Category Archives: novels

My review of “Tory Heaven” or “Thunder on the Right” Marghanita Laski

Posted on July 13, 2018 by lipstick socialist

  Marghanita Laski (24 October 1915 – 6 February 1988) was a writer and novelist who wrote fiction,  biography and plays. Born in Manchester,  she was part of an extended Labour supporting family,  her uncle was Harold Laski, for instance. … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, Communism, labour history, novels, political women, Socialism, trade unions, Uncategorized, women | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

My review of “The Caseroom” by Kate Hunter

Posted on February 4, 2018 by lipstick socialist

  This is a unique novel; how many are written by female  trade union activists about the history of women’s roles in trade unions and the struggle for equality at work? The Caseroom is set during a dynamic period of … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, book review, feminism, labour history, novels, political women, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

My review of Women Who Blow on Knots by Ece Temelkuran

Posted on September 20, 2017 by lipstick socialist

  Ece Temelkuran is a Turkish journalist and writer. Her books and writings have taken up issues at the heart of the state of Turkey,  exposing human rights abuses against Kurdish people, the Armenian dispute and, closer to home, the … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, Communism, feminism, human rights, Middle East, novels, political women, Socialism, Socialist Feminism, Uncategorized, women | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Fiery Women: my review of The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia by Mary M Talbot and Bryan Talbot and Petroleuse by Steph Pike

Posted on June 9, 2016 by lipstick socialist

In 2016 we need our heroes and in these new  books there is much to remind us that another, fairer world is possible.  Mary M. and Brian Talbot’s graphic novel, The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia,  is about … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, book review, education, feminism, human rights, Ireland, labour history, Manchester, music, North of Ireland, novels, poetry, political women, Uncategorized, women, working class history | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Read my weekly roundup of radical arts and politics..Johnny Guitar,Dare to be Free, People before Profit and John McGahern

Posted on May 8, 2016 by lipstick socialist

Watch Johnny Guitar (Home). A classic film, looks like a western but isn’t. Made in 1954 by Nicholas Ray it reflects on US society at that time, McCarthyism and the witchhunt of radicals in society. Joan Crawford, 49, plays Vienna, … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, book review, Catholicism, drama, feminism, films, human rights, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, Manchester, novels, political women, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, women, working class history | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stop,Look,Listen…my weekly selection of favourite films, books and events to get you out of the house

Posted on April 25, 2016 by lipstick socialist

Watch Dheepan (Home)…how much do we really know about the refugees who escape war in their country and arrive in the west? Few people know about the war in Sri Lanka and the role of militants, the Tamil Tigers, who … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, book review, drama, feminism, films, human rights, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, Manchester, music, novels, political women, trade unions, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Stop,Look,Listen…my weekly selection of favourite films, books and events to get you out of the house

Posted on January 24, 2016 by lipstick socialist

Watch Winifred Carney: A reflection on the life and times of the suffragist and trade unionist. In this fascinating documentary we learn about a woman who was a revolutionary socialist feminist. She was born into a lower middle class family … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, book review, drama, feminism, films, human rights, labour history, novels, Socialism, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, Uncategorized, working class history | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Stop,Look,Listen…my weekly selection of favourite films, books and events to get you out of the house

Posted on April 12, 2015 by lipstick socialist

Watch ….Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries(DVD)…it is an Australian television series based on Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher Murder Mystery novels. Set after the First World War Miss Fisher is a thoroughly modern woman. We do not get to know much about … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, book review, drama, education, feminism, human rights, labour history, novels, political women, Socialism, trade unions, Uncategorized, women | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Stop,Look,Listen…my weekly selection of favourite films, books and events to get you out of the house

Posted on March 29, 2015 by lipstick socialist

Watch … Sell Off the Abolition of your NHS, a screening organised by Greater Manchester KONP and the Manchester Film Cooperative at 7pm on Wednesday 8th April at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation. A film that will make you angry … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, book review, Catholicism, Communism, feminism, films, human rights, Ireland, Manchester, novels, Uncategorized, women | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Why isn’t Manchester best selling author Karen Woods as famous as Jeanette Winterson?

Posted on January 15, 2015 by lipstick socialist

  Have you heard about Karen Woods? I hadn’t until last year. She was born in Manchester and has written 12 books and had 2 plays performed at local theatres including the Lowry in Salford. Her books are about the … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, feminism, labour history, Manchester, novels, political women, Socialist Feminism, Uncategorized, women | Tagged , , | Leave a comment