There’s something about a novel that promises a critique of women’s roles from the Atomic Era to era of Working Women, and that “thing” is that I’m 100% in. I will absolutely read it.
Kelly Barnhill’s novel When Women Were Dragons explores the ways in which women were (and are still) told to fit into certain roles, certain standards, and certain ways of living. And when they don’t, those women dragon. Yes, they dragon. As in “dragon” as a verb. Women spontaneously combust into giant, flying creatures of destruction (well, at least sometimes they destroy things). And some women, because they fear what dragoning will mean for their families — or maybe not fear – they fight the urge to dragon and instead live with the harsh constraints. Even if it means continuing in an abusive relationship, working in unsatisfying spheres, or rejecting their ideas of who they can love.
What I admired so much about this book is its look at a family of women, how each chooses or denies themselves the opportunity to dragon. And each woman is admirable for their choice; Barnhill doesn’t judge one more harshly than the other. Instead, Barnhill characterizes the women as people who know themselves to the core.
And that sure is refreshing.
And also, I want to use “dragon” as a verb more often.
shelly. walston. writes. 