The North London Review of Books Winter 2020 Edition
Contents: Reviews by students at NLCS London: pp.4-14 Kitty Liss, Heroic Failure: Brexit and the Politics of Pain pp.4-5 Izzy Lever, Feminists Don’t Wear Pink (and other lies) pp.6-8 Aiyana Osbourne, Intimations pp.9-10 Vita Rottenberg, Invisible Women pp.11-12 Yana Szerkowski, Why the Germans Do it Better pp.13-14
Reviews by students at NLCS Singapore: pp.15-18 Jules Lek, The Other Boleyn Girl pp.15 Ruben Bruhl-Gati, Scythe pp.16 Ines Khan, Everything Everything pp.17 Ameena Russell, Salt to the Sea pp.18
Heroic Failure: Brexit and the Politics of Pain by Fintan O’Toole Apollo, 2018, RRP: £6.99 (paperback) What I initially found interesting upon reading Heroic Failure: Brexit and the Politics of Pain was the author’s explanation of the Brexit referendum as a result of selfpity felt in response to feeling imaginary oppression. To begin with, this idea was quite perplexing to me, but as I continued to read it became a little more convincing why Britain, if it were experiencing self-pity which combined both grievance and superiority together, would wish to be alone and vote for something which would make them so. This idea of self-pity, encompassing sorrow and superiority, began to become more understandable as O’Toole argued that naturally when Britain was pitying itself it would feel supreme, as it would know that it deserved better. What much of the book then went onto explain was the root of these selfpitying notions. I was particularly interested by one of the author’s theories for this imaginary oppression: Britain concluding that if it is no longer a coloniser then it must be a colony. To me, this was a very intriguing idea because empire, particularly for younger generations, seems to be just another area of history that is in the past, not necessarily a memory haunting the present. Yet O’Toole is quite convincing in proving its relevance in the modern day, making it seem comprehendible why Britain would need an imaginary oppressor in the form of the EU. After all, the EU seems fitted to play this role because it influences British law and provides the British with the perfect opportunity to emancipate themselves from a fictional coloniser, painting themselves as the victims. O’Toole even suggests that, for some people, this idea of oppression by the EU is comparable to the attempts of Hitler to unite Europe and create a Nazi superstate. Although I think that comparison may be a little extreme, O’Toole does show that the idea of a Nazi superstate has a large presence in literature and films, and I suppose this makes it more
convincing that this idea has influenced people and made more them suspicious of the EU. What I found a little concerning when I was reading the book was the author’s idea that Brexit was an expression of the far Right because his claim does have some aspects of validity. This, in my opinion, is because it seems logical, as O’Toole argues, that in a society where open racism is treated with far more abhorrence than it was historically, that people would shift these attitudes towards the EU, as a less obvious way to channel xenophobic and anti-immigration views. Overall, I did enjoy the book as it gave me a completely new perspective on the factors which underpinned such a topical event and I would recommend it as it is lively and engaging.
Kitty Liss
Feminists Don’t Wear Pink (and other lies) by Scarlett Curtis Penguin, 2018, RRP: £7.99 (paperback) It is almost Christmas, we’ve started to think about what we want Santa to bring us, and of course - as NLCS students – we immediately think of a book. But which one? Some time ago, I was recommended Feminists Don’t Wear Pink and other lies and given a free sample of its contents to see if it would float my boat. This little book – a collection of essays written by famous feminists and compiled by activist Scarlett Curtis – describes itself as ‘amazing women [writing about] what the F-Word means to them’. After picking up and reading the couple of essays that are featured in the sample, I decided that there wouldn’t be much need to spend £12.99 to read the rest. