Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman

She put into words so eloquently the dehumanization of women who are overweight or obese. It was fun, funny, strong, and not once did feel sorry for herself or try to change herself in hopes people might be nice to her. I tend to despise people more when my appearance is more acceptance, all of a sudden they can turn-on a decency switch & treat you how\’d they\’d expect to be treated. Funny thing most of the 180 degree personality change is by people who could loose a couple pounds themselves, the nerve! Anyway, she\’s a brilliant writer and thinker. I admire her for this book.

This book brings to light a lot of hot items right now that should be discussed. Lindy\’s performance in this book is amazing. Her voice and enthusiasm and storytelling is infectious and you want to keep listening .. BUT after she tells a story or complains about someone that has been rude or judgmental to her, she in turn talks badly about them in a rude and judgmental manner. It\’s cyclical. That narrative is not helpful, productive, and in my opinion, promotes the wrong type of self image. It just hurt me inside to continue listening to her stories where she complains about people doing something and judges them for something she\’s also doing, just not about a controversial topic. I can tell that she really does care about the topics she covers, but her approach is harsh.

I didn\’t know this author before this book (not well enough to be excited, at the least), and I am VERY GLAD to have heard it. There are chapters I would like to use in my syllabi in the fall and winter. I would recommend this book as an eye opening approach to life in modern womanhood. She is careful to transact in intersectionality (doesn\’t pretend white women are the only people on earth). I deeply appreciate that. And she doesn\’t let any false burdens of \”correctness\” detract from her story, her life, her experiences. I greatly appreciate that. Worth the listen, for sure.

So, It\’s my pick for bookclub and I was looking around the Internet for a \”beach read\”. That was the same night Hillary clinched the nomination and when I saw the title \”Shrill\” I thought how appropriate. I emailed my bookclub ladies and started the book the next day. After about 30 minutes of listening I emailed them back and said, \”oops, probably not the book for us\” and picked another book. The first 30 minutes were so incredibly personal to me that the thought of having to discuss the book with my bookclub ladies was more then I thought I could bare. The funny thing is I have been in bookclub, every month, with these 5 women for 15 years! They know everything about me. They love me, warts and all, but this book was taking me to a place that I wasn\’t sure I could tolerate exposing to them. I can\’t remember the last time a book has made me challenge my own thoughts, stereotypes, bias, and judgements as this did. I feel simultaneously embarrassed and righteous. What a gift Lindy has given to all of us women. I only wish I had a fraction of her strength, wisdom, humor, beauty and grit. Job well done. Must read.

Unapologetically. With humor and sass, she tells us she, and we, are OK. She narrates which makes it feel like you\’re out having coffee rather than listening to an audiobook.

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