillary Clinton, Sady Doyle s"Trainwreck"dissects a centuries-old phenomenon and asks what it means now, in a time when we have unprecedented access to celebrities and civilians alike, and when women are pushing harder than ever against the boundaries of what it means to behave. Where did these women come from? What are their crimes? And what does it mean for the rest of us? For an age when any form of self-expression can be the one that ends you, Sady Doyle s book is as fierce and intelligent as it is funny and compassionate an essential, timely, feminist anatomy of the female trainwreck."
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JaneyWaneyB
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Pickpick

The main take away is that we are human, every single one of us is human. We need to be kinder to each other to banish the trainwreck.
The trainwreck has been around for centuries & it's only job is to take down women for having a voice, for standing up for themselves & others, for being human.
Doyle does it again using the stories of women to illustrate the misogyny in the world & the damaging impact this is having on women & girls.

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JaneyWaneyB
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Every spring I buy a new gnome to hide in my parents garden, it took my Dad 6 weeks to find the last one...I wonder how long till he finds this one. Trainwreck is really good so far, another great insightful book from Doyle...Feminism done right

#SpringSunshine #SpringReads #Gardens #FindTheGnome #SadyDoyle #BookWorm #BookLover #InkDrinker #LibraryMouse #BookWitch #BookNerd #FemalePower #Feminism #Patriarch #Trainwreck #ReadThisBook #Women

Crazeedi Such a cool game with your dad!! ❤❤ 4y
MemoirsForMe Adorable gnome! 😍 4y
JaneyWaneyB @Crazeedi it is so funny as he is oblivious and Mum moves it around the garden 🤣 makes us laugh 💖 4y
JaneyWaneyB @UwannaPublishme matches my Dad who loves to mow the grass 💕 4y
Crazeedi @JaneyWaneyB that's hilarious! Your card is on the way my friend, a bit late!! 4y
38 likes5 comments
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JaneyWaneyB
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BronwynMahon
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New in!! Excited for all of them, but probably gonna start Trainwreck first. I read Sady Doyle‘s other book in a day and have been wanting to read this since!

AnneCecilie I loved Trainwreck. Which other book by her have you read? 5y
BronwynMahon @AnneCecilie It‘s called Dead Blondes and Bad Mother‘s. It looked at the vilification of women both in the media and pop culture - super interesting and very funny! 5y
AnneCecilie That‘s sounds like something I will enjoy. Will get my hands on it once shipping gets easier. 5y
BronwynMahon @AnneCecilie Let me know what you think once you do! 😁 5y
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AnneCecilie
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Pickpick

In this book Doyle looks at the trainwreck, more specifically the female trainwreck since men don‘t get treated the same way. What makes a trainwreck? She uses the examples of M. Wollstonecraft, C. Bronte, Marie Antoinette and newer ones like B. Spears, W. Houston and H. Clinton

For me this book shows that as a woman you can‘t do anything right in the long run. So maybe we should be more generous towards fellow women.

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AnneCecilie
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Just started reading the introduction to the tagged book.

I already have a feeling that this is going to be eye-opening and make me made.

Buechersuechtling From what I read I don‘t know if “eye-opening” would be the term I‘d use but I‘m pretty sure the book would make me mad, too, yes. 5y
AnneCecilie @Buechersuechtling I‘m thinking about eye-opening in the sense that this book will give extensive examples of the way we forgive man and never forgive women for mostly the same behavior. So that it can‘t be explained away the way we do when we look at one case and one incident. 5y
46 likes2 comments
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Niso
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I have been in a significant slump since early July, I can mainly consume books in audio format. It is a bit upsetting, but at least I am reading.
I am one chapter into this one and it is an interesting and insightful look into the way we perceive, judge and deal with female celebrities gone off the rails, and what does that say about our society and gender expectations.

#audiobooks #readingslump #feminism #popculture #nonfiction

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Verity
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Pickpick

Thought provoking and smart, this book will challenge how you think of the way female celebrities are treated by the media and the industries they work in.

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Verity
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Current bedtime book!

