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Original poster

Good review of 'Hags' in the Guardian

31 replies

Tricyrtis2022 · 27/02/2023 10:43

A good read: www.theguardian.com/books/2023/feb/27/hags-by-victoria-smith-review-welcome-to-the-age-of-rage

What could be going on at the Guardian? Is there a bit of a reverse ferret happening?

OP posts:
ArabellaScott · 27/02/2023 11:03

Ooh, that's good.

lanadelgrey · 27/02/2023 11:03

It is indeed. By Rachel Cooke from the Observer who also reviewedHannah Barnes’s book.

ArabellaScott · 27/02/2023 11:03

I think Rachel Cooke is Observer, however?

RoyalCorgi · 27/02/2023 11:08

Yup, Observer. Rachel Cooke has been extremely good on gender matters, and interviewed David Bell a little while ago. I would be very surprised indeed if the Guardian reviews it - though it's interesting that they've signposted the review on their home page. I wonder who made that decision.

Original poster
Tricyrtis2022 · 27/02/2023 11:23

ArabellaScott · 27/02/2023 11:03

I think Rachel Cooke is Observer, however?

Maybe, but it was published in the Guardian and that interested me. I thought it more likely they would have hidden the link.

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TheBiologyStupid · 27/02/2023 11:48

A great review - and yes, it appears to be under the aegis of The Guardian's "Book of the Day".

Scr3wed · 27/02/2023 11:49

I saw this in Waterstones yesterday, I didn’t realise it was already out. They had the Tavistock book too, I was gobsmacked 😆

Makemetry · 27/02/2023 12:25

I was surprised to see this on the Guardian homepage today. Usually they hide the Observer reviews that they don’t like.

potniatheron · 27/02/2023 12:28

Can't wait to read this book. We hags get way too much grief and have throughout history. We're witches, we're evil MiLs, we're TERFS, we're Karens.

We make the world function.

Just read the Hannah Barnes book in one go over the weekend - could not put it down.

Definitelyrandom · 27/02/2023 12:35

The tone and approach of the pile on under the Guardian Books tweet of the review rather supports the premise of the book and the review......

ClaphamSouth · 27/02/2023 12:43

Great review! I'm skint at present but have two audible credits which are burning a hole in my pocket. I may have to spend them on Hags and Time to Think.

From Rachel Cooke's article: "Since I began writing this, I’ve received an email from a (young) man who writes to say that he considers my mere existence as beyond the pale. To pinch from Zadie Smith, doubtless this guy regards death, from his youthful vantage point, as appallingly anti-aspirational. But apparently, it will do very well for me: a bag, a bitch, a woman for whom he feels, with every fibre of his being, nothing but disgust."

I couldn't help but wonder if this was LOJ but I'm not sure he still counts as young.

IWilloBeACervix · 27/02/2023 12:47

It’s in book shops already? I’ve got it on preorder and it’s not supposed to be out till the end of the week. Oh well, that should give me chance to finish off Time to Think.

DisappearingGirl · 27/02/2023 12:56

Also reviewed by Janice Turner in the Times but I don't have a share token, sorry

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hags-by-victoria-smith-review-the-demonisation-of-middle-aged-women-qz639rzlj

TheBiologyStupid · 27/02/2023 12:58

There's an archived copy here: archive.ph/6JVFU

Xiaoxiong · 27/02/2023 13:04

How have you lot already got Time to Think, let alone finished it - I went into two different Waterstones last week, on Thursday and Saturday, and neither of them had it in stock yet.

I will ask for Hags when I check back in store tomorrow (trying hard to support the high street and not to buy everything through Amazon but they're not making it easy!)

ClaphamSouth · 27/02/2023 13:55

Xiaoxiong Hags isn't released until Thursday 2nd March, but Time to Think came out last Thursday (I think, last week anyway).

KatMcBundleFace · 27/02/2023 14:04

"shout about the Terfs and no one will notice you went to public school"

Oh my god, she's nailed that for sure.

😆

TheBiologyStupid · 27/02/2023 14:07

ClaphamSouth · 27/02/2023 13:55

Xiaoxiong Hags isn't released until Thursday 2nd March, but Time to Think came out last Thursday (I think, last week anyway).

Yes, Time to Think was released last Thursday (23rd). I got the Kindle edition as it's easier to highlight and cut-and-paste from.

ValerieDoonican · 27/02/2023 14:07

Haha @ClaphamSouth I wondered exactly the same thing (suppose it might also have been the gardening chap tho).

But unbridled vitriol is definitely LOJs style

ValerieDoonican · 27/02/2023 14:13

(Or of course just a random bloke...)

ClaphamSouth · 27/02/2023 14:36

I expect whoever it is is identifying as righteous for putting her in her place as we speak.

nepeta · 27/02/2023 16:22

'Karen' and its widespread online use shows that this book is needed. There is no equivalent name for men who act the way 'Karens' are portrayed to act, even though men are more likely to complain, feel entitled and so on. That's because it is women who are expected to be silent.

So however the term was first used (against racist middle-aged white women, I have read), it is now just a way for even the wokest person to rail against all females and not get told off as sexist. I have seen women preface their online posts with "I'm not a Karen, but.." We are going backwards.

RethinkingLife · 27/02/2023 16:24

potniatheron · 27/02/2023 12:28

Can't wait to read this book. We hags get way too much grief and have throughout history. We're witches, we're evil MiLs, we're TERFS, we're Karens.

We make the world function.

Just read the Hannah Barnes book in one go over the weekend - could not put it down.

I never think of those descriptions without this.

MavisMcMinty · 27/02/2023 17:36

Ha ha, love that @RethinkingLife !

Original poster
Tricyrtis2022 · 27/02/2023 17:41

Those dancing witches are quite something, never seen them before!

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