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading what I had of the book, rather in the same way that I know how to appreciate a classic Jaqueline Wilson every once in a while. No one can tell me I don’t have taste. These ‘essays’ come in a great variety of shapes and sizes, from strange little poems and essays all the way to what appears to be a sort of shopping list and what would be best described as word vomit. Riveting stuff. Whilst reading them, I couldn’t help shake the feeling that these celebrities were a little bit bored and trying to be super cool and edgy, whilst delving in to that oh-socontroversial ‘F-Word’. It screams corona-time project. And yet, somewhat surprisingly, it is not. Let us now take a look at the book in further detail, as, I have said, it is riveting stuff. We open with the wise words of Scarlett Curtis’ introduction: ‘I didn’t know I was a feminist until I was fifteen. I didn’t know I was a feminist because I didn’t know I needed to be, and I also didn’t think I’d be allowed to wear make-up if I became one. And I seriously loved make-up’. In case you hadn’t noticed, this is a deeply profound and nuanced, yet hilarious exposition. Curtis
shows that she has faults herself and did not exit the womb a perfect feminist (unlike FMB). She shows us that there is a need for feminism. She introduces the main principle of the book’s title – that feminists can still enjoy ‘girly’ things. And then, to add the cherry on top, she uses a sneaky little shorter sentence for some comedic effect, making an exciting contrast to the previous longer sentence and providing a bit of light relief from the difficult ideology we have just been introduced to. It’s a knock-out opener. Curtis’ introduction continues in this vein; it is peppered with sweeping statements and a bit of virtue-signalling, but overall it is quite interesting and enjoyable. It is also very easy to read because of this, which makes it accessible to a wide audience. The essays themselves are extraordinary. It is extraordinary a) that this book got published and b) that it won awards. I would love to talk about them all, however; there is no way to summarize them given that the ones that I read are not really about anything and the attempts to be edgy are so cringeworthy that I have to laugh. You’ll have to buy the book if you want to discover these treasures (free samples are no longer stocked :/), and it is certainly something that must be seen to be believed. As well as this, it is all very ‘popular-culture’ and user-friendly feminism, and it doesn’t really get into the realms of anything fantastically thought-provoking. It doesn’t even do what it says on the tin – there is nothing much said on the subject of lies about feminism other than in Curtis’ exceptional introduction. That being said, there are some great aspects of this book. One thing that all the essays have in common is that they are easy to read and bring up some significant arguments in a simple way, which I think is really important – for people to know that everyone can and should be a feminist, that there are still reasons to be a feminist, that feminists take many different forms. All in all, it is a bit of fun to read, and if you’re in the mood for the Jaqueline Wilson book of the feminist non-fiction world, then this is perfect for you! But, if you’re looking for something with a bit more substance, I would recommend looking elsewhere. For a non-fiction book, look to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists (which is fab) or Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex (a bit tricky, but you can find versions which feature just the ‘main bits’ for a slightly easier read). For a feminist
fiction novel, check out Irmgard Keun’s Gilgi – One of Us, Mariama Ba’s So Long a Letter, or something by Maryse Conde. There is so much great feminist writing out there, I would perhaps leave this one off the Christmas wish-list.
Izzy Lever
Intimations by Zadie Smith Penguin, 2020, RRP: £5.99 (paperback) Over the past several months, we have witnessed many industries and businesses come to a halt as a result of the ongoing impact of COVID-19. However, book publishing has been one of the few sectors that has not been completely held-up in these extraordinary times. In fact, the experience of lockdown inspired critically acclaimed author, Zadie Smith, to write a collection of six short and personal essays which seek to question the nature of our new reality. Intimations, written at the height of the pandemic, details the impact various events and conversations throughout the year have had on Smith’s thoughts and feelings. Although Intimations is a slim volume, at just 82 pages, Smith manages to discuss major world issues, ranging from Donald Trump, to health care in America, as opposed to other world nations, to Dominic Cummings’ infamous lockdown trip to Barnard Castle. She intersperses these ideas with thoughts of how writing a novel and making banana bread are fundamentally similar, as well as with essays, such as ‘Suffering Like Mel Gibson’, which have been inspired by memes.
