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Portrait of a Feminist: A Memoir in Essays
Infused with a passion for justice, this sublime, expansive memoir by a Peruvian American feminist will appeal to fans of Crying in H Mart and How to Raise a Feminist Son.
Through braided memories that flash against the present day, Portrait of a Feminist depicts the evolution of Marianna Marlowe’s identity as a biracial and multicultural woman—from her childhood in California, Peru, and Ecuador to her adulthood as an academic, a wife, and a mother.
How does the inner life of a feminist develop? How does a writer observe the world around her and kindle, from her earliest memories, a flame attuned to the unjust?
With writing that is simultaneously wise and shimmering, nuanced and direct, Marlowe explores her own experiences with the hallmarks of patriarchy. Interweaving stories of life as the child of a Catholic Peruvian mother and an atheist American father in a family that lived many years abroad, she explores realities familiar to so many of us—unequal marriages, class structures, misogynist literature, and patriarchal religion. Portrait of a Feminist confronts the two most essential questions of feminism What does it look like to live a life in defense of feminism? And how should feminism be evolving today?
Through braided memories that flash against the present day, Portrait of a Feminist depicts the evolution of Marianna Marlowe’s identity as a biracial and multicultural woman—from her childhood in California, Peru, and Ecuador to her adulthood as an academic, a wife, and a mother.
How does the inner life of a feminist develop? How does a writer observe the world around her and kindle, from her earliest memories, a flame attuned to the unjust?
With writing that is simultaneously wise and shimmering, nuanced and direct, Marlowe explores her own experiences with the hallmarks of patriarchy. Interweaving stories of life as the child of a Catholic Peruvian mother and an atheist American father in a family that lived many years abroad, she explores realities familiar to so many of us—unequal marriages, class structures, misogynist literature, and patriarchal religion. Portrait of a Feminist confronts the two most essential questions of feminism What does it look like to live a life in defense of feminism? And how should feminism be evolving today?
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
January 13, 2025
One of my goals for reading this year was to read more non-fiction and as the first memoir on the list, this didn’t disappoint. Marianna Marlowe did a superb job at walking us through her experiences whilst weaving a tale of how our upbringing, those around us and even time can affect our views on our experiences. There are strong themes that primarily center around feminism but venture into the patriarchy, marriage, Marlowe’s multicultural upbringing and self discovery. And honestly it’s just all really well done. I often found myself thinking back on my own experiences and seeing them in a different light.
While I enjoyed this read, it was definitely not a read I could sit and devour over a day like with most other reads but one I’d read a few essays and put it down then come back days later and repeat.
Thank you to NetGalley & She Writes Press for the opportunity to read and review this ahead of time!
While I enjoyed this read, it was definitely not a read I could sit and devour over a day like with most other reads but one I’d read a few essays and put it down then come back days later and repeat.
Thank you to NetGalley & She Writes Press for the opportunity to read and review this ahead of time!
February 22, 2025
I did not enjoy reading Portrait of a Feminist by Marianna Marlowe. That title, in my opinion, is erroneous. The author’s form of feminism is judgmental toward other women, and chauvinistic, yet full of hatred toward men. These essays detail transgressions by men, somehow forming the author into her idea of feminist. To be fully transparent, I only read half of this book before I decided to stop. When one of the essays is spent on claiming that the only purpose for a woman to get breast implants is for the male gaze, I checked out. Marlowe displays such disdain toward her cousin that was getting implants that I didn’t care what her opinions were any longer. You cannot call yourself a feminist and be so full of disgust for other women and their choices. I am also of the opinion that feminists are not defined by hatred of men. I know and love some wonderful men. I will never support hatred for the whole gender. This book has no real substance. The stories she shares are incidents that almost every woman on the planet has experienced in some form. The author doesn’t offer any insight or deep thought on what she thinks are pivotal moments. The timeline is all over the place and confusing. The whole thing is full of the author’s internalized sexism. The author appears to enjoy putting herself in the role of victim in these stories. Women are not defined by men, yet that seems to be the idea that Portrait of a Feminist seeks to reinforce. I rarely DNF books, but I chose to stop consuming this book. Definitely a miss for me. 0/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for allowing me access to an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Publication date February 25th, 2025. This review will be found on Instagram, StoryGraph, and Goodreads indefinitely.
February 3, 2025
This book was a miss for me. I'll discuss my many issues with it in a moment, but I want to start by saying that the book creates false expectations with its subtitle: 'A Memoir in Essays'. There are no essays in here, but rather a collection of anecdotes and small incidents from the author's life, provided with minimal to no meta-commentary. I was hoping to read a book about feminism from the perspective of a woman of color, but while the author often talks about being a feminist, we don't get to see her developing consciousness of the concept, or her awareness of the concept in the world around her, or any insightful discussion of it at all. It's not just that the author has nothing new to say about the subject -- she often doesn't say anything at all.
The stories she tells about her life are ordered in a vague chronological order from childhood to recent years. They feel cobbled together, unstructured and unified only by a vague theme. None of the topics touched upon in these stories is ever examined with much depth or nuance. In fact, the author mentions things like patriarchal beauty standards imposed on women, but then lets her own internalized patriarchal beauty standards shine through in her narrative: saying that teenage women are 'at the peak of their beauty', calling a soft stomach 'not perfect', talking about her recently face-lifted and tummy-tucked mother as 'a marvel' and 'glorious', describing herself as 'ugly' because her hair is 'frizzy' or 'kinky'.
These internalized prejudices appear in other contexts as well: the author compares her experiences of patriarchy with wearing a hijab, of wearing a mask during covid with wearing a burqa. When an acquaintance implies that she might be a lesbian, she feels herself becoming 'instantly defensive', going as far as to say 'how dare he belittle me'. She comments on the male gaze, yet seems unaware of her own gaze when she describes, in great detail, the breasts of an (underage) friend that she once observed while they were changing. When a family member cuts her hair, she describes it as 'mannishly short', while another friend cutting her hair is described as 'tamed'.
