Picking Bones from Ash

Christina McDermott reviews Marie Mutsuki Mockett's deft debut novel, which follows two sequential mother-daughter stories

Published: 5 October 2009 | Written by Christina McDermott

The Hour Past Midnight

Salma's debut novel is a moving and beautifully-written must-read, says Sian Norris

Published: 4 October 2009 | Written by Sian Norris

How to survive and thrive as a creative professional for hire

Red Chidgey reviews a step-by-step guide to going freelance

Published: 1 October 2009 | Written by Red Chidgey

Dirt: Quirks, Habits and Passions of Keeping House

Sian Norris reviews an anthology which explores our feelings about dirt (and cleaning it up)

Published: 9 September 2009 | Written by Sian Norris

Feminist or misogynist?

Stieg Larsson's thrillers have been described as feminist, but Melanie Newman argues they are just the latest in a line of novels which aim to titillate readers with graphic depictions of men raping and murdering women

Published: 4 September 2009 | Written by Melanie Newman

Bluestockings

England's first college accepting female undergraduates was established in 1869. In 1948, Cambridge became the last university in the country to grant degrees to its female students. Alexandra Roumbas Goldstein reviews a book which charts the years in between

Published: 4 September 2009 | Written by Alexandra Roumbas Goldstein

Beyond Noughtie Girls

Ellie Levenson's guide to feminism for the "noughtie girl" apologises too much and asks for too little change, says Laurie Penny

Published: 2 August 2009 | Written by Laurie Penny

The Noughtie Girl's Guide to Feminism

Although Ellie Levenson's feminist primer makes some sensible points, this is undermined by a raft of offensive statements, a defence of rape jokes and a desire to speak only to the young, white, able-bodied, straight, educated and middle-class, argues Amity Reed

Published: 2 August 2009 | Written by Amity Reed

The Politics of Breastfeeding

Karen Gregory reviews the 20th anniversary edition of The Politics of Breastfeeding by Gabrielle Palmer

Published: 14 July 2009 | Written by Karen Gregory

Raising boys? Help yourself to some gender stereotypes

Steve Biddulph's bestseller on bringing up boys takes us on a trip back to 19th century, says Clare Gould

Published: 25 May 2009 | Written by Clare Gould

Feminism and Peter Pan

JM Barrie's creation Peter Pan has an enduring popularity. Allison McCarthy digs into the sexist and racist history of the play and novel, and how this has been addressed in modern adaptations

Published: 19 April 2009 | Written by Allison McCarthy

'The Trouble with Islam Today'

Sabre reviews Irshad Manji's controversial book which challenges some of the ways Islam is practiced

Published: 18 March 2009 | Written by Sabre

Hellions: Pop Culture's Rebel Women

Why are white, young, male 'rebels' celebrated and revered in pop culture, while women who push against society's sexist and racist norms are marginalised and dismissed? Michelle Wright reviews a book which brings to light stories of the female rebel

Published: 13 March 2009 | Written by Michelle Wright

Intersex (For Lack of a Better Word)

debi withers reviews Thea Hillman's memoir outlining her own experience as an intersex person, as well as offering a critique of 'normal' and a vision for a queer intersex feminism

Published: 18 February 2009 | Written by debi withers

The First Person and Other Stories

Ali Smith's latest short story collection teases the reader and plays with the conventions of literature, says Kirsty McHugh

Published: 11 February 2009 | Written by Kirsty McHugh

On the herstory of feminist coalitions

Michelle Wright reviews a book which sketches the history of coalition building between second-wave feminists and other social justice activists

Published: 2 February 2009 | Written by Michelle Wright

The Woman Who Thought She Was a Planet

Vandana Singh argues that speculative fiction has revolutionary potential. Jess McCabe reviews her latest collection of short stories

Published: 4 January 2009 | Written by Jess McCabe

Out of Place: Interrogating Silences in Queerness / Raciality

debi withers reviews a collection on the intersection of race and queer politics, which slips between first-person narratives, manifestos and academic tracts

Published: 14 December 2008 | Written by debi withers

Femmes of Power: Exploding Queer Femininities

What does femme mean, and how does it differ from the 'traditional' femininity which feminism so often puts under the microscope? Milly Shaw reviews a book of photographs of and interviews with femmes from around the world