In that essay, Smith writes about how the misery of lockdown is “very precisely designed, and different for each person.” From writers who are unable to write to adults living alone and widowers, everyone learns to deplore the irrelevance of their suffering next to “real suffering”. Smith questions this idea of there being a sort of hierarchy to suffering, and she uses anecdotes to compare the nature of suffering with that of privilege, through which she ultimately concludes that while
privilege is relative, suffering is absolute and “has an absolute relation to the suffering individual- it cannot be easily mediated by a third term like ‘privilege’.” Intimations is a unique collection of essays, all of which are written with a mixture of understanding, reflection and sometimes anger, resulting in a intimate and personal response to the unprecedented times whilst somehow managing to steer away from explicitly writing about the pandemic in an excessive way. Aiyana Osbourne
Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez Chatto & Windus, 2019, RRP: £9.99 Criado Perez is a notable feminist advocate, whose achievements have included getting Jane Austen portrayed on the £10 note and campaigning for the erection of a statue of Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square. Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men is her second book. Criado Perez examines the shocking reality that over half of the world’s population are often overlooked or ignored; revealing that this is often not because of deliberate acts of misogyny, but through people neglecting to take women into account when making decisions and designing objects. It is particularly noteworthy how Criado Perez details these often subtle ways in which women are disadvantaged. For instance, she examines the effects of designing the settings of office thermostats to suit an average male metabolism. Particularly striking are passages when she draws the reader’s attention to exclusions of women in data that have significant consequences for health and safety. She writes about the dangers resulting from the fact that it only became compulsory for medicines to be tested on women in 1993 in the United States, which included dangerous and ineffective treatments. A further example that is explored is the fact that women are 47% more likely to be seriously injured in a car accident because cars are tested with dummies that model an average male body. The book shines as she explores how and why data and information relating to women is not gathered, analysed and acted upon in design and decision making processes. Despite being based on data, and containing dense information, Criado Perez’ writing takes readers on a fascinating and compelling journey, beginning with exposing commonplace issues, such as
the insufficient number of female toilets in theatres, and moving towards more profound issues, spanning the effects of poverty, war and global disasters on women. Criado Perez’s skill also comes in when showing readers, who often think of themselves as supposedly already enlightened, how something one would have thought of as gender-neutral, such as snow clearing in a Swedish town, can, in fact, turn out to be sexist. Moreover, her conversational style ensures that the reader is carried along, sometimes amused, sometimes bemused, often open mouthed and ultimately completely won over by the significance and importance this book has for everyone. Invisible Women’s call to arms has been rendered even more important by its relevance in the current global pandemic and the attempts by scientists and politicians to get back to ‘normal’ life. From designing and supplying properly fitting PPE to understanding how Covid-19 attacks ‘the body’ and the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic, the importance of having relevant, disaggregated data is now being better appreciated and actioned. May ‘normal’ life when it resumes be one without invisible women. Vita Rottenberg
Why the Germans Do it Better by John Kampfner
Atlantic Books, 2020, RRP: £16.99 (hardback)
What initially struck me about Kampfner’s book was its title, with Why the Germans Do it Better presenting an assertive tone, evidently and explicitly indicating Kampfner’s personal view of the German population. This deliberately vague context implied by the title, indicates that, quite simply, the Germans reign superior as being better at everything than all other nations. This definitive nature in the conviction conveyed through the title specifically immediately gripped me and left me in a position where I was fascinated by why exactly such an opinion could be expressed. Since Kampfner is a British writer, in spite of his surname, this book has a particular degree of sincerity, with its pro-German stance not as a result of simple patriotism. His writing is the culmination of various studies, and clearly depicts his utter admiration and appreciation of Germany’s culture, economy and policies, from a heavily considered British perspective. Kampfner’s extensive evidence offered in support to his given observations enable the reader to find themselves compelled to draw such startling comparisons between Germany and Britain whilst reading, particularly in light of the countries’ varying responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples include the enforcement of penalties for those who refuse to follow socialdistancing laws and the support the population gave the government over lockdown, in virtue of the clear, concise and transparent nature of government updates, guaranteeing that the people were well informed.