The worst thing about the book, however, is its lack of substance. With one notable exception, all the stories the author tells us are about minor incidents: seeing a man urinate in public, the father of a friend watching her swim, a man on the street blowing her a kiss as she passes him by on a bus. Are these things gross? Absolutely, but they are also depressingly normal experiences for women and girls to have. If these kinds of experiences are enough to warrant the writing of a memoir, then literally every woman could write a memoir.
These stories might have been more interesting if the author had had some larger commentary to make about how normalized these things are or how, together, they create a culture of fear for women. This meta-commentary never materializes, however -- instead, the author draws out these small incidents to extract as much drama from them as possible. I do want to note here that publishing often seems to expect the performance of trauma from women authors, especially women of color, so I understand the author wanting to conform to this expectation.
However, the lack of interesting substance manifests in other ways as well. Much of the book feels like filler, written down merely to inflate the word count. The writing is repetitive, with the author often giving three or more synonyms to express the same thought. She also engages in futile thought exercises, such as conjecturing about what Cleopatra or Jane Austen would think about the modern practice of breast implants.
The more problematic filler content, however, appears when the author 'borrows' trauma and drama from the people around her. She tells us stories about childhood friends that were molested, about adult friends' abusive marriages, about her family's 'soap opera' drama. She does this, as far as I can tell, without changing names or asking consent from the people involved (mentioning several times about these people that they have 'lost touch' or 'drifted apart').
On the whole, this book was written with very little awareness of the world around the author and no acknowledgement at all of the author's significant privileges. A disappointment.
The stories she tells about her life are ordered in a vague chronological order from childhood to recent years. They feel cobbled together, unstructured and unified only by a vague theme. None of the topics touched upon in these stories is ever examined with much depth or nuance. In fact, the author mentions things like patriarchal beauty standards imposed on women, but then lets her own internalized patriarchal beauty standards shine through in her narrative: saying that teenage women are 'at the peak of their beauty', calling a soft stomach 'not perfect', talking about her recently face-lifted and tummy-tucked mother as 'a marvel' and 'glorious', describing herself as 'ugly' because her hair is 'frizzy' or 'kinky'.
These internalized prejudices appear in other contexts as well: the author compares her experiences of patriarchy with wearing a hijab, of wearing a mask during covid with wearing a burqa. When an acquaintance implies that she might be a lesbian, she feels herself becoming 'instantly defensive', going as far as to say 'how dare he belittle me'. She comments on the male gaze, yet seems unaware of her own gaze when she describes, in great detail, the breasts of an (underage) friend that she once observed while they were changing. When a family member cuts her hair, she describes it as 'mannishly short', while another friend cutting her hair is described as 'tamed'.
The worst thing about the book, however, is its lack of substance. With one notable exception, all the stories the author tells us are about minor incidents: seeing a man urinate in public, the father of a friend watching her swim, a man on the street blowing her a kiss as she passes him by on a bus. Are these things gross? Absolutely, but they are also depressingly normal experiences for women and girls to have. If these kinds of experiences are enough to warrant the writing of a memoir, then literally every woman could write a memoir.
These stories might have been more interesting if the author had had some larger commentary to make about how normalized these things are or how, together, they create a culture of fear for women. This meta-commentary never materializes, however -- instead, the author draws out these small incidents to extract as much drama from them as possible. I do want to note here that publishing often seems to expect the performance of trauma from women authors, especially women of color, so I understand the author wanting to conform to this expectation.
However, the lack of interesting substance manifests in other ways as well. Much of the book feels like filler, written down merely to inflate the word count. The writing is repetitive, with the author often giving three or more synonyms to express the same thought. She also engages in futile thought exercises, such as conjecturing about what Cleopatra or Jane Austen would think about the modern practice of breast implants.
The more problematic filler content, however, appears when the author 'borrows' trauma and drama from the people around her. She tells us stories about childhood friends that were molested, about adult friends' abusive marriages, about her family's 'soap opera' drama. She does this, as far as I can tell, without changing names or asking consent from the people involved (mentioning several times about these people that they have 'lost touch' or 'drifted apart').
On the whole, this book was written with very little awareness of the world around the author and no acknowledgement at all of the author's significant privileges. A disappointment.
July 3, 2026
Beautifully written and often nuanced essays/vignettes that I experienced as "everyday feminism," so an exploration of how misogyny, sexism, and strict gender roles appear in daily life and how these personal experiences are often messy to dissect and understand.
February 25, 2025
2.5.
I'm afraid this just wasn't the book for me. The author recalls her childhood growing up in various countries, moving to the States, her parents' relationship - her Peruvian mum and her British father, and her early feminism. I wouldn't call it a memoir... It read like a rambling blog, and it felt a bit like a catalogue of every instance the author was a victim of violence or misogyny (including rape and sexual assault) which could have been interesting but I didn't find it particularly reflective. It felt self-centred rather than focused on how this illustrates a system and I found the tone self-important. She is also quite judgemental of a lot of things, particularly of women (cosmetic surgery bad, burqa bad...) Overall I was disappointed and I found it difficult to finish this book.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
I'm afraid this just wasn't the book for me. The author recalls her childhood growing up in various countries, moving to the States, her parents' relationship - her Peruvian mum and her British father, and her early feminism. I wouldn't call it a memoir... It read like a rambling blog, and it felt a bit like a catalogue of every instance the author was a victim of violence or misogyny (including rape and sexual assault) which could have been interesting but I didn't find it particularly reflective. It felt self-centred rather than focused on how this illustrates a system and I found the tone self-important. She is also quite judgemental of a lot of things, particularly of women (cosmetic surgery bad, burqa bad...) Overall I was disappointed and I found it difficult to finish this book.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
March 5, 2025
3.5 stars
review coming soon!
review coming soon!
February 25, 2025
I won this book through a giveaway here on Goodreads and was really excited to read it based on the title and description. Unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations.
