Tag Archives: Gender

Sweet by Claire G Coleman

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for kindred 12 queer book cover

Title: Sweet
Author: Claire G Coleman
In: Kindred (Michael Earp)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Gender, LGBTQI
Dates read: 22nd May 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Walker Books
Year: 2019
5th sentence, 74th page: No school could teach me what I needed to learn.

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Synopsis

In a world of no gender identity, what will happen when one girl figures out that she’s a she, not a they?

Thoughts

I’ve read a novel by Coleman not long ago. And what struck me most about her writing was the fact that she was able to take issues which are constantly occurring in our daily lives, flip them on our head and make you see things from a totally different perspective. The fact that she did that in this short story, all based around gender, made me literally clap my hands in joy.

I love that this is a world in which there is NO gender. It drives towards this idea that we have – that gender completely defines who we are. And that there are only two options; male or female. I may identify as a woman myself, but I don’t think that that completely defines me. Completely removing all identifications of gender throughout this story was a great stroke of brilliance. It made you think a little bit more about what makes a person a person, rather than how gender makes a person…

The other thing that removing all gender in this world did was remind us what prejudice against those who don’t fit into our schemes does. Instead of being attacked and hunted because the characters don’t fit a binary gender – they become attacked and hunted because they do. We’d like to think that this doesn’t happen anymore in today’s society. But that most certainly isn’t the case and this was a great reminder of that.

<- I Like Your RotationLight Bulb ->

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Taking Loup by Bruce Glassco

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for sirens and other daemon lovers book cover

Title: Taking Loup
Author: Bruce Glassco
In: Sirens and Other Daemon Lovers (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Gender, Paranormal fantasy, Werewolves
Dates read: 19th May 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: EOS
Year: 1998
5th sentence, 74th page: Sometimes there are bandages on his face, and he claims that he cut himself shaving or fell through a window.

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Synopsis

A total gender reversal is occurring in this great short story where women are suddenly the dangers, and men feel scared when they’re alone in the dark…

Thoughts

To be honest, it can be kind of terrifying sometimes to be a woman in the world today. I can only imagine what it would be like for women in the past, for those in a developing country… what I loved about this short story was that it totally flipped all of the expectations of what a women experiences on its head. A total and utter gender reversal.

Gender reversal stories are always something that enjoy and feel pulled in by. After all, they make you re-examine some of the things that you just take for granted. This didn’t do that so much for me, because I’m already aware of how scary that it can be for women… but there have been others which do make me seriously re-examine even the way I think about gender.

I thought that it was somewhat brilliant to use werewolves and the Loup virus to explain the feelings and experiences of women on a daily basis. The use of violence, fear and confusion when the man is talking about his past and future… the iconic moment at the end when he just can’t fall asleep… yeah, it works incredibly well…

<- Persephone, or Why the Winters Seem to be Getting LongerSnow White, Blood Red ->

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Signed Confession by Martin Feekins

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of jack the ripper stories book cover

Title: Signed Confession
Author: Martin Feekins
In: The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper Stories (Maxim Jakubowski)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Crime, Gender, Historical fiction
Dates read: 12th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: In the interests of equal rights, I am going home and you can finish the work here, work that can be done equally well by a man as by a woman.

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Synopsis

Twenty-two years have passed since the last Jack the Ripper murder and change is in the air. But when one woman’s walk home quickly turns sinister, she discovers that the darkness might not have completely left her city.

Thoughts

This short story takes place twenty-two years after the final canon Ripper murder. Unlike all of the other stories in this collection which take place in either modern-day society or at the time of the murders. It was nice to have a story that not only left you with an idea of some of the scars left on the city, but also with a bit of an ending to the Ripper tale.

Jack the Ripper is the most famous of serial killers. He’s the one that is known across the world in almost every household. Even if you don’t even know what he did, you know the name. Which meant that it was kind of beautifully poetic that throughout this story… it’s kind of about him not having that immortality. There is a chance that his true identity will be revealed. But rather than allowing that, the lead female decides that it’s better if some things are kept secret.

This story also highlights that turning of women’s rights. The beginning stirrings of fighting for a right to vote, a right to exist, and a right to be. It’s only touched upon, but it’s enough of a story line that you don’t want to forget about it.

 <- Bluebeard’s Wife ReviewAutumn of Terror Review ->
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Bluebeard’s Wife by Catherine Lundoff

Book Review, ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of jack the ripper stories book cover

Title: Bluebeard’s Wife
Author: Catherine Lundoff
In: The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper Stories (Maxim Jakubowski)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Crime, Gender
Dates read: 9th December 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: He would have to brew another tonic for her and try again.

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Synopsis

He’s just trying to teach his wife and maids a lesson… luckily they find a way to teach him one too.

Thoughts

This short story seriously highlights the archaic and incredibly disturbed ideas that some people have about women. Or at least, the leading theory of the day in which Jack the Ripper was stalking the streets of Whitechapel. And somehow, reading a voice that found a way to completely justify his actions… far more terrifying than a mad man. A mad man is sick. The Ripper in this version just thought he was doing his husbandly duties… so many levels of not okay.

I actually really struggled to get through this short story. it focused on the idea that female flesh is corrupted and serves to corrupt. It’s not the first time I’ve come across this theory and attitude. But it doesn’t get any more palatable no matter how many times I read it… there is just something extra disturbed about such an idea.

Having said all of that, I would still recommend that people read this. Because the ending to this story is brilliant. And it made me feel so much better about all the horrible thoughts and feelings I was going through as the story unfolded.

 <- The Monster’s Leather ReviewSigned Confession Review ->
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