JESS JUST READS

A BOOK REVIEW BLOG

Fed Up by Gemma Hartley

Gemma Hartley wrote an article in Harper’s Bazaar in September 2017 called ‘Women Aren’t Nags – We’re Just Fed Up’, which instantly went viral. The piece, and this book, is about ’emotional labour’, i.e. the unpaid, often unnoticed work, done by women, that goes into keeping everyone comfortable and happy.

FED UP tackles the hard-hitting issues surrounding emotional labour: the historical underpinnings and roots in feminism, the benefits and burdens of this kind of effort, and the specific contexts where emotional labour, otherwise known as the ‘mental load’, plays a major but undervalued role, including relationships, work, sex, parenting, politics and self-care.

Dubbed as the next feminist frontier, emotional labour couldn’t be more relevant to these times we’re living in. Fed Up is a must-read for those who want to harness the power of emotional labour and create a more connected, equal world.

Fed Up by Gemma Hartley is a feminist memoir and critical analysis around the concept of ‘emotional labour’. This is a truly fascinating read and I’m now going to thrust this book into the hands of every female friend.

Gemma explores the imbalance in relationships regarding ‘emotional’ tasks. This is usually things that people, or partners, don’t ‘see’. This may be remembering to buy a gift for a family member, remembering to book a doctors appointment or keeping a calendar of upcoming commitments for the whole family.

This kind of organisational activity is often performed by the woman in a relationship, whereas a man justifies ‘work’ as physical things that people can see, like mowing the lawn, walking the dog, fixing the car.

They often don’t understand the extra work that a woman performs to keep the house tidy, the kids behaving, or the friendships maintained. And then when the woman complains, she might find it hard to really explain what she means and then her partner is confused and perhaps frustrated.

I’ve certainly heard a lot of my female friends complain about their partner’s lack of help around the house or the family, and after reading this book I’ve realised it’s because they’re performing all the emotional labour and they feel unsupported by their partners.

Fed Up is engaging and exploratory, inviting discussion and deep reflection around gender imbalance in relationships and domestic responsibilities.

I was initially drawn to this book not because I share the same experiences as Gemma, but because I read — and loved — her Harpers Bazaar piece and thought this would be a well researched, well-written piece. And I wasn’t wrong.

Gemma has done so much research ahead of writing this book. She interviews many woman in relationships who lead different kinds of lives, and statistics are scattered throughout the chapters to help prove a point.

“The movies focus on the sweeping proposals and fairy-tale weddings, but what they don’t show is what ‘happily ever after’ actually looks like. We are presented with the beginning of a relationship, or else an act of emotional labour serves as a second chance, a promise for the future. The movies show us that the beginning of love requires an investment of emotional labour on the man’s behalf. Sometimes we get that in real life, albeit on a smaller scale. Sometimes we don’t.”

Initially, I did wonder about same-sex relationships. Who performs the emotional labour in relationships where there is not just one man and one woman? This book is about how woman do more emotional labour than their male partner, but not all relationships fit this description.

Gemma does indeed explore this in the novel, interviewing same sex couples and uncovering the balance of emotional labour in each relationship and analysing how that balance affects each person.

“Women’s experience with emotional labor makes them adept problem solvers. We are trained to always look at all of the different parts that are in motion and then carefully consider the choices that will put us, an those around us, in the most advantageous position.”

A few times in the book I felt like Gemma was repeating herself, but it was only occasionally done and it helped her reiterate a point she’d made earlier in the book.

I like that Gemma gives many examples from her own relationship and family and that of her friends and interviewees. This helps balance out the statistics and factual evidence in the book so as to not bog down the reader.

This is an eye-opening, fascinating read. Female readers — and any person who acknowledges that they’re performing most of the ‘emotional labour’ in their relationship — will love this book.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fed Up: Navigating and redefining emotional labour for good
Gemma Hartley
November 2018
Hachette Publishers

Elevation by Stephen King

Castle Rock is a small town, where word gets around quickly. That’s why Scott Carey wants to confide only in his friend Doctor Bob Ellis about his strange condition: he’s losing weight, without getting thinner, and the scales register the same when he is in his clothes or out of them, however heavy they are.

Scott also has new neighbours, who have opened a ‘fine dining experience’ in town, although it’s an experience being shunned by the locals; Deidre McComb and her wife Missy Donaldson don’t exactly fit in with the community’s expectations. And now Scott seems trapped in a feud with the couple over their dogs dropping their business on his lawn. Missy may be friendly, but Deidre is cold as ice.

