Good Read

Lauren Molyneux reviews a debut novel and discovers an author who explores some wide-ranging avenues of modern thinking

The Red Word
Sarah Henstra
TOP TIP Sarah Henstra’s debut novel is a hard-hitting, eye-opening masterpiece.

‘The myths don’t have a clue what to do with women. They have nothing to say about us whatsoever. We need to build our own mythology.’

Finding herself caught between two battling worlds, Karen Huls’ free time as a student is filled with organising women’s rallies with her radical feminist housemates of Raghurst, or partying at the Gamma Beta Chi house as an honorary sister, with her boyfriend and the brothers.

When tensions develop further between the two increasingly polarised camps, the Raghurst women believe they have stumbled upon the perfect way to bring down the fraternity and expose the rape culture shared within the brotherhood. But no battle can be won without the spilling of blood.

With dialogues shifting to focus on discussions of feminism and femininity, sexism, mythology, identity and sexuality, Sarah Henstra explores some wide-ranging and thoroughly interesting avenues of modern thinking. Running with the theme of Greek mythology throughout, her use of language to explore such huge ideas and concepts is beautiful and wonderfully inspiring.

Exploring the sexism, misogyny and elitism at play in the Greek societies of American universities, The Red Word paints a terrifyingly real picture of the dangerous ways of thinking that are promoted by and reside in the very bones of such institutions. Tackling the clash between the fraternities’ time-honoured ‘right to party’ and the young female students’ demands for sexual safety and respect in an honest and direct way, Henstra’s novel arouses a whirlwind of emotions. Sparking laughter, outrage, pride, sadness and appal, the best thing about this novel is that it will open your eyes and get you thinking.

The Red Word attacks the ‘boys will be boys’ outlook again and again, drawing attention to the fact that it’s something that has for so long been so hard to try and overcome. When things are taken too far and the war between the feminists and the fraternity comes to a tragic climax, the real shock factor lies in the institutionalised misogyny of the higher powers, who are unwilling to address the serious issues directly and affect positive and desperately needed change.

The Red Word is a shocking read, but one that is invaluable in our modern society. Whether you already consider yourself to be a feminist or not, it will spark a fire in your belly and make you realise why it’s so important for feminism to exist in the first place.

Comments

comments

Tedd Walmsley

Be the first to know

To get exclusive news, be the first to know about our special offers and competitions, sign up to Live Magazines for FREE.

Tedd Walmsley managing director of Live Magazines shares his views on the latest topics in media.

Follow him on Twitter and connect with him on LinkedIn to join the conversation