Book Reviews

I have had this book for a while and for some reason I had other books that I decided to read first. I am a strong believer everything happens for a reason and felt I read this book at just the right time for me.. there were so many aspects of me that fell in place for me after reading this book. 

There were so many sections to this book I could relate to and so rather than doing a typical book review this is possibly a blog that offers me some therapeutic value, so feel free to stop reading now!! I loved how the book was able to bring in all different aspects to feminism from peoples perspectives based on Deborah's conversations. 

Through the book different sections of the book start with …

“I’m a feminist but”

There was so many I could relate and..

I am a feminist but I am perfectly capable of hearing a man shout, ‘Hey sexy!’ and thinking “that’s awful- still got it” in one clear thought!

This stems from my fear of getting and looking old!

I’m a feminist but one time I went on a Womens March and popped into a department store to use the loo and on the way back , I got distracted trying out face creams and when I came out, the match was gone. 

This obviously hasn’t happened to me, but I am quite capable of it doing so!

I’m a feminist but I secretly love the movie Pretty Women and, in truth, I am open to the idea of Richard Gere paying to enter me on a grand piano.

I think everyone knows I LOVE this film and there is certainly no secret about it! 

I’m a feminist but sometimes I fantasise about being sexually dominated by famous, fictitious misogynist Don Draper and, in truth, if he were to meet me, I could make him whole and heal his pain. 

A don’t feel the need to add a comment on this one!

As a leader of a Womens and Girls charity, - I do struggle with the word feminist  - as a few of my previous blogs have explored. As this book explores it can have a stigma attached, but reading this book further it made me question why I even worry about that stigma. Then further in the book I found my answer, it is because I didn’t want people to think I was a man hater. Which again I have explored in a previous blog.  Some of my biggest supporters of our charity journey have been men, so I would never want to be associated with being a man hater. However what I should do is own the feminist title and then start to prove others wrong if they already have a preconceived idea. 

What the book also explores is that its not men that are the problem, its the patriarchy - which I know is usually made up of men  - or my worst type of people, women that love being in a “mans world” and really don’t care about other women so long as they are OK. These women really do grind on me!

My passion has always been to make sure that there are women at the top table to make decisions that impact women - so in essence to challenge the patriarchy. As this book explores its that, that needs to change. 

The book briefly mentions the challenges that men are facing, this definitely is a concern of mine as women fight more and achieve more equality we need to make sure that men know where they fit in as well. The world is changing for them also and we need to show compassion and have systems in place that support them, at the moment I really don’t think there is. 

In the book Deborah, along with others, explore intersectionality and why that is important in relation to feminism in the 21st century. I know I have a long way to go to fully understand race, disability and sexuality in relation to feminism - but what I do know is that the word feminism to me still has the connotation of white middle class. As the book explains feminism needs to be fully inclusive for positive change for all women, not the select few. 

Again something that I can change by collaborating with others. 

The interviews and the honesty in this book is what I loved  - everyone bringing something to the table from their own experiences and values - but all working towards the same thing equality for women. 

This book really compliments the other book that I have reviewed The F word, which allowed me to appreciate that feminism can mean different things to different people. 

So I end this review owning that I am a feminist, I am proud and I am sure I will go back to this book many times again to get reassurance and clarity on a variety of different topics. 

Another point from the book…

In this book it has a section that looks at period poverty it seems to be mentioned in every book I read at the moment. Period poverty is not only about women not being able to afford sanitary wear but also about women in particular girls still feeling embarrassed to talk about periods and some females not truly knowing what is going on for them. 

As a leader of a women and girls charity I really feel this is an area we can help with locally and perhaps further a field. The book spurred me on  to do so and that is why I have added in here!!

Thank you Deborah

ISBN : 978-349-01012-0 

 What can I say I absolutely loved this book, my children got it me for Christmas as I has seen It in a book shop in the summer and said how good it looked. I read it in 3 days over the Christmas holidays and want to read it again. Its a bit like a history book looking back when the world stopped!

