Tag Archives: gender studies

The Black City, by George Sand

Posted on August 20, 2010 by Thistle

Étienne, nicknamed Sept-Epées for his expertise with metalwork, is a young man in mid-1800s France. He belongs to the lower class, but dreams of one day escaping poverty and the doldrums of daily work to live in the Upper Town … Continue reading →

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Just Listen, by Sarah Dessen

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Thistle

Twice now, Sarah Dessen has surprised me. I don’t know why, but I keep thinking her books will be shallow and age-dated. Perhaps it’s the way her books are marketed, the covers on them and such. One way or another, … Continue reading →

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Sold, by Patricia McCormick

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Thistle

Lakshmi is a thirteen-year-old girl who lives in poverty in a small village in Nepal. Her family sends her away to work as a maid in a rich family’s house, but in actuality Lakshmi is sold into prostitution in India. … Continue reading →

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Notes on a Scandal, by Zoë Heller

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Thistle

When Sheba, a pottery teacher in London, is discovered having an affair with one of her high school students, her life is understandably torn apart. She loses her job, she splits with her husband, and she’s denied all but limited … Continue reading →

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Little Children, by Tom Perrotta

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Thistle

Sarah doesn’t fit in. She takes her daughter to the playground near her home in an upper-middle class suburb, but she knows she’s different from the other moms there. While they talk about fatigue, sex, and their daily schedules, conversation … Continue reading →

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Artichoke’s Heart, by Suzanne Supplee

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Thistle

When you’re normal-sized, no one cares what you eat; when you’re fat, it’s everybody’s business. Rosemary Goode is fifteen, five-foot six inches, and almost 200 lbs. Food is her comfort and she eats lots of it, especially the chocolate variety. … Continue reading →

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Protected: Agnes Grey, by Anne Bronte

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Thistle

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

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Monique and the Mango Rains, by Kris Holloway

Posted on February 13, 2010 by Thistle

Kris Holloway was a Peace Corps volunteer in the West African nation of Mali in 1989-1991. Her host in the small town of Nampossela was Monique Dembele, the local midwife and health worker. This book chronicles their experiences over those … Continue reading →

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Virginia Woolf: A Biography, by Quentin Bell

Posted on February 9, 2010 by Thistle

I have long found Virginia Woolf a fascinating woman. After reading A Room of One’s Own last year, which had a brief introduction to her life, I decided I wanted to read a biography of her. This is a big … Continue reading →

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Summer, by Edith Wharton

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Thistle

Spoilers. Charity Royall is the child of “mountain people” adopted by a lawyer in the nearby small, poor town of North Dormer. One summer, she has an affair with Lucius Harney, an educated visitor to the town. Bad stuff follows. … Continue reading →

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