The Feminist Minds: Two Years of Collected Essays from Magdalene

by Magdalene

Forty writers shared their experiences living in Indonesia as a feminist. They voiced their thoughts, pouring out their hearts and minds courageously in an increasingly conservative society that can be hostile to divergent perspectives and unconventional outlooks.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction

368 pages, Paperback

Published March 18, 2019

Reviews

[Dyan Eka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buku ini cocok untuk yang mau belajar tentang feminisme, saya pun mendapat banyak sekali 'pandangan' soal feminisme yang ternyata tidak selalu soal hak seorang perempuan, tapi ternyata lebih dari itu.

Hanya saja ada beberapa cerita yang 'maunya apa?', sehingga saya sulit menangkap maksud dari cerita sang penulis. Tapi keseluruhan cerita yang ditulis sangat menyenangkan untuk dibaca, apalagi dengan latar dan topik cerita yang beragam. Thumbs up!!

[Btari · Rating 3 out of 5]

For someone who's still learning what the buzz is all about, i should say that this collection did gave me a wide picture of what feminism truly is and its significance in our daily battles. But i must say, it also felt like reading half-boiled stories/patches of various topic (I understand that these are short essays and most of them are submissions, but still). I also disagree with some of the essays as they are either too judgemental or too shallow (that i was surprised those essays actually make it to the curated collection?!)

[Uka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most people find out this book by a taken picture of Maudy Ayunda on the make-up room reading this book while her colleagues holding their phone instead waiting for their make up done. Yeah, me too. Sunken by my curiosity.

I have been following Magdalene on twitter for approximately a year and their articles are so good. They bring up taboos, norms, religion, sex-orientation, sex education, anything you know in Indonesia as sacred or peculiar. Not every article I would agree, because it's all summed up from many people whose would write their story with various point of view in certain things. Human is all different, and it's included on the contain of this book based on 2 years articles from a magazine.

But being able to see vast and deep sight on those various point of view makes me realize that I only know a little about the world. If you see some people have their dinner table full of foods and drinks and patterned table cloth, mine is just plain white wooden-based table with a glass of water. I really enjoy to know, to understand, to conceive all those hidden stories that I know I would never listen directly from my people or my nearest people. Some might do, but not all.

For me, this book very indulged me all until the end. It took me a lot of time to finish but I don't feel the rushing up to finish as I enjoy reading articles on my social medias. Some articles give me tips and tricks for specific topic, and got teary as I read one of the author experience in May 1998, where the demonstration from young people and college students demanded for reformation with blood, gun shootings and teary gas from the apparatus as they should protect them instead..

This is my first 5 stars book in 2020, and from this book, it will directing me to know deeply every topic raised. For the author and anyone working behind this book, thank you for be able to be honest and speak up from your hidden stories. I really appreciate every author who's contributed on this book. I feel really really thankful.

[Rosita Febriyanti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a time in a bookstore, this book caught my attention, yes, I was eager to learn about feminism from the basic portrayal and indeed it is, a good start to learn feminism, gender and equality, social issues, culture, religion in a wide discussion, and etc, as a rookie. Many of the essays are so relatable with the recent buzzez we encounter in daily basis, also some awakening insights from each of the authors are varied and meaningful.

[Shanya Putri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this book because someone asked on Twitter base what was the title of the book Maudy Ayunda reading, with a picture of her sitting on a break of her film set (while others were playing with their phones). I love her.

The title is so interesting, knowing that I haven't read any book related to feminism before.

Weeks after that, I found a review of this book on Instagram: @nonfictionbookclub_.

I immediately thought that I had to buy and read this book as soon as possible. So I did. (Thanks to OVO for the cashback promo.) And I loved it. It really showed me so many things that I didn't know they even exist. I highlighted words and even scribble on the pages, for the first time in forever. So many relatable topics–not just to me, but to the current situation of this country.

