Women and Other Monsters

“A graceful stylist who casts a wide literary and geographical net, Zimmerman can make nearly anything interesting … . Nearly every page, however, brings fresh insights into age-old myths or tragicomic observations on 21st-century womanhood … . A sparkling and perceptive critique of ancient ideas that still hold women back.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review“A fresh look at female-coded monsters from mythology offers insight about embracing characteristics that people fear.”—Shelf Awareness“An engaging parsing that addresses the ways that sexism and misogyny constrain women, a provocative weaving of the personal and the political.”—The Progressive“Many readers will feel the truth of this book in their bones as Zimmerman dissects the mythologies that still constrain women.”—Christian Science Monitor“Every one of these essays is muscular and dangerous, with a mouth full of teeth. Women and Other Monsters is sure to become a feminist classic.”—Carmen Maria Machado, author of In the Dream House“A thoughtful and deeply personal set of meditations on two subjects dear to my heart. Though as I read this, I couldn’t help but feel that it had been written for me personally, I suspect that it was written for you too.”—Kelly Link, author of Get in Trouble“Women and Other Monsters reconsiders and spins anew myths that have long instructed and inspired us, detailing modern and longstanding terrors women face while illuminating the monstrous powers we may yet reclaim. I started to make a list of people I wanted to give this book to, then realized the answer was just ‘everyone I know.’ Jess Zimmerman’s writing is always a gift, and this is a work of epic bravery and beauty, brimming with insights that slice to the bone.”—Nicole Chung, author of All You Can Ever Know“Jess Zimmerman’s writing is always intimate and fierce, piercing and warm. I loved Women and Other Monsters—I ate it up, and it felt a little like it devoured me right back.”—Scaachi Koul, author of One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter“We are so long overdue for new mythologies about women and power. Jess Zimmerman’s book is a pitch-perfect antidote to the sexist hash of our traditional stories.”—Soraya Chemaly, author of Rage Becomes Her

Jess Zimmerman is the editor in chief of Electric Literature. Her essays, fiction, opinion pieces, and prose poetry have appeared in publications including Vice, Slate, The Cut, the Washington Post, The Guardian, and The New Republic. She lives in Brooklyn.