Book Review & Writer Tips – Dear Ijeawele, A Feminist Manifesto, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Hiya, if you’d like to watch my book review click on the image, otherwise scroll down for the transcription!

This is a socially relevant and highly important book, so I’d really like you to buy it!

(Start of Video transcription):

Good morning, Christie Adams here to do a book review of the smallest book I think I’ve reviewed.

So here it is, a tiny book, but really good. Obviously you can read it in one sitting.

By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a very famous writer fantastic presence on stage as well. And the book is called Dear Ijeawele, A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen suggestions, this was recommended to me by Waterstones bookstore. One of the stores in England, which is very well known for giving good book recommendations and staff who really know that stuff.

And I bought this alongside a novel, so I will be reviewing her novel in due course, but this book, the reason I wanted to review it is even though it’s tiny and you can read it in an hour or so, it depends on how fast you read.

Obviously, I just think it’s a really good idea. It’s very well written. Obviously she’s a really good writer, but it’s written in a very clever way on the blurb.

It says how do you raise a child to be a feminist?

Here are 15 compelling, direct and perceptive suggestions to empower a daughter, to become a strong, independent woman together. They start a new and urgently needed conversation about what it really means to be a woman today. The reason I’ve picked it up is I’m a woman. Obviously. My daughter is a woman and I’m a grandparent as well. Two, grand-daughters. So feminism is a very hot topic, but often misinterpreted there’s different interpretations of how you view feminism, what you consider to be a feminist. And that’s why I wanted to pick this up and just see other people’s views on it.

Really, the reason I like it is because it’s written in the sense of a letter. It’s got many chapters in it, but it’s in the 15 compelling suggestions of 15 different reasons. I suppose. They’re not really chapters. They’re just suggestions, but it’s quite big print as well. So it probably be even smaller if it was the usual size print book. It’s just, I agree with a lot that’s in here. There’s a couple of points I don’t particularly agree with.

[bctt tweet=”That’s the whole point with feminism that you don’t have to agree with everything that somebody says to you, it’s a very personal thing to you, to your family, to your views, not necessarily politics, but your personality and your own strength of character.” username=”@christieadams23″]

It’s a really good book to buy. I think for young women finding the feet, teenagers, maybe or just a woman that you care for in your life, who you believe is a powerful presence in your life.

I think they would enjoy reading this, but it definitely has value for young women up and coming who are trying to find themselves. And that’s the whole point of it that the sort of logic of it is that she’s written into a sister. Who’s going to become a mum. I don’t do spoilers. So I’m not going to say anymore than that. From a writing perspective, I’m trying to add in sort of writers tips into these.

It just shows that you don’t have to write a big book, you can write a little book and still be successful in the UK. This cost me five pounds, which is quite a lot of money for a little book like that. If you think about it online, you can get things, you know, a full paper back for £2.99 online, but it’s quality over quantity in this case.

I believe that she was worth supporting and giving that money for this book. And as a gift, five pounds is here nor there to most people. Obviously at the moment, we’ve got a virus going on. I’m not sure when I’ll be posting this video, but it is making us question everything. So you might be able to get this as an ebook. I’m not sure, but as a gift after a young woman, I think it’s a really good thoughtful present because it might just help them in some way to find the feet.

It’s short chapters.

Each one is a suggestion and it just shows that as a sort of, almost like a self help book or an inspirational book or a motivational book, you don’t have to preach to people. You don’t have to tell them how to feel. This is written in a really kind generous giving way of suggestions to how, how this woman feels about young women up and coming and how feminism should affect society.

But it’s not done in a preachy, starchy, aggressive way. It’s done in a really caring, honest way. And that’s what I like about it.

Obviously, this writer is very well known, go and seek out her fiction. I have, and I’ve got it down on my bookcase and it will be reading it at some point soon, but just know that as a writer there, isn’t a formula for books.

There is if you’re writing in a particular niche, then yes, people want to know what they get, but this is just a standalone book that is just different and it’s successful.

[bctt tweet=”People will pick it up, give it away, put it on the bookcase, never read it again or might devour it, but don’t let your limitations stop you from writing your story.” username=”@christieadams23″]

Ultimately, if you want to make loads and loads of money, you have to stick to a certain formula. But if you just want to get your story out there or your words out there, there are ways of doing it. And this is an ideal way.

So thank you for watching.

If you know, a young woman up and coming, this is a really good book for them or for a daughter for whoever could be quite a good idea actually for teenage boys to read. Maybe not sure they’d appreciate it in the Xmas stocking, but you never know. So right. I shall get gone. Good book, very small worth reading.

Bye.

(End of Transcription)

***

Author Edit June 2020 – Black Lives Matter

I recorded this a few weeks back and realise that my potential mis-pronunciation of the names could be deemed lazy or insensitive.

It certainly isn’t my intent.

I am a strong supporter of BLM and have fought racism in the community and elsewhere for many years. It is something I feel passionate about, as you will see in other videos where I’ve asked you to provide diverse reading suggestions.

I completely acknowledge that I, like many others, am not always adventurous enough to step outside my chosen genres and to pursue other reading options anywhere near as much as I should. I have a degree in literature so of course I know I must read from all genres, I try. Forgive me my laziness.

Please be kind, respectful and seek out ways to support black writers.

[bctt tweet=”Make the effort to put diversity on your bookshelves and reading lists, and importantly share their work whenever possible.” username=”@christieadams23″]

***

BUY THE BOOK HERE:

Dear Ijeawele, A Feminist Manifesto, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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