Outside of a handful of poignant stories, which did provide some important lessons especially for younger girls who may not have experienced these things yet, the whole thing felt quite disjointed and only really mildly related to feminism at all, at best. Rather than essays, as it was portrayed, the book was instead told through anecdotal stories of the narrator's life, ordered somewhat chronologically from childhood to more present day. There was no insight into any of the narrator's beliefs or any dive into how these stories helped shape her worldview. There were many mentions of her being a feminist, but no hows or whys or even descriptors of how these things affected her at all.
I think the thing that rubbed me the wrong way the most was the narrator's consistently very un-feminist view of women. There are numerous cases of the women in the story being boiled down to their looks not by the people around them or by the society the stories take place in, but by the narrator herself even in the more recent stories, and that "beauty" seemingly affecting how the narrator views that person. Often, beauty equated to very "white" standards of beauty and darker features or curlier hair being considered undesirable. The most egregious example to me is a story where a mother is physically abusing her young son, and the author simply cannot believe it because the mother is "young and beautiful", which of course meant she was pale and thin and blonde. She then, with no reason to believe so considering a husband/father is not present in the story, blames the young and beautiful mother's actions on the need to be subservient to a husband rather than even entertaining an alternative reason for her behavior. There are also instances of the author viewing women doing things to empower themselves as things only done to appease men.
All in all this just was super disappointing to me. It was well written, and the stories were an interesting glimpse into the narrator's life, but it simply was not the book it was marketed to be.
Outside of a handful of poignant stories, which did provide some important lessons especially for younger girls who may not have experienced these things yet, the whole thing felt quite disjointed and only really mildly related to feminism at all, at best. Rather than essays, as it was portrayed, the book was instead told through anecdotal stories of the narrator's life, ordered somewhat chronologically from childhood to more present day. There was no insight into any of the narrator's beliefs or any dive into how these stories helped shape her worldview. There were many mentions of her being a feminist, but no hows or whys or even descriptors of how these things affected her at all.
I think the thing that rubbed me the wrong way the most was the narrator's consistently very un-feminist view of women. There are numerous cases of the women in the story being boiled down to their looks not by the people around them or by the society the stories take place in, but by the narrator herself even in the more recent stories, and that "beauty" seemingly affecting how the narrator views that person. Often, beauty equated to very "white" standards of beauty and darker features or curlier hair being considered undesirable. The most egregious example to me is a story where a mother is physically abusing her young son, and the author simply cannot believe it because the mother is "young and beautiful", which of course meant she was pale and thin and blonde. She then, with no reason to believe so considering a husband/father is not present in the story, blames the young and beautiful mother's actions on the need to be subservient to a husband rather than even entertaining an alternative reason for her behavior. There are also instances of the author viewing women doing things to empower themselves as things only done to appease men.
All in all this just was super disappointing to me. It was well written, and the stories were an interesting glimpse into the narrator's life, but it simply was not the book it was marketed to be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2026
I didn’t want to give this book a rating as it is a memoir and it’s hard to assign stars to someone’s actual life experiences but I just didn’t connect with this :/ Had higher hopes and it was honestly a drag. It felt like “I’m a feminist and these are some memories I have of my life that connect with being a women and the hardships that every single women goes through but I am not really going to analyze it.” There was no commentary or theme, or even any lessons to take away from this book. I was reading full pages checked out. Miss
February 13, 2025
I read this book via the eARC from NetGalley and She Writes Press.
When I first saw this book, I was so excited to read it–especially with everything happening today, and I am happy I did. I think this was a pretty good and easy read. I loved learning about Marianna’s journey with feminism and how it evolved throughout her life, from her childhood witnessing the relationship dynamics between her parents to later in life with marriage and motherhood. For the most part, I found some of her journey relatable. One con I will say is that, at times, I found some of the essays or their order to be a little confusing, but I definitely think this is worth a read.
When I first saw this book, I was so excited to read it–especially with everything happening today, and I am happy I did. I think this was a pretty good and easy read. I loved learning about Marianna’s journey with feminism and how it evolved throughout her life, from her childhood witnessing the relationship dynamics between her parents to later in life with marriage and motherhood. For the most part, I found some of her journey relatable. One con I will say is that, at times, I found some of the essays or their order to be a little confusing, but I definitely think this is worth a read.
February 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much to Booksparks for sending me a physical copy of <3
Portrait of a Feminist: A Memoir in Essays by Marianna Marlowe was such a heartwarming read and it was so interesting to read about her experiences. This was such a cool non-fiction read and it was so refreshing to read about feminist experiences as a self-proclaimed feminist myself. Thank you again to Booksparks and Marianna Marlowe for the arc!
Thank you so much to Booksparks for sending me a physical copy of <3
Portrait of a Feminist: A Memoir in Essays by Marianna Marlowe was such a heartwarming read and it was so interesting to read about her experiences. This was such a cool non-fiction read and it was so refreshing to read about feminist experiences as a self-proclaimed feminist myself. Thank you again to Booksparks and Marianna Marlowe for the arc!
November 5, 2026
I enjoyed this book! It’s several short essays on her experiences as a woman and her feminism journey. I enjoyed reading it and related to several chapters. It was a good read.
February 3, 2025
** Thank you Penguin Classics and She Write Press for having offered me a copy in exchange for a honest review **
(Recensione in italiano in fondo)
🇬🇧
I was looking forward to reading this book and I was sure I would have loved this book, and yet it left me with a bitter taste. I don’t know what I don’t like of this book precisely, but there’s something off. It’s a very good memoir and interesting, but I’d have preferred if the author, Marianna Marlowe, had delved a little deeper into the topics she’s tried to explain by telling her life experience. The writing style is not of my taste, but I consider it technically correct and appropriate, although it’s not particularly original or memorable.
