Women Talking
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- Create Date：2023-03-14 04:52:52
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Miriam Toews
- ISBN：0571380689
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Summary
In a remote Mennonite colony， over a hundred girls and women were knocked unconscious and violated-by what many thought were ghosts or demons-as punishment for their sins。 Their accounts were chalked up to 'wild female imagination。'
Women Talking is an imagined response to these real events。 When the women learn that they were in fact drugged and attacked by men in their community， they hold a secret meeting in a hayloft。 They have two days to make a plan before the rapists are bailed out and brought home: will they dare to escape？
Women Talking is an imagined response to these real events。 When the women learn that they were in fact drugged and attacked by men in their community， they hold a secret meeting in a hayloft。 They have two days to make a plan before the rapists are bailed out and brought home: will they dare to escape？
Reviews
Ingrid Merlín Pereyra
，
El tema que maneja es muy fuerte y refleja muy bien las diversas opiniones acerca del mismo。 Es un acta escrita totalmente como flujo de conciencia。No me encantó que fuera narrada por un hombre。
Wendy Vogeli
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I read this book in one day。 I’m not sure if it really deserves a four star rating， but I gave it that because I could not put it down。 So there’s something to be said about that。 It was a difficult storyline and I couldn’t get over the fact that this had really happened to women and children in Bolivia。 I felt like the conversation between the women was like a real conversation… There were interruptions， repetitiveness， and even some humour。 The one thing that bothered me is that I thought ther I read this book in one day。 I’m not sure if it really deserves a four star rating， but I gave it that because I could not put it down。 So there’s something to be said about that。 It was a difficult storyline and I couldn’t get over the fact that this had really happened to women and children in Bolivia。 I felt like the conversation between the women was like a real conversation… There were interruptions， repetitiveness， and even some humour。 The one thing that bothered me is that I thought there should be more anger and hatred， because that’s what I felt towards those men。 I found the conversation about what they should do while adhering to their religion to be very interesting。 I think this is a book worth reading and I’m sure there could be lengthy discussions about it in any book club。 。。。more
Sue
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Disturbing on so many levels。
Jenifer Lavery
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Its God's willIf your taught its God's will to do as the men say， if the men betray you， betray your daughters and then say you must forgive them， what would you do。 If you had no power， no language no home what would you do。 Would you fight or would You run Its God's willIf your taught its God's will to do as the men say， if the men betray you， betray your daughters and then say you must forgive them， what would you do。 If you had no power， no language no home what would you do。 Would you fight or would You run 。。。more
sandy
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i understand the lower reviews of this book， but i don’t agree with them。 this one will stick with me， i can already tell。
Chiara Yaar
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Tamid ochelet
Andrea （andreasathenaeum）
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life's too short to read things that make me miserable sooo even though this was for book club I totally did not finish it at about 50%。 C'est la vie life's too short to read things that make me miserable sooo even though this was for book club I totally did not finish it at about 50%。 C'est la vie 。。。more
Beck
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 So boring。 A compelling story in there， but I couldn't slog through。 DNF， skipped to the end。 Spoiler alert: the women leave， August the scribe stays behind。 So boring。 A compelling story in there， but I couldn't slog through。 DNF， skipped to the end。 Spoiler alert: the women leave， August the scribe stays behind。 。。。more
Shelley
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This book was about a mennonite community where the women and girls once asleep were getting drugged and raped and abused。 When they would wake in the morning they would be sore and disheveled。 Some even got pregnant。 As they would bring up the issue， the men would say it must be God punishing them for their sins。 This book is a record of the women talking to discuss their options going forward。 Most of them end up deciding to leave the colony。 This is also a movie that came out this year。 Inter This book was about a mennonite community where the women and girls once asleep were getting drugged and raped and abused。 When they would wake in the morning they would be sore and disheveled。 Some even got pregnant。 As they would bring up the issue， the men would say it must be God punishing them for their sins。 This book is a record of the women talking to discuss their options going forward。 Most of them end up deciding to leave the colony。 This is also a movie that came out this year。 Interesting story。 。。。more
Brianna Schwartz
