Thank you so much to the wonderful people Riverhead Books for providing my free copy – all opinions are my own.
Book Description:
Greer Kadetsky is a shy college freshman when she meets the woman she hopes will change her life. Faith Frank, dazzlingly persuasive and elegant at sixty-three, has been a central pillar of the women’s movement for decades, a figure who inspires others to influence the world. Upon hearing Faith speak for the first time, Greer- madly in love with her boyfriend, Cory, but still full of longing for an ambition that she can’t quite place- feels her inner world light up. And then, astonishingly, Faith invites Greer to make something out of that sense of purpose, leading Greer down the most exciting path of her life as it winds toward and away from her meant-to-be love story with Cory and the future she’d always imagined.
My Review:
This is my first Wolitzer novel, but it certainly won’t be my last. The characters are intelligent, interesting, authentic, and endearing. This brilliant novel highlights self-actualization, meaningful relationships, and family dynamics, all with the central theme of feminism. Wolitzer is a thoughtful and genius storyteller and I will tell you why: I devoured this book in just a few hours.
The story begins with Greer Kadetsky, a shy freshman at Ryland College. During her first weekend there, she is groped at a fraternity party and receives an indifferent response from the college. She attends an event to see a feminist icon named Faith Frank speak. Greer raises issue regarding her college experience during the question-and-answer session, so Faith hands her a business card, which ultimately leads to a career opportunity at Faith’s foundation, Loci, that sponsors feminist conferences. We follow Greer’s life along with her mentor Faith, boyfriend Cory, and best friend, Zee.
The writing is exquisite and Wolitzer is a master at characterization. I loved every single one of them, and Cory is one of my favorites! And even though the story centers on Greer, I like that we also get perspectives from the supporting characters. Sections of the narrative were focused solely on individual characters and their backstory which really drew me in. Wolitzer touches on a wide range of important issues that ultimately explore the definition of feminism. THE FEMALE PERSUASION is insightful, witty, clever, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I fell hard for Wolitzer’s writing style and her astute observations, so I will definitely be picking up more of her books.
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars!
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