Product Description

A landmark in feminist literature, THE WOMEN'S ROOM is a biting social commentary of a world gone silently haywire. Written in the 1970s but with profound resonance today, this is a modern allegory that offers piercing insight into the social norms accepted blindly and revered so completely. 'Today's desperate housewives" eat your heart out! This is the original and still the best, a page-turner that makes you think. Essential reading' Kate Mosse 'They said this book would change lives - and it certainly changed mine' Jenni Murray 'Reading THE WOMEN'S ROOM was an intense and wonderful experience. It is in my DNA' Kirsty Wark 'THE WOMEN'S ROOM took the lid off a seething mass of women's frustrations, resentments and furies; it was about the need to change things from top to bottom; it was a declaration of independence' OBSERVER

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26335 in Books
• Published on: 1997-05-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 544 pages

Review
'They said this book would change lives - and it certainly changed mine.' Jenni Murray 'The kind of book that changes lives' Fay Weldon *'Reading The Women's Room was an intense and wonderful experience. It is in my DNA' Kirsty Wark.*'The Women's Room took the lid off a seething mass of women's frustrations, resentments and furies; it was an angry book about the victimisation of women, about the need to change things from top to bottom; it was a declaration of independence' Observer

About the Author
Marilyn French (1929 -) is regarded as one of the greatest living feminist writers. Her controversial and provocative first novel THE WOMEN'S ROOM, published in 1977, sold 20 million copies worldwide and quickly became a classic of the women's movement. Marilyn French is also a literary critic, her articles and stories appearing in a wide range of journals and anthologies.

Customer Reviews

The best book about the reality of womens lives ever written
The book seeks to show the lot of women in the 50's - 70's. It does this through tracking the life and thoughts of one woman; Myra. Although several of her accounts of the type of choices facing women twenty or thirty years ago may seem bleak they still have a resonance today. French writes in a seemingly dispassionate way about the stark realities of life as a women and draws you in to a rich story full of colour,drama and lessons. Although rated as a seminal femminist work, it is not preachy. The best book I have ever read.

Powerful
I saw this book in a charity shop and recognised the cover from my childhood when I remember my mother reading it which is usually a sign I will enjoy it myself. Throughout most of this book though, I couldn't quite work out whether I was enjoying it or not. Through the first half of it, the story is "light reading", the reviews I have read didn't seem to belong to the same book and there were times when its radically feminist content seemed cliched and exagerrated. That said, I stuck with it and once I got to the second half, when the political and powerful message starts to take hold, I realised why it is classed as a novel "which changes lives". I didn't grow up in the fifties, sixties or seventies and before reading this book, I didn't appreciate to what extent things have changed for women in the past few decades. The book's underlying message is still highly relevant today although thankfully things have dramatically changed for both men and women. Although naturally at times dated, the language remains upbeat and articulate. At the end of the book, I realised that I had enjoyed it and grown to love and understand the characters. Whilst not my usual read, and not, for me me, life changing as so many readers have said (I can at least see why now) it is certainly recommended not only for its strong storyline but as in interesting insight into the lives of women of previous generations and a reminder about the advantages we all have today.

my favourite book
I was born about the time this was being written, and first discovered it by accident when I was 15. I love it, and ensure I re-read it every 18 months or so. Each time I read it, it takes me ages, as it is one of those books that is so thought-provoking that you have to stop every few pages and relate it to your own life (and re-assess!). It forces you to look at the good, the bad, and the scary in yourself, but inspires you to do something about things too.
I think everyone, male and female, should read this book. It may have been written in the late 70's, but (unfortunately in places) it still has relevance today, and everybody will find a character or aspect of a character they will identify with.
I recommend this book so highly, I have bought copies as gifts for my mother and other friends when they were going through difficult times.