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The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer

The Female Persuasion

A Novel

by Meg Wolitzer
  • BookBrowse Review:
  • Critics' Consensus (10):
  • Readers' Rating (2):
  • First Published:
  • Apr 3, 2018, 464 pages
  • Paperback:
  • May 2019, 480 pages
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There are currently 2 reader reviews for The Female Persuasion
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Power Reviewer
Cathryn Conroy

Profound and Moving, This Is a Sheer Joy to Read
Somehow this book, which is all about the characters—and I mean ALL about the characters—somehow has a plot. And that is the genius of author Meg Wolitzer!

This is the story of Greer, a shy, confused college freshman and her journey to adulthood. It's also about Cory, her high school boyfriend. Oh, and don't forget Zee, Greer's best friend in college, as well as 60-something Faith Frank, Greer's first employer, mentor and absolute idol. The stories of these four people are woven together in an intricate design with themes of power, feminism, discovery, ambition, romantic love and female friendship. But it's more than that. It's also about how we define who we are as individuals and as a group—and how that definition can and does change as life changes.

This is an exquisitely written and accomplished book that features vividly imagined, almost larger-than-life characters who embark on a journey together—and apart—that will memorably sear your heart. Profound and moving, the book is a sheer joy to read…and ponder.
Power Reviewer
lani

A female manifesto
How prescient of Wolitzer to create a novel that is so reflective of the current atmosphere that we live in. On the surface, it is a story of young Greer Kadetsky, her boyfriend, her mentor that she meets in college,and the female friendships she meets along the way. Through these individuals, the author explores several large issues, such as women in leadership and power positions, the role of mentors in one's life, the angst of teenage love, and the search for becoming a fulfilled female individual. As Greer matures and becomes more aware, she loses some of her idealism as she finds that women have to always compromise in today's world. An enjoyable story but I did not find any surprising revelations that enriched my sense of the nuances that figure into being a woman in today's world.
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Beyond the Book:
  Gloria Steinem

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