What I appreciate, instead, is how the author underlined the fact that, given the system we live in and act upon and we embody values, norms and praxis from, is hard to apply entirely our feminist ideals and to adopt the linked behaviours despite our efforts.
“Portrait of a Feminist” is a beautiful book and is very useful to us young women (and not only us) to better understand feminism applied in real life, taking as example the story of a real woman, a professor, who seems very close to us.
This is Marlowe’s debut and I’m looking forward to read her next works in the future.
🇮🇹
Non vedevo l’ora di leggere questo libro ed ero convinta che lo avrei amato, tuttavia mi ha lasciato con l’amaro in bocca. Non so cosa non mi sia piaciuto di preciso di questo libro, eppure c’è qualcosa che mi è risultato stonato. È un bel memoir, sicuramente molto interessante e ben scritto, ma avrei preferito che l’autrice, Marianna Marlowe, avesse approfondito maggiormente i temi che ha tentato di affrontare raccontando le sue esperienze di vita; insomma, è come se non riuscisse mai ad arrivare al punto e mi ha spesso lasciata confusa. Lo stile di scrittura non è di mio gusto, ma lo ritengo tecnicamente corretto e appropriato, seppur non particolarmente originale o memorabile.
Quello che, invece, ho apprezzato particolarmente è il sottolineare come, dato il sistema nel quale viviamo e agiamo e dal quale incorporiamo valori, norme e prassi, è spesso complicato riuscire ad applicare totalmente le convinzioni femministe e ad adottare comportamenti in tal senso, nonostante i nostri sforzi. Questo aspetto è stato spesso consolatorio per me, che sì sono una fiera femminista, ma anche una persona che non ama i conflitti ed è molto riservata.
“Portrait of a Feminist” è un bel libro e molto utile per noi giovani donne (e non solo) per comprendere meglio il femminismo nella vita reale, prendendo come esempio la storia reale di una donna, una docente, che ci sembra molto vicina.
Questo è stato il debutto di Marlowe, docente e autrice statunitense di origini peruviane, e mi piacerebbe leggere i suoi prossimi lavori in futuro.
(Recensione in italiano in fondo)
🇬🇧
I was looking forward to reading this book and I was sure I would have loved this book, and yet it left me with a bitter taste. I don’t know what I don’t like of this book precisely, but there’s something off. It’s a very good memoir and interesting, but I’d have preferred if the author, Marianna Marlowe, had delved a little deeper into the topics she’s tried to explain by telling her life experience. The writing style is not of my taste, but I consider it technically correct and appropriate, although it’s not particularly original or memorable.
What I appreciate, instead, is how the author underlined the fact that, given the system we live in and act upon and we embody values, norms and praxis from, is hard to apply entirely our feminist ideals and to adopt the linked behaviours despite our efforts.
“Portrait of a Feminist” is a beautiful book and is very useful to us young women (and not only us) to better understand feminism applied in real life, taking as example the story of a real woman, a professor, who seems very close to us.
This is Marlowe’s debut and I’m looking forward to read her next works in the future.
🇮🇹
Non vedevo l’ora di leggere questo libro ed ero convinta che lo avrei amato, tuttavia mi ha lasciato con l’amaro in bocca. Non so cosa non mi sia piaciuto di preciso di questo libro, eppure c’è qualcosa che mi è risultato stonato. È un bel memoir, sicuramente molto interessante e ben scritto, ma avrei preferito che l’autrice, Marianna Marlowe, avesse approfondito maggiormente i temi che ha tentato di affrontare raccontando le sue esperienze di vita; insomma, è come se non riuscisse mai ad arrivare al punto e mi ha spesso lasciata confusa. Lo stile di scrittura non è di mio gusto, ma lo ritengo tecnicamente corretto e appropriato, seppur non particolarmente originale o memorabile.
Quello che, invece, ho apprezzato particolarmente è il sottolineare come, dato il sistema nel quale viviamo e agiamo e dal quale incorporiamo valori, norme e prassi, è spesso complicato riuscire ad applicare totalmente le convinzioni femministe e ad adottare comportamenti in tal senso, nonostante i nostri sforzi. Questo aspetto è stato spesso consolatorio per me, che sì sono una fiera femminista, ma anche una persona che non ama i conflitti ed è molto riservata.
“Portrait of a Feminist” è un bel libro e molto utile per noi giovani donne (e non solo) per comprendere meglio il femminismo nella vita reale, prendendo come esempio la storia reale di una donna, una docente, che ci sembra molto vicina.
Questo è stato il debutto di Marlowe, docente e autrice statunitense di origini peruviane, e mi piacerebbe leggere i suoi prossimi lavori in futuro.
June 22, 2026
The portrait Marianna Marlowe paints of herself as a feminist in Portrait of a Feminist is of a woman who is honest, authentic, and passionate in her beliefs. As she reflects on each major period in her life in this memoir in essays, she explores experiences which stirred something in her that refused to take a particular experience at face value. Her insights into feminism's role in her life did not come easy. She recounts feeling conflicted at times, making mistakes, experiencing regrets.
Taken as a whole, Portrait of a Feminist clearly demonstrates the value of self-reflection, of asking ourselves: Who am I, and how did I come to be the woman I am today? I frequently stopped reading to reflect on my own views about my sex and my gender, as well as my own place in the current social context.
Marlowe is a master prose stylist, which made for a very enjoyable read. Her descriptions make the experiences she’s recounting come alive and put me right in the scene with her:
“The décor is darkly Spanish Colonialist, and I sit with my uncle and older cousin on carved chairs with leather seats at a table surrounded by gilt-framed mirrors and gloomy paintings of virgins and saints.” (“The Most Important Quality”)
I also appreciated that Marlowe chose to tell us her story with a series of personal essays, for two reasons. First, we don’t experience formative life events in a neat narrative arc. We experience them episodically. Second, the conversational tone of the personal essay encourages readers to see the person behind the text and engage with her experiences and beliefs.
