Why books can be both a miracle and curse for a woman? By Charlotte Wood / @charlotterobertawood

Picture this, your 4 chapters into a book you bought at Waterstones last week. You don’t usually buy from there because of how expensive it is compared to the local charity shop but people have been ranting and raving about it so you thought why not. The front cover seems intriguing and welcoming almost. Your expectations are extremely high. The beginning seems dull at first then it picks up. You're hooked. Emotionally invested. You can’t put the book down because of how attached you have become to this narrative and array of unique characters.

Then all of sudden you hate it. The book disgusts you. You put it down and never open it again. Sudden and enraging the book has taken a dark turn. A turn which happens all too often in novels. A turn best described as the moment you realise the book has been written by a man. Not in a fantastical dragons and fighting kind of way. But in a weird, unsettling way. The type where the description of a female character seems to plunge deeper into absurdity.

The earlier traits of the character mentioned diminished into sexualised comments in appearance. An overly in depth overview showcasing the male gaze that makes you uncomfortable to say the least. The concept of reading on is deemed unbearable. The male gaze so imprinted and emblazoned within the pages you feel as though you are committing a crime just by reading on such vulgar lines. This reflection of patriarchal views becoming too overbearing to ignore. The overwhelming guilt that accompanies reading such a book is too harsh.

After that, you treat books written by men with caution.

After that you always do your research before a book.

After that, you’re a mad woman.

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Written by Charlotte Wood / @charlotterobertawood