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A review by aneibauer
The Heroine's Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop Culture by Gail Carriger
5.0
I had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book. I knew the Hero's Journey. I liked the Hero's Journey. With an emphasis on individuality, solo achievement, revenge, not asking for help, and vanquishing the enemy, as a white male, I liked the Hero’s Journey because that is how I was taught to be a man. Toxic masculinity pervaded my childhood and I learned early on to categorize men and women in binary archetypes. Men are strong heroes, women are weak seductresses. Men are capable of saving the world on their own and their women will be there to welcome them at home when they return.
Enter Gail Carriger. She turned all of that inside out and I'm so grateful she did!
You see, even though I've always felt a lure toward the Hero's Journey, something never quite fit: there's been this nagging suspicion that I might be on a different path (or that there might even be a different path). Growing up, I wanted to be the hero, but I never wanted to end up alone. I wanted to save the day, but I hated aggressive violence. I preferred compromise and connection, but was scared to ask for help when I needed it. Carriger does a remarkable job of simultaneously educating and entertaining. I've learned so much about the Heroine's Journey! I've started reading the Greek myths of Demeter and Inanna and the Egyptian myth of Isis. I've reread Twilight and Harry Potter, lecturing to anyone that in fact, Harry was on a heroine’s, not a hero’s journey. I've gained a deeper appreciation for romance and young adult literature. I even rewatched some of my favorite romantic comedies! With this newly gained knowledge of the Heroine's structure and foundational myths, I still can't believe that this separate narrative structure has existed and I never found it.
Gail Carriger also does a fantastic job of writing to the writer. I appreciate her insight in how to write like a heroine and how to modify various archetypes in order to write engaging stories. I highly recommend this book to anyone curious about critically examining the Hero's Journey in order to break the binary of the male hero versus female seductress. I’m deep down the Heroine’s Journey rabbit hole now and I don't plan on emerging any time soon.
Enter Gail Carriger. She turned all of that inside out and I'm so grateful she did!
You see, even though I've always felt a lure toward the Hero's Journey, something never quite fit: there's been this nagging suspicion that I might be on a different path (or that there might even be a different path). Growing up, I wanted to be the hero, but I never wanted to end up alone. I wanted to save the day, but I hated aggressive violence. I preferred compromise and connection, but was scared to ask for help when I needed it. Carriger does a remarkable job of simultaneously educating and entertaining. I've learned so much about the Heroine's Journey! I've started reading the Greek myths of Demeter and Inanna and the Egyptian myth of Isis. I've reread Twilight and Harry Potter, lecturing to anyone that in fact, Harry was on a heroine’s, not a hero’s journey. I've gained a deeper appreciation for romance and young adult literature. I even rewatched some of my favorite romantic comedies! With this newly gained knowledge of the Heroine's structure and foundational myths, I still can't believe that this separate narrative structure has existed and I never found it.
Gail Carriger also does a fantastic job of writing to the writer. I appreciate her insight in how to write like a heroine and how to modify various archetypes in order to write engaging stories. I highly recommend this book to anyone curious about critically examining the Hero's Journey in order to break the binary of the male hero versus female seductress. I’m deep down the Heroine’s Journey rabbit hole now and I don't plan on emerging any time soon.