This book is just powerful. Great thanks to Magdalene for existing in the first place and creating this book. ♥️

[Ryna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ngga sengaja baca ini pas lagi iseng ke Gramed, awalnya malas krn dlm b.inggris tpi ternyata sederhana kok. Bagus banget isi bukunya dan penulis bukan hanya wanita saja. Ada beberapa yg menulis isi hati terdalam yg mungkin kita ngga berani untuk jujur masalah itu, dan bersyukur ada yg benani menulisnya. Banyak bgt tulisan yg bikin pandangan semakin luas terutama ttg isu-isu kesetaraan gender, dan juga topik-topik sensitif dimasyarakat seperti pernikahan berbeda agama, penggunaan hijab, dan orientasi seksual. Mungkin ada beberapa yg kita tidak sependapat tpi dgn membaca ini pikiran semakin terbuka. Belajar memandang isu-isu tersebut dari sudut pandang yang berbeda

[Lulu Khodijah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jarang nih baca buku bertopik "kontroversial". Malah cenderung menghindar sesungguhnya. Heu. Kupaksakan baca ini agar makin beragam.

Sebelumnya pernah baca beberapa artikel di Magdalene. Yah, cukup membuat mengangguk-angguk. Ini kumpulan artikelnya. Topik yg dibahas ada feminis, LGBT, childfree (yg skrg rame lg), dan jalan2.

Namanya jg pendapat org ya, ada yg aku bisa resonate dan ada yg hmm aku percaya valueku aja wkwkw. Tetap menarik karena isu yg diangkat masih dianggap tabu.

[Tiya Mulani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read mostly chapters in 2020 and finished some chapters left in 2021. I can’t tell much since I didn’t remember everything inside the book in detail.
Various topics gave a lot of new perspectives for me. I think I will never listen like the stories inside the book from people around me. So it feels great to know more things outside my usual, although some stories shocked me and some others are against my principles.

[Aghni Ulma Saudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had read several articles from Magdalene’s website that were also published in this book, but they still manage to mesmerize me. The book comes in handy, not to mention the way Magdalene brought feminism and gender-biased issues in a brand new light.

For those who’d like to get another perspective on life yet your phone or laptop’s backlight kinda hurts your eyes, you should get this book!

[Reffi Dhinar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really mindful and inspiring in some aspects. It taught us to open mind as wide as we can, even I never support LGBT because It contradicts with my faith as a Moslem, I think we can't judge other's choice because every man brings their own sin. Good job Magdalene

[Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still thinking this book is a breakthrough. The fact that each essay was written by independent, makes it very easy to relate to. It helps me understand more about feminisim and the spectrum that it covers

[Gabby Harefa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice reading of feminist minds wrapped by beautifully writing pieces

[Lala · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book that successfully presents stories from any kind of backgrounds. Through the essays in this book, I can smile, cry, and most importantly i can learn to put my feet on others' shoes.

[Esti Ipaenim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Selalu menyenangkan membaca narasi-narasi yang selama ini tersembunyi. Wish I can read more books like this

[NUNU · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for introducing me to K. H. Husein, really.

[Deon Talahatu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best formulation woman tense.

[Adelszz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love-hate rltship with this book. Im not a hate of lgbt community but i dont support them tho. This book mostly write about lgbt, it between enlightened me and make me boring at the same time…

[thblackfairies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who read this book because of the photo of Maudy Ayunda reading it while she was on set. As a Maudears myself, I am eager to know what type of books she reads, and the topic of feminism also caught my attention. I love how this book has been so eye-opening! I might have said it many times, but I didn't lie when I said it had a significant impact on how I see people. I fully understand that people, including women themselves, are so diverse. Some parts of this book left me astonished. I adore the journey the book took me on.

[Nabila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yang Nay dapat setelah membaca buku ini adalah, menjadi lebih memiliki rasa toleransi tinggi. I think we don't need to classify ourselves as a feminist or whatever they called. As a woman we just need to encourage each other. And im not the person who stands for equality too, the point "understanding others" is more important.

More review https://youtu.be/sz6iCMg1PuU

[Aya Prita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indonesia needs this kind of book. It's pretty insightful and inspiring.

There are some pieces that I found "not necessary" to be in the book. But this book is good.