cover image To Be Real

To Be Real

. Doubleday Books, $25 (292pp) ISBN 978-0-385-47261-6

Edited and introduced by Walker, journalist, Ms. editor, and coauthor of House and Home: Spirits of the South (Univ. of Washington Pr., 1994), this anthology adds to the growing body of work by and about younger feminists. ""An eclectic gathering of folks""-20 activists, academicians, artists-explore the theme of how they define themselves as individuals, against both traditional stereotypes and the feminist ideas and ideals of their parents' generation. bell hooks's ""Beauty Laid Bare"" discusses the role of material objects in traditional black culture; Naomi Wolf's ""Brideland"" examines the enduring attraction of the bride image. Other topics include sex in cyberspace, women and aggression, the politics of taking names, feminist hip-hop, how to hold a nonsexist stag party, and the trials of an aspiring corporate attorney. On the whole, it's an energetic and original collection that belongs in most libraries.-Beverly Miller, Boise State Univ. Lib., Id.