First Times and Feminism

Woah! It's not even my full first week with this blog yet and I've already been blown away by the amazing world I have ended up in.

I have always loved books, reading and writing but now that I am fully starting to explore the world of book reviewers, book bloggers, authors and publishing I am so happy to see that I feel at home.
Out of all the communities (either online or in real life) I have found that this community of Book Addicts is one of the most warming and charming communities out there.

My 'following' number has increased a lot as I keep bumping onto new accounts that I want to follow and almost every single person unselfishly follows back. I got tweets from lovely authors thanking me to mention their books - which feels weird as mentioning them is my way of thanking them in the first place. I have found people recommending my blog even though it's only in its beginning stages and I have only a handful of blogs posted.

These first few days have been such a whirlwind and for a first time in a new community. For a first attempt as starting up a proper blog. For a first time book reviewer/reader/writer it is incredibly reassuring to find myself in such a welcoming group.

I can't wait to make more friends, meet new people and expand my personal community.
Currently I'm that person that stared from the window and finally dared entering the cafeteria.
I'm carefully ordering a drink, sitting in the corner and observing everything that's happening.
Boy, am I excited to leave that corner!

This is the least scary first time I'll ever experience, I think.
And yet that little girl in the corner sipping her drink still feels like she should whisper something to make sure there's no mistaking.
So in a hushed tone I'll say: "I promise I will try my very best and please just give me some time."
Then this cornered girl gets a mug of hot chocolate placed in front of her and she feels herself relax a little more. She adds one last thing: "I can tell I'm going to get comfortable here."

*  *  *

That having said. I feel like shortly addressing something else: FEMINISM

You might have found (from that handful of posts) that I quite adore Lucy-Anne Holmes chick-lit books. We've tweeted back and forth a few times before too and she is just a very lovely person in general. Now...a few years ago (2-3 years) Lucy-Anne started a NoMorePage3 campaign, kindly asking The Sun to get rid of the naked woman on page3.

(If only I could embed the video that I am wanting to show you but I can not. So instead I'll link you.)

When you go this website, you'll find yourself being redirected to a website where Lucy will be able to explain it so much better than I can.

In short, after two and a half years the campaign properly kicked off and the results are showing. However, it's been a long way and will still be a long way for feminism. 

She has written and is sharing her story in book form. One of which I am sure will be filled with humour, wanking and a hard-cored truth.

'Don't Hold My Head Down: How when looking for great sex, I accidentally found Great Sex' is ready for publication. All it needs now is a little bit of help. If you have anything to spare or are in any way wondering how a person went from wanking to feminism than give the link a click.

Beneath the cut I will share the synopsis that is originally posted here: http://unbound.co.uk/books/dont-hold-my-head-down

The Synopsis 

(written by Lucy-Anne Holmes)

Adventures in sex and feminism from the founder of the No More Page 3 campaign.

I’m a feminist.

Otherwise known as a ‘flat chested bint’, ‘hairy lezzer’ jealous munter’ ‘minging beast’ or ‘frigid, man hater’.

And do you know what, when I hear those names I want to say it louder. I want to get the capslock out, and the exclamation marks. I’M A FEMINIST!!!! I want it on a badge, and a T-shirt. I’d like to hire a plane and write it in a cloudless sky.

Yes, this book is about feminism. But that’s a fact you may have to remind yourself of from time to time, because you could find yourself occasionally thinking it’s book about something else. Wanking, say… or blowjob etiquette. You could well forget the fact it’s about feminism and think instead it’s some tragic fictional rom com with a completely infuriating heroine.

But this is most definitely a book about feminism and the wanking bits are relevant. Pivotal even.

Actually while I’m getting things straight I should mention that it isn’t really a feminist critique either…It seems to me that some quite brilliant feminist critiques exist on shelves in bookshelves already. I felt that stuff about sex, love and life was important. And the more I spoke to women about these issues, the more I told my story, the more I heard words like ‘wow’ and ‘inspiring’ and ‘thank you for speaking so frankly’ the more I thought ‘sod it, I don’t care if this book is a marketing nightmare and means I’ll be banging on about my masturbatory habits to complete strangers, I really think it needs to be told.’

So I’m telling you the story of how I discovered feminism, which is by far and away, without a shadow of a doubt, the most incredible, empowering, liberating thing that has ever happened to me.

But you see, I didn’t discover feminism through a teacher or a book, I uncovered it a far messier way. Feminism popped up and hollered BOO whilst I was looking for something else entirely. What was I looking for?? Well, I’ll be honest with you. I was actually looking for good sex. Oh, and trying to work out why I behaved like such a pillock with men.

Perhaps it’s best if you think of this book as the Idiots Guide to Discovering Feminism… with me valiantly playing the idiot for you.

But if this story might inspire just one young woman so that she doesn’t have to compare herself to images she sees in magazines, or take part in sex that she feels uncomfortable with, or if it inspires her to start a petition and challenge something that makes her feel small. Well, if my story could do that, then I feel it is a story worth telling.

Here goes.

Once upon a time I was having a wank to internet porn….