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Original poster

Sarah Ditum Review of Laurie Penny's Book

72 replies

Igneococcus · 29/01/2022 08:37

In teh Times:
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a63ee364-7ed9-11ec-8532-85a58274df7c?shareToken=18c412a5aaec75d84e179df684a9646d

OP posts:
timeisnotaline · 29/01/2022 11:26

Now that is awesome writing. From Sarah, obviously. A very impressive petard hoisting.

JoodyBlue · 29/01/2022 11:25

Bangin review. I have so missed things that make me laugh properly. The throwing around of "fascist" recalls Rik from "The Young Ones" to me. Anyone old enough to remember that?

FOJN · 29/01/2022 11:17

Thank you Grin

FingerbangingInBerlin · 29/01/2022 11:15

Very disappointed we don't have a "fingerbanging in Berlin" username yet

Happy to oblige Smile

Corsirosenthalbox · 29/01/2022 11:02

So polite. So lacerating.

FOJN · 29/01/2022 11:01

I haven't read the book but the review makes LP seem a bit confused. The category of woman does not fully describe LP's lived experience but there is no universal experience of womanhood or manhood. So womanhood and manhood exist and can accommodate unique experiences but LP is so unique they can't embrace womanhood?

Very disappointed we don't have a "fingerbanging in Berlin" username yet.

Classicblunder · 29/01/2022 10:56

Someone or other once called Laurie "the left's equivalent of Richard Littlejohn"

Grin
WarriorN · 29/01/2022 10:54

How rude.

It identifies as currywurst.

Original poster
Igneococcus · 29/01/2022 10:52

That is not a Currywurst "Warrior*

OP posts:
WarriorN · 29/01/2022 10:51

(Bernard.)

WarriorN · 29/01/2022 10:51

Depends.

Did it involve sosig?

highame · 29/01/2022 10:50

Fabulous review, what a read and the comments are great. I doubt Penny will be embarrassed, she'll put it down to uneducated, awfulies (new word) You can also used fulies which are less awful. This is about as sensible as her book

BernardBlackMissesLangCleg · 29/01/2022 10:48

i must admit the deep fried, bread crumbed, sauce slathered crisp slices of science did make me want to go to the kitchen and rustle up a seriously unhealthy snack

probably because I'm a laydee isn't it?

ArabellaStrange · 29/01/2022 10:47

I can almost guarantee that the sexual encounters I've had over the course of my lifetime were better and more varied than the number of hot dinners this woman has consumed.
That was of course before I developed a good dose of healthy self esteem.

WarriorN · 29/01/2022 10:45

I'll admit I'd like to read it now to actually understand what she's trying to say.

If I can cope wading through all the food laden prose.

Sounds like the ready steady cook version of Butler.

JustWaking · 29/01/2022 10:45

Brilliantly written review!

WarriorN · 29/01/2022 10:44

I predict currywurst will be new mn lingo for certain things.

🌭

PermanentTemporary · 29/01/2022 10:33

I'm interested in any book that is stirring up such a reaction. I agree 'need' was an overstatement. I'm particularly interested in books that are about women who no longer see themselves as women, as I have 2 18-year old friends who are doing this.

KimikosNightmare · 29/01/2022 10:30

“This is a story about the choice between feminism and fascism,” says Penny.

“Fascism” is nothing but a placeholder here for “things Laurie Penny thinks are bad” - what that actually means.

"Fascism" or "fash" is doing a lot of heavy lifting these days. I don"t "need" to read this book.

Helleofabore · 29/01/2022 10:20

It is always good to read books which may challenge your thinking though.

Or even just challenging books to read.

KimikosNightmare · 29/01/2022 10:18

@PermanentTemporary

I need to read this book. Whatever LP calls themselves, they're still female and as such can write authentically about the female experience, which certainly seems to include rejecting being a woman.
Why do you need to read this book?

I can't imagine why anyone would want or need to read it.

What is so important about reading about "the female experience" from the point of view of Penny?

Helleofabore · 29/01/2022 09:59

I was going to say hidden under the aoli, but warrior beat me to it.

TheCurrywurstPrion · 29/01/2022 09:59

@MiladyBerserko

Who is going to take the name curryworst first?
On it!
WarriorN · 29/01/2022 09:57

She's hoping it's hidden beyond all recognition under all the currywurst.

ThePrionOne · 29/01/2022 09:56

“Crisp slices of genuine scientific inquiry are battered in the heavy crumb of convenient fictions, deep fried in received wisdom and smothered in the special sauce of popular prejudice so they’re easier to swallow for those who already have their mouths full of comforting lies.”

Oops! Laurie inadvertently slipped up here. Perhaps it’s Freudian. Despite all the coatings and word salad, she concedes that the very heart of our argument is based on genuine scientific enquiry.