Our Shared Shelf discussion

Hi from Brazil!
Are you having difficulties to read this book? Because I have!
It's the second year I try to start but I get stuck... I'm forcing myself to keep going because friends of mine really love it and I can see it's a great book with a beautiful empowering message. But I don't know if the problem is within me (like some sort of ego resistance in this subject) or the book. Probably the first option... but I think this book is a little repetitive...
I just finished the Blue Beard tale and so far it was the hardest part to get thru.

Are you having trouble?

It is a complex work and employs a lot of imagery. It does get easier as you work through it Erika. My advice is to take your time there is no hurry and remember these are very original concepts, or new to the modern ear at any rate; and to combine them with social sciences as the author does it will take some time to adjust.

Erika wrote: "Hi from Brazil!
Are you having difficulties to read this book? Because I have!
It's the second year I try to start but I get stuck... I'm forcing myself to keep going because friends of mine really..."

Hey, are you from the Brazil? I'm from the Brazil also. If you wants to write your doubts here to me in portuguese or not, i can help you.

Are you stuck on Women Who Run With Wolves, Erika?

I'm not having trouble with the read.. and i liked it. I can tell has alot of teachings there enough to tell that if you take 10% of the book is more than enough to change your own life.

Hi im from Brazil as well (did not know how many Brazilians we had here) but have been living in the Us for a long time. Im having the same difficulties as you. I actually enjoy the tales a lot, but her explanation becomes repetitive to me. I almost feel like it could be shorten to a half and we would still get the same information. I'm hoping it becomes easier as the books goes on since I'm only just passed the 100 page mark.

I am currently working my way through the third chapter. I am enjoying parts of the book, but I largely feel like this is on a whole other plane of thinking than what I am used to. Not anticipating this will be my favourite...lol.

I only started last night, but I can see how you might be having trouble. It is a work that is going to be quite dense and full of thoughts, emotions, and spiritual revelations. These, of course, are abstract concepts as a rule. This makes them more difficult to describe, which might be where some of the trouble comes in.

Also, the author has a Ph.D. in Jungian psychology -- which by its very nature deals almost entirely in the abstract -- and if you, the reader, don't have any knowledge of Jungian psychology, that can make reading this book that much more difficult. You might try doing a quick Google search of Carl Jung and his psychological concepts just to brush up on some of the basics before diving back in.

it is extremely repetitive. I am up to chapter 2 and I am glad that I am able to skim read, otherwise some sections would be missed completely.
I'm loving how I can see myself and where I am and what I need to do to find my wolf woman, but repeating it over & over takes away the beauty a little x

Erika, I live the observation that it might be your ego resisting. I was intimidated when I picked up the book and loved the first two chapters but after that I felt there were a couple that were incredibly dense and perhaps my own ego was resisting the subject matter.

It's just a hard book to read because of the long sentences, repetitiveness, and contradictory ideas presented adjacent to each other. Language familiarity can only help so much with this book.

Amanda wrote: "You might try doing a quick Google search of Carl Jung and his psychological concepts just to brush up on some of the basics before diving back in...

I was going to make the same suggestion. I think it would be helpful to have even a rudimentary understanding of Jung's theory of archetypes.

I've been reading this book off and on for about six months now and have had difficulties reading it as well. It's a highly complex and beautiful work, but definitely a challenge! I've found I enjoy the book best and appreciate it much more fully when I read it in sections as opposed to trying to read it all at once.

I also found this to be repetitive, and I've only just finished the introduction. I was really excited about this book, so I am hoping it will get better once I delve into the stories. I am glad to see I am not the only one struggling!

I'm having the same opinions as you, I'm enjoying it a lot but at the same time I find it difficult to read, I think it's so complex but so interesting to read!!!

Amanda wrote: " It is a work that is going to be quite dense and full of thoughts, emotions, and spiritual revelations. These, of course, are abstract concepts as a rule. This makes them more difficult to describe, which might be where some of the trouble comes in.."

100% agree.

This is not a book that you are going to be able to read straight through despite it being about fairytales or storytelling. It's an analysis. The author is going to try to come at you with different ways of understanding her intended goal - hence the repetition.

But as Ross said, you will become more familiar with her style as you progress. Keep going!

This is far more complex read than I had anticipated but I am loving it so, so much. It is definitely something to take your time and mull over as there is such a denseness of imagery and a wealth of knowledge packed into every sentence.

I'm going to take my time with this and read just a few pages a day, to ensure I absorb as much as I can from it.