Weaponxgirl Loved this book! 6y
Verity @Weaponxgirl I‘m enjoying it so far, although it‘s making me take a good hard look at myself in some areas. 6y
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Kalalalatja
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Pickpick

I forgot to review this, which I had to rectify because this book deserves a good review! I heard about this on Litsy, but I can‘t remember who brought it to my attention - whoever it was, thank you!

Doyle gave a nuanced account of how women, like Charlotte Brontë, Paris Hilton, and of course Britney Spears are viewed as trainwrecks, but in reality they are victims of a society that expected too much and is never satisfied. Interesting read ?

Caroline2 Oh sounds interesting, stacked!! 6y
MoniqueReads305 Stacked 6y
Weaponxgirl It might have been me. Even if it wasn't I'm glad you like it. I thought this was a great book 6y
Kalalalatja @Caroline2 @MoniqueReads305 it was so interesting, and it put some things into perspective for me 👍 @Weaponxgirl you might be right! No matter what, it was such a great read! I listened to the audio, and the narrator was great as well 👌 6y
101 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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Blaire
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Mehso-so

Insightful look at how society views women. From Mary Wollstone, Bronte to Billie holliday to Paris Hilton and Brittney, Doyle examines how we view and treat women who are complex and not our “ideal.” As with many books of essays on one topic it felt redundant by the end. I think it would be better dipping in and out instead of reading straight through. The last section re self-esteem/image seems better suited to younger readers than myself.

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Blaire
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My #currentread for feminist book club. A book of essays covering why we consider women to be #crazyinlove, crazy ex-girlfriends, or just plain crazy, when they are too emotional, too distant, too ambitious, too not perfect. Covers bronte to Britney. #heatofjuly

Blaire For some reason couldn‘t tag in post @cinfhen @barbarabb 6y
Cinfhen Sounds interesting and yay, tagging is a bit messed up 😬🙄 6y
ReadingEnvy Have you seen the show Crazy Ex Girlfriend? 6y
Blaire @readingenvy have only seen the first two episodes.The premise is totally on point. 6y
47 likes4 comments
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wordassassin
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This book was very insightful. Glad I got to read most of it by the pool! #currentreads #feministbooks #poolreads #reader

kaysworld1 This book seems very interesting definitely something I would read, how far into it are you? 6y
wordassassin @kaysworld1 I finished it! It really makes you think about the way our culture treats women who seem “off” or lead a rock star life. 6y
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wordassassin
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New shelf adds!

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Weaponxgirl
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Pickpick

#booksandvinyl I'm doing this review through the lens of how I feel about Courtney love. I don't always like her but I've often ended up defending her, backed into a corner. She's just a crazy druggie whore they say. Kurt wrote her songs anyway, she doesn't have talent the skank. I'll be there going you love motley crew! How are they any less slutty and druggy than her?! The Rolling Stones, you idolise them! Kurt was a druggie too! Continues

Weaponxgirl This book talks all about that double standard that women face and I loved it for that! We don't as a society give women the same freedom men get. Have you listened to live through this? It's raw, doll parts was blatantly written by a woman, this woman and I'm not gonna let you try to take that away from her! You don't have to like some of the behaviour bit why doesn't she get a redemption arc too? 7y
Weaponxgirl Lastly, we pathologise women like this. They're crazy. Guess who outed Harvey years before? Saying don't go to a party in his hotel room if invited for a party? Yup crazy bitch Courtney love. It was ignored of course. This book has a lot to say and I'm behind it 7y
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ephemeralwaltz @Weaponxgirl Love this ~ thanks for sharing. I've always defended her too. The music industry has treated us VERY VERY badly. 7y
Weaponxgirl @ephemeralwaltz thank you, glad I'm not the only one. I've always felt stuck in those conversations, like I hate that she punched Kathleen hanna in the face not cool! But I'll be damned if I'm gonna sit back and let people who love when men act like rock and roll stars drag her for the same shit! She didn't kill Kurt, your just pissed she's a survivor who won't back down. I'm gonna play some hole again loudly now. 7y
ephemeralwaltz Absolutely. She definitely has her share of bad behavior. It's just that so many people hate on her because she's a "BITCH" that survived while Kurt hasn't. I mean, suck it up - she doesn't owe anything to all these hurt fans. Misogynistic attitudes towards her really sicken me. Turn the music up! ? 7y
Weaponxgirl @ephemeralwaltz exactly! It's always dudes I get in these arguments with and boy her music is 100% more real and better than whatever cookie cutter new rock band your tryna turn me on to. Im gonna take ur skinny Jeaned ass down 7y
ephemeralwaltz @Weaponxgirl I mean she had enough to deal with the fact that THE FATHER OF HER DAUGHTER AND LOVE OF HER LIFE KILLED HIMSELF. 7y
ephemeralwaltz @Weaponxgirl you're cracking me up😂😂 So real 7y
Weaponxgirl @ephemeralwaltz and one of her band mates died of an overdose around the same time just before that tour. Damn that's a lot to go through 7y
SuperPunkNinja 🤘🤘🤘 7y
batsy I'm always defending her, too. If you haven't read this, I highly recommend it 7y
Weaponxgirl @batsy thank you for that, it hadn't been on my radar and will definitely look out for it. 7y
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Christine11
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Pickpick

