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Rachel Cooke's Observer review of the Laurie Penny book

43 replies

RoyalCorgi · 06/02/2022 19:13

It's not online yet - I don't know why. But you can read it here:

twitter.com/JudyWeb92176381/status/1490364936836497421/photo/1

Enjoy.

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IntermittentParps · 09/02/2022 08:49

The Irish Times one is interesting. It takes the view that, rather than rehash old tropes about sexism and feminism, it's deliberate to highlight that 'these discussions still need to be held' and that this is 'wearying'.
I don't know if Penny meant it that way or not.
It's a bit self-contradictory: 'The work relies on frequent anecdotes' but 'they have also done the research, and a groundwork of reading and statistics underpins all of their observations, making it harder to dismiss, as no doubt plenty will do.'
I may need to read it; Rachel Cooke's review doesn't suggest any particular rigour in research.

Helleofabore · 09/02/2022 08:45

Deliriumoftheendless

Grin
Deliriumoftheendless · 09/02/2022 06:20

Why single some baby animals out?

It’s very ottering.

PurgatoryOfPotholes · 09/02/2022 02:47

@WhereYouLeftIt

Has Penny had any good reviews?
Finally here one comes.

This is the first positive one I've read, out of six!

www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/sexual-revolution-modern-fascism-and-the-feminist-fightback-1.4789890

Helleofabore · 08/02/2022 21:28

Baby otters. GrinGrinGrin

allmywhat · 08/02/2022 16:38

Anyway, this made me laugh.

omg. Amazing.

I'm almost sorry for her.

oh ffs, they has pronouns, I hate having to go back and redo the pronouns. I retract my ill-considered sympathy.

Clymene · 08/02/2022 15:51

GrinGrinGrin

Gynaesaur · 08/02/2022 11:02

It's a brilliantly scathing review. I've not seen much from Laurie Pennie before, but everything I have seen displays such an incredible lack of self awareness yet such abundance of self absorption.

Anyway, this made me laugh.

Rachel Cooke's Observer review of the Laurie Penny book
Abhannmor · 07/02/2022 22:50

Suzanne Moore did a very funny review. She stuck to 'they' throughout iirc. Which is kind of endearing yet mocking. I think I'd quite like LP as a drinking partner. But really..

KittyLeMew · 07/02/2022 22:16

Wonderful!

Gumbomambo · 07/02/2022 22:02

Penny is very upset by the mis gendering and had the piece removed and re edited to include her they them status. Good for Penny her timeline is full of “oh my god this is hideous, are you ok?” Also lots of will buy your book hun. Even more amusing a call to boycott the guardian/observer, I know many posters here and women in RL that have stopped their subscriptions. I wonder if slowly slowly the message has started to creep through.

DomesticatedZombie · 07/02/2022 17:04

'ill-edited, ill-considered drivel' - yowch. Excoriating.

FebruaryRainandSleet · 07/02/2022 16:53

Laurie Penny threw a hissy fit because Bindel had not used their preferred pronouns

There's a disconcerting 'she/they/herself/them/' meandering in this review too.

Can't say I blame Rachel, though! 'Penny theirself enjoyed a fantastically sexy weekend in Berlin' would sound odd, and 'Penny theirselves enjoyed etc etc' still odder.

pollyhemlock · 07/02/2022 16:43

Rachel Cooke’s hatchet job makes Julie Bindel’s review in The Critic look positively sympathetic. Unfortunately though Laurie Penny threw a hissy fit because Bindel had not used their preferred pronouns. When I want to read about modern feminism I’ll take Bindel and her ‘international network of powerful lesbians’ ( Pink News) over Penny’s bizarre version any day.

Original poster
RoyalCorgi · 07/02/2022 11:09

@WhereYouLeftIt

Has Penny had any good reviews?
It seems not. I notice the Guardian (as opposed to the Observer) hasn't reviewed it at all, which makes me wonder whether it's so awful that even the wokesters at the Guardian can't find anything good to say about it.
OP posts:
Ereshkigalangcleg · 07/02/2022 10:59

And yes, Penny is exactly like Rick. I can't believe I've not noticed before. Once seen, never unseen

LOL yes

IntermittentParps · 07/02/2022 10:33

Excellent. I do like Rachel Cooke, whether she's taking down poor 'academic' writing or musing on nostalgic food.

WarriorN · 07/02/2022 09:58

Seems to be one of the main things said about it though; I can't help thinking they's mainly written it based on their personal experiences and views on twitter.

I wonder if there's a generation of writers who missed the clamping down in universities of copying everything off the internet and from other student's work?

I'm faintly grateful I was physically forced to look up a book and study it critically via the hand typed cards in the university library pre social media. (Small library for our subject. Bigger one was computerised.)

WarriorN · 07/02/2022 09:54

Opening line of "poorly researched" is probably one of the worst things you can read of your non fiction creation.

Rubidium · 07/02/2022 09:45

The review is on The Grauniad website now. Book Of The Day!
www.theguardian.com/books/2022/feb/07/sexual-revolution-by-laurie-penny-review-playing-fast-and-loose-with-the-f-word

WarriorN · 07/02/2022 09:36

Oooff. 😬

Clymene · 07/02/2022 07:59

And thank you so much for sharing @RoyalCorgi - a joyful read Smile

VoleClock · 07/02/2022 07:56

And bonus points to Rachel for using the word "swizz"

Clymene · 07/02/2022 06:25

I bet whoever commissioned this at Bloomsbury is feeling a bit anxious.

And yes, Penny is exactly like Rick. I can't believe I've not noticed before. Once seen, never unseen

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