Published: 8 September 2008 | Written by Milly Shaw

Janes In Love

Janes In Love is an oddly bloodless story of friendship, boys and 'art attacks', says Sarah C L

Published: 7 September 2008 | Written by Sarah C L

Loving outside the line of monogamy: Tristan Taormino's new guide to open relationships

Two-person relationships are the default in our culture, but why? Red Chidgey reviews a book which lays open the potential for different kinds of relationships

Published: 4 September 2008 | Written by Red Chidgey

Uglies

Uglies opens in a world where every teenager undergos extreme surgery on their 16th birthday to mould them into hypnotic and hypnotised 'Pretties'. Cazz Blase reviews a four-part 'trilogy' with plenty to say about body image, cosmetic surgery, citizen journalism, celebrity, the environment and, of course, growing up

Published: 3 September 2008 | Written by Cazz Blase

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

What happened to the women in The Diving-bell and the Butterfly in its transition from memoir to film, asks Melanie Newman?

Published: 18 July 2008 | Written by Melanie Newman

Fragments from the Dark

Debi Withers reviews a book of writing by and interviews with female refugees and asylum seekers in Wales

Published: 15 June 2008 | Written by debi withers

Rape: an unfinished revolution

Joanna Bourke's history of rape turns a steady and necessary gaze on an unsettling subject, concludes Louise Livesey

Published: 4 June 2008 | Written by Louise Livesey

He's a stud, she's a slut?

Men get angry; women get PMS. Single men are bachelors; single women are spinsters. Jess McCabe wonders how Jessica Valenti limited herself to 49 examples of the double standard

Published: 7 May 2008 | Written by Jess McCabe

A modern maiden?

Louise Livesey reviews another guide to life as a modern woman which blithely ignores everyone who isn't white, middle class and straight

Published: 13 April 2008 | Written by Louise Livesey

Tales of low-paid work

Monica Dickens worked as a cook, servant, nurse, in an aircraft factory and as a junior reporter. Cazz Blase reviews her unsentimental portraits of working life in the first half of the 20th century

Published: 4 April 2008 | Written by Cazz Blase

Live Alone and Like It

Does advice for the single women of 1936 have any bearing today? Cazz Blase reviews Marjorie Hillis' guide to independent living

Published: 12 March 2008 | Written by Cazz Blase

An interrupted life

Etty Hillesum was an 'impassioned, erotically volatile, restless' woman, who was murdered during the Holocaust. Cazz Blase reviews her diaries

Published: 8 February 2008 | Written by Cazz Blase

It's So You

Love clothes, but not in a 'Vogue' way? This collection of essays on expressing identity through fashion could be for you, says Jess McCabe

Published: 2 January 2008 | Written by Jess McCabe

Revolution Girl Style Now!

Jess McCabe reviews a book which documents the powerful girl-centric political and cultural movement that was riot grrrl

Published: 7 December 2007 | Written by Jess McCabe

Get your toe bypass here

Mikhaela Reid is angry. And funny. And she draws. Jess McCabe reviews her first book of cartoons

Published: 4 September 2007 | Written by Jess McCabe

One Hundred Strokes of the Brush Before Bed

Melissa Panarello's teenage sex diary shocked the adult world for all the wrong reasons, argues Irina Lester

Published: 29 August 2007 | Written by Irina Lester

Men!

Men! is more intelligent than other dating books, but still assumes that women are incomplete as single individuals. Diane Shipley reports

Published: 11 August 2007 | Written by Diane Shipley

The Great Big Glorious (Sexist) Book for Girls

While boys are instructed on the art of the catapult, girls are presented with ponies and pom-poms. Paul Brown is unimpressed

Published: 8 August 2007 | Written by Paul Brown

Sexism and the System

Judith Orr's pamphlet puts the backlash against feminism into a wider context, says Ben Drake

Published: 7 July 2007 | Written by Ben Drake

Big Sister

In an alternate universe, the most popular reality show on TV is Big Sister, and it is populated by some feminists you might recognise. They are all discussing Jessica Valenti's new book Full Frontal Feminism. But, Kate Smurthwaite argues, they are missing the point

Published: 6 June 2007 | Written by Kate Smurthwaite

The Feminine Mistake

When Leslie Bennetts urged women to stay in the workplace after starting a family, she outraged millions of Americans. JC Sutcliffe reviews the lessons we can take away from her book - and its limitations

Published: 2 May 2007 | Written by JC Sutcliffe

Female Chauvinist Pigs

Six F Word readers discuss Ariel Levy's influential book on 'raunch culture' and the women who support it. Discussion by Marianne Lemond, Abby O'Reilly, Sheryl Plant, Holly Combe, Jessica Bateman and Catherine Redfern.