I loved this book as it was a written as a balance between Sarah and Catherine's personal and professional lives. Their honesty throughout the book was very humbling and the book really got me thinking about what took place in the world of science when the pandemic was announced.

Although written by 2 amazing women this is not my usual type of book to read but I loved everything about it. The science, the politics, the ethics around vaccinations, the way teams worked behind the scenes to make the vaccination roll out a success. 

This book made me realise that we knew very little about what was really going on in the world during the first 12 months of covid. Why so many people were at home complaining that their life was being impacted even though all they were being asked was to stay at home. There was a team of people working so bloody hard, without a day of for weeks to get the country back in back to some kind of order. These people didn’t seek reward they just did what they knew they needed to do and personally I will be so grateful. 

What I also loved about this book and everything that surrounds Covid was how it made Science exciting and how Science can literally change lives.

And of course I loved this book because it was written by 2 amazing female scientists that didn’t make a big issue about being females throughout the book they just explained life during the first 12 months of covid from their perspective. 

This is a short book review as all would say is everyone should read it, there really is something for everyone in the book. Its a piece of history and book I am sure I will go back to time and time again.   

ISBN 978- 1-529 -36985 -4

I have had this book for a while and have been going back to it and reading parts of it every now and then. However because I didn’t really have a campaign that I was working on it didn’t really offer me any information. BUT NOW .. I am working on campaigning for the Ada statue in Crewe the book had a whole knew meaning for me.

I started the book again from the beginning and found it so insightful and informative. The way the book is written by Gina really worked for me. Written in very clear sections and within those sections it was almost a tick list that I could produce from each section. What I also liked is that Gina explained how she personally worked through each stage and then left sections for the reader to add in their action plan. This exactly the kind of thing that I like!

Even though my campaign is very different from Gina's Campaign ( to change the law on upskirting) it didn’t matter - a campaign is a campaign and the steps that need to take place are the same:

• People to understand what you are trying to do
• The need to convince people that the campaign is worth it
• The way social media and media needs to be tackled

The list goes on and the book explains every step from start to finish.

What I also loved about this book was the story of Gina. I am always fascinated by what drives women to do what they do, especially when it outside of what needs to be done as part of work etc. The passion, the energy that drives us to influence change. Gina explains throughout the book what challenges she faced and how she over came them. The book is honest and humbling and I loved it!

This book needs to be read by anyone thinking of campaigning,

ISBN 978-0-7515-7788-4

This book was extremely informative for me as I start a campaign to get a statue of Ada Nield Chew in my home town of Crewe. The book is a tour of statues in Britain - not all but covered many.

This books is split into sections which I found was really easy to read:

Sport personalities 

Nude Statues

Musical Statues

BAME Statues

Women's Statues, and many more.

I was obviously really interested in the Women's statue section, it highlighted that there is a big difference between male statues and female statues, a fact that I already knew, but needed to read it again. It also highlighted the campaigns that are and have been in place for Women's Statues such as Invisible Women and Caroline Criado Perez campaign for Millicent Fawcetts statue in Parliament Square. 

What I loved about this book was reading about all the other campaigns that have taken place to get statues in towns and cities. It reassured me our campaign can turn into a statue reality like theirs. 

In the book Roger really brought the statues to life, writing about people he had spoken to when visiting statues round the country, I found these comments really interesting as I love to find out about people's thoughts and feeling towards such topics. 

For each statue Roger provided a real insight to each statue, the history, who designed it, why the statue was in the town etc. 

This book has definitely made me want to go and visit some more women statues, in particular “Cracker Packers” in Carlisle, a statue by Hazel Reeves who we are working with for our Ada statue. 

Thank you Roger for an informative and inspiring book and thank you to my 3 children for getting me this book for my birthday - they know me so well! 

ISBN 9781472146137

At the end of 42 I am embarrassed to say that this book taught me such a lot! It was like learning all about the birds and bees all over again!

I loved this book and have gone back to it many times since. I loved how the book was split into different sections almost like a reference book. 

As a leader of a Women and Girl's charity this book gave me so much insight into what we as a charity need to focus on alongside the current mental health support that we offer. 

