Women and Other Monsters

Building a New Mythology

Women and Other Monsters
Jess Zimmerman
RRP:
NZ$ 38.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 29.24
Paperback
h229 x 152mm - 224pg
29 Mar 2022 US
International import eta 7-19 days
9780807055540
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
The folklore that has shaped our dominant culture teems with frightening female creatures. In our language, in our stories (many written by men), we underline the idea that women who step out of bounds-who are angry or greedy or ambitious, who are overtly sexual or not sexy enough-aren' t just outside the norm. They' re unnatural. Monstrous. But maybe, the traits we' ve been told make us dangerous and undesirable are actually our greatest strengths. Through fresh analysis of eleven female monsters, including Medusa, the Harpies, the Furies, and the Sphinx, Jess Zimmerman takes us on an illuminating feminist journey through mythology. She guides women (and others) to reexamine their relationships with traits like hunger, anger, ugliness, and ambition, teaching readers to embrace a new image of the female hero- one that looks a lot like a monster, with the agency and power to match. Often, women try to avoid the feeling of monstrousness, of being grotesquely alien, by tamping down those qualities that we' re told fall outside the bounds of natural femininity. But monsters also get to do what other female characters-damsels, love interests, and even most heroines-do not. Monsters get to be complete, unrestrained, and larger than life. Today, women are becoming increasingly aware of the ways rules and socially constructed expectations have diminished us. After seeing where compliance gets us-harassed, shut out, and ruled by predators-women have never been more ready to become repellent, fearsome, and ravenous.
"A graceful stylist who casts a wide literary and geographical net, Zimmerman can make nearly anything interesting . . . . Nearly every page, however, brings fresh insights into age-old myths or tragicomic observations on 21st-century womanhood . . . . A sparkling and perceptive critique of ancient ideas that still hold women back. " --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review "A thoughtful and deeply personal set of meditations on two subjects dear to my heart. Though as I read this, I couldn' t help but feel that it had been written for me personally, I suspect that it was written for you too. " --Kelly Link "We are so long overdue for new mythologies about women and power. Jess' s book is a pitch-perfect antidote to the sexist hash of our traditional stories. " --Soraya Chemaly, author of Rage Becomes Her"Jess Zimmerman' s writing is always intimate and fierce, piercing and warm. I loved Women and Other Monsters--I ate it up, and it felt a little like it devoured me right back. " --Scaachi Koul, author of One Day We' ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter"Women and Other Monsters reconsiders and spins anew myths that have long instructed and inspired us, detailing modern and longstanding terrors women face while illuminating the monstrous powers we may yet reclaim. I started to make a list of people I wanted to give this book to, then realized the answer was just ' everyone I know. ' Jess Zimmerman' s writing is always a gift, and this is a work of epic bravery and beauty, brimming with insights that slice to the bone. " --Nicole Chung, author of All You Can Ever Know: A Memoir"Every one of these essays is muscular and dangerous, with a mouth full of teeth. Women and Other Monsters is sure to become a feminist classic. " --Carmen Maria Machado, author of In the Dream House
Jess Zimmerman is the editor in chief of Electric Literature. Her essays, fiction, opinion pieces, and prose poetry have appeared in publications including Vice, Slate, The Cut, the Washington Post, The Guardian, and the New Republic. She lives in Brooklyn. Connect with her @j_zimms.
Status: Active
ISBN-13: 9780807055540
Published: 29 Mar 2022
Published In: United States
Imprint: Beacon Press
Publisher: Beacon Press
Format: Paperback
Height: 229mm
Width: 152mm
Pages: 224

In stock - for items in stock we aim to dispatch the next business day. For delivery in NZ allow 2-5 business days, with rural taking a wee bit longer.

Locally sourced in NZ - stock comes from a NZ supplier with an approximate delivery of 7-15 business days.

International Imports - stock is imported into NZ, depending on air or sea shipping option from the international supplier stock can take 10-30 working days to arrive into NZ. 

Pre-order Titles - delivery will vary depending on where the title is published, if local stock is available in NZ then 5-7 business days, for international imports it can be 10-30 business days. In all cases we will access the quickest supply option.

Delivery Packaging - we ship all items in cardboard sleeves or by box with either packing paper or corn starch chips. (We avoid using plastics bubble bags)

Tracking - Orders are delivered by track and trace courier and are fully insured, tracking information will be sent by email once dispatched.

View our full Order & Delivery information

Details of the product above will be automatically included with your enquiry.