A Review of Meg Wolitzer’s “The Female Persuasion”
Strong Enough for a Man …
Meg Wolitzer has been writing books for many years, but her last book, 2013’s The Interestings, became something of a breakout hit for her. It’s a novel that I’m, well, interested in reading, and I even have a copy of it on my Kindle, but, like that ever-growing stack of physical books that I have seemingly for show, it’s a novel that I’ve been meaning to getting around to looking at, but just haven’t. (Maybe over the summer, I could turn it into a #ThrowbackThursday review if there’s enough demand for it.) However, when galleys of her latest book, The Female Persuasion, came around, I just had to read Wolitzer’s latest to see what all the fuss was about. I’m happy that I did so.
Given the title, you’d be correct in assuming that this is a book that is about feminism, at least in part. The story involves a college girl named Greer Kadetsky who gets sexually assaulted at a frat party. Not long after, she is invited by a friend to hear an old-school type feminist named Faith Frank (note the masculine last name) speak at the college. Greer manages to corner Faith in a bathroom afterwards, thus beginning a mentor-mentee relationship after Greer graduates. Greer is hired by Faith in a menial role (at first) at a foundation that helps women. The organization is based in New York City and is backed by a male venture capitalist who has had something of a romantic history with Faith.
There are tragedies that erupt and friendships that become fractured over the course of the novel. In a sense, The Female Persuasion is a book about life getting in the way of best laid plans. However, it really is a book about feminism, how it has changed and what it looks like now, what it’s like to work for a feminist organization that may not be as progressive as it should be, and — tellingly — how women can sometimes be abusive to other women that equals the hurt that men place on women, just in more emotional ways.
The book is also about idealism and the gap between that ideal state and reality. Many of the characters in this novel start out wanting to make some kind of big change in the world, to matter, only to find out that the world is a corrupt and imperfect place where things don’t always go according to plan. One character joins a non-for-profit teaching organization only to find out that perhaps she’s doing more harm than good to the charges placed under her care. Even Greer begins to find out that her dream job working for Faith isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Given that the book is partially set in academia, The Female Persuasion about the school of hard knocks. Nothing is a utopia.
The Female Persuasion is a deeply intriguing novel, as well as a touching one. Also, no plot thread is left dangling by the end. Every character gets something that amounts to a happy ending (one elderly male character dies due to too much athletic sex, so there is that). If there’s any flaw in the novel, it does suffer from “one too many endings” syndrome. The novel could have ended on an earlier note, and be just as satisfying, but, instead, everyone’s lives must be followed through to their relatively happy conclusions.
Still, Wolitzer’s novel gave me a lot to think about. I don’t really consider myself a feminist, but that’s because I’m male and feel that feminism is something that really belongs in the sphere of women. Sure, I’m all for smashing the glass ceiling and many other social justice initiatives concerning women, but feel that real solutions to these problems are best solved by women and the best use of my talents is to be an active listener. However, there were some good takeaways from the book for a male. Wolitzer lightly touches on pornography, for instance, and the devastating effect it can have warping relationships. She also has an appealing gay female character in the book — one who has a relationship with a person of colour, which is refreshing — who is damaged by legalistic parents who simply think she can be cured of her homosexuality through conversion therapy.
Still another theme brought up by the book is loss — one character simply falls apart at the death of a sibling that leaves a family traumatized. In that sense, The Female Persuasion is additionally about healing and overcoming the unspeakable — so it’s a book about the right and wrong ways therapy can be used. As you can see, even though the book reads like a coming of age story, there’s a lot to take in. There’s a lingering after-scent this novel gives off when you’re finally done reading it, something that feels just underneath the surface. This is a book that is meant for reflection and deep thinking after it is done, which makes it perfect for reading groups.
Ultimately, though, The Female Persuasion is a simply honest to goodness good read. It reminded me, in ways, of Jennifer Egan’s Manhattan Beach — another recent title with overarching feminist themes. In this era of #MeToo and women’s marches, The Female Persuasion, like other current novels of its ilk, couldn’t have come at a better time. Along with its narrative that works as a how to guide to become a strong, independent woman — who can’t be all things to everybody all at once — this book is also a little bit about how to be a stronger, more compassionate man. To that end, this is not just a novel meant for women. Regardless of gender, though, The Female Persuasion is rather pleasant and yet crucial reading. Whether or not you consider yourself a feminist, this is a book about the pros and cons of particular approaches to social justice in the world and will get your thinking cap on as to how to deal with problems that impact everyone. The Female Persuasion, I’m glad to say, is a mostly solid book. It’s a remarkable read for both sexes: it will give your brain a workout, but stir your heart as well. All in all, this is an important work of art, with some real-life relevance and currency. So what are you waiting for? Get going and read this one. You won’t be sorry, and that is something I can guarantee. This is another winner from a major talent.
Meg Wolitzer’s The Female Persuasion will be published by Riverhead Books on April 3, 2018.
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