What I am left with after reading Portrait of a Feminist is that the stakes for this memoir are high. Girls and young women need a way to recognize, understand, and come to terms with how society views and treats the female sex by imposing gender roles that can be limiting or downright harmful. Marlowe’s memoir serves as a first-rate exemplar for doing just that.
Given the resurgence of misogyny in the United States and a concerted attempt by the current regime to strip away the rights that women fought so hard for in the 20th century, the further I read in Portrait of a Feminist, the more I couldn’t escape the following question: Where does a feminist go from here?
Marlowe answers my question in the last chapter, “F is for . . . ,“ in which she defines feminism, what it means to her as a way of moving through the world, and what it means as a rallying cry to restore the word “feminism” to its rightful place of empowerment in the lives of women and girls.
Taken as a whole, Portrait of a Feminist clearly demonstrates the value of self-reflection, of asking ourselves: Who am I, and how did I come to be the woman I am today? I frequently stopped reading to reflect on my own views about my sex and my gender, as well as my own place in the current social context.
Marlowe is a master prose stylist, which made for a very enjoyable read. Her descriptions make the experiences she’s recounting come alive and put me right in the scene with her:
“The décor is darkly Spanish Colonialist, and I sit with my uncle and older cousin on carved chairs with leather seats at a table surrounded by gilt-framed mirrors and gloomy paintings of virgins and saints.” (“The Most Important Quality”)
I also appreciated that Marlowe chose to tell us her story with a series of personal essays, for two reasons. First, we don’t experience formative life events in a neat narrative arc. We experience them episodically. Second, the conversational tone of the personal essay encourages readers to see the person behind the text and engage with her experiences and beliefs.
What I am left with after reading Portrait of a Feminist is that the stakes for this memoir are high. Girls and young women need a way to recognize, understand, and come to terms with how society views and treats the female sex by imposing gender roles that can be limiting or downright harmful. Marlowe’s memoir serves as a first-rate exemplar for doing just that.
Given the resurgence of misogyny in the United States and a concerted attempt by the current regime to strip away the rights that women fought so hard for in the 20th century, the further I read in Portrait of a Feminist, the more I couldn’t escape the following question: Where does a feminist go from here?
Marlowe answers my question in the last chapter, “F is for . . . ,“ in which she defines feminism, what it means to her as a way of moving through the world, and what it means as a rallying cry to restore the word “feminism” to its rightful place of empowerment in the lives of women and girls.
January 19, 2025
Portrait of a Feminist, by Marianna Marlowe, is a profound exploration of the evolving landscape of feminism. With her keen insights and deeply personal memories, Marlowe examines the intersection of history, culture, and individual stories, crafting a compelling memoir that will resonate with women everywhere.
Marlowe’s ability to weave personal anecdotes with historical context is remarkable. She dives into the challenges women face worldwide while celebrating the triumphs of feminist movements.
Portrait of a Feminist is structured as a series of essays presented in a non-linear timeline. While this approach felt creative in exploring Marlowe's diverse themes, it initially felt confusing and challenging to follow. However, once the book's structure was established, the fragmented timeline added depth to the narrative, mirroring the vast complexity of feminism and Marlowe's personal journey. Her voice feels authentic and courageous, the storytelling is refreshingly honest, and she does not shy away from covering complex or controversial themes.
Marlowe’s exploration of feminist identities and movements resonates strongly in today’s world. Her stories of resilience and advocacy feel universal, yet they also challenge readers to reflect on their own experiences and assumptions. Personally, I found her reflections on intergenerational feminism particularly poignant, as they highlight the evolving nature of feminist struggles and triumphs.
Portrait of a Feminist is less of a memoir as it is a call to action, reminding us of how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go. Although the non-linear timeline may require some adjustment at the beginning, Marlowe’s essays ultimately reward the reader with profound insights and a deep human narrative. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to understand feminism in its many dimensions.
Thanks to NetGalley & She Writes Press for the opportunity to read and review this ahead of time!
Marlowe’s ability to weave personal anecdotes with historical context is remarkable. She dives into the challenges women face worldwide while celebrating the triumphs of feminist movements.
Portrait of a Feminist is structured as a series of essays presented in a non-linear timeline. While this approach felt creative in exploring Marlowe's diverse themes, it initially felt confusing and challenging to follow. However, once the book's structure was established, the fragmented timeline added depth to the narrative, mirroring the vast complexity of feminism and Marlowe's personal journey. Her voice feels authentic and courageous, the storytelling is refreshingly honest, and she does not shy away from covering complex or controversial themes.
Marlowe’s exploration of feminist identities and movements resonates strongly in today’s world. Her stories of resilience and advocacy feel universal, yet they also challenge readers to reflect on their own experiences and assumptions. Personally, I found her reflections on intergenerational feminism particularly poignant, as they highlight the evolving nature of feminist struggles and triumphs.
Portrait of a Feminist is less of a memoir as it is a call to action, reminding us of how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go. Although the non-linear timeline may require some adjustment at the beginning, Marlowe’s essays ultimately reward the reader with profound insights and a deep human narrative. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to understand feminism in its many dimensions.
Thanks to NetGalley & She Writes Press for the opportunity to read and review this ahead of time!
February 27, 2025
Thank you to Booksparks + Marianna Marlowe for the gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
#PortraitofaFeminist + #WinterPopUp.
I am glad that I'm diving into different kinds of memoirs. Marianna Marlowe gives us glimpses of her views in what she may portray essays in her book. However, I find them to be more of a narrative and insight into her mind as a human being. I don't think I would wholesomely agree she necessarily defines the word "feminist." I could be completely wrong because there are parts of her writing where I felt were strictly her experiences, but the lessons were portrayed poorly. The experiences and views she sees of the world and other people may not be how other people view themselves or other people. Being a feminist isn't tearing down other women. To be a feminist is to be uplifting and positive. How one lives their life due to their appearance is a choice. I could be wrong, but I believe that women who choose to get work done on their bodies are usually done to appease their own desire for perfection. I don't think it has anything to do with attracting the opposite sex. A small fraction may be that, but each to their own, and whatever the reason may be, looking down on someone based on their life choices does not make you a feminist. Maybe my views are just entirely different. I feel like that took this down a notch for me. So many women are battered down by negativity, abuse, and hatred. Do we really need to add that extra abuse towards each other? Kind of a pointless fight? Either way, these are "her" stories, "her" experiences, and so it doesn't make it any less important to tell. It is the reason I am still respecting it the way it is written.