As the town prepares for its annual Thanksgiving 12k run, Scott starts to understand the prejudices his neighbours face and he tries to help. Unlikely alliances form and the mystery of Scott’s affliction brings out the best in people who have indulged the worst in themselves and others.

Elevation by Stephen King is a touching, captivating novella about how one man’s mysterious medical condition results in a small town growing closer together and overcoming prejudices.

There are a couple of different strands to the story. Firstly, we have Scott Carey and his strange affliction. When he steps onto the scales every day, it shows him that he’s rapidly losing weight. But, he doesn’t look any different. He looks 240 pounds and he continues to do so, but the scales tell a very different story. Scott’s ailment prompts him to become more aware of the world around him, and he starts to notice just how horrible some his neighbours are.

There is a lesbian couple — Deirdre and Missy — who are new to town and they have opened up a new vegetarian Mexican restaurant, Holy Frijole. But no one is dining there and it’s mostly because Deirdre and Missy are openly married and a lot of the residents in Castle Rock are homophobic.

Scott makes attempts to connect with Deirdre and Missy and change the townsfolk’s attitude towards them and their restaurant. Scott wants to fix the prejudices against them.

“Mike’s smile went away. ‘Nothing to be proud of. She’s a lesbian. That would probably be okay if she kept it to herself — no one cares what goes on behind closed doors — but she has to introduce that one who cooks at Frijole as her wife. Lot of people around here see that as a big old screw you.”

Stephen King is a master storyteller, and in only 132 pages he’s captured so many amazing characters and a heartfelt story. I thought this novella was brilliant. There were a few things unanswered but I still felt that the book was complete. I was left wanting more.

I was intrigued by Scott’s story arc and how he grew over the course of the book. At first, he seemed like the kind of man who kept to himself and didn’t want to cause drama. But then, when he overhears some of his friends talking disrespectfully about Deirdre and Missy, he stands up to them and addresses how inappropriate their behaviour is.

“In the centre of the sheet was a photo of Deirdre McComb. There were other runners, most of them behind her. A big number 19 was pinned to the waistband of her tiny blue shorts. Above them was a tee-shirt with NEW YORK CITY MARATHON 2011 on the front. On her face was an expression Scott would not have associated with her: blissful happiness.”

The story is propelled forward by Scott’s weight decrease. Over time, he’s getting lighter and lighter and he doesn’t know what’s going to happen to him when he gets down to zero. This kind of supernatural, fantastical element to the story is Stephen King’s trademark — the unexplainable.

This novella is quite different to Stephen King’s usual writing, and so I think it has a really broad appeal. It’s also perfect for people who don’t have the time to commit to Stephen’s usual novels that are hundreds and hundreds of pages.

This is a tender and charming tale that I highly recommend to all ages.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Elevation
Stephen King
November 2018
Hachette Book Publishers

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It’s the highest honour they could hope for…and the most demeaning. This year, there’s a ninth. And instead of paper, she’s made of fire.

Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most persecuted class of people in Ikhara. Ten years ago, her mother was snatched by the royal guards, and her fate remains unknown. Now, the guards are back and this time it’s Lei they’re after – the girl with the golden eyes, whose rumoured beauty has piqued the king’s interest.

Over weeks of training in the opulent but oppressive palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit a king’s consort. There, Lei does the unthinkable – she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens her world’s entire way of life. Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide how far she’s willing to go for justice and revenge.

Girls of Paper and Fire is a YA novel by Natasha Ngan, set in a fictional fantasy world where nine girls are chosen to serve the King — they are to be his concubines.

Before the story has even begun, there are trigger warnings — Please be aware that this book contains scenes of violence and sexual assault — and an author’s note where Natasha addresses the reasons behind the story and the importance of telling stories like this. I think readers who have experienced violent pasts will appreciate these notices, and it will help them decide whether or not this is a book they would like to read.

“A high voice cuts through the quiet. It’s the girl we heard outside, Blue. She’s tall, even standing next to Madam Himura, with narrow shoulders and glossy azure-black hair, straight and smooth. Her features match the sharpness in her voice, angled cheekbones like two blades and narrow eyes shadowed with paint glinting out from beneath blunt bangs.”

Girls of Paper and Fire is a trilogy with an Asian-inspired setting, and Natasha leaves many questions unanswered to entice readers to continue with the series. Yes, there are some triggering scenes but it’s written delicately and is not too graphic. The characters discuss their feelings about what happens, and they have the opportunity to think and talk with each other about how they’re handling their situation.

