‘Feminism has gone too far' a man told me on a dating app last year. It was his opening line, which was incredibly charming and transformed my vagi‘Feminism has gone too far' a man told me on a dating app last year. It was his opening line, which was incredibly charming and transformed my vagina into a waterslide, just desperate to have sex with him (read: as dry as the Sahara and I deleted the dating app for a week) it was one of many absolutely sensual, romantic lines I had been presented with in the two years I had spent swiping in Australia's second largest city in a year I wrongly believed to be further progressed than 1912.’
Taboo is an exploration of the often unspoken aspects of womanhood. This part memoir, part feminist manifesto delves into themes of sex, body image, relationships, career, and friendship, intertwining deeply personal anecdotes with sharp, accessible insights. Ferguson’s voice is unapologetically raw and relatable, aiming to dismantle societal stigma and empower readers to have the conversations many avoid.
The book stands out for its candid reflections on the shame and social conditioning that often accompany topics like female sexuality and self worth. Ferguson’s storytelling is equal parts vulnerable and humorous, making heavy subjects approachable. In moments, it feels like a heart to heart with a trusted friend, capturing the messy realities of navigating modern life as a woman.
Taboo serves as a valuable guide offering insights and solidarity during a time of self discovery and societal expectation.
For readers eager for an honest, no frills discussion about womanhood and societal norms, Taboo is a must read. It challenges, inspires, and most importantly, sparks conversations long overdue.
I Highly Recommend.
4.5
Many thanks to Affirm Press for my advanced readers copy....more
‘My life was narrated for me by others. Their voices were forceful, emphatic, absolute. It had never occurred to me that my voice might be as stron‘My life was narrated for me by others. Their voices were forceful, emphatic, absolute. It had never occurred to me that my voice might be as strong as theirs.’
Educated by Tara Westover is a gripping and inspiring memoir that takes you on a rollercoaster ride through the highs and lows of one woman's quest for knowledge and self discovery. Tara's story of growing up in a strict, survivalist family in rural Idaho, without formal education, and eventually earning a PhD from Cambridge University is nothing short of remarkable.
Her resilience and determination are inspiring, making you reflect on your own life's challenges and the transformative power of learning. Her writing is both raw and expressive, pulling you into her world with vivid descriptions and deep emotional insights. It's a powerful testament to the transformative power of education and an exploration of family dynamics, identity, and resilience.
Pick up Educated if you're looking for a story that's both heart wrenching and uplifting.
“I’d always had a path. But now that I was off it, and so far from the recent stress and mayhem, I didn't know if, when or how I would get back ont“I’d always had a path. But now that I was off it, and so far from the recent stress and mayhem, I didn't know if, when or how I would get back onto it. I had no handbook to follow.”
I find medical memoirs absolutely fascinating so it's no surprise I picked up Emotional Female. This memoir is a vulnerable account of the highs and lows Yumiko Kadota experienced working in the medical profession, from a medical student to a surgical registrar. Yumiko reflects on the gruelling realities of the profession, as well as the ingrained racism, sexism and nepotism that exists in the public hospital system.
Reading her memoir, I felt each of Yumiko's successes as well as her setbacks, and was enraged and disappointed at each injustice she experienced in the seemingly cutthroat world of surgery.
A confronting and very powerful read. I was completely engrossed and devoured this book over a few days. I think Emotional Female is an important read for those both in and outside the medical industry, it raises such crucial issues and I pray will mean a step forward for change.
“I told her once I wasn’t good at anything. She told me survival is a talent”
Girl Interrupted is a memoir centred around the 18 months that the Au“I told her once I wasn’t good at anything. She told me survival is a talent”
Girl Interrupted is a memoir centred around the 18 months that the Author, Susanna Kaysen spent in a psychiatric hospital during the 1960s when she was 18 years old. Susanna was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder by a therapist and was whisked off to McLean hospital in Massachusetts (other former patients include: James Taylor, Ray Charles and Sylvia Plath). Susanna introduces us to a variety of characters who she encountered and became friends with during her time at the hospital.
Perhaps the most haunting and disturbing aspect of this memoir is the depiction of how mental health was handled in the sixties. Attitudes towards mental health still have a long way to go but thank goodness we've made some improvements towards understanding and treating mental health.
