Comments on things mean a lot: Letters From a Fainthearted Feminist by Jill Tweed...

Aarti, it's a great title, yes! And I do think...

2010-09-01T09:03:52.483+01:00

Aarti, it's a great title, yes! And I do think you'd love the book itself :D

Honestly, I put this book on my wish list even bef...

2010-09-01T05:19:43.753+01:00

Honestly, I put this book on my wish list even before seeing your review. I LOVE the title. And when I saw that she defends domesticity in it... I loved it even more.

Kathleen: I'm glad to hear it! And I hope you&...

2010-08-31T22:21:10.225+01:00

Kathleen: I'm glad to hear it! And I hope you'll enjoy it :)

Christy: Isn't it hilarious? As is Delafield, of course!

Jason: I never thought I'd see "wise" and my name used in the same sentence unironically ;) But seriously, thank you <3

Today's entry, in my 'Book of Wise Things ...

2010-08-28T02:24:03.966+01:00

Today's entry, in my 'Book of Wise Things Ms Nymeth Has Said' (a thick book, mind you):

I’ve always believed that the idea that literature should strive for timelessness and universality is overrated. One of the reasons why I read is exactly to find out how the then and elsewhere differ from the here and now.

Love the excerpt about the refrigerator repairman!...

2010-08-27T18:23:02.295+01:00

Love the excerpt about the refrigerator repairman! The voice of the book sounds very fun. So now I have to read this - and also Delafield's book.

I love the excerpt, it makes me want to read the b...

2010-08-27T17:59:22.157+01:00

I love the excerpt, it makes me want to read the book.

This is one of the books that I can recommend to e...

2010-08-27T10:45:32.731+01:00

This is one of the books that I can recommend to everyone. It is a very interesting book and I know that story inside of it has a good lessons that we should all learn.

raych: My offer to Debi extends to you - once I...

2010-08-27T08:57:58.984+01:00

raych: My offer to Debi extends to you - once I'm in the UK I'll keep an eye out for used copies for you both,

Kate: I swear, the whole waves thing confuse me :P But yes, that's more or less the moment this book catches. People tend to see feminism as a lot less varied and inclusive than it is, which is a pity! I hope you manage to find a copy of this.

Claire: I love how book bloggers bring these lost gems to the attention of one another - I wouldn't have heard of it myself if not for Kristy at Other Stories!

Trisha: People tend to assume that certain arrangements can only be revealing of a power imbalance, which is certainly not true. There balance between abstract gender politics and concrete personal relationships never ceases to fascinate me. I think you'd enjoy this a lot!

Kim: I do think it's been changing, yes - or at least I hope so! Even in the past it was probably not that there was no space, but that the most dismissive members were the loudest. Which of course has its consequences.

This sounds like it could be a really good book. O...

2010-08-27T02:48:44.294+01:00

This sounds like it could be a really good book. One of the challenges I've always had with feminism, and something that's been a sticking point for my mom, is the idea of domesticity and women who choose to be moms. For awhile, I don't think there was space for that in the movement, but I also think it's changing and has changed a lot.

It is wonderful to see a book "about what hap...

2010-08-27T00:06:49.811+01:00

It is wonderful to see a book "about what happens when idealism meets the constraints of reality". An onlooker to my life may think I believe in "traditional gender roles" because the home is most definitely my domain. I have a full-time job as a college professor, but I only have to go in to work three days a week. Hence the cooking, shopping, laundry, etc. generally falls to me; whereas my husband, who is a farmer, works 14 hour days and does very little regarding housework. (I hate cleaning and he doesn't have the time, so we have someone come in once a month and clean.) We have these roles out of necessity, practicality, and logic, not because of some ridiculous belief that my female parts make me more suited to folding clothes than his male parts.

Thanks for the suggestion!

As a fan of The Diary of a Provincial Lady,...

2010-08-26T22:52:03.907+01:00

As a fan of The Diary of a Provincial Lady, epistolary novels in general, and anything dealing with the struggle between feminist ideology and domestic necessity, sounds like this is the book for me! Thank you for bringing it to my attention; it's certainly not a title I've ever come across before.

Oh...I MUST read this book! Why does it have to be...