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I don't even know how to write a review because I don't want to ruin anything。 This novel was gut-wrenching， touching， disgusting， yet at times offered a bit of beauty。 I guess to me it seemed like a pretty good representative of life - even in the deep trauma and horrific circumstances， there remain remnants of hope and kindness in the world。 I don't even know how to write a review because I don't want to ruin anything。 This novel was gut-wrenching， touching， disgusting， yet at times offered a bit of beauty。 I guess to me it seemed like a pretty good representative of life - even in the deep trauma and horrific circumstances， there remain remnants of hope and kindness in the world。 。。。more
Susan
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Stunningly good， very hard to read - the author took on horrific real-life series of crimes （the sexual abuse and rape of Mennonite women and girls by Mennonite men in an isolated settlement） and wrote a book giving those women a voice。 I wish we knew more about the outcome at the end of this book - but maybe the choice the women make is the thing that really counts。
Joan Fernandez
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Stunning tour de force！A fierce cleaver of a book， WOMEN TALKING， slashes through ugly cords of patriarchy and fundamentalism in this searing story of eight women in a remote Mennonite community。 They are meeting clandestinely to debate their response to the exposure of a horrific trail of rape and sexual violence they and their children have been victims of for four years when eight men used an animal anesthetic at night to knock them unconscious and attack them。 At first I felt like I wanted t Stunning tour de force！A fierce cleaver of a book， WOMEN TALKING， slashes through ugly cords of patriarchy and fundamentalism in this searing story of eight women in a remote Mennonite community。 They are meeting clandestinely to debate their response to the exposure of a horrific trail of rape and sexual violence they and their children have been victims of for four years when eight men used an animal anesthetic at night to knock them unconscious and attack them。 At first I felt like I wanted to read half turned away from the page， afraid of reading the next ugly revelation。 But as the complicated story unspools and the women emerge as distinct personalities， their humor， intelligence， missteps， hope and bravery pulled me straight into the tension。 WOMEN TALKING is a stunning tour de force。 。。。more
Abby Kobler Bednar
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This book was such an interesting perspective and a challenging read。 Very claustrophobic and more philosophical than I expected。 The narration is really subversive and I'm still not totally sure I understood it clearly。 This book was such an interesting perspective and a challenging read。 Very claustrophobic and more philosophical than I expected。 The narration is really subversive and I'm still not totally sure I understood it clearly。 。。。more
Susan
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The entire book is the discussion of should they stay or should they go。 Back and forth and back and forth。 Every once in a while someone gives a reason for either or both then they're right back at it; should they stay or should they go。 I will not be seeing the movie。 The entire book is the discussion of should they stay or should they go。 Back and forth and back and forth。 Every once in a while someone gives a reason for either or both then they're right back at it; should they stay or should they go。 I will not be seeing the movie。 。。。more
Sandy
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I gave up on it。 I feel terrible but I couldn’t finish it no matter how hard I tried。
Diana
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I had a really hard time with this book。 Seemed to be a lot of redundancy and it dragged badly for me。 Can’t really recommend because of these issues。
Sarah
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3。75 stars。 Finished this short book just in time to watch the movie adaptation just in time for the Oscars， where it is nominated for best picture。 It is 100% what it says in the title， women talking。 The women of a Mennonite colony decide what to do after it is discovered that for years， several of the men have been drugging and raping them at night。 The book is set up as schoolteacher August， a man who was not involved， taking the minutes of the meeting。 Framing the story of women about women 3。75 stars。 Finished this short book just in time to watch the movie adaptation just in time for the Oscars， where it is nominated for best picture。 It is 100% what it says in the title， women talking。 The women of a Mennonite colony decide what to do after it is discovered that for years， several of the men have been drugging and raping them at night。 The book is set up as schoolteacher August， a man who was not involved， taking the minutes of the meeting。 Framing the story of women about women and so women led yet told through the words of a man is an interesting choice （and one that is different in the movie）。 It’s both quiet and tense， philosophical and yet deeply practical， as these women decide their fates。 Definitely not for everyone， and I don’t disagree with some of the criticisms I’ve seen， but ultimately I found it really moving， particularly knowing it is based on a true story。 （As an aside， I read an interview with the author where she said she wanted to base a story on the real situation， but also she didn’t want it to be about the violence itself， since so many stories are about violence， but about coping with the aftermath。 I really appreciate that take。） 。。。more
Jess Rieger
