Sarah Ditum Review of Laurie Penny's Book

[Igneococcus]

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

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

@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?

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

Or even just challenging books to read.

“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.

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.

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

🌭

Brilliantly written review!

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.

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.

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?

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

Depends.

Did it involve sosig?

(Bernard.)

That is not a Currywurst "Warrior*

How rude.

It identifies as currywurst.

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

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.

So polite. So lacerating.

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

Happy to oblige

Thank you

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?

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

Laurie doesn't identify as a woman - is it not quite TERFy to position oneself as an expert in feminism, just on the basis of her female experience?

I loved this review. And I thought it a sign of how far the dial has moved recently that she was allowed to write in those terms in the Times, even for a paper that has allowed more GC views than most.

I think Sarah has got to the heart of what is wrong with Laurie Penny's approach. Julie Bindel's and Suzanne Moore's reviews were good, but Sarah Ditum seems to have nailed the problem perfectly.