I finished this audiobook today. It was really good, and brought up quite a few points I definitely hadn‘t considered regarding women like Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus. It is so incredibly depressing at times to think about the way women are judged in a completely different way to men. Doyle says in this book that: “Men have problems. Women are problems.” This struck me as such a valid statement. Definitely worth reading.

rachelk That quote is dead on. I‘d never put it together quite that way. Thank you for sharing. 7y
Christine11 @rachelk Neither had I! And you‘re welcome - it‘s really interesting, I hope you can read it at some point! 😊💛 7y
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Weaponxgirl
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So @McShelfington said the word train wreck whilst talking about Courtney love last night (it is true) and I remembered this book I've been dying to read. So my new audiobook it is. So far it's good, a great point about paps ect taking up shots of miles Cyrus when she was underage but as soon as she gave us her nudity consensually the press told her to cover up. I do love a messy, difficult woman who doesn't give a sh#t

SuperPunkNinja 🤘🤘🤘🤘 7y
Weaponxgirl @McShelfington you inspired me last night and I'm very grateful 😘 7y
25 likes3 comments
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artkavanagh

Here‘s a substantial excerpt from the book, on Melville House‘s website, in which Valerie Solanas, would-be killer of Warhol and author of the SCUM Manifesto, is remembered https://www.mhpbooks.com/anatomy-of-a-trainwreck-valerie-solanas/

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MayJasper
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Today's photo challenge is #emotional for #booksandshelfiesm18. I found a variety.
Thanks for the challenge @Amabear

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theshrinkette
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Pickpick

This was an interesting, well-researched commentary on how and why our society takes delight in watching women crash and burn, while glorifying men who engage in similar behaviors. The women highlighted in this book are not perfect by any means, and yet have been vilified so cruelly that this book actually makes you take a step back and gain some perspective on our internalized misogyny.

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theshrinkette
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20 hours in, and I need to go to bed. Starting this audiobook before I fall asleep. #24in48

robinb WOW...😳😳😳👏👏👏👏 7y
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Kelly
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A recent favorite that should be required reading for feminists. #nonficnov

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LibrarianRenee
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Olivia306
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Pickpick

An interesting cultural critique of constructing women's narratives. It also talks about the alarming manipulation of the narrative and draws attention on several issues that stem from that. It's a compelling read.

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Olivia306
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"Light" reading today on the train. One hundred pages in and I already learnt so much more about owning your own narrative than I might have expected.

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Moonpa
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"The privilege of controlling your own narrative is easy to take for granted. It's easy to confuse for a right; to assume that of all the people in this loud and crowded world, you are the person best suited to tell the world who you are or what you are or what your actions and emotions mean in context. Yet we know that narratives can be stolen and weaponized. We've seen it happen again and again."

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brennahawleycraig
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Oh. My. Goodness. I just got totally spoiled by @BethFishReads for #summersantagoespostal!! And it's like I got to go to Book Expo with all the swag 😍 The books are incredible and look right up my alley, those tote bags (and I bring up unicorns all the time as a joke at work 🦄) AND that homemade bookmark! It's all wonderful, thank you so much! And thank you @BookishMarginalia for organizing!!