17-year-old Lei is brave and outspoken, unwilling to accept her circumstances because others deem it to be an ‘honour’. She fights for what she wants, and she doesn’t want to be the King’s concubine. She wants to return to her family and she also wants to find out what happened to her mother years earlier when she was kidnapped.

Girls of Paper and Fire explores friendship and love, and the girls in the book are all very supportive and grow together over the course of the novel. Yes, there are fights and betrayals and not all of the girls are close friends, but they’re all going through this very scary situation and they come together in support of each other.

Lei falls in love with the secretive Wren, and this same-sex relationship is explored with sensitivity and authenticity. It’s heartwarming, reading about these two girls finding love and happiness when they’re surrounded by terror and threats.

“Silence, and rainfall, and Wren watching me with uneasy eyes. It’s the first time I’ve seen her undone like this, so unsure. The collar of her nightdress has fallen low, exposing the swell of her breasts, and from under it her bare legs are long and glossy in the moonlight. I think of her and the wolf, what intimate moment I might have interrupted. My gut twists.”

The writing and pacing is tight and very dialogue heavy, but the chapters flow and the prose is swift. Tension builds throughout the novel right up until its dramatic climax. We’re left wanting to know more. At times, the supporting characters were more interesting than Lei, but she’s still an engaging protagonist.

I enjoyed the story and am looking forward to the next instalment. This book isn’t going to be appropriate for every reader, so all I’d advise is to read the author’s note in the beginning so that you’re aware of what’s to come.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Girls of Paper and Fire
Natasha Ngan
November 2018
Hachette Book Publishers

Review and Author Interview: Laugh Your Head Off 4 Ever

9 authors. 9 stories to make you laugh your head off 4EVER

Just when you thought you were safe…nine of Australia’s favourite kids’ authors are ready to get heads rolling – again!

A runaway pram + an artsy alien + a cereal monster +a word-stealing curse + one dancing dad + three feral fairies + an evil genius + a hairy birthday + a super-duper pig = one hilarious book.

Filled with delightfully quirky illustrations by Andrea Innocent, Laugh Your Head Off 4 Ever will appeal to both girls and boys, from middle to upper primary.

AUTHOR INFORMATION
Andy Griffiths: author of the bestselling and award-winning Treehouse series.
Felice Arena: author of the bestselling and award-winning Specky Magee series.
Yvette Poshoglian: author of the fabulous Frankie Fox Spy Girl series.
Marcus Emerson: author of the immensely popular Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja series.
Matt Stanton: bestselling author and illustrator of the Funny Kid series.
Katrina Nannestad: award-winning author of The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Rome.
James Roy: acclaimed author of the Edsel Grizzler series.
Lisa Shanahan: author of the hilarious My Big Birkett.
Penny Tangey: comedian and author of Clara in Washington.

Laugh Your Head Off 4 Ever is a collection of short stories by some of Australia’s funniest writers — Andy Griffiths, Felice Arena, Yvette Poshoglian, Marcus Emerson, Matt Stanton, Katrina Nannestad, James Roy, Lisa Shanahan and Penny Tangey.

Last year, I read and reviewed the previous title in the series: Laugh Your Head Off Again and Again. Every year, Pan Macmillan publish a compilation of funny short stories for children. It’s the perfect Christmas present for young readers and writers.

Each story is the perfect length for children. They’re long enough to allow for an exciting, inviting adventure but short enough that it’s manageable for young readers to maintain interest in the book.

“Of all the things I’ve ever done, this would have to be the most stupid. I’m lying on my back squashed into a pram. Sucking a dummy. Waving a Porky Pig rattle. Wearing a nappy.”
ANDY GRIFFITHS

Laugh Your Head Off 4 Ever is a gorgeous hardback book, bright yellow with pink font and stunning illustrations within the pages. Andrea Innocent’s illustrations are scattered throughout the stories, brightening each addition to the book.

“Before we go any further, there’s something about me that you need to know: I love snakes. Not real snakes, of course — I think real snakes are creepy and scary. No, I mean jelly snakes.”
JAMES ROY

I’d recommend this for parents and younger readers. It’d be great under your Christmas tree, and there are three other books in the series you can get your hands on.

Laugh Your Head Off 4 Ever is available now, Macmillan Australia, RRP $19.99.

***

AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH FELICE ARENA

Congratulations on the publication of Laugh your Head Off 4 Ever. Tell us a little about your story in this book.
It’s about a boy who is mortified to see his father take over the dance floor at his school dance. (“He was only supposed to chaperone, not dance!”) The boy will do anything to stop his father from dancing and embarrassing him in front of his friends.

