Shrill

Shrill by Lindy West    272 pages

Lindy West is a speak loud and never hold your peace gal that I like a lot.  Not speaking up is a form of acceptance and too much of that goes on in the world.   Lindy West is speaking up, speaking her peace and not backing down.   She doesn't pussyfoot around tough topics, her weight - she says she is fat - she does not go with the plus-size term, she stands up for women and calls male comedians out when they do rape jokes - rape is not funny and maybe if those making the jokes had first hand knowledge of the experience they might not choose to go there nor want anyone else to.   She is the target of an unimaginable load of torment and slurs in the internet sectors.    She is brave and must have thick skin made of cast-iron to endure the onslaught of extreme threats and negativity she gets on a daily basis.  She doesn't back up from internet trolls who hide behind their monikers threatening her, her sexuality, her body even some going so far as to impersonate her dead father saying how disappointed he is in her.  She talks about her life growing up shy then losing her inhibitions and finding her voice to give value to herself and also to other women.   She is funny, charming, honest -she shares the stories of her failed relationships, her abortion, etc,  and even when tackling the hard stuff she comes out open and honestly and can find something to mentor the reader on in all things.  She will at times make you laugh out loud and at others make you wonder how in the world she endures.    Well spoken.   For middle schoolers on up.  O.K. at times her speech is a bit salty but the lessons she teaches more than makes up for the off cuss word.   One of my new favorite authors.