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I feel like this isn't a book that the average person would like。 It simply is as the title states。。。。 women talking。。。for the entire book。 No action， just women discussing。。。 should they stay or should they go？ Should they forgive or pretend to forgive or refuse to forgive？ Should they give their husbands and grown sons the opportunity to come with them or not？ I actually really liked the book but I can completely understand why many people would not。 I think this is the kind of book that will I feel like this isn't a book that the average person would like。 It simply is as the title states。。。。 women talking。。。for the entire book。 No action， just women discussing。。。 should they stay or should they go？ Should they forgive or pretend to forgive or refuse to forgive？ Should they give their husbands and grown sons the opportunity to come with them or not？ I actually really liked the book but I can completely understand why many people would not。 I think this is the kind of book that will stand the test of time。 。。。more
Brandy
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This book broke my heart many times。 And， as it is based on a true story， I wanted to know where truth ends and fiction begins。 As it turns out， just the premise of the story is accurate and the truth is so much worse。 If you read this book， I encourage you to google the actual women。 These crimes did take place and over several years。 Nobody believed them and they truly didn’t get any counseling because “they were asleep and couldn’t have had trauma”。 The victims ranged in ages from 3 to 65 and This book broke my heart many times。 And， as it is based on a true story， I wanted to know where truth ends and fiction begins。 As it turns out， just the premise of the story is accurate and the truth is so much worse。 If you read this book， I encourage you to google the actual women。 These crimes did take place and over several years。 Nobody believed them and they truly didn’t get any counseling because “they were asleep and couldn’t have had trauma”。 The victims ranged in ages from 3 to 65 and， though the perpetrators were locked up， the rapes continued to happen。 The fiction lies in the name of the colony， the characters themselves， and the entire conversation。 It appears that the women did not make any decisions。 The entire thing is so sad。 So very sad。 。。。more
Clare
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Honestly so confused why this is called women talking but narrated by a man。 Ironic。
Jena
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Women Talking is quite literally what this story is… women talking; deciding whether to do nothing， fight and stay， or leave。 Many reviews minded the narrator being a man。 This story would not be realistic if it wasn’t a man narrating and taking the notes of the women talking as Mennonite women in this story were illiterate。 And， given his role of secretary who is not allowed to share unless asked gives these women their first act of taking power back。 I rather enjoyed the male perspective from Women Talking is quite literally what this story is… women talking; deciding whether to do nothing， fight and stay， or leave。 Many reviews minded the narrator being a man。 This story would not be realistic if it wasn’t a man narrating and taking the notes of the women talking as Mennonite women in this story were illiterate。 And， given his role of secretary who is not allowed to share unless asked gives these women their first act of taking power back。 I rather enjoyed the male perspective from one that was educated and seemingly gentle。 Don’t expect to feel good after reading this。 Quite honestly， it pissed me off and left me sad （and proud of the women） which I think was its intention。 。。。more
M
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A well told tale that is important to witness。
Shannon
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This was a heavy book with a lot of philosophical dialogue。 It’s a true story about a group of Mennonite women who are sexually abused and basically enslaved using the Bible as rationale and justification。 Each has her own way of looking at their options moving forward， and that part was really fascinating to me。 I’m anxious to watch the movie。
Jenn Wendy
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The book is slow， but has a lot of meaningful moments。 I struggled to remember who was who most of the time， as opinions seemed to change as fast as who was talking。 At first， was confused why a male was narrating the story， but I think he serves as a mostly unbiased perspective on the conversations and accusations being flung around。 August is also someone who was treated poorly by the community in the first place， and who had outside world experience to help the reader relate to the Mennonite The book is slow， but has a lot of meaningful moments。 I struggled to remember who was who most of the time， as opinions seemed to change as fast as who was talking。 At first， was confused why a male was narrating the story， but I think he serves as a mostly unbiased perspective on the conversations and accusations being flung around。 August is also someone who was treated poorly by the community in the first place， and who had outside world experience to help the reader relate to the Mennonite culture。 I didn’t love the narration， but I think I understand the reasoning for it， so I can appreciate that。 I wish they delved in more to their day to day lives， and not just religious debate for 200 pages， but it is called Women Talking， so what did I expect。 Overall， it took me a long time to finish it， but it had enough good moments that I wanted to finish it。 。。。more
Mary Havens