What was the inspiration behind your story?
Dads dancing in general is funny. They think they look cool, but for kids it’s horrifying. Middle-aged men shouldn’t dance, right?

What do you look for when writing a funny short story?
It varies. But for this story there had to be an element of truth to it. I had to present something that we could all relate to. When we see ourselves in stories it strikes more of a chord with us – especially the stories that show us in awkward and funny situations.

What’s something you’ve always wanted to write about but it hasn’t made its way into a story yet?
Talking animals. Yes, it’s a subject that authors writing for children have made good use of over the centuries. I would love to write a story about a moose. I think moose are cool.

What is your editing process like? Do you write many drafts?
I edit as I write. I go over and over my story before I submit it to my editor. And she still always finds something to improve on. I usually end up writing about three drafts before my book is ready to go to the printers.

Is there anything you would change about your writing career?
Perhaps my name. I sometimes think I’d prefer a catchier name than Felice, one that’s easier to remember. Something like Felix Figg. Or I.P. Often. 😉

What are you working on next?
A historical action adventure for older reader entitled A Great Escape. It’s set in Berlin 1961. It’s coming out next March.

Finally, how best can readers or schools get in contact with you?
Via my website FelixFigg.com… just joking. It’s www.felicearena.com.
Or they can reach me on my Instagram account: www.instagram.com/fleech

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Laugh Your Head 4 Ever
Featured authors: Andy Griffiths, Felice Arena, Yvette Poshoglian, Marcus Emerson, Matt Stanton, Katrina Nannestad, James Roy, Lisa Shanahan and Penny Tangey.
November 2018
Pan Macmillan

Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

When the California drought escalates to catastrophic proportions, a group of teens is forced to make life and death decisions in this harrowing story of survival from New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman, and Jarrod Shusterman.

The drought – or the Tap-Out, as everyone calls it – has been going on for a while now. Everyone’s lives have become an endless list of don’ts: don’t water the lawn, don’t take long showers, don’t panic. Until the taps run dry.

Suddenly, Alyssa’s quiet suburban street spirals into a warzone of desperation; neighbours and families turned against each other on the hunt for water. And when her parents don’t return, she and her younger brother must team up with an unlikely group in search of water. Each of them will need to make impossible choices to survive.

Dry is a young adult novel that explores what would happen to civilisation if there was no water left. Written by father-son team Neal & Jarrod Shusterman, Dry is dedicated to those affected by climate change and this book does a fabulous job of showing us the harsh reality of climate change and our possible future with no clean drinking water.

Over time, water has become more and more limited until all of a sudden there’s just none left. The book may be set in Southern California, but readers all over the world will be able to recognise elements of their own town within the pages of this book.

Reading Dry can really cause the reader to feel hydrated and be thankful for any drop of water they have near them.

“We search the surrounding streets for the BMW, all the while my fever making me feel even more miserable. We pass vacant storefronts and small parking lots, and I’m pressing the panic button the keys, but with no luck.”

The book switches POV between quite a few people. We have 16 year old Alyssa, the main character, who is fair, trustworthy and moral. She’s in charge of her 10 year old brother Garret when their parents go missing.

They team up with their neighbour Kelton. He was one of my favourite characters. His dad is a really big ‘prepper’ for the end of the world and he’s unfair, selfish and when the taps run dry he doesn’t want to share any water with anyone else. As a result, catastrophic events ensue.

Along the way, the group also join forces with the brazen and terrifying Jacqui and the incredibly cunning and conniving Henry. Together, these teenagers embark on a road trip across Southern California in an attempt to find their family, food, water and a place to ride out the disaster until help arrives.

As you can imagine, things go wrong and tensions rise among the characters. Some of them bond over the course of the novel, but a couple of them are still very much flawed by the end.

“I grab Kelton under the shoulders and pick him up. I shoot a glance to Garrett, who’s been hiding, crouched by a sofa. We drag Kelton down the hall toward the front door, Alyssa leading the way. As we make our way there, I try to take stock of what’s actually happening around us, but it’s too dark — just shapes and outlines.”

Dry is a gripping read, with heightened stakes and a fast-paced plot, and an incredibly believable premise. The book shows us how desperate people can get when they think they might be dying, and how quickly members of the public can panic and turn on one another.

This may be promoted as dystopian fiction, but it could well be a prediction of the future.

I don’t think the multiple POVs were necessary to the book, and I would’ve been perfectly content if there were only a couple of character perspectives used.

Despite that, I highly recommend this novel, particularly for any readers who love near-future or apocalyptic-style plots.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Dry
Neal Shusterman & Jarrod Shusterman
October 2018
Walker Books Australia

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