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Fay Weldon's latest novel chronicles the adventures of five women who launch Medusa, a
feminist publishing house, in 1971. BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY is both a history of the women's
movement and a narrative about the personal lives of its characters, Layla, Stephanie,
Alice, Nancy and Zoe.
In BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY, we watch these characters grow and change over the years. They
start out as idealistic twentysomethings ready to conquer the world, and evolve into wiser
women who are just as committed to the cause as ever. Medusa grows and changes with
them. Although it is once considered a groundbreaking publishing house and
becomes a respected mainstream press, ultimately, Medusa is just passe.
If you're a person "of a certain age" you will probably identify with one or
more of these courageous women. But even if you aren't, there's a lot to be
learned about the ups and downs of the women's movement and the feminists who believed it
was possible to have it all.
--- Reviewed by Judith Handschuh
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