The Book of Bitch
By (Author) Ailie Banks
Allen & Unwin
Allen & Unwin
17th June 2019
1st October 2020
Australia
General
Non Fiction
Illustration
741.6092
Hardback
64
Width 118mm, Height 174mm, Spine 12mm
175g
Writer and artist Ailie Banks is a self-proclaimed bitch. The word has been thrown at her, and the women around her, Ailie's entire life. A bitch is stereotypically thought to be unkind, uncaring and ultimately untrustworthy. But in Ailie's eyes, a bitch is someone who stands firm and speaks their mind in the face of sexist rhetoric. They don't filter themselves for the comfort of others and they don't give a single damn about meeting societal expectations. From Ambitious Bitch to Zealous Bitch, THE BOOK OF BITCH is an alphabetical tribute to the word sneered through clenched teeth at those who refuse to shrink in the face of oppression. This book shows once and for all that every bitch is multifaceted, every bitch is human and every bitch deserves to be celebrated.
'It's taken me a long time to embrace my inner bitch, but Ailie Banks's incredible illustrations have finally made me proud to say I'm a bitch and that's definitely NOT a bad thing!'
Scarlett Curtis, curator of Feminists Don't Wear Pink
'I want to be an Ailie Banks kind of bitch. Terrorising bigots, breastfeeding in public, glam while surviving and holding a megaphone - these illustrations are badass and uncompromising. This book just put 'tenacious' back in my vocabulary and on my to-do list.'
Bri Lