I’m torn, so I’ll say 3.5. This is undoubtedly an important read. Following the growth of feminism from the 1960s to the present day shows how the role of women has changed, but also how much has stayed the same. The points of ‘what happened in this year’ throughout the history of the story show that we are still in an age of pay gaps and where #metoo movements are needed. Leonie would be frustrated.
But Leonie herself is also frustrating. Her character is selfish, is is for herself rather than for her ‘sisters’ as she claimed to be. Jealous and resentful of Vee for being successful. Claiming that Vee had to sell out to be a success rather than being appreciative of the progression for women she claimed to want. Vee’s character was also aggravating; she judged Erica’s fashion sense and nose job for conforming to what men expect of her - what if she wanted to wear heels and make up for herself, not for a man? Leonie becomes obese so as to not conform to man’s view of beauty - yet suffers and spites herself in order to do this. Assuming everything a woman does is to please or oppose men assumed that women have no rights or mind for themselves and thus counters the purpose of this book! Hence why I am torn.
I did also expect a greater twist in Leonie’s death. This secret unspoken photograph feels as though it should have a more dramatic revelation. I suppose the message is that it is the little things that everyone does which can make a difference for women; she did not need to become a dramatic martyr for that cause, because no one should have to become a martyr for their cause.
All gripes aside, I hugely enjoyed the structure of this book. The consistent switches between the past and present, with the informative excerpts from the exhibition interwoven, and interesting snippets of history gave this book a riveting format. Embracing the factual history in which this fictional narrative is set - the formatting of this book is as much a work of art as Vee’s photographs themselves.
But Leonie herself is also frustrating. Her character is selfish, is is for herself rather than for her ‘sisters’ as she claimed to be. Jealous and resentful of Vee for being successful. Claiming that Vee had to sell out to be a success rather than being appreciative of the progression for women she claimed to want. Vee’s character was also aggravating; she judged Erica’s fashion sense and nose job for conforming to what men expect of her - what if she wanted to wear heels and make up for herself, not for a man? Leonie becomes obese so as to not conform to man’s view of beauty - yet suffers and spites herself in order to do this. Assuming everything a woman does is to please or oppose men assumed that women have no rights or mind for themselves and thus counters the purpose of this book! Hence why I am torn.
I did also expect a greater twist in Leonie’s death. This secret unspoken photograph feels as though it should have a more dramatic revelation. I suppose the message is that it is the little things that everyone does which can make a difference for women; she did not need to become a dramatic martyr for that cause, because no one should have to become a martyr for their cause.
All gripes aside, I hugely enjoyed the structure of this book. The consistent switches between the past and present, with the informative excerpts from the exhibition interwoven, and interesting snippets of history gave this book a riveting format. Embracing the factual history in which this fictional narrative is set - the formatting of this book is as much a work of art as Vee’s photographs themselves.