2013-16 - Penny Red, by Laurie Penny

16 - Penny Red, by Laurie Penny
WHY I PICKED IT:  Saw it at People's Co op Bookstore, in Vancouver
ELAPSED TIME: 1 Week
RATING: Very Good

This is a collection of posts from her blog... Wow!  What a writer.  Broken up into 5 sections...

1) Essays on student protests in London - Fantastic section.  Makes the great point that society and the media seem to equate violence against people (specifically against protestors) in the same way as we do violence and damage to private property.  Reminds me of the G20 "riots" in Toronto and how our rights were trampled in order to maintain the status quo.

2) Essays on Women and Sexism in Society - Fantastic section.  A variety of different thoughts in different arenas.  Love to see that the movement is not dead.

3) Essays on Conservatives - Very Good.  How is it that the children of the wealthy stay in that position.  The multitude of ways doesn't end with their first class education, it starts there.  Interesting to read the critique from the perspective of an "insider" (Laurie admits that she went to an exclusive school and worked in an unpaid internship).  Also interesting to realize that an internship provides access to leadership as a "representative" of the youth... which is not at all representative!

4) Essays on Culture - Good and Less Good.  Sad to learn that Laurie is an Israel supporter (and doesn't seem to couch it with a balanced view).  But enjoyed her support of Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and her frustration with how it is advertised and promoted in English.  Also loved her anger at defining feminism in "modern terms" as hetero-normal, white, wealthy women who want equal opportunity... versus EVERYBODY ELSE!

5) Essays on Politics of the Left - Decent.  She exposes how corporations get away without paying taxes, while the people at the bottom lose their benefits as part of "austerity measures" that are required as part of our economic struggles.  Section is a weak ending to a strong book.