I haven't started yet and it will be my first book in this group, but I have to say I am a bit 'scared' to start reading it. Can anybody tell me if they use super difficult language?

The language itself isn't difficult. It's the density of the material that will get you. The strategy of reading a few pages at a time is probably a good one, especially if you're not used to this type of literature. Remember, just because it's the book of the month, that doesn't mean you MUST finish. You have absolutely no obligation to finish if it's simply too much.

Thanks you all. I can see I'm not alone. I appreciate the advices and will definitely read slowly taking my time. Some people said it's dense text and a experience to have while reading, so I think it's touching some sensitive issues. Guess I will learn a lot with this book.

Hang in there. It is a tough one, but if you push just a little longer it will get easier. And it is such a beautiful and inspiring book!

Read a little bit. Digest it. Read a little bit. Digest it. Take your time. :)

I have the same problem. Thank you for the suggestion of reading up on Jung and reading just a few pages at a time. If there are any suggestions or ideas I'd be happy to get them.
Does it help to read up on tales and tale telling?
I am working through it. I think my ego might also be in the way a little bit but it's helpful to have a group like this to encourage each other..

Not necessarily tale telling, but definitely read a little on female archetypes if you're only vaguely familiar. You can kill two birds with one stone and look into Jung's work on archetypes, and that should be enough to get you through.

Amanda wrote: "Not necessarily tale telling, but definitely read a little on female archetypes if you're only vaguely familiar. You can kill two birds with one stone and look into Jung's work on archetypes, and t..."

Thank you! That sounds good. "Archetype" confused me there for a little bit:)

i loved the book from page one and did not find it difficult to read at all!! its really worth working your way through it and not giving up on it as its life changing!!

Thank you Amanda, this group is really helpfull! I'm new to feminism (I know what it is, but want to get into the subject etc.) so this really helps. First have to order the book, but I am quite excited to get into this and to share and read about experiences of women like me :)

Oh, no! I'm hoping it's not too difficult. Mine just came today.

I am now about 70 pages in and it really gets better and easier to read. Reading up a little bit on archetypes and Jung helped. Thank you for the support! :)

Hi Erika! I have exactly the same feeling, and now I'm still stuck in the introduction. The author's language is so vague and abstract. Really hard to grasp. I was hoping it would get better once the stories start.

My honest advice? Skip the introduction. I didn't read it, and I don't feel like I'm missing anything. In academic books, especially ones like this, you really don't them.

Amanda wrote: "My honest advice? Skip the introduction. I didn't read it, and I don't feel like I'm missing anything. In academic books, especially ones like this, you really don't them."

OMG, I find the introduction very hard to read. I've tried several times now and it just makes me fall asleep... :/ I do want to read it entirely before starting the book, but it's quite vague. It makes me wonder if I'm really going to like the book, but we'll see...

Introduction did have valid points and set the scene. So if you have the time I would read it.

Unfortunately, once the stories start, it is a short piece of mythology math pages and pages of the same vague, unsubstantiated commentary.

This really isn't an academic text. The absence of any justification or support in any of her commentary prevents this text from being academic in nature. She just uses lots of long words in long sentences.

Written by an academic but not intend as a text book. I find the allegory of the stories support the argument. Spiritual allusion for sociological patterns and effects on the psyche is an interesting approach and not without merit. The introduction does explain the authors reasoning behind mixing disciplines. In my view at any rate.

Ross wrote: "Introduction did have valid points and set the scene. So if you have the time I would read it."

True; maybe come back to it later, when you have a better idea of what the book is about? Especially if it's slowing you down.

I'm not sure if the book has been peer reviewed, so I guess strictly speaking, it would not be academic. However, it fulfills all of the other necessary requirements for scholarly writing. If you wanted to use this as a secondary source in an essay on Jungian pscychoanalysis, or literary analysis with a Jungian lens, you could.

I wouldn't say her arguments are unsubstatiated. However, much of her futher arguing toward a point is done in the notes in the back of the book, which is typical of Chicago style.

Deconstructing the stories will lead to a somewhat formulaic structure, and she does repeat some points that she feels are essential to her overall mission, which is revealing how to find the Wild Woman. However, this book could be thought of as being literary analysis trough a Jungian psychoanalysis lens, and such a formula is necessary to take each story point by point.

There are some long words, and there are certainly long sentences, but I hardly think this will be a barrier to someone who's made it past the first chapter of the book.