#PortraitofaFeminist + #WinterPopUp.
I am glad that I'm diving into different kinds of memoirs. Marianna Marlowe gives us glimpses of her views in what she may portray essays in her book. However, I find them to be more of a narrative and insight into her mind as a human being. I don't think I would wholesomely agree she necessarily defines the word "feminist." I could be completely wrong because there are parts of her writing where I felt were strictly her experiences, but the lessons were portrayed poorly. The experiences and views she sees of the world and other people may not be how other people view themselves or other people. Being a feminist isn't tearing down other women. To be a feminist is to be uplifting and positive. How one lives their life due to their appearance is a choice. I could be wrong, but I believe that women who choose to get work done on their bodies are usually done to appease their own desire for perfection. I don't think it has anything to do with attracting the opposite sex. A small fraction may be that, but each to their own, and whatever the reason may be, looking down on someone based on their life choices does not make you a feminist. Maybe my views are just entirely different. I feel like that took this down a notch for me. So many women are battered down by negativity, abuse, and hatred. Do we really need to add that extra abuse towards each other? Kind of a pointless fight? Either way, these are "her" stories, "her" experiences, and so it doesn't make it any less important to tell. It is the reason I am still respecting it the way it is written.
October 18, 2024
Portrait of a Feminist is a stunning memoir that masterfully weaves together personal history and the broader sociopolitical struggles of feminism. With a voice that is both powerful and intimate, Marlowe invites readers into her multifaceted world as a Peruvian American woman navigating the intersections of race, gender, and culture.
Much like Crying in H Mart and How to Raise a Feminist Son, this memoir offers a deeply personal exploration of identity, while grappling with questions that resonate universally. Marlowe’s writing is both lyrical and insightful, as she reflects on her childhood in California, Peru, and Ecuador, as well as her later life as a mother and academic. Her ability to bring to life both the inner journey of self-discovery and the external realities of patriarchy is nothing short of remarkable.
One of the most compelling aspects of the memoir is Marlowe’s examination of how her experiences, shaped by her biracial background and multicultural upbringing, molded her feminist outlook. From unequal marriages to patriarchal structures in religion and society, she navigates these challenges with a sharp, critical eye, constantly questioning and evolving her feminist stance.
With profound insight and elegant prose, readers are challenged to reflect on how feminism can continue to evolve in our complex modern world. This memoir is an enriching read that not only celebrates the resilience of women but also provokes deeper reflection on the continuing struggles for gender equality. Fans of memoirs that explore cultural identity and social justice will find Portrait of a Feminist a deeply rewarding and thought-provoking work.
Much like Crying in H Mart and How to Raise a Feminist Son, this memoir offers a deeply personal exploration of identity, while grappling with questions that resonate universally. Marlowe’s writing is both lyrical and insightful, as she reflects on her childhood in California, Peru, and Ecuador, as well as her later life as a mother and academic. Her ability to bring to life both the inner journey of self-discovery and the external realities of patriarchy is nothing short of remarkable.
One of the most compelling aspects of the memoir is Marlowe’s examination of how her experiences, shaped by her biracial background and multicultural upbringing, molded her feminist outlook. From unequal marriages to patriarchal structures in religion and society, she navigates these challenges with a sharp, critical eye, constantly questioning and evolving her feminist stance.
With profound insight and elegant prose, readers are challenged to reflect on how feminism can continue to evolve in our complex modern world. This memoir is an enriching read that not only celebrates the resilience of women but also provokes deeper reflection on the continuing struggles for gender equality. Fans of memoirs that explore cultural identity and social justice will find Portrait of a Feminist a deeply rewarding and thought-provoking work.
June 2, 2026
Portrait of a Feminist: A Memoir in Essays is a reflective and intellectually rich memoir-in-essays that explores feminism, identity, and multicultural upbringing through a deeply personal and layered narrative structure.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is its braided essay format, which allows the author to move fluidly between past and present. This structure mirrors the evolving nature of identity itself, showing how childhood experiences continue to shape adult understanding in subtle and persistent ways.
The memoir thoughtfully examines what it means to grow up between cultures Peruvian, American, Ecuadorian and how that intersection informs one’s understanding of gender, power, and social expectation. This multicultural lens adds depth and nuance to the exploration of feminism.
A key strength of the book is its intellectual clarity combined with emotional reflection. The author engages with themes such as patriarchy, inequality, religion, and literature in a way that is both analytical and personal, making the ideas feel lived rather than abstract.
The writing also invites readers to consider larger questions about how feminism develops over time and how it adapts across different cultural and generational contexts. This gives the memoir both personal resonance and broader social relevance.
Overall, this is a thoughtful and well-crafted read for readers interested in feminist thought, memoir essays, identity formation, and culturally grounded reflections on gender and belonging.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is its braided essay format, which allows the author to move fluidly between past and present. This structure mirrors the evolving nature of identity itself, showing how childhood experiences continue to shape adult understanding in subtle and persistent ways.
The memoir thoughtfully examines what it means to grow up between cultures Peruvian, American, Ecuadorian and how that intersection informs one’s understanding of gender, power, and social expectation. This multicultural lens adds depth and nuance to the exploration of feminism.
A key strength of the book is its intellectual clarity combined with emotional reflection. The author engages with themes such as patriarchy, inequality, religion, and literature in a way that is both analytical and personal, making the ideas feel lived rather than abstract.
