The Female Complaint
Tales of Unruly Women
- 2015 INDIES Finalist
- Finalist, Anthologies (Anthologies)
Historically, women’s outspokenness has been dismissed as mere complaining, writes editor, author, and founder of Shade Mountain Press, Rosalie Morales Kearns, as she sets the stage for the thirty-six stories by women writers included in The Female Complaint. Although most would no longer call being born female an “unfortunate malady,” the literary landscape, and the condescending attitude toward women and women’s writing has not changed much—the ratio of men to women in literary publishing is still skewed male. “In many book review venues,” Kearns writes, “75 percent or more of the titles reviewed are by men.” She founded her publishing company to make sure that the voices of gifted women writers were heard, and, with this anthology, she has succeeded admirably. Gathered into sections entitled Resistance, Solidarity, Entanglements, Mother Figures and Transformation, the stories show women as change makers who stand up, together or alone, for their beliefs and for those they love. Whether enduring, escaping, or challenging situations that would confine them, the female characters, ranging from housewives to scientists to care-givers, artists, and high-school students, navigate the rough terrain they must traverse with courage, brutal honesty, and a good dose of humor. Compelling and unafraid, these exquisite stories express women’s power.
Reviewed by
Kristine Morris
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