Susanna’s writing style is frank and insightful. She breaks down and analyses her own diagnosis, illness and behaviour through a series of vignettes which makes for an interesting read. At times, I wanted a little more, I can't put my finger on what it was... but this was an incredibly written memoir, published at a time when mental health was not a widely discussed topic.
Very insightful. The film adaptation is just brilliant. Highly Recommend.
“Sometimes the only way to stay sane is to go a little crazy”...more
The Happiest Man on Earth. Eddie Jaku, a holocaust survivor shares how he found gratitude, kindness and hope in the darkest of places. Eddie was impriThe Happiest Man on Earth. Eddie Jaku, a holocaust survivor shares how he found gratitude, kindness and hope in the darkest of places. Eddie was imprisoned in Buchenwald and Auschwitz concentration camps, and, after narrowly escaping death on multiple occasions and being rescued by Allied soldiers, he finally found freedom in Australia.
Words cannot describe how impacting and profound, beautiful, heartbreaking and awe inspiring this book is. Eddie's words are simple yet vivid, uncomplicated nor laboured, just his voice, pure and rich. I could not put this book down, it was as if he was talking directly to me. Eddie’s story is so important and he was determined to share it, to warn people about the poison of hate. Now more than ever we need Eddie's story. His book is such an incredible gift of resilience, joy, family, pain and kindness. A beautiful book and celebration of a man who has left behind a powerful legacy.
Mr Dave Grohl is most certainly a Storyteller, and each story he shares is a journey through music history. Captivating from start to finish.
He descriMr Dave Grohl is most certainly a Storyteller, and each story he shares is a journey through music history. Captivating from start to finish.
He describes his childhood and teen years in Virginia, where he first learnt to play the drums with only one lesson, practicing with pillows and keeping rhythm with his teeth! He shares his decision to leave school and follow his dreams to join the punk rock band Scream in the late 80s. Then joining Nirvana in the early 90s and being catapulted to mega stardom after the success of single ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ and the album Nevermind. He also goes into the eventual collapse of the band after the death of Kurt Cobain, and how he coped with that tragedy. It’s important to note this book is not a part bio on Nirvana nor is any ‘dirt’ spilled. So if you’re looking for that this may not be the one for you.
There is of course, plenty on the Foo Fighters and all the crazy adventures from some of their tours over the years. Including a chapter about a tour in Australia for Big Day Out on the Gold Coast in 2000 which resulted in a drunk driving arrest (which I remember was all over the news down here) lol
There are stories of fatherhood and the love and pride he has for his daughters. He shares special moments meeting his idols, Paul McCartney, AC/DC and Little Richard to name a few.
Overall, The Storyteller is funny, honest and full of amazing personal stories from an incredibly talented, down to earth, wonderful man who has created music that is loved by millions around the world.
I will leave you with these beautiful words he had to say about Kurt Cobain and his friend Jimmy Swanson (also passed).
“These deaths still resonate like a long echo throughout my life, and not a day goes by when I don't think of Kurt and Jimmy. There are simple reminders: A song on the radio that Jimmy would air-drum to while driving his old, beat-up Renault car. The pink strawberry milk that Kurt would sometimes buy at the gas station as a treat for himself. The smell of the cheap Brut cologne that Jimmy would douse himself in each morning, for no one to enjoy but himself. The Elmer Fudd hat that Kurt would often wear to hide his face from the public, and the white-framed Jackie O glasses that became his trademark. It seems that everywhere I turn there is a reminder to be found, and I have come to a place where they no longer break my heart; they make me smile.
But it's when I sit down at a drum set that I feel Kurt the most. It's not often that I play the songs that we played together, but when I sit on that stool, I can still picture him in front of me, wrestling with his guitar as he screamed his lungs raw into the microphone. Just like staring at the sun will burn a spot into your retinas, his image will forever be burned in mine when I look past my drums to the audience before me. He will always be there.”...more
‘I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to realise, but now it’s so obvious that underneath the invisible barriers and expectations we have constru‘I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to realise, but now it’s so obvious that underneath the invisible barriers and expectations we have constructed and placed on each other, we are all brothers and sisters; we are all just pink flesh and bone.’
Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia is a powerful anthology that offers a multifaceted portrayal of the Aboriginal experience. Edited by Indigenous author Anita Heiss, this collection brings together the voices of diverse Aboriginal Australians, each sharing their personal stories, struggles, and triumphs.
Through a series of essays, poems, and reflections, the contributors delve into various aspects of their lives, from childhood memories to identity struggles, from encounters with racism to moments of resilience and cultural pride. We are invited into intimate spaces where we witness the complexities of Aboriginal identity and the enduring impact of colonisation.
Each narrative is unique, offering a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Aboriginal experiences across different regions, generations, and cultural backgrounds. From urban centers to remote communities, from the Stolen Generations to contemporary challenges, the stories resonate with both heartache and hope.
The contributors bravely tackle issues such as intergenerational trauma, systemic injustice, and the ongoing struggle for recognition and reconciliation. Yet, amidst the pain, there is also resilience, pride, and a profound sense of cultural heritage that shines through.
I couldn’t help but be moved by the emotional depth and authenticity of these narratives. They challenge stereotypes, defy expectations, and demand a reckoning with Australia's colonial past and its impact on Indigenous communities. Through their voices, the contributors reclaim their stories, their identities, and their rightful place in Australian society.
This anthology is essential reading for anyone interested in the complex tapestry of Australian identity and the ongoing journey towards reconciliation.
Imagine you are dying with a secret. Something you’ve never had the courage to tell your friends and family. Or a last wish, a task you need carried oImagine you are dying with a secret. Something you’ve never had the courage to tell your friends and family. Or a last wish, a task you need carried out before you can rest in peace. Now imagine there’s a man who can take care of all that.
Bill Edgar is a Private investigator turned professional 'funeral crasher' from QLD Australia. Known as the Coffin Confessor he provides a ‘last requests’ service on behalf of his soon to be deceased clients. In Bill’s own words “I reveal secrets of the dead at their funerals”.
I really enjoyed this. It was a good mix of the Author's story and the stories of his clients. Some parts of Bill’s personal story are confronting and difficult to read. But ultimately I found this book incredibly thought provoking and very funny. I definitely recommend ...more
“This is a memoir of my body because, more often than not, stories of bodies like mine are ignored or dismissed or derided. People see bodies like “This is a memoir of my body because, more often than not, stories of bodies like mine are ignored or dismissed or derided. People see bodies like mine and make their assumptions. They think they know the why of my body. They do not."
Hunger is about Roxane Gay's relationship with food and her body, why the relationship is the way it is, and how it affects the rest of her life. For me this was a case of a book putting you in someone else's shoes. Ms Gay writes about some details of every day life that I have never considered from my perspective, so I learned a lot and was thoroughly captivated by her whole story.
There are some very dark and heartbreaking things in this powerful memoir. Ms Gay covers topics including: consumption, desire, satisfaction, physicality, femininity, health, anxiety, sexual abuse, trauma, and body image.
Like always, everything Roxane Gay does is an instant hit with me. I love that her emotions and attitudes about certain things really shine through. She writes with beauty and candour about some very important, very difficult topics.
Viewed through the lens of a relationship breakdown after one partner discloses to the other that they are transgender, this autofiction spans eighteeViewed through the lens of a relationship breakdown after one partner discloses to the other that they are transgender, this autofiction spans eighteen months: from the moments of first discovery, through the eventual disintegration of their partnership, to the new beginnings of independence.
In diaries and letters, Now That I See You unfolds a love story that, while often messy and uncomfortable, is a poignant and personal exploration of identity, gender, love and grief.
Not going to lie. I was quite triggered by this story ...more
Three Women is a record of unmet needs, unspoken thoughts, disappointments, hopes and unrelenting obsessions.
I was captivated by each Woman’s story. Three Women is a record of unmet needs, unspoken thoughts, disappointments, hopes and unrelenting obsessions.
I was captivated by each Woman’s story. Some events were distressing and others intriguing. Some I could relate to completely and others not at all. In my opinion a great work of narrative non-fiction. ...more