The writing also invites readers to consider larger questions about how feminism develops over time and how it adapts across different cultural and generational contexts. This gives the memoir both personal resonance and broader social relevance.
Overall, this is a thoughtful and well-crafted read for readers interested in feminist thought, memoir essays, identity formation, and culturally grounded reflections on gender and belonging.
November 14, 2024
In her beautiful memoir, Portrait of a Feminist, Marianna Marlowe creates vivid scenes of her personal life that mesmerize the reader. Some stories begin in what seems to be a stable family atmosphere, but soon the reader is caught up in mounting conflicts and tensions that make the book difficult to put down. Each episode is unique and reflects a vivid personal experience while at the same time touching on universal themes about the challenges that women face in sexist, patriarchal cultures. The author, daughter of a Peruvian mother and an American father, conveys both the divergence and convergence of expectations for proper female conduct in different cultures.
The memoir begins with stories of childhood, how little girls are taught to be obsessed with looks, their experiences with an aggressive male gaze or touch, and the way older women either support or undermine a young girl’s efforts to define her own goals. The maturing years bring new challenges for a young woman who tries new things in new environments that sometimes lead to dangerous encounters with men who expect submission to their impositions. Finally, the author looks at the mature woman’s struggle to balance career and motherhood and create a marriage that broadens horizons rather than trapping her into an unequal relationship. Highly recommended for those who love engrossing stories that not only captivate the reader but also cast light on the unfortunate consequences of gender inequality.
The memoir begins with stories of childhood, how little girls are taught to be obsessed with looks, their experiences with an aggressive male gaze or touch, and the way older women either support or undermine a young girl’s efforts to define her own goals. The maturing years bring new challenges for a young woman who tries new things in new environments that sometimes lead to dangerous encounters with men who expect submission to their impositions. Finally, the author looks at the mature woman’s struggle to balance career and motherhood and create a marriage that broadens horizons rather than trapping her into an unequal relationship. Highly recommended for those who love engrossing stories that not only captivate the reader but also cast light on the unfortunate consequences of gender inequality.
March 31, 2025
In this unique multicultural memoir, readers follow Marianna Marlowe’s growing biracial and multicultural feminist identity from her childhood in California, Peru, and Ecuador to her adulthood as an academic, wife, and mother. Exploring her own experiences with patriarchy, international childhoods, unequal marriages, class structures, misogyny in life and literature, and patriarchal religions, Marlowe asks serious questions of modern, twenty-first century feminism based on her own life and experiences. Focusing on her real and raw lived experiences, the memoir is deeply personal, emotional, and moving, and its nonlinear, nonchronological narrative style really contributes to the stream of consciousness style. Marlowe is a skilled, passionate writer, and her focus on her multicultural childhood as a biracial Latina woman will really speak to a specific subset of readers, while her larger questions of feminism will speak to all of her readers. Entertaining, thought-provoking, poignant, and contemplative, this memoir really asks readers to think critically about feminism and gendered structures and influences as they relate to personal experiences rather than larger institutional issues. Unique, complicated, fascinating, and moving, this is a brilliant new memoir that women looking for connections with other women through shared or similar struggles will really appreciate at this particular moment in history.
Thanks to NetGalley and She Writes Press for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and She Writes Press for the advance copy.
September 27, 2026
Many things ruined this book for me , one being the inclusion of a story from one of the authors friends. Her friend’s son is apparently falsely accused of rape by a girl who, after having sex, realises she regrets it. The girl then accuses the boy of rape. Two weeks later, she rescinds the accusation, but it has ruined the boy’s reputation and his “first experience with love”.
It is clear the author is what people would call a “Boy Mum”. She is obsessed with her sons, and obsessed with how the patriarchy hurts boys and men, to the extent that I question her feminism as a whole, for it seems sometimes entirely focused on men.
So why include the story of her friend’s son being apparently falsely accused of rape? She is scared that feminism has swung too far. How will her sons survive in such a world? Firstly, she is hearing this second hand, from a highly biased source: the boys mother. We don’t know what really happened. We don’t know if it was rape and the girl was pressured into rescinding her accusation. We just don’t know. Secondly, false accusations make up a minuscule percentage of rape accusations. To include this anecdote is to undermine everything previously said. It is not feminism. It is not a portrait of true feminism.
It is clear the author is what people would call a “Boy Mum”. She is obsessed with her sons, and obsessed with how the patriarchy hurts boys and men, to the extent that I question her feminism as a whole, for it seems sometimes entirely focused on men.
So why include the story of her friend’s son being apparently falsely accused of rape? She is scared that feminism has swung too far. How will her sons survive in such a world? Firstly, she is hearing this second hand, from a highly biased source: the boys mother. We don’t know what really happened. We don’t know if it was rape and the girl was pressured into rescinding her accusation. We just don’t know. Secondly, false accusations make up a minuscule percentage of rape accusations. To include this anecdote is to undermine everything previously said. It is not feminism. It is not a portrait of true feminism.
February 18, 2025
"Portrait of a Feminist confronts the two most essential questions of feminism What does it look like to live a life in defense of feminism? And how should feminism be evolving today?”
Marlowe tells her story through essays suffused with wisdom and feeling. Through them we learn of her life as a bi-racial and multicultural woman beginning with her childhood and moving into adulthood. Her life as “academic", a wife, and a mother round out the book. She lived in several very different places including California, Peru and Ecuador. Marlowe posits how a person(s) (woman/feminist) develop into someone who is aware of those less fortunate. A person who is aware of others and unjust treatment.
