Customer Reviews

Feminista

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

So, i keep hearing this book described as "bitch lit," a title I appreciate and welcome, like "dick flick," for its evocative and tongue in cheek twist on a popular phrase. But I didn't actually think the main character Sydney was a bitch. She was certainly more... prickly than your average romantic novel heroine, but imho it wasn't as simple as that.

Sydney is trying to work out her politics in a messy world which doesn't always cooperate with her, and rather than branding her a bitch I found myself empathizing with that aspect of her personality. Given the title and blurbage of the book, I expected a successful, fashionable heroine with strong feelings about independence and feminism, who does not want to shape herself according to male expectation; sure enough Sydney shows herself to be a woman who has internalized and identified with her politics, feels like the world is not entirely on her side, and has never found a man with whom she could let her guard down.

Her search for such a man forms the crux of the story, and as the book chronicles her steps and stumbles I think it totally works as light romantic lit - the people are beautiful, well-off, successful, and inhabit a world of glamor gossip and high fashion. There are fancy expensive restaurants, designer shoes, the occasional heiress. Therapists, celebrity matchmakers, and fabulous parties.

But there's more here, too. And what makes it refreshing is the main character's nontraditional - even borderline resentful - relationship with these typical ingredients, as well as the other things her prickly personality bring to the table. Sydney's conflict about her tokenism, her relationship to food and to her body, her discomfort with her salary and the 'complicated relationship to luxury goods' that is central to the story all bring up concepts of class, race, and gender which are more than a character ordinarily has to reconcile within the pages of light romantic fare - and I think Kennedy does an excellent job of portraying Sydney's struggles to figure it all out. She needs not just a great man, after all, but one with whom she can be herself, prickles and all.

Modern, savvy, thinking women have to make these kinds of social and political negotiations constantly, all while navigating the intersecting matrices of race, class, sexuality, and of course gender. I think Kennedy inserts these ideas quite smoothly into a new-millenium girl-meets-boy story in a way that brings them up and respects them, but also protects the story from getting too heavy to fly under its own snarky power. The book remains a page turner, with story angles shifting left and right, lots of humor, and a rollicking pace that is maintained up to the very end. It's light, but not fluffy, with a little something to chew on.

Why I Decided To Read It: I loved Erica Kennedy's first novel, the hip-hop roman a clef, BLING, and I've basically been waiting for her to write another novel for over four years now.
What's It About: It's about a writer, trying to find the perfect mate.I know what you're thinking: Isn't all chicklit about a writer trying to find the perfect mate? Same ole. Same ole. But in this case you're wrong. See below.

What Makes It Different: The main character, Sydney Zamora, has an extremely strong personality. She's also smart and (gasp!) a feminist. Also, the love interest is complicated in a way that you'd expect a scion to be complicated in real life -- but they're rarely depicted this way in other chick lit and women's fiction.

What I Loved: I can't remember the last time I read something romantic with a main character that described herself as a feminist. How refreshing. I also like that she was a complicated feminist and seemed to live by her own rulebook for Feminism. Plus, she's mean. I love mean women. Also, the book is laugh-out-loud funny and really readable to the point where I had trouble putting it down. I really hope that Ms. Kennedy doesn't make us wait another four years for her next novel.

What I Didn't Like: Well, I found Sydney Zamora unlikeable, b/c she didn't seem to like anybody else. She had a problem with every single woman and man she came in contact with and was incredibly judgmental. Usually that would stop me reading, BUT in this case the character was so complex, and the writing was so good, that I kept on turning pages to the end. All in all, I would say that Sydney Zamora is extremely compelling if not immensely likeable.

FEMINISTA by Erica Kennedy is the second book by this author, but if you are expecting the same type of read as Bling, it is not to be, as this book is not only different, she has an entire community that is discussing FEMINISTA and feminist issues on Twitter, Facebook and her own blogspot. In fact, I told the author I was about to read this while on Twitter and she told me the book is described as "Bitch-Lit" but I didn't see it.