Published: 3 February 2007 | Written by Various Authors

Girl With a One Track Mind - Abby Lee

Abby Lee's diary has become a best seller due to the frank, humorous, and explicit descriptions of her sex life in London. Catherine Redfern considers some of the feminist implications of this popular blogger's book.

Published: 6 January 2007 | Written by Catherine Redfern

Trickster's Choice / Trickster's Queen - Tamora Pierce

Cazz Blase introduces Tamora Pierce's latest fantasy series for young adults, which feature strong heroines and touch on issues of colonialism and race.

Published: 4 December 2006 | Written by Cazz Blase

Like Mother, Like Daughter?

Clare Burgess reviews this collection of short stories for children. Collected by Bel Mooney, the stories all focus on the concept of the mother-daughter relationship. But can this really be seen as a generic experience?

Published: 4 December 2006 | Written by Clare Burgess

Roger Fishbite

Cazz Blase reviews Emily Prager's story about a thirteen year old girl which raises interesting questions about childhood and abuse.

Published: 2 July 2006 | Written by Cazz Blase

Strangeland

Alexandra Kokoli reviews Tracey Emin's Strangeland, which contains autobiographical writings touching on rape, abortion and marginalization.

Published: 4 June 2006 | Written by Alexandra M Kokoli

How Opal Mehta Got Kissed Got Wild And Got A Life

Clare Burgess reviews Kaavya Viswanathan's 'coming of age' story. Purporting to be about a teenage character finding herself, it is in fact is a rather predictable tale where the happy ending involves - guess what? - finding a boyfriend.

Published: 29 May 2006 | Written by Clare Burgess

Sex and The Married Girl

Mandi Norwood claims to have discovered a new type of woman: The Married Girl, an empowered, assertive specimen who is revolutionising marriage on her own terms and insisting on being treated as an equal parter. Sounds like a feminist dream come true; so why does Catherine Redfern find this book so annoying?

Published: 1 April 2006 | Written by Catherine Redfern

Feminism: A Very Short Introduction

Ealasaid Gilfillan recommends 'Feminism: A Very Short Introduction' by Margaret Walters as a clear, useful introduction to the history of English feminism.

Published: 9 January 2006 | Written by Ealasaid Gilfillan

Nell

Mary Ellen Flynn reviews Nell by Nell McCafferty, in which a Catholic lesbian feminist recounts her experiences growing up and living in Northern Ireland. Flynn finds inspiration in McCafferty's mantra: "When women rise up, giving authority to their children to do likewise, the revolution is unstoppable"

Published: 28 November 2005 | Written by Mary Ellen Flynn

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Janet Phillips reviews the book by Lionel Shriver which won the Orange Prize for Fiction 2005. As she explains, the book paints a picture of motherhood and parenting that is far from mainstream.

Published: 2 August 2005 | Written by Michelle Wright

He's Just Not That Into You

Remember ladies, it's all about You, You, YOU! says latest self-help guru Greg Behrendt, author of yet another book claiming men should always initiate relationships and women never should. Holly Combe rips this latest publishing phenomenon to shreds.

Published: 1 August 2005 | Written by Holly Combe

365 Days of Sensational Sex

Will Lorraine Smith have 365 days of "sensational sex" by following sexpert Lou Paget's suggestions? (It's a tough job being a reviewer for The F-Word, ain't it?)

Published: 11 August 2004 | Written by Lorraine Smith

The Sexual Life of Catherine M

The Guardian referred to 'the double life of Catherine M' in their interview on her controversial sexual memoir, but it seems more likely that Catherine Millet's sexual memoir hoped to reconcile the duality between 'normal life' and sex. Tamlyn Monson tries to unwind some of the issues the book raises.