I had a difficult time getting into this book. Although Marlowe is a capable storyteller, I found the book to be confusing at times and too slow moving. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Marianna Marlow, NetGalley and She Writes Press for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review. Publication Date: February 25, 2025,
#EmptyNestReader #instagram #Goodreads #PortraitOfAFeminist #MariannaMarlowe Eessay #memoir #NonFiction #NF #Feminist #FebruaryReads #NetGalley #SheWritesPress #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle #ebooks #ReadaLittleLearnaLittleLiveaLittle
Marlowe tells her story through essays suffused with wisdom and feeling. Through them we learn of her life as a bi-racial and multicultural woman beginning with her childhood and moving into adulthood. Her life as “academic", a wife, and a mother round out the book. She lived in several very different places including California, Peru and Ecuador. Marlowe posits how a person(s) (woman/feminist) develop into someone who is aware of those less fortunate. A person who is aware of others and unjust treatment.
I had a difficult time getting into this book. Although Marlowe is a capable storyteller, I found the book to be confusing at times and too slow moving. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Marianna Marlow, NetGalley and She Writes Press for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review. Publication Date: February 25, 2025,
#EmptyNestReader #instagram #Goodreads #PortraitOfAFeminist #MariannaMarlowe Eessay #memoir #NonFiction #NF #Feminist #FebruaryReads #NetGalley #SheWritesPress #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle #ebooks #ReadaLittleLearnaLittleLiveaLittle
February 4, 2025
***Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review***
I was initially drawn to this memoir because it seemed to promise a more global feminist perspective. What I did not expect was a generational gap. The essays that were most interesting to read were ones that specifically addressed Ms. Marlowe's Peruvian family and what often amounted to a cultural clash as she grew older and became more reflective or critical of their stances. Her own viewpoints were also often expressed in language and in ways that read as a bit old. Maybe even antiquated, like a feminism that I read about when I was a preteen. There's nothing particularly wrong with that, but it fell short of where I was hoping it would go.
I was initially drawn to this memoir because it seemed to promise a more global feminist perspective. What I did not expect was a generational gap. The essays that were most interesting to read were ones that specifically addressed Ms. Marlowe's Peruvian family and what often amounted to a cultural clash as she grew older and became more reflective or critical of their stances. Her own viewpoints were also often expressed in language and in ways that read as a bit old. Maybe even antiquated, like a feminism that I read about when I was a preteen. There's nothing particularly wrong with that, but it fell short of where I was hoping it would go.
Did Not Finish
May 10, 2025DNF at 50%. I really tried. But I ultimately found the essays (but really anecdotes) and insights to be vapid. And I really struggled to understand how most (if any) of the experiences Marlowe writes about - some which are not her own - speaks to her becoming a feminist. Her takeaways from these incidences do not feel particularly feminist at all.
And - while not all incidences in life need to be notable to shape who you are and who you become - none of the anecdotes she shared were particularly striking. I frequently finished a chapter wondering why she bothered sharing that story and associated insight.
Thank you to Book Spark for a physical ARC!
And - while not all incidences in life need to be notable to shape who you are and who you become - none of the anecdotes she shared were particularly striking. I frequently finished a chapter wondering why she bothered sharing that story and associated insight.
Thank you to Book Spark for a physical ARC!
October 2, 2026
I have conflicting feelings about this book. As a feminist I cannot negate the author's experience. But she has a lot of internalised misoginy, it shows when she speaks about other women. She also avoids discussing points in depth. She only skims through her memories which she thinks defined her feminism. Moreover, she sympathised with some boy mum claiming the SA he was accused of was a false accusation. Considering that I just finished the read as the Cornell 7 case emerged I am furious that she preferred to believe a boy than a girl especially that she declares she has always believed women. This is such a defender of patriarchy move.
February 23, 2025
This is a captivating memoir that blends together past and present to illustrate the evolution of identity. Marlowe is a Peruvian American exploring her complex inner life and relatable lived experiences in a deeply personal way. Whether you identify as a feminist or not, if you have ever questioned the systems that shape us living in an unjust patriarchal society, this book is for your. Thank you She Writes Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 13, 2026
I read this for a Goodreads Challenge and almost didn't finish it. While the author claims to have found her purpose as a self-proclaimed feminist, I found her assumptions and speculations about the women in her life and her judgements and criticisms of their choices cringe-worthy. The amount of space dedicated to what every women she encounters looks like - their clothes, their hair, their makeup, how they choose to present themselves - especially as it differs from the author's choices, was insufferable. Couldn't wait to be done with it.
October 25, 2024
This beautifully written memoir highlights the ubiquity of everyday sexism that girls and women constantly have to endure around the globe. Marianna Marlowe communicates this important message through powerful and engaging stories from her youth, written with such detail that you feel like you were there with her, watching as the story unfolds. We can only hope that Marlowe has more books to follow this wonderful debut.
November 29, 2024
Marlowe’s memoir, Portrait of a Feminist, explores how her biracial background and multicultural upbringing shaped her evolving feminist outlook. With sharp insights and elegant prose, she critiques patriarchal structures and challenges readers to reflect on modern feminism. A profound and thought-provoking read for those interested in cultural identity and gender equality. This is a perfect addition to my shelf alongside Adichie and Arundhuti Roy
February 15, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and She Writes Press for this ARC!!
If this wasn't an ARC I would have DNF'd it. The stories were either uninteresting, about someone else, or hypothetical (so many what if stories, wondering what happened or assumptions). Didn't really get much of a feminist view from the book other than all the times she reminded us she was a feminist. There was also so much judgement towards other women that didn't vibe with how I see feminism. I would not recommend.
If this wasn't an ARC I would have DNF'd it. The stories were either uninteresting, about someone else, or hypothetical (so many what if stories, wondering what happened or assumptions). Didn't really get much of a feminist view from the book other than all the times she reminded us she was a feminist. There was also so much judgement towards other women that didn't vibe with how I see feminism. I would not recommend.
November 8, 2026
I picked this book up since it was part of the reading challenge. Otherwise, I wouldn’t go out of my way to read this book. I am in full agreement with this author and her values. I do believe everyone should be a feminist. However, none of the stories she provided was new to me. I well-aware of the conservatism and traditionalism that comes from our previous generations and religion that suppress women. I’ve read plenty of similar stories. So, what are we going to do about it ?
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