Recollections of My Nonexistence: A Memoir

You straight boys—the ones not feminists—ought to have it required reading. Have to say it’s that bad out there in the U.S. OR ANY WHERE ELSE.

Rebecca Solnit’s mind is beautiful as is her writing. She nails the daily social patriarchal oppression perfectly and objectively, leaving nothing more to be said. Her presentation of inequality provides a sense of support, a feeling that someone’s watching out for us by simply voicing what we’re going through. I’ll be reading more of Solnit.

Solnit's memoir is every woman's memoir. She is a few years younger than me and she could be writing about my life. Her ability to open her heart and her brilliant mind and turn what comes out into language is beautiful to experience. She validates every female's instincts, suspicions, fears and needs with words. This is the most important book about what it means to be female since The Second Sex and The Feminine Mystique. I'm not optimistic that lots of men will read this book also-but if only a few did, that could change their lives. And the lives of the women they care about.

This book is full of raw truths, pointing out things that women have known forever but likely haven’t articulated before. For me, it was a bit uneven in parts — some sections I devoured and then others dragged. Overall, very worth the read.

I have read this book 2x and will keep it on my shelf to re-read again and again. The art work at the start of the chapters is delightfully explained and fills in nicely as a frame for a life lived well and with great wisdom. I am now inspired to read more of her books and I keep thinking about her life and her awakening and happiness. My book group will not read memoir and I think that is a mistake with this book because there is so much history and knowledge shared within the pages it is dynamic history and political analysis of coming of age and beyond into worldly understanding of violence and human recovery to satisfaction with a good life well lived.

I absolutely loved reading this book. Rebecca Solnit articulates so perfectly what I have failed to find the words for. It’s so relatable and well written. She’s a fantastic writer and she has some awesome things to say that need to be said. It’s become required reading for my partner. 10/10 would recommend.

I have waited years for a writer whose language gives voice to the language in my own mind. This is a fascinating and beautifully written book. It's relaxing to read the poetic prose, and she takes you on a journey that is so much like your own journey, and transports you to another realm, a little like being under the influence. I pace myself reading it so I can savor all of the dense insights. Rebecca Solnit evokes Susan Sontag and Simon de Beauvoir and many other thinkers. But Solnit has a bravery for stating truths that has allowed her to claim a territory all her own.

I would give this book 5 stars for the superb writing.However the subject matter seems a bit contrived.Not to say that what she experienced wasn’t real, but with time & her fertile mind it feels at time slightly overstated.

Solnit’s is brilliant, no need to say more.

This is a really weak biography. It consistes of meandering reflections on the people the author met. People who are either not that interesting or don’t add the to the already weak narrative structure. It leaves you wondering “why is she telling me this?”. Also there is very little introspection here, which is what I’d expect from good biography.