While Sydney Zamora is independent, aggressive and handles her business, "bitchy" is not what comes to mind for me as I read her story. After chasing a career for 12 years, she's ready to find the man who can deal with her independent spirit. She is ready to be a wife, mother and raise a family AND still continue to have her career. So, in order to do that, she enlists her sister Liz to help, who talks to her better half about the plan. She does not agree to help, in case she doesn't like the guy, the plan won't backfire. With that Liz, hires Mitzi Berman, a professional matchmaker, to help Sydney find Mr. Right. It was the best story line for me, because of the interaction between them as Mitzi sizes up and "reads" Sydney and Sydney..well you'll see. Along the way, you meet funny characters some who had me "laughing out loud" with antics that were over the top, yet I could visualize them and they were down right entertaining.

Thanks Ms. Kennedy for a fun book that gives us what I most like in a book, great characters that I can escape with for a few hours and who leave a lasting impression and allows for a GREAT discussion.

Reviewed by Linda Chavis
for The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

Syndney Zamora is one helluva woman--hell being the operative word. She's a sharp-tongued, take no prisoners, self-made single woman in the city with a Helen Reddy perception of the world--I am woman, hear me roar! And honey, boy can Sydney roar! Unfortunately, her roars usually scare off most men--and some women--who deign to attempt to penetrate her tough exterior.

After breaking up with her most recent loser and exasperated with the whole dating scene, she decides ask her sister for assistance in finding a husband. Her sister, smart woman that she is, knows a bad hook-up would be disastrous to their sisterly bond and decides to hire a middlewoman--Mitzi Berman, matchmaker for the rich and famous. Sydney meets her match in the no-holds barred Mitzi who forces Sydney into some very painful (but necessary) introspection and major dating mishaps. Meanwhile, Sydney meets Max, a rich boy Sydney mistakes for a doorman at a swanky department store. Through a series of serendipitous run-ins Max and Sydney manage to strike up a tenuous friendship, but will her intimidating exterior scare Max away? Or can he accept Sydney for the hard ass she is and love her in spite of it?

Feminista was a very entertaining read. Although the story got off to a slow start due to some heavy narrative, I'm glad I stuck it out. Sydney proves to be such a compelling and provocative character that you can't help but keep reading to find out if she ever gets it together. The author cleverly peels back layer after hardened layer to reveal that there is more to Sydney than meets the eye. For all of her tough talk, Sydney wants what most women want--to settle down with her Prince Charming and make babies...she just wants to do that without losing her identity or her independence. I'd definitely recommend this to readers who like more edgy women's fiction.

K.L. Brady
Author of The Bum Magnet

I'm not sure what to make of Feminista, so I'll share my "likes/dislikes" list.

Liked

It held my interest to the very end despite it's being a romance novel

I love how Kennedy deconstructs the old-fashioned Harlequin genre. Sydney is believable, especially in a 21st-century context where the world is much broader than intra-racial love, "pure" lineage, obsolete gender roles, unconditional acceptance of motherhood as a woman's ultimate goal or using a hotshot career in exchange for it.

I also loved getting a peek (even a fictional one) inside the personalities, if not the lives, of New York's elite social circles. The same goes for getting on the inside track of writing for a high-circulation magazine.

Didn't like

Sydney. She was too judgmental. I was deeply disappointed that judgment here is equated with feminism. Sydney's attack on her psychiatrist or her deeply seeded hatred for Lulu's lifestyle, for example, have nothing to do with supporting the choices other women make.

There is no progression in the motherhood vs. career debate. Where's the character that's balancing both and all the while grumbling? Where's the stay-at-home mom who has a fulfilling life defined outside of her children? What about a stay-at-home dad who's still sexy?

Can chick lit really call itself feminist?

Isn't it time we lose the word "feminism" and all its derivations? Aren't we tired of being defined in such polarizing terms as mother or professional? Don't we long to define ourselves in our own terms and on our own terms? "Feminism" is no longer effective as we are indeed living post-feminist experiences.

In the hundreds of books I've read over the years, there have only been 2 books in my life that I've read everywhere. I mean everywhere. On the subway, in the bathtub, and in the express line at Whole Foods...everywhere. Feminista is one of them.

