The Vagina Monologues
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What's with the hate?
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Anything controversial is going to get very vocal haters. I'm a diehard feminist and a huge theater fan and I found The Vagina Monologues about a 3 1/2 out of five when read, and 4 stars when performed lived.The monologues vary in quality. Some were strong, others were weak, some just meh. If you read feminist literature this is pretty much required reading (right up there with The Handmaid's Tale).
Hey Mia. I enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale, and it kept me up a few nights, but it's not a favourite of mine.The book is in the form of interviews? Or rather monologues from different women? So it reads kind of like short stories?
I like short stories. I'll get it if it is that.
Hey, Fatin. I actually HATED The Handmaid's Tale lol I skimmed through it once because I knew it was a popular book, and then I was forced to read it in depth for a class, ugh.I believe Eve Ensler actually based this on interviews. They're monologues, and they basically read like short stories written in first person POV.
The monologues are humorous & sad, but they can become a bit heavyhanded. If you're looking for something short with more of a subtle feminist theme I would check out Su Tong's Raise the Red Lantern: Three Novellas.
Susanna Kaysen's memoir Girl, Interrupted is also pretty good for feminist non-fiction. It's not a short story, but it's also not a heavy book. It reads like a trippy diary lol
Mia, very possible that you hated it because you had to read it for class. Give it another shot later on! I think I will give the book a shot. If I can find it for a reasonable price.
I'll look up the other two too.
My favourite feminist novel would be The Color Purple, hands down.
initially i couldn't get through the handmaid's tale but still intend to go back and try it again. it may have been a time-in-life thing for me. but i did read the vigina monologues which convinced me i'm more of a main-streamer than a radical. but that may be b/c of my age (born 1945) ... but i recommend reading it ... you then can make up your own mind whether or not to agree (in part or in whole) with the negative comments or support it in it's essence.
girl, interrupted ... hmmm. can't remember if i read that one or saw a movie based on it. i think it was the film that connects in my mind here. and that was a moving film. but then i like winona ryder.
girl, interrupted ... hmmm. can't remember if i read that one or saw a movie based on it. i think it was the film that connects in my mind here. and that was a moving film. but then i like winona ryder.
I love The Vagina Monologues and I'm not a 'hate men feminist' or whatever it was you called it. I love that this book is intergenerational and I love that it talks about topics that are still taboo. I love the whole take back the C word piece. I love the 'must love hair' piece - a huge pet peeve of mine with our ridiculous bathing suits we dark haired fair skinned women are supposed to wear... but that's off topic... or is it? I honestly don't understand why any woman would diss this book, to feel so strongly about it that you'd take the time to write a negative review? Well, then that book hit a big nerve and we should all be grateful it exists. So, in short, read it!
I appreciate the intention of The Vagina Monologues, but the story of a neighbor woman getting a minor drunk and having sex with her was not my idea of an empowering moment. There were a few other stories that I heard in the video version that made me uncomfortable, and not in an enlightening way.
I loved The Vagina Monologues The Vagina Monologues. Some stories are better than others, however. My favorite was the "must love hair" one. I also liked the one about the Bosnian rape survivors. I'm a huge fan of Eve Ensler's tireless work. On a side note, I don't think it's necessary to qualify your declaration as a feminist. If people think feminists hate men, that's their problem, not ours. Furthermore, there's nothing ethically incorrect with being angry at injustice and inequality.
Erica wrote: "I loved The Vagina Monologues The Vagina Monologues. Some stories are better than others, however. My favorite was the "must love hair" one. I also liked the one about the Bosnian rape survivors. I..."Erica, I agree with your analysis of not needing to qualify your declaration as a feminist. I wish Goodreads had a LIKE button. :)
Haha Erica if you are still following this thread, I just read your comment. On a side note, I don't think it's necessary to qualify your declaration as a feminist. If people think feminists hate men, that's their problem, not ours.
I've had this particular problem. I like in Pakistan, and well, being an outspoken feminist is hard here. People have this idea of feminists that's just...anyway so I used to always back up my "I'm a feminist" with something, and just today I wrote an angry blogpost about how enough is enough and I'm done explaining myself;
http://bloodcherrie.blogspot.com/2013...
Hey Fatin! I just read your post. It's awesome! Keep up the good work!
Fatin, just read your blog post. I agree. Great post! Well put.
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Raise the Red Lantern: Three Novellas (other topics)
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The Vagina Monologues (other topics)Raise the Red Lantern: Three Novellas (other topics)
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The Vagina Monologues (other topics)
...so should I read it? I don't want to waste my time, or shout at the world when I'm done/still reading the book.
(I'ma feminist, but not one of those angry, we-hate-men feminists.)