The Red Zone

A Love Story

The Red Zone
Chloe Caldwell
RRP:
NZ$ 37.00
Our Price:
NZ$ 29.60
Paperback
h209 x 139mm - 304pg
19 Apr 2022 US
International import eta 7-19 days
9781593766993
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
A searching, galvanizing memoir about blood and love- how learning more about her period, PMS, PMDD, and the effects of hormones on moods transformed her relationships-to a new partner, to family, to non-blood kin, and to her own body-from the beloved essayist and author of WomenChloe Caldwell' s period has often felt inconvenient, uncomfortable, or even painful. It' s only once she' s in her thirties, as she' s falling in love with Tony, a musician and single dad, that its effects on her mood start to dominate her life. Spurred by the intensity and seriousness of her new relationship, it strikes her- her outbursts of anxiety and rage match her hormonal cycle. Compelled to understand the truth of what' s happening to her, Chloe documents attitudes toward menstruation among her peers and family, reads Reddit threads about PMS, attends a conference called Break the Cycle, and learns about premenstrual dysphoric disorder, PMDD, which helps her name what she' s been going through. For Chloe, healing isn' t about finding a single cure. It means reflecting on underlying patterns in her life- her feelings about her queer identity and writing persona in the context of a heterosexual relationship; how her parents' divorce contributed to her issues with trust; and what it means to blend a family. The Red Zone is a candid, revelatory memoir for anyone grappling with controversial medical diagnoses and labels of all kinds. It' s about coming to terms with the fact that-along with proper treatment-self-acceptance, self-compassion, and transcending shame are the ultimate keys to relief. It' s also about love- how challenging it can be, how it reveals your weaknesses and wounds, and how, if you allow it, it will push you to grow and change.
A BuzzFeed Most Anticipated Book of the Year A Glamour Most Anticipated Book of the Year A NYLON Most Anticipated Book of the Year "Caldwell' s candor about all things menstrual is the greatest strength of this dynamic book . . . [W]omen who suffer from PMDD will take solace in the ups and downs of Caldwell' s journey toward self-acceptance, health, and love. The narrative may also appeal to anyone who suffers frustration and anger in the face of an illness for which they struggle to get an accurate diagnosis, a situation that disproportionately affects women. Provocatively intimate reading. " -Kirkus Reviews "It' s the greatest love story known to woman: that of herself with her own body. This is deep, wild genius at work-a sharp, generous, questing, very funny book that lays bare the grueling extremes of menstruation. THERE WILL BE BLOOD. And thank god for that. Because we bleed. We bleed and bleed and bleed. As much as they want to pretend we don' t. Chloe Caldwell writes with guts and grace. We are very lucky to have her. " -Emma Jane Unsworth, author of Grown Ups "The necessity and urgency of The Red Zone made me wonder how I-and any woman-had lived so long without it. Through the lens of PMDD and the female body, Caldwell refracts every issue imaginable, from relationships to hormones to queerness to stepmotherhood to blended families, all with hilarity, intimacy, and depth. Feeling seen by this book is an understatement; it' s a survival guide. " -Zaina Arafat, author of You Exist Too Much "Not since Elizabeth Wurtzel' s More, Now, Again have I been so obsessed with a book of nonfiction. I read The Red Zone in one day, in one chair, four cups of coffee, and after: a single cigarette. Obsessed. " -Elizabeth Ellen, founder/editor of SF/LD Books, author of Person/a and Her Lesser Work "A coming-of-age memoir for those of us in our thirties who are still trying to come of age, Chloe Caldwell' s The Red Zone is an incredible tale of vulnerability, family, and periods. As hilarious as it is heartfelt, and as informative as it is inspirational, here is as honest a tale of self-discovery-and eventual self-acceptance-as has ever been written. A bloody brilliant book. " -Isaac Fitzgerald, author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts "Sentences like poetry, insights like medicine, the most romantic love story, the most spot-on depiction of life in the female body. I needed this book. Chloe Caldwell is among the most important literary voices of our time. Women are going to pass The Red Zone around forever. " -Diana Spechler, author of Who By Fire and Skinny "Chloe Caldwell invites us to call shotgun on one of her most intimate, moving, and hilarious rides yet! Tinder, THC, Poshmark, WebMD, Prozac, diner eggs, ovulation-The Red Zone has all the highs and lows you come to expect in her delightful nonfiction. Plus her exploration of PMDD and being a stepmom offers a texture all their own. The Red Zone operates like a love story indeed on so many levels-we readers feel so loved turning every page of this gorgeous offering. " -Porochista Khakpour, author of Brown Album: Essays on Exile and Identity "The Red Zone showcases Chloe Caldwell at her best, with her trademark blend of humor and vulnerability. This is a special book, skillfully balancing practical knowledge and artistic deftness, and sharpness with sweetness. " -Juliet Escoria, author of Juliet the Maniac "The Red Zone is an intense, informative, highly entertaining book about the menstrual cycle, sexism, bickering, divorce, marriage, stepmotherhood, holistic gradual self-healing, and the layered effort to move from impulsivity and fear to stability and growth. " -Tao Lin, author of Leave Society "The Red Zone: A Love Story is a period memoir as only Chloe Caldwell could write it, with warmth and particularity and charm. I smiled in recognition every few pages, read parts angrily aloud to my husband as though they were his fault, and laughed loudly enough at others to wake up my dogs. Yes, it' s a love story, but The Red Zone is also an adventure, which may sound like a strange descriptor for a book about PMDD until you have experienced it through Caldwell' s wry, piercing, fundamentally optimistic eyes. Both personal and communal, searching and exuberant, The Red Zone will speak to anyone who has been led by pain, curiosity, or misdiagnosis to become a detective of her own body. " -Kristi Coulter, author of Nothing Good Can Come from This "Finally (finally!) someone wrote a book about struggling to understand your body and your heart and finding the answers on the internet. This book is moving, funny, and impossible to put down. Caldwell reveals the messiness of life in a way few writers can pull off. " -Chelsea Martin, author of Caca Dolce: Essays from a Lowbrow Life
Chloe Caldwell is the author of three books- I' ll Tell You in Person, Women, and Legs Get Led Astray. Her essays have been published in The New York Times, Bon Appetit, The Cut, The Strategist, BuzzFeed, NYLON, VICE, Longreads, and many anthologies. Her essay "Hungry Ghost" was listed as Notable in The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2017. She lives in Hudson, New York, and teaches creative writing online at Writing Workshops, LitReactor, and the Fine Arts Work Center. Find out more at www. chloesimonne. com.
Status: Indent title, imported to order
ISBN-13: 9781593766993
Published: 19 Apr 2022
Published In: United States
Imprint: Soft Skull Press
Publisher: Soft Skull Press
Format: Paperback
Height: 209mm
Width: 139mm
Pages: 304

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