Period poverty really stood out for me in this book, as a charity we were already offering sanitary wear to address period poverty, but what this book made me realise is that we needed to do more to address period poverty - we need to talk about periods in a positive way and encourage others to do so. 

What I really enjoyed about this book and found extremely informative was the section called “ The facts “ it begins with the sentence :

“ the fact that, in 2016, 60 per cent of British women were unable to correctly identify the vulva in an anatomical diagram”

I dare say I would probably be in the 60% of women, I learnt so much about my body after reading this book!

Reading this book was very timely as period poverty and menopause are 2 areas that I had already decided needed to be a focus for our charity this year. This book confirmed to me we were addressing current issues for women and also gave me some food for thought about what we also need to be addressing. 

I love how the book addresses the stigma we have around some women's topics.  A lot of the topics in the book are certainly discussed in my counselling room, and it was refreshing that these topics were in the book. Orgasms, fertility, getting pregnant. 

This book addresses what need to be spoken about now for women, in a professional way without shying away from the real issues. It's a book I will go back to many times I am sure. 

ISBN - 9781911630012

I have been meaning to read this book for a long time and so glad that I finally got around to doing so. 

Ever since reading Ellen Macarthur's book when she sailed round the world, I have loved reading and hearing about people's challenges. I think it is because I like to set myself a personal physical challenge each year. 

This book explores the journey of Helen, Niki, Frances and Janette who rowed 3000 miles in a boat, breaking a world record along the way. 

The book follows the journey of them rowing starting from the very first conversations right up to the weeks after the row was complete. 

For me what I loved about the book was reading about the considerations that had to go into even thinking about taking on the challenge. The logistics of training, work, family life etc. Like any challenge most people will only see the end result (the challenge being completed) some may consider the training aspect but there is always so much more. For this challenge there really was so much to consider and throughout the book I was there with them, trying to find an answer for them. 

I loved reading about the relationship of the women, as I read more of the book I felt I got to know the women well, as this was due to how the book was written  - by each one of them. It soon became clear who was the thinker who was the leader etc. ( I won't mention who I will leave it to you to work that out). This group dynamic is all I love about women, everyone pulling on each other's strengths. 

The book captures their relationship so well and it was this aspect that kept me captivated. 

I know from completing physical challenges that there are times when our true vulnerabilities may come out. This could be through fears, exhaustion and past experiences. The book explains how these vulnerabilities were at times challenging but how they were able to support each other through using their own strength and skills.

There was a part in the book that I have read at least 5 times now, when they were on the boat and there was a storm that prevented them from rowing that night. It was described in the book in such detail that I really did think I was there. It was captivating to read how they made it through and how they continued to complete the challenge. 

As I was reading it all I kept thinking was no matter how many times they tell the story, the only ones that will really know what took place and how challenging it was, was the four of them and how that will bond them together forever!

Definitely a book I would recommend and one I am sure I will go back to. 

ISBN 978-0-00-821480-7

I read this book a couple of years ago and actually thought I had written a review, however now is a great time to write a review (as I write this it is the Women's Football World Cup). 

I am not the biggest fan of football except when my boys are playing but I wanted to read this book from a “women in sport” perspective, and this book delivered. 

It gave a fantastic insight into women's football in England. However I must say that since the book was written the Lionesses have gone from strength to strength. What this book definitely demonstrates is how bloody hard women in sport in particular football have worked to get to this point. 

What I liked about this book was the case studies  - they weren't called this in the book but it is how I perceived them. Focussing on different teams and individuals.  Clearly showing the difficulties teams and individuals have when wanting to play football.  I found myself routing for the team or the player to find the time to play or have support to put the team together. 

Since reading this book I have linked in with many grassroots women's teams in all sports and the challenges are the same that Carrie clearly outlines in the book. These challenges being:

• Finances for the team
• Volunteer support
• The teams having enough players
• The players having the time to train and play. 

All of the above are more challenging for women due to finding the time and mum guilt, a cliche I know but absolutely the reality. 