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I'm calling it after two days， about 40-50 pages。 I just finished a book with circular storytelling and this book seems quite the same。 It reads like a court transcript with a bit of narration thrown in。 "Ona said she thought。。。。。 I found her charming。"I struggle with circular storytelling in the first place and I just don't want to work that hard in fiction。I picked this up because a movie is out based on this book。 Excited to see the movie， going to skip the book。 Also: it's based on a real， t I'm calling it after two days， about 40-50 pages。 I just finished a book with circular storytelling and this book seems quite the same。 It reads like a court transcript with a bit of narration thrown in。 "Ona said she thought。。。。。 I found her charming。"I struggle with circular storytelling in the first place and I just don't want to work that hard in fiction。I picked this up because a movie is out based on this book。 Excited to see the movie， going to skip the book。 Also: it's based on a real， tragic， event/s so I'm sure I can find an article about the events。 。。。more
J
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Un libro corto pero que deja lugar a una reflexión muy grande。 La prueba que， donde haya mujeres， habrá feminismo。 Desde la fe， desde las costumbres， desde su propio sistema de creencias pero feminismo en sí。 Muy bello。
Ioana Bucur
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This needs to be a theatre play。 Very interesting dialogue。 This is not revolutionary， but it somehow felt like it was。 Well written。
Falene
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I think I was expecting better。
Ranette
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A very thought provocing book about women in a mennonite community who are being raped by some of the men。 When the men are arrested， the other men in the community go to the city to pay the bail。 The women meet to decide if they will stay and fight these men or leave for a new life。
Joanne
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The fact that book this is based on an event THAT HAPPENED IN THIS CENTURY adds a sense of horror and disbelief to the reading of this book。 The care， love， thoughtfulness and community showed by the women contrasts so strongly with the arrogance and carelessness of every adult man in the colony。 The examination of their faith as they struggle with their （understandable） anger is admirable， and the disregard of the men for those same tenets would be over-the-top if this wasn't a true story。 This The fact that book this is based on an event THAT HAPPENED IN THIS CENTURY adds a sense of horror and disbelief to the reading of this book。 The care， love， thoughtfulness and community showed by the women contrasts so strongly with the arrogance and carelessness of every adult man in the colony。 The examination of their faith as they struggle with their （understandable） anger is admirable， and the disregard of the men for those same tenets would be over-the-top if this wasn't a true story。 This was a surprisingly quick read - not fun， but so very rewarding。 。。。more
tpg0
，
As an AI language model， I do not have personal opinions， but I can provide factual information about the book "Women Talking" by Miriam Toews。 "Women Talking" is a novel written by Canadian author Miriam Toews。 The book published in 2018 and has been critically acclaimed for its exploration of issues such as gender， religion， and power dynamics。 The book is based on the true story of a group of Mennonite women who were sexually assaulted by men from their community and meet to discuss their options。 The novel is written as a conversation between these women and explores their perspectives and the community's traditions that have allowed such abuse。 The book uses a unique format to tell the story， allowing the women to speak in their distinct voices and give different accounts of their experiences。 The complex issues of sexual abuse， patriarchy， and religion are at the forefront of "Women Talking，" making it an excellent read for those interested in exploring these themes。
tpg1
，
As an AI language model， I cannot form opinions but I can provide a brief synopsis of the book 'Women Talking' by Miriam Toews。 'Women Talking' is a novel by Canadian author Miriam Toews， based on a true story， which follows a group of Mennonite women in Bolivia as they grapple with the aftermath of a series of brutal sexual assaults by men in their community。 The women gather to decide whether to stay and fight， or leave their homes and families to seek safety and justice elsewhere， in this deeply moving and thought-provoking tale of resilience， community， and the power of women to support and empower one another。
tpg2
，
As an AI language model， I cannot give personal opinions， but I can provide you with a brief overview and general reception of the book 'Women Talking。' 'Women Talking' is a novel written by Canadian author Miriam Toews， published in 2018。 The book is inspired by the true story of a group of Mennonite women who were systematically abused by men in their community， and their decision to stand up against their oppressors。 The story takes place over the course of two days as the women gather secretly in a hayloft to decide their future。 They are torn between leaving their homes and seeking justice or staying and forgiving the men for their crimes。 The book received critical acclaim， with many praising Toews' writing style and tackling such a sensitive topic with sensitivity and grace。 It was a finalist for the Governor General's Awards and was listed as one of the best books of 2018 by various publications。 Overall， 'Women Talking' is a thought-provoking and emotional read that raises important questions about power， gender， and justice。
Tag
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Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Women Talking
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Women Talking&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Women Talking&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0