Bridget O. (sixteendays) -
This is a difficult review to write. Cassandra has had an incredible, nearly unbelievable life. She's created a life around her with her strength, talent, and wit. She has spent a life standing up for really imporant things and being a 'strong yet sexy' role model long before society was ready to accept a woman being both of those things.
The book is also very well written, engaging, and funny. The woman can set a scene!
All this being said, and even though it in all encompassed a small amount of the book, there are multiple instances of incredibly uncomfortable fatphobia. Additionally, in a powerful chapter about sexual assult, she outright states that it's impossible for a woman to assult a man, which is so far from correct. I would be lying if I said that didn't boil my blood, and I almost put the book down permanently.
In the end, I am glad I finished the book. I am glad to know more about her life. These issues did impact how much I enjoyed the read. I'm choosing to mention them perhaps as trigger warning, or perhaps because I am just the kind of person that but can't help but point out this type of behavior when I see it.
The book is also very well written, engaging, and funny. The woman can set a scene!
All this being said, and even though it in all encompassed a small amount of the book, there are multiple instances of incredibly uncomfortable fatphobia. Additionally, in a powerful chapter about sexual assult, she outright states that it's impossible for a woman to assult a man, which is so far from correct. I would be lying if I said that didn't boil my blood, and I almost put the book down permanently.
In the end, I am glad I finished the book. I am glad to know more about her life. These issues did impact how much I enjoyed the read. I'm choosing to mention them perhaps as trigger warning, or perhaps because I am just the kind of person that but can't help but point out this type of behavior when I see it.