Published: 1 August 2004 | Written by Tamlyn Monson

Taking Charge of Your Fertility

'Taking Charge of Your Fertility' contains empowering practical information for every woman, whether avoiding pregnancy or seeking it. It is the logical follow-on from the classic 'Our Bodies, Ourselves' and is just as ground-breaking, says Catherine Redfern.

Published: 1 June 2004 | Written by Catherine Redfern

Refusing to Be a Man

Why is 'girl' a terrible insult, why can't boys wear pink, and why are there boxes of tissues labelled 'for men'? Catherine Redfern explains how 'Refusing to be a Man' by John Stoltenberg may hold the answer.

Published: 16 April 2004 | Written by Catherine Redfern

The Boy

Until recently, girls have always been the ones looked at rather than the ones looking. Is this a right, a freedom, or a burden? Should boys be able to enjoy - or suffer - the same fate? Is Germaine Greer right when she claims boys lose out by not being considered beautiful? With these questions in mind, Holly Combe reviews Greer's 'The Boy.'

Published: 16 January 2004 | Written by Holly Combe

Searching For Sense And Reason

Cazz Blase sympathises with novelist Jenny Colgan's criticisms of the derogatory term "Chick Lit" - but insists the problem is more complex, and also not as new as is commonly thought.

Published: 16 October 2003 | Written by Cazz Blase

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The Harry Potter series is incredibly popular with children and adults alike. Beth Anderson is also a fan, but she wonders what messages the most recent book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is sending about the role of boys and girls (and men and women). Is the magical world created by J.K Rowling as limited by stereotypes as ours?

Published: 16 August 2003 | Written by Beth Anderson

Lady Roxana

Anna Fioravanti explains why Lady Roxanna by Daniel Defoe will always be a special book for her.

Published: 16 April 2003 | Written by Anna Fioravanti

Interview with Lucy O'Brien

Cazz Blase interviews the author of She Bop II

Published: 16 December 2002 | Written by Cazz Blase

Feminist Must-Reads

In September we asked the readers of The F-Word to send us their lists of recommended feminist books: what are their favourite feminist must reads? Here's the results. The most recommended book? Germaine Greer's The Whole Woman.

Published: 16 October 2002 | Written by Various Authors

Inappropriate Behaviour: Prada Sucks! and other Demented Descants

Catherine Redfern asks whether this eyebrow-raising new book is really feminist.

Published: 16 June 2002 | Written by Catherine Redfern

Bitch

"I really wanted to like this book, but even a few pages in, I knew I wasn't going to enjoy it... " Catherine Redfern forces herself to read...

Published: 16 November 2001 | Written by Catherine Redfern

Pinch these off your mum's bookshelf!

Janet Evans introduces two feminst classics: 'Woman on the Edge of Time' and 'The Bell Jar'

Published: 16 October 2001 | Written by Janet Evans

The First Fifty: Munro-Bagging Without a Beard

Catherine Redfern goes munro-bagging.

Published: 16 August 2001 | Written by Catherine Redfern

The British Woman Today: a qualitative survey of the images in women's magazines

Catherine Redfern was not impressed...

Published: 16 June 2001 | Written by Catherine Redfern

In Our Time: Memoir of a Revolution

Reviewed by Catherine Redfern.

Published: 16 June 2001 | Written by Catherine Redfern

Misogynies

Catherine Redfern reviews Joan Smith's book.

Published: 16 June 2001 | Written by Catherine Redfern

The Gilrlfrenzy Millenial

The Gilrlfrenzy Millenial, reviewed by Catherine Redfern.

Published: 16 May 2001 | Written by Catherine Redfern

The Curse

Catherine Redfern reviews the The Curse by Karen Houppert

Published: 16 May 2001 | Written by Catherine Redfern

Overloaded : Popular culture and the future of feminism

Imelda Whelehan's critique of British popular culture, reviewed by Catherine Redfern.

Published: 16 April 2001 | Written by Catherine Redfern

Where The Girls Are

Catherine Redfern reviews Susan J. Douglas's book.

Published: 16 April 2001 | Written by Catherine Redfern