Name: Spinster
ISBN: 9780385347136

Kate Bolick

"A single woman considers her life, the life of the bold single ladies who have gone before her, and the long arc of slowly changing attitudes towards women"--

Making a Life of One's Own

Spinster

Izza

I'm not too sure what to say about this book other than it was somewhat a comforting (?) read. I definitely want to get a physical copy and reread certain parts as I 'read' this on audiobook while driving through 1.5 snowstorms and I was distracted at times.

Bad Girl Bex

Why can't I give half stars on here? Grr.

Okay, so I ended up really liking this book, despite at first feeling as though I absolutely hated the author for what seemed like a lot of self-indulgent, introspective waffle. But I get it now. The parallels between Bolick's own life and those of her 'Five Awakeners' does make for a good framework on which to hang the individual stories of these literary ladies, even if it does sometimes sound a bit like a confessional.

The examples Bolick features are all fascinating in their own way - even if they don't all really fit into the actual definition of the word 'Spinster'; which is weird, because that is supposedly what the book is about. But the author does explain in the final paragraphs that the term is something that one can allegedly 'embrace' as a sort of state of mind, by those who feel that they can identify with the notion of an independent woman of sorts. But then, these days I suppose anyone can identify as anything, can't they? Otherkin anyone? Lol.

But silliness aside, the women featured are interesting and if you can get past/or actually like, the feminist slant given to a few parts of the book, then it's an enjoyable read. I had the audiobook version which was narrated by Bolick herself. It took me a while to get past her reading voice, because it's not a voice I'd normally expect to hear narrating for Audible; but in the end it worked because she knew exactly what emphasis to put on what, throughout the text. I don't think she should give up the day job though.

It's not bad. I didn't consider DNF-ing it at any time, but I did take a break from it for a couple of days as it wasn't as fascinating as the other books I've been reading at the same time (yeah, I read multiple books at the same time - I'm one of THOSE people, lol!) But if you're interested in the biographical lives of literary figures and/or identify as a self-styled 'Spinster' then you'll probably find something worthwhile here. It did make me giggle here and there and also gave me a couple of new books to go look up and read in future - and it wasn't as painful as I originally thought it was. I enjoyed it in parts and kinda liked it overall, but it didn't blow me away or strike me as something that I'll go around recommending to others or talk about in days to come.

If you're a feminist, you'll probably love it, lol!

Kaylee Z

First paperback edition includes "extra libris" (an additional essay by the author, recommended reading, and a reader's guide).

Spinster Making a Life of One's Own