Book Review: Bad Feminist

You know when you're angry and you don't know why? You just can't put words to those words that a man mansplained to you? Well, this is that book. Roxane Gay puts those words in your mouth and makes you do a fist pump for putting words to your feelings.

As a woman in this modern world, it's so freaking exhausting to have to explain over and over again why cat calling is offensive, why touching my shoulder or arm is offensive, why it's not ok to joke about rape. I mean really, if you have to be told to not do these things, you're the one with the problem, not me. At the same token, if I have to pretend to be stupid so I don't offend a man, that's fucked up too. Masculinity is not defined by MY PRETENDING THAT A MAN IS SMARTER THAN ME.

Ugh. This book really gets to me.

Also, I was concurrently reading The Underground Railroad by Colston Whitehead so I was deeply enraged (and still am!) by slavery in America. I was at the YMCA working out at the time that I finished The Underground Railroad on the stationary bike. I looked around at all the black people and I just wanted to cry. Slaves were treated like shit. Then freed. Then treated like shit again. Then were able to vote. Still treated like shit. And still in this modern day, black people are still treated like shit. How on Earth people in America deny systemic racism is beyond me.

Bad Feminist also points out the hypocrisies in Feminism - like not all Feminists are bra-burners, not all Feminists boycott male-centered movies or tv shows or books or whatnot. Women in general still like things that the public might not call Feminist. Or feminist. See? There's a difference when you see Feminist and feminist. Does one of those words look "better" to you? Right. I'm a terrible feminist (Feminist). I stay at home. I rely on my husband for money, but I'm still a feminist; I am raising my children to be respectful, kind, curious, educated, and wonderful people. I'm still a fucking feminist, albeit a Bad Feminist.

This just renewed my irritation for ignorance, misogyny, female-bashing, and other current events that piss me off. I must shake my head twice a day at news that I hear about violence against women, sexual harassment, someone saying women CAN'T do something. WHEN IS THIS GOING TO END???? WHEN CAN WOMEN STOP PRETENDING TO BE STUPID TO MAKE MEN FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES??? When can I walk on the street without carrying my keys like I'm going to stab someone with them?

Overall: if you're still pissed about current events, read this book to keep the fire lit beneath you. If your head is under a rock and you have no idea about FEMINISM, then read this book. It will make you pissed off for women and you'll want to carry a stick around to bash people over the head with it.

Book Challenge for 2016

Last year I read SO MANY BOOKS. And it was lovely. I went through books like crazy some weeks and other weeks (like when I had morning sickness or was trying to crochet for fall/winter sales) I rarely read.

Some of the best books - I started a new Scottish mystery series, currently on book 7 or 8; read some crazy young adult fiction about nuns that were hit men (or hit ladies...); tried some new sci-fi (which I've decided it's not my favorite but I'll read if I have to); joined a book club (I'll be hosting in October); and amazingly enough read a few more Outlander books in the series even though they are SO LONG.

SO onto the Popsugar Challenge link. Click here to be taken to the link for the Popsugar Challenge. Download their list of books to read. I'm thinking this year's books will be much easier than last year - plus the list is shorter too.

Now, with a newborn and a 4 year old this summer I may have some problems reading as much as I want to (or gardening or doing laundry or just vacuuming the living room), so I'm going to try and tackle what I can before May (much like how I'm still crocheting like a crazy lady so I don't have to worry as much about my items for next fall/winter sales!).

I'll try to update what I'm reading on a somewhat regular basis - though not all of the books that I read will fit into the categories.

Currently I'm still working my way through The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins when I bring The Monkey to her dance class. I'm about halfway through (but reading only 20-30 minutes per week on my phone at dance class, so hopefully I'll be finished by May).

I'm loving the library because in general I only read books once - except for the books that I REALLY love and don't mind re-reading and "wasting" my reading time over and over again. Otherwise I buy a book and try to pawn it off on people or donate it.

My current library book is Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer. EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK. Not only is it disturbing and sad and disgusting but it really opens your eyes to the problems in America. Just a fact - 90% of people who commit a rape get away with it. Does that make you mad? Because that makes me mad. Another fact - police stations still quote papers from the 70's and 80's about women who lie about rapes trying to discredit victims AND officers try to discredit victims by asking about significant others. How fucking sexist is that? THIS BOOK MAKES ME SO ANGRY FOR AMERICA. And women. And my daughter.

Moving on from my small rant about rape culture, I'm excited for this year's challenge because I think what I normally read will fit into categories - plus I want to re-read To Kill a Mockingbird and my sister gives me some awesome books that have been translated into English (from Swedish - Swedish mystery authors are really good!).

Happy reading!!!

Read Any Good Books Lately?

I started reading Night Film by Marisha Pessl and it's pretty addicting.

It starts off a bit weird, gets a little weirder and you want to stop reading it but I've kept up with it. I have about 100 pages left and so I need some new reading material!

Night Film is about an investigative reporter investigating what else... a suicide... or is it murder??? He dives deep into the girl's history and discovers some crazy secrets - the dead girl's dad is a movie director who likes the supernatural and makes horror films, somehow black witchcraft is involved, blah, blah, blah. It's a pretty good mystery. I do recommend it so far (but again, I haven't yet finished the book!).

Now that I know I need something new to read I'm debating about going back and re-reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon OR re-reading the Sookie Stackhouse series since I only got to book 8 or 9, it's been so long that I can't remember.

From a parent's perspective, I still have to finish Clutterfree with Kids and also Mindful Parenting. I've been on a weird parenting book kick lately and an even weirder "minimalist" lifestyle bender. I LOVE the concept of being a minimalist but at this very moment, I really can't picture myself doing it. There's a ton of stuff we can get rid of but I know I'd totally fail.

