Shrill
Notes from a Loud Woman
Published on 19. May 2016
Book
Hardback
272 pages
978-1-78429-552-3 (ISBN)
Description
'Lindy West is an essential (and hilarious) voice for women. Her talent and bravery have made the Internet a place I actually want to be.' Lena Dunham
'A thrilling, kick-ass, joyous ROAR of a book.' Caitlin Moran
Guardian columnist Lindy West wasn't always loud. It's difficult to believe she was once a nerdy, terror-stricken teen who wanted nothing more than to be invisible. Fortunately for women everywhere, along the road she found her voice - and how she found it! That cripplingly shy girl, who refused to make a sound, grew up to be one of the loudest, shrillest, most fearless feminazis on the internet, making a living speaking up for what's right instead of what's 'cool'.
In Shrill, Lindy recounts how she went from being the butt of people's jokes, to telling her own brand of jokes - ones that come with a meaningful agenda and aren't at someone else's expense. She reveals the obstacles and misogyny she's had to overcome to make herself heard, in a society that doesn't believe women (especially fat women and feminists) can ever be funny.
A catalyst for conversation, West also addresses some of the most burning issues of popular culture today, taking a frank and provocative look at social injustice, racism, fat-shaming, twitter-trolling and even rape culture, unpicking the bullshit and calling out unpalatable truths with conviction, intelligence and a large dose of her trademark black humour.
'A thrilling, kick-ass, joyous ROAR of a book.' Caitlin Moran
Guardian columnist Lindy West wasn't always loud. It's difficult to believe she was once a nerdy, terror-stricken teen who wanted nothing more than to be invisible. Fortunately for women everywhere, along the road she found her voice - and how she found it! That cripplingly shy girl, who refused to make a sound, grew up to be one of the loudest, shrillest, most fearless feminazis on the internet, making a living speaking up for what's right instead of what's 'cool'.
In Shrill, Lindy recounts how she went from being the butt of people's jokes, to telling her own brand of jokes - ones that come with a meaningful agenda and aren't at someone else's expense. She reveals the obstacles and misogyny she's had to overcome to make herself heard, in a society that doesn't believe women (especially fat women and feminists) can ever be funny.
A catalyst for conversation, West also addresses some of the most burning issues of popular culture today, taking a frank and provocative look at social injustice, racism, fat-shaming, twitter-trolling and even rape culture, unpicking the bullshit and calling out unpalatable truths with conviction, intelligence and a large dose of her trademark black humour.
Reviews / Votes
A warm, capacious and funny writer * Guardian * This is a feminist, empowering book; I cried the whole way through though it's very funny as well ... It's nice to read something that you know would have changed your life for ever if you'd read it when you were 16 -- Sofie Hagen * Observer * This important, brutally honest book makes for a hilarious read * Buzzfeed * Lindy West is an essential (and hilarious) voice for women. Her talent and bravery have made the Internet a place I actually want to be. * Lena Dunham * it is a powerful and frequently furious declaration of West's right to exist and be heard * i * A call-to-arms for any woman who feels like she can't find her voice * Red * Brilliant and brave * Sunday Independent * The new feminist bible * Stylist * Standout . . . screamingly funny * The Pool * It's very very funny... it was a really enjoyable memoir but very disquieting too. * Nine to Noon, Radio NZ * For the vast number of women who have struggled to accept their bodies as they are, West's memoir will offer numerous fist-pump moments. * New Zealand Listener * If you've ever been labelled with a condescending big-girl euphemism such as "bubbly" or "exuberant" . . . you will laugh your chubby head off at West's book * Weekend West * Shrill is a gutsy, whip-smart and fierce demonstration of the importance and the cost of speaking out * Canberra Times, Sydney Morning Herald, The Saturday Age * Fun and feisty * Fabulous * She reveals the obstacles she has encountered in challenging the status quo. * City Messenger *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 243 mm
Width: 163 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
499 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78429-552-3 (9781784295523)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
05/2016
1st Edition
Quercus
€3.99
Available for download
Person
Lindy West is a Seattle-based writer and performer whose work focuses on pop culture, feminism, social justice, humour and body image. Currently a weekly columnist at the Guardian and culture writer for GQ magazine, she was previously one of the most popular and prolific writers at feminist blog Jezebel.com. Lindy's articles typically generate thousands of shares and retweets. In January 2015 her exposure was magnified by a segment aired on US national radio in which she confronted an internet troll who'd impersonated her dead father. The podcast and ensuing article went viral and were shared more than 85,000 times worldwide, gaining Lindy countless new followers.
As a live performer and commentator, Lindy has made numerous appearances on radio and TV, and regularly speaks at academic events, conferences and literary festivals. In 2013, she won a Social Media Award from NYC's Women's Media Center, was selected for the Nation's top ten feminist articles of the year and New Statesman's top 20 best online pieces of the year, and was profiled by Cosmopolitan magazine.
As a live performer and commentator, Lindy has made numerous appearances on radio and TV, and regularly speaks at academic events, conferences and literary festivals. In 2013, she won a Social Media Award from NYC's Women's Media Center, was selected for the Nation's top ten feminist articles of the year and New Statesman's top 20 best online pieces of the year, and was profiled by Cosmopolitan magazine.