Nicholas D. Kristof

this one is tough to review.

While the stories were uplifting at times and even inspiring, you have to try to get through a lot of the violence and horrific stories to get there.

Of course, that is part of the book ~ the shock of some of the terrible things that people do to women and the bigger problem of how this affects the women and society as a whole. And, these stories need to be told and they need to be heard ~ and they need to be brought to the light ~ PEOPLE MUST KNOW THIS HAPPENS!!!

But, I'm not sure if the shine of the hope and inspiration was enough for me (again ~ just FOR ME) to see through the dark and violence of all the true stories. It's one of the few books that has given me nightmares.

Read it, enjoy it, but maybe only a chapter at a time.… (more)

While I can't say I enjoyed this book (even on a purely structural basis mostly removed from the weighty content), I can neither say that I disliked it. I definitely did not agree with the authors' perspectives on several issues, and their half chapter examples of how individuals had addressed the issues seemed moderately one lensed in someways when Westerners were involved, but I am grateful to them for publishing a book that gives a very accessible description of international problems facing women. Their use of personal stories of the women involved helped keep it from being a collection of overwhelming statistics and instead becoming an emotional even physically wrenching portrait of injustice. Also, their dedication to adding stories of women overcoming these injustices and finding empowerment, kept it from being an unbearably depressing book. Whether you agree with their viewpoint or not, this is an excellent introduction into international women's issues.… (more)