2010-08-26T19:07:48.637+01:00

Oh...I MUST read this book! Why does it have to be out of print? I've been slowly working on educating myself in feminist theory which is a daunting task - lots of literature out there - and I would love to read this! Especially (I think) because it was probably dabbling at the beginning of third wave and we're flirting with fourth wave feminism these days (but again, "I think" since I'm still trying to keep everything straight!) People can be feminist in so many ways; I think feminism is all about having the freedom to choose what you want - your life, your body, your choices, etc. The dynamic between Martha and Mary sounds so interesting and would be so good to read. (I think I play Mary to a lot of my friends' Marthas.)

Ah, weepy face (re: being out of print). I will h...

2010-08-26T18:21:48.390+01:00

Ah, weepy face (re: being out of print). I will have to mooch it or swap it or somesing.

Debi, I kept thinking of you as I read this, becau...

2010-08-26T16:35:35.077+01:00

Debi, I kept thinking of you as I read this, because it touches into so many things we have discussed! The bad news is that it's out of print, but it shouldn't be too hard to find on Paperbackswap (I got mine through Bookmooch). If not, I'm sure I can find you a used copy after I move :D PS: And from YOU I'd welcome a spinning hug :P

Zibilee: Aww, you don't like the writing? I loved Martha's voice! She cracked me up. I can see how it's not for everyone, though.

Amy: It is, but full of food for thought too! You'd like it a lot :)

Brenna: Do read this, and do read Delafield! Both are a lot of fun, and plenty more too.

Kathy: Yes, exactly!

Lightheaded: It's an interesting term, yes :P

Jenny: Oh dear, I hope that "occasional" didn't sound itself dismissive! I haven't seen much of it either way in real life, because there are very few people here I can talk about feminism with without them rolling their eyes at me. But I was trying to be cautious because I didn't want to sound like I was saying "feminism always does this and therefore it sucks" :P Anyway, yes, it sounds like it is a lot more than just occasional :\ And to end on a bright note, I think you'd definitely enjoy this! And Mumsy too :P

Oh yay, an epistolary novel that is also funny and...

2010-08-26T16:22:35.213+01:00

Oh yay, an epistolary novel that is also funny and also contains feminism stuff.

Does the dismissal of the traditionally female lifestyle seem "occasional" to you in real life? I feel like it's pretty widespread, and I live in a conservative state. When I say I want to stay home with my eventual kids, I get a very disapproving vibe until I say I also want to write books. And then people will say "Oh, okay," like being a stay-at-home mother is only an acceptable choice if you're doing something else too. Hrmph.

I like the term fainthearted feminist. I&#...

2010-08-26T16:14:07.791+01:00

I like the term fainthearted feminist. I'd very much like to read this.

It is difficult to proclaim yourself as a feminist...

2010-08-26T16:13:34.658+01:00

It is difficult to proclaim yourself as a feminist when you accept a traditional role for yourself, but I do think part of the change that the feminist movement brought about is the right to have a choice in the role you choose. This book sounds great!

This sounds like a really interesting book. You...

2010-08-26T15:15:44.700+01:00

This sounds like a really interesting book. You've also reminded me I've got to get my hands on some E.M. Delafield. Thanks for your review.

What an interesting book. I think it really hits a...

2010-08-26T14:41:36.868+01:00

What an interesting book. I think it really hits an important issue - feminists dismissing housewives or people thinking that the movement dismisses them. Sounds like a fun read.

The idea of this book sounds very intriguing, but ...

2010-08-26T13:51:24.964+01:00

The idea of this book sounds very intriguing, but judging from the writing style in the sections that you quoted, I am not sure this would be a book for me, which is too bad because I think the book deals with some very interesting topics!

Oh Ana, I just want to give you one of those huge ...

2010-08-26T12:56:16.617+01:00

Oh Ana, I just want to give you one of those huge hugs where I spin you around in circles. (Don't worry, I wouldn't actually do that...so I hope you now don't want to go into hiding when Rich and I come over to visit. :P) But you did just make me very happy--I've never heard of this book, and I can just tell how much I would adore it! That passage about the refrigerator repairman made me laugh out loud. And then the last passage, well, it made me cringe...and you know why. Thanks so much for the review, Ana!!!