#summersolsticebookexchange

swishandflick Nice!! 8y
LibrarianRyan That unicorn bag is awesome. 8y
Laalaleighh My bf just bought me the scribe of sienna! Now I have someone to compare notes with! 8y
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CouronneDhiver Wow! 😍 8y
brennahawleycraig @Laalaleighh I hadn't even heard of it but it sounds wonderful! 8y
brennahawleycraig @LibrarianRyan I think I'm probably going to have to use it all the time! 8y
LeahBergen Oh my! That bookmark!!! ❤️❤️ 8y
brennahawleycraig @LeahBergen Right?? Such amazing, delicate work. I could never do that! 8y
LibrarianRyan @brennahawleycraig I wouldn't blame you. But no complaints from me. I got a Nancy drew out of Print tote. So excited. 8y
brennahawleycraig @LibrarianRyan I saw the picture! That is so cool! 8y
BethFishReads So fun to put this box together for you. Enjoy!!!! 8y
53 likes11 comments
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Beachesnbooks
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Listening to this on audio--so far a really interesting cultural critique. And I LOVE this narrator - she also narrated Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler.

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Eyelit
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It was a really good month for reading - so much so that I had difficulty narrowing down the #bestofapril #aprilbookshowers

KarenUK Burial rites! 💗💗💗 8y
JacqMac Is that a Sherlock graphic novel?! Why have I not seen that before? 8y
Abailliekaras What a great mix! 👏🏼 8y
Moray_Reads I love that illustration of Benedict-as-Sherlock, it's spot on. And agree with you and @KarenUK, Burial Rites is fantastic 8y
Cinfhen Great graphics 💙💙💙 8y
119 likes5 comments
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Eyelit
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Pickpick

Incredibly accessible and #thoughtprovoking book that should be more widely read imho. It's certainly shifted my perception of some things. #aprilbookshowers

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Eyelit
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So much truth here it hurts.

Lmstraubie 😔 8y
Bookish.Heart This sounds like an amazing book 8y
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Eyelit
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These books are due on Monday and I can't renew any of them 😫 so I've got some serious reading to do this weekend! Fingers crossed I can make it. Any I should prioritize (or any worth the late fees 😜)?

(Tilney brought over Woodstock to instigate a game of fetch... then got distracted by the books 😸#catsoflitsy)

coffeenebula Every heart a doorway! 😍 Scrappy little nobody is fun, I listened to the audio book 📚 8y
Ashley_Nicoletto Scrappy Little Nobody is fun, but not worth late fees. 8y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk Only ever heard amazing things about Every Heart a Doorway, and it's on the shorter side. 8y
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Hoopiefoot Trainwreck is a pretty quick read too, but not worth getting a late fee over. (edited) 8y
Suet624 Good luck!!! 8y
RealBooks4ever Good luck! 😁 8y
Hooked_on_books Trainwreck is great! 8y
Beckys_Books I bailed on Scrappy Little Nobody 8y
tapgurl Scrappy Little Nobody petered out in the end... 8y
Celeste57 Every Heart a Doorway was fantastic. 8y
Eyelit @Beckys_Books @tapgurl good to know! I've it to the bottom of the pile 😄 8y
Eyelit @coffeenebula @TobeyTheScavengerMonk @Celeste57 I've heard great things so it's nice to have that validated by others here - I'm going to read it after trainwreck (wanted some nonfiction to start off with, turns out) 😃 8y
Eyelit @Hoopiefoot @Hooked_on_books started with trainwreck - it's turning out to be a fast read.! At turns fascinating and infuriating... 8y
Eyelit @Suet624 @RealBooks4ever thanks! I'm going to need it 😂🤞 8y
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Eyelit
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#apriltbr - the shortlist 😆 #aprilbookshowers

Gulfsidemusing Maybe I'll finally get to Burial Rites this month.... 8y
Zelma @Lakesidemusing I feel like I've been saying that for the last two years! 😳😆 8y
Gulfsidemusing @Zelma close to that for me, too😜 8y
AAdamson Ooo, I have Burial Rites on my TBR! 👍 8y
105 likes4 comments
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Matilda
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#DayWithoutWomen to all my awesome ladies out there whether you are or can't strike you're awesome and have my support 💙. Please remember to take care of yourselves and each other. Uplift especially the voices of black women, latinas, Muslim women, transgender women... and not just today but every day.