What I loved about this book is the friendships that were captured within the teams, the way that they were described really was a feel good factor. I am not in a sports team as such but part of a swimming group and cycling group. I love the friendships that I have formed and the book allowed me to reflect on this. 

This is a great read for anyone interested in women's issues, women in sport and definitely women in football.  

ISBN  978-1785315411

This was the first fiction book that I had read for a long time. I was on holiday when I read it and wanted a good read to take me away from it. This book certainly did this. I loved it. 

I read this book within 3 days which is very fast for me  - I simply could not put the book down. The characters in the book were all believable in fact I could relate each character to someone that I knew. Jessie, Cara and Nell married to Johnny, Ed and Liam. 

Each family member having their own unique issues and dealing with them in their own ways. Complex families trying to adult! What I loved about this book was the family dynamics and how each family member complimented each other. It did remind me of our family - all different individuals making a great team. 

The book had me laughing one minute and feeling sad (but in a good way) the next. 

It really did capture life as a grown up! Tough and tangled with lots of tough decisions to be made. 

In the book both mental health (eating disorders) and period poverty were addressed so sensitively. Marian clearly researched the topics well and I was completely drawn in to the issues the characters were facing and was championing them throughout the book. 

Grown ups is a modern book capturing life as an adult, the good and the not so good -  I would highly recommend it. 

ISBN  9781405918794

Slightly different book than most - but loved it. I do love the royal family and have watched lots and lots of documentaries about the Royals. This book focussed more on Ann but there were lots of stories and references to Princess Margeret, one of my favourite royals. The book looks back on the life of Ann being Princess Margaret's Lady in Waiting and more importantly her friend. So stretching back over many years. 

I love the honesty that Ann brings to this book, explaining her son's struggles with his mental health and drug addiction. Also how unhappy she was in her marriage and how her life was difficult in many ways that we couldn't imagine. 

What I found fascinating is how much I was rooting for Ann and felt for her, the book certainly wasn't written to get sympathy but a part of me really did feel sorry for her. 

I always say that mental health does not discriminate and this book clearly proves it - the book clearly describes many individuals who were struggling with their mental health, and possibly not recognised at the time. 

Setting the book aside, one thing that I have never understood is people thinking that just because you have money you can struggle with your mental health. If you didn't know who was writing this book you wouldn't realise the privileged life that Ann has, when explaining her struggles. It was honest, raw and unpretentious.

This book captured friendship and honour something I feel us females do so well! We route for each and no matter who is who, friendships can be precious.  

Most of all what I loved about this book was being on the “inside” of royal life, providing me with a glimpse through the keyhole of life in the palace and on Mustique Island. 

For me it was a feel good book that gave me my royal family fix!

ISBN  978-1432881115

I read this book a while ago and revisited it recently. Second time round for some reason the book resonated with me more - I was somehow more angry about the situation women find themselves in than I was before. Possibly because on my life's journey I am seeing a world unfolding where women again are fading into the background, while men are making the choices for us. 

The first time I read this book I felt it was an angry book looking at everything possible to make it seem that women are invisible - now I see this is a reflection of where I was at time of reading the book both emotionally and my limited understanding of the world. 

Reading it a second time was a completely different experience and I was already working on some projects that the book mentions:

A statue for Ada campaigning for a womens statue in Crewe

In the book Caroline explains how Britain has such a lack of Women's statues in comparison to men and in fact went on to campaign successfully to have a statue of Millicent Fawcett in London. 

Working with Make Space for Girls on a project questioning “Are girls being designed out of open spaces?”

Caroline also goes on to explain how spaces in particular open spaces are designed with males in mind making open spaces a place where females don't want to be and even more importantly where they feel unsafe. 

Setting up Empowerment Groups in schools to encourage females to use their voices at every opportunity

Throughout the book it is clear that the one thing females need is a voice at every table where decisions are made. Explaining that most decisions for females are made by males and that there is still a long way to go until this is changed. 

I won't go on to say more at the risk of spoiling it for you. 

This could be the bible for a feminist and women wanted to influence change for our next generation! We owe it to them. 

This is a well researched book that every women will be able to relate to. 

 ISBN 978-1784706289