(photo by Marianne Mather/STNG)

I love to read mystery novels, for pure escapism and fun. And my special subset of interest is female protagonists, in books written by women. The absence of visible testosterone makes these books more interesting and intellectual, IMO.

One of my favs is Sara Paretsky, who authors the V. I. Warshawski series of books. But it seems she also writes some riveting non-fiction as well, about the totalitarian and authoritarian goals of the religious Right towards womens’ reproductive health in her beloved Chicago:

My grandmother watched her father die when an anti-Jewish mob broke into their small home and shot him as he lay in bed with his wife. The mob was jubilant and exuberant at his death; their neighborhood priest in Vilnius, Lithuania, led the crowd through the streets chanting a Te Deum to show their thanks to the Lord at the death of someone they considered a nonbeliever.  Read more 

I’m struggling to write a post for this, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Freedom of choice is a Good Thing, I celebrate the fact that in this country women are (mostly) allowed to control their own bodies. The anti-choice movement cares nothing for children or women or even the supposed dictates of their god(s); they are sick freaks who cut off parts of their own sexual organs and who are mostly racist Quiverfull types with serious problems with women and authority. But damn, I can’t think of the last time I wrote five drafts of a post and trashed them all. Let me try the telegraph version.

What about pro-choice women who have abortions and regret it? What does our narrative offer them? I’m speaking of women who were pro-choice before and after having abortions, but who find the experience so complicated as to leave them wanting, as they turn to those who “support” their right to choose? What does our side offer them?  Read more