Life is tough. And then there’s The Change…
A woman, ignored and invisible, starts to discover her voice. But who―or what―is speaking though her?
Part body-horror, part feminist fiction, They Shut Me Up poses the question: how can we retell historic female narratives?
Dark bleatings, my gorgeous tribe. A novella today, and one I’m happy to talk about because I really enjoyed it. Annie starts going through the menopause and it’s a very frightening experience. There are those gradual (but very sudden also) changes to the body, the brain chemistry, body temperature, hormones, and the small matter of a bird flying out of your throat.
Wait…. what?
Annie is a relatable protagonist and for the most part, the world is very real and recognisable. She has an ordinary job and is surrounded by ordinary people, and until the new events unfold, she is quite ordinary herself. All of a sudden she no longer recognises herself, her body is doing things she’s never experienced and doesn’t know how to respond to, and everyone is dismissive about it because, basically, it’s “just” the menopause. When Annie realises that the new lump on her neck is actually a mouth that speaks to her, she starts to feel differently about the changes.
This story deeply explores the idea of “loss of self” in a very empathetic way. It discusses female power and how necessary it is to find one’s voice (it’s never too late). It also touches upon female history and the injustices done to women. Mostly what I got from this book was a sense of kinship, an encouragement to support each other, and to speak up when we need to.
It’s a great, weird, interesting story and an excellent read if you’re interested in feminist themes and peculiar fiction. If you’d like to check out the book or the author, I’ve popped some links below for you:
Bleeeat!
Happy Goat Horror 
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