Bibliogeekery ❤️ 8y
RealLifeReading Love it 8y
rachellayown ❤❤❤ 8y
98 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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WordWaller
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Pickpick

Holy crap this book is amazing! I read it while on vacation and it's one of the first nonfiction books I've read in a while that I couldn't put down! Doyle examines society's fascination with tearing women--specifically celebrities--down and judging their every move. Damned if you don't damned if you do. I will never view female celebrities the same way again! I believe all readers could love and benefit from this book, not just feminists!

StephBengtson Such a great book! 8y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Looks fascinating! 8y
Matilda I want everyone to read this! Especially how this isn't just celebrities anymore. 8y
Hooked_on_books I've never liked Britney Spears, but after this book I think about her differently. Still don't like her, though. 😉 8y
76 likes9 stack adds4 comments
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jes
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Time to throw in the towel and admit that I'm sick. Glad I had some books waiting for me at the library. I just hope I don't run out of Kleenex because I really can't move from this couch for a while.

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StephBengtson
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Pickpick

Holy perspective, Batman! The author examines our fascination with judging women for basically doing anything. A mistress is a slut, but the wife is a prude. A night out can ruin a career or reputation for a woman, while a guy is just being a guy. From Britney Spears to Marie Antoinette to a 16 year old girl on Facebook, this is an important book on how our society views women. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

vivastory Great review. This is high on my nonfiction TBR. Sady Doyle has been writing more pieces for Melville House site. They're called "Trainwreck Files." 8y
44 likes6 stack adds1 comment
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StephBengtson
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This book is blowing my mind. So gross. 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

Karen_V Eww, Hef. Stop it. 8y
Caterina Everything in this paragraph is awful. 😱 8y
LeahBergen 🤢 8y
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Suet624 Oh my word. How awful. 8y
Cosyreader 😷 8y
heyitsMacall 😳😡 what a creep 8y
35 likes6 comments
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StephBengtson
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I'm having a hard time with all of the stuff that's going on lately. I'm scared and sad. I'm glad to have books and my baby to turn to for comfort. 🐶💕📚#allisnotlost #currentlyreading

LauraBeth Me too 😔 8y
44 likes1 comment
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Hoopiefoot
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I forgot the Golden Globes are on tonight. This seems like some timely reading.

StephBengtson That's on my #Litsyatoz TBR list. Can't wait to read it. 8y
OrangeMooseReads This one is on my Amazon wishlist 8y
Suzze Watching the Red Carpet on E! 8y
80 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Erinkburba
Pickpick

Everyone needs to read this book! Amazing.

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AmandaL
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Here are my early 2017 TBR for the #FunFridayPhoto. Some of them are carry overs from last year. Some are for the 2017 #ReadHarder challenge. And some are just because. 📚

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Matilda
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68 likes5 comments
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Kelly
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Pickpick

An outstanding read about the evils of misogyny and how we hate all women. Powerful stuff with so many pages of lines to chew over. Essential feminist reading.

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KarenaFagan
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This line. #feministfolio

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KarenaFagan
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BookishMarginalia 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 8y
26 likes1 comment
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KarenaFagan
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There's no rest during Christmas season when you're a bookseller. I picked up this one when I was called into work on my day off. #silverlinings #literaryloot #feministfolio

balletbookworm Appropriate tattoo photobomb is appropriate 😉 8y
KarenaFagan That was the happiest accident ever. 8y
stacybmartin Tattoo perfection! 😍 8y
34 likes3 comments
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Kelly
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My afternoon plans are purrfect

Weaponxgirl I really want to read this but it hasn't come down in price enough for me to get it and it's not in my library yet. Can't wait to hear how it is! 8y
Kelly @Weaponxgirl it's fantastic. I am a slower reader but I'm blowing through it. 8y
26 likes1 stack add2 comments