However, Kampfner attributes a large amount of Germany’s prosperity, both in its functioning and in economic terms, to the anguish suffered by and the damage done to Germany throughout the 20th century, with the consequences of the various forms of warfare experienced resulting in the country’s demand for development. Further contrasts are emphasised in the more politically dominated sections of the book, which critically compares Angela Merkel and Boris Johnson in the context of their current successes. Ultimately, whilst Kampfner indulges in some stereotypes that the Germans can often be reduced to, with the more explicit features of a recognised German lifestyle depicted on the book’s front cover with wurst and beer, he is clearly in awe of the way in which the country functions. As a population, the Germans are widely recognised for their strict and inherent disciplined nature, the natural outcomes of which are carefully explored by Kampfner in both the more official political and economic contexts. Furthermore, Kampfner explores this in a more commercial context in which the discipline programmed into the Germans physically manifests itself in and enables the immense accomplishment of the country nowadays. Yana Szerkowski
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2001, RRP: £7.37 (paperback)
The second book of The Tudors series, The Other Boleyn Girl is arguably the most famous of Gregory’s novels with a refreshingly new take on life as one of Henry VIII’s six wives. From the perspective of Anne Boleyn’s sister, Mary, we see the calamitous relationship between the King of England and her sister from its doomed beginning right to that historical execution. Never before have the malice, lies, betrayals and poison of the Royal Court been depicted with the unquestionable beauty of Philippa Gregory. The unconditional love but irrepressible rivalry between the Boleyn sisters only grows stronger as they go from girls of twelve, dangerously impressionable in the cruellest court in Europe, to women wielding the unforgivable game of courtiers with genius and hatred (a most fatal mix). Tangled in her own secrets, we see the naked venom of Anne Boleyn barely masked by her desperate siblings. As the court’s progress around England’s castles continues, Queen Katherine of Aragon, ten times the woman to the Boleyn girl, succumbs to infertility and old age; yet, Anne, merciless in her sweeping aside of Katherine for the King’s undivided attention and adoration, captures the court with her tireless elegance, wit and blinding youth. The Queen in all but name. The pure vigour of this retelling is bound to make any reader giddy with anticipation and emotion. We fall in love with the plot and the characters, not to mention the fashion. Altogether, this magnificent novel is bewitching, unique and quite unrivalled. Jules Lek
Scythe by Neal Shusterman Simon & Schuster, 2016, RRP: £6.55 (paperback) There are very few ways to describe this book in one short review, so I would like to start by saying that it was like reading a rollercoaster. The book took me through ups, and downs, highs, and lows, and was consistently gripping. Unlike most books, Scythe began with a slow introduction, which began to intensify almost instantaneously; this led to, for the first time in my life, me literally not being able to put it down. Every time you think you need to stop, another major turning point in the plot is revealed, and hours melt away whilst reading it. What I love most about the book is the way that it contradicts everyone’s dream to ‘live forever’, and actually shows you a more truthful, insightful look into why it is actually a curse to live forever. All in all it was, and will still be, one of my favourite books. Ruben Bruhl-Gati
Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon Penguin Random House, 2015, RRP: ÂŁ5.99 (paperback) Everything Everything is a pure, raw book exploring the challenges an 18 year old faces when confined to her home due to an illness (SCID) that prohibits her from coming in close contact with anything from outside. When a new neighbour moves in, they accumulate an unbreakable, deep connection almost instantly. They then face the immense obstacle of risking her life to come within 5 metres of each other. Their fluctuating relationship continues throughout the book and a near-death experience almost completely turns the story around. This novel reaches into the depths of someone with a tragic background, having a basic teenage life stripped from her, and makes the reader feel immense waves of gratitude and appreciation for the lives that the majority of people will have the privilege of experiencing. Ines Khan
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys Penguin, 2016, RRP: £7.35 (paperback) Salt to the Sea portrays the thoughts and perspectives of four teenage refugees Joana, Florian, Emilia, and Alfred during WWII in 1945. They all have secrets, things they are hiding. They embark on a journey when they board a German cruise liner called the Wilhelm Gustloff to escape all these lies and secrets. But it’s not that easy. Wilhelm Gustloff promises freedom and safety but who knows if that’s what it delivers during a time of conflict. Sepetys’ style is thrilling. Salt to the Sea has been one of the very few books in my life that I could not put down. At the end of each perspective, the narrator leaves you with a thought or cliffhanger that resonates; you cannot stop thinking it about — it wills you in to read more. It is like you become part of the character's interior thoughts. You become a part of the character's journey to flee the Nazis. Sepetys paints such vivid images of Wilhelm Gustloff’s tragic journey through her use of language it leaves a lasting impression. I would recommend Salt to the Sea to readers who love thrilling fiction books and are interested in learning about World War II because this book is not only historically accurate it is tense, suspenseful and so much more. Ameena Russell