My point with the long words and sentences is that she added bulk without content. There are times in academic writing where bulk is required for precision or detail. This isn't the case here. She's simply unnecessarily convoluting her writing.

And her writing does not have the logical structure of academic writing. Rather than data, claim, substantion, and linking her style is based on convoluted and contradictory claims. Having a PhD does not make the author correct or this writing academic.

Authors style vary and this is a passionate piece I see it has poetry as much as prose for me this approach is valid for the stated intent of the work. I could see how it may not be to everyone's taste however, but being exposed to different literature is part of being in a book club.

I'm aware this is a book club. That's the only reason I'm re-reading this book. It just has too much pretentiousn academic stereotype I have to fight, too much treating as truth than as a tool to find truth, and repeating sis-normative and victim blaming stereotypes that I have to fight in sexual assault prevention education and victim advocacy.

I agree with everyone saying to skip the introduction. It was long and repetitive. In my last comment I was close to page 100. Now that I'm further along, I'd advise everyone to stick to it because it gets better. I really enjoy the tales and even though her explanations can still get a little repetitive, they're worth reading.

I am enjoying this book, although I am only just past the introduction. It's not a book I would have normally read which, I think, is why I find it very intriguing. I know the repetition can be hard, and frankly quite tiring for some, I prefer it with something like this as it gives me more of a chance of understanding the book as a whole.

Good to know the book gets better. I'm at the third chapter and it is a little better but still slow. I'm enjoying the Vasilisa tale but the interpretations is quite repetitive and gets me tired so at each part I stop and come back later that way I keep going :)

I'm glad i'm not the only one having difficulties reading it. but if you say it's getting easier and less repetitive, I go on.
But I love how different our OSS reads are! the vagina monologues was such a different experience than that.

I have finally gotten through the introduction and have started the book and I can honestly say it's getting better.
I'm a very "concrete" person though, if that makes sense, and have a hard time understanding or more relating to certain "vague" concepts, so that's what's bothering me the most here.

I'm still wondering if I'll be able to read through until the end, but the stories are definitely interesting! :)

I like the stories and wish there were more of them.

Y'all. I read this book twice. And I still don't like it.

I have read Jung and understand analytical psychology and archetypes and the rest ... this book still comes off as a lot of bullshit to me. Sorry.

Rather than collect archetypes and relate them in a meaningful way, the author picks and chooses from different stories to make a point. IMHO, this contributes less to any meaningful analysis than a Jungian exploration of the author's own psyche and experience. The fact that she often adds her OWN archetypes (the bowl, etc) hammers this home.

I came in hoping for a Campbell-style book that describes the female in actual myth, and came away completely disappointed. I'm interested to see what the rest of you make of it though - and hoping for some additional insight into what is considered an important feminist text!

I have to agree. It's easy to read in terms of language, I'm just not sure if I've actually learned anything or read anything deeply profound. If I don't finish I probably won't be too upset.

As a newbie to this group I can't say if this is a benchmark for what's considered important in feminine texts. I do know that I looked at some of Emma's reading list for last year and the titles were varied enough that I have hope for next month.

To be honest, when I first read the book many years ago, I thought it was a bit of a mess and much, much too lengthy.

That said, within those stories, I found an important thread and themes which resonated with me and which I'd not read elsewhere.

Therefore I found it to be valuable, though an arduous read - hope this might help :)

Wow... I can't wait to start reading this book. But reading about the intense language and the hard time this book gives you, kind of makes me feel a bit intimidated! Especially since english is not my native language (I live in Hamburg, Germany). But still, it sounds inspiring and I'll just dive into to!

Having now read the second story (Bluebeard) as well, I'll just say that I find this a tough read in the sense that I think the author repeats herself too much. However, the stories are interesting and I really enjoy when the author compares elements of these stories to elements of today's society and everyday life.

So in short: long and sometimes repetitive, but an interesting read nonetheless, so I'll try to hang in there and read this through to the end. It really is different from any other books I've read, but it does confirm to me that I really hate it when people talk about abstract concepts as I find them hard to grasp. I hope the book is worth the time it takes to read it entirely!

I struggled with the introduction. I'm on chapter 3 now and I've adjusted to the writing now. The stories and her interpretations are really interesting, though, she does repeat herself quite a bit.

Keith wrote: "Hi,

For those who are really struggling, you may find this useful.
http://www.soulcraft.co/essays/the_12...

I am no Jung expert, but it helps me as a reference point."

That's really interesting, thanks!