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FindingJane
Oct 24, 2014FindingJane rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Ms. Moran is a funny, ribald and strident feminist (her words). But if that were all she had going for her she’d be no different than dozens of other ballsy ladies who’ve written just how much more fun it is to buy clothes that fit their sagging bodies instead of going to the gym obsessively. Ms. Moran instead uses her considerable intelligence to dig deeply into the question of why exactly women haven’t produced great composers, architects, painters, etc., on the same scale as men. She points out in scathing terms why it’s not liberating being a pole dancer or stripper and reveals—surprise!—that high-heeled shoes can’t be worn by anybody, even the models who are paid to sell them. She can state with equal conviction why a woman should or should not have children and support both sides without coming into conflict or wearying the reader with heavy-handed polemic. Some of her English colloquialisms can produce head-scratching perplexity (what exactly is a Womble?) but she’s English; accept it and move on. Her viewpoints are refreshing, thought provoking and laugh-out-loud funny. Her photo on the back shows a slightly heavy-set woman with a rumpled cardigan over a polka-dotted dress, heavy leggings and pull-up Frye boots. She looks just like an ordinary gal and her book makes her sound like somebody you’d want as a friend, the kind who’ll help you with the kids and then go out with you to the pub to get roaring drunk. Where was she when I was growing up?