The heroine, Sydney Zamora, is so familiar she could pass for a not-so-distant relative. You know her. You go to Momofuku's for drinks with her. And she shows up at every family function, inspiring you to give your boss the "I Quit" line you've been too scared to shout at him on Monday morning. There came a time while reading the book that I just wanted to skip past the chapters, and read the last few pages. It was killing me to know if Sydney and Max would work out; if I would be supplied with the standard ending to all American fairytales that even feministas seemed to want to see. (Didn't we all secretly root for Carrie & Big to go off in the sunset?) Without giving away the ending, I was pleasantly surprised with the author's perspective of a woman being capable of "having it all" on her terms. Sydney is the post modern-Helen Gurley Brown, and we love her for it.

Just finished "Feminista" and laughed, got angry and laughed some more. Erica is a good writer who knows how to tell a story. Every opportunity I had I read this book (on the train, during my lunch break and after work) until it was finished. I think you'll enjoy it too.

I couldn't put Feminista down. As a former lit prof, I could see at least an article maybe two, about it. I've been turning it over in my mind and wondering what was so compelling. In truth, I am not sure I like Sydney. Would I want her as a girlfriend? Probably not.

My husband of 22 years has more than once told me that I am not a nice person. I acknowledge that for me, being respected, even feared, is often more important than being liked, particularly when I was younger and the world seemed so unsure of the abilities of women of color. In that way, in addition to her weight, hair and perfection issues, Sydney is like me and so many other women, especially women of color: not just taking what we can get, but getting what we can take. Does that make us likeable? Who's got time to care?

The character of Sydney is bold in that way. Yet, part of the reason I couldn't put the book down is because I was rooting for her, hoping that she could find meaning beyond herself. At the end of book, the jury was still out.

Kennedy's style is witty, sharp, irreverent. The narrator seems slightly more jaded, a bit more hip than Sydney herself. The characterizations were hilarious and insightful, reflecting Sydney's ambivalence about a life surrounded by and immersed in society's elite. And therein lay my hope for more meaning for your heroine. She recognized the shallowness and stood on the verge of rejecting it. For that, we owe the character/spirit of her dad, the principled man of color. Thanks, for a fun and compelling read.

I LOVED Erica Kennedy's 1st novel "Bling". It was fluff, but it was a fun entertaining read. I was excited to read "Feminista" b/c of Kennedy & the reviews. To say it was a huge let down is an understatement. This novel REEKS of "trying too hard". I see where she was TRYING to go with this, but she failed miserably. The story was all over the place, the plot & characters were sorely under-developed, & it just didn't make any sense.

There was so much potential to have all of these kooky but highly lovable characters & Kennedy fell short. I never liked Sydney. I never understood her. Indifference towards the main character is pretty much a kiss of death. I found Sydney to be abrasive, paranoid, & unlikable. I wanted to cheer for her to "get the guy" but I'd feel sorry for any man stuck with her. I wanted to like Max. I can see she wanted him to be an endearing, happy go lucky, rich kid who really doesn't care that he's rich. But he wasn't really developed. I never fully understood his point of view. He made NO SENSE. I should have LOVED Jeffrey-James as the witty gay sidekick but he fell flat too. Mizti Bernam was an opportunity for PURE COMEDY that was completely slept on. I did not understand Sydney's parents & was really confused by the sister.

I think alot of African American writers would like to go mainstream, which is a good thing, but the racial ambiguity of the characters was odd. It was like Sydney was "black" and her sister was "white" & they were really neither.

I won't give up on Erica Kennedy b/c I know from "Bling" that she can write. I will give her next book a fair chance & try to forget about this disaster.

Sydney is an multi-culti celebrity journalist who decides that her biological clock is ticking and she needs to do something about it. With the help of a matchmaker to the rich and bourgeois, Sydney embarks on a journey to find Mr. Right. Sydney finds out, however, that not only is she a tough match, but her preconceived notions and biases are about to be challenged.

Feminista is a witty, dramatic account of a single gal in the city on the hunt for success, love, and the perfect Marc Jacobs bag. While I thought the text was a little verbose when Sydney went on her mental tirades, I enjoyed the characters and storyline, and the inner monologues help to establish Sydney's state of mind and background. With a tad less of this, this book could have garnered 5 stars.