Read anything good enough to recommend lately???

Summer Reads

Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

Stiff by Mary Roach

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

I've also got Patty Jane's House of Curl on my list and currently I'm on page 15 of In The Woods by Tana French. I love reading, but sometimes it's hard to set aside time to do it. Hopefully having a clean back porch will motivate me to sit out there and read at night. We shall see. If you're curious to see what I've already read and MORE books on my to-read list, feel free to visit my GoodReads profile. And for the gym I've got Anne of Green Gables on my iPhone to read while I'm on the elliptical machine.

Are you reading anything exciting this summer? Any classics or books that you just HAVE to read again (like me and Anne... I LOVE her!)?

True Blood Fans, I've Got Something For You

Ahhh... Eric with his shirt off... we've finally come to my favorite book of the series!!!

AHHHHHHHHH!!!! OOOHHHHH. EEEMMMMMM. GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

I can't wait.

And now for your viewing pleasure, please click here.

Waiting Sucks: Eric

This Month's Reads

Undead and Unwed (Queen Betsy, Book 1) is by Mary Janice Davidson. It takes place in Minneapolis (of all the places for vampires and crap... it had to be Minneapolis... and trust me... not all the geography is correct though the stereotypes of Edina are) and is short, sort of stupid but easy to read. If you're going on vacation or to the beach it'd be great to bring along. The next two are on my list to read when they pop up as available on paperbackswap.com: Undead and Unemployed (Queen Betsy, Book 2) & Undead and Unappreciated (Queen Betsy, Book 3) (Berkley Sensation).

Kitchen Confidential Updated Edition: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (P.S.) I'm only about halfway through. It's very rough, straight to the point and sometimes disgusting. I like it. I like it a lot. Well, I really like the show "No Reservations" so I knew that I'd probably enjoy this. He takes you through his career, lets you in on restaurant secrets and makes you laugh. Yes, he was formally trained, but he also takes you through the early stages of his career and how he chose to become a chef and food lover... And of course, there's always the drugs, booze and sex going on in kitchens... So it's fairly good, I can't wait to have time to finish it!

Fall Reads

Murder on St. Mark's Place (Gaslight Mystery)

Voyager (Outlander)

206 Bones

Next Book on my List:

206 Bones by Kathy Reichs. If you've seen the show Bones then you've been introduced to Dr. Temperance Brennan (who happens to write a fictional novel with the fictional character Kathy Reichs). And I'm here to introduce you to the novels! Deja Dead: 10th Anniversary Edition (Temperance Brennan Novels) is the first novel and 206 Bones is the newest.

Yes, my darlings, I do love the Temperance Brennan novels! They are filled with mystery, intrigue and yes, a very hot FBI agent. If you need a good read for traveling, any of these would make a great choice!

So I'm super excited to start this one - and I'm also reading Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, Book 2) so I don't think I'll be able to confuse the two novels.

Happy Labor Day - I hope you have the day off!!

August Reading

Well, sort of. I mean it's already the end of August and I'm still not done reading Murder on Astor Place (Gaslight Mysteries) by Victoria Thompson however, I still have lots and lots of books on my to-read list.

And then I usually ooh and aahh over the Barnes & Noble Book Review emails because I just keep adding on to that to-read list. It's embarrassing really. Because I'm a dork. I happily admit it. I'd much rather spend Friday night on my couch with a book and a beer. Or maybe two beers. And my dog.

So I have to share this link to the Barnes & Noble review article that I just read. And now I just want to be home and reading. But I can't. I volunteered myself way too much this summer and I have lots and lots of catching up to do. Go figure. And cleaning. Once again, go figure.

So here's more books to add to my list. Ack. I need to commit to a reading goal and do it. Like reading 50 books in a year. Can you do it? Ugh. I don't know. I think I'd get overwhelmed.

The Cookbook Collector: A Novel

The Man Who Never Returned: A Novel

The Man Who Never Returned: A Novel

The Hundred-Foot Journey: A Novel

And of course, thanks to my mother I have this one sitting on my night table ready to read:

Sizzling Sixteen (Stephanie Plum)

July/August Read

Murder on Astor Place (Gaslight Mysteries) By Victoria Thompson.

Have not read it yet, however, it's historical fiction and mystery all rolled into one. My favorite!!! I'll start reading it tomorrow and then do a review once I'm done.

Also, I'm going camping.

That should be an adventure.

Summer Reading: What's On My List

Well, if you're not on GoodReads, then you probably don't know what's on my list of books to read. If you'd like to see my GoodReads profile, then click here.

Outlander

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

Totally a romance novel, but nonetheless, still actually fun to read and MUCH better than the Twilight series if you're interested in a new series. Yes, there's time travel, but it's not over the top or anything, it flows with the novels and makes sense. It's not all Star Trek or anything like that, instead it goes BACKWARDS in time to 1743 and the Scots. I'd re-read it all in all...

The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story

I'm still obsessed with WWII - and this takes place when Germany invaded Poland. Haven't read yet... But I want to!

Lolita by Vladimir Nobokov

Also on my list of to-read...

And of course, more historical fiction by Alison Weir including, but not limited to:
The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn
The Life of Elizabeth I
Henry VIII: The King and His Court
Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey
The Six Wives of Henry VIII
The Lady Elizabeth: A Novel (Random House Reader's Circle)

And probably more.

Anything good on your reading list that you want to share? Anything new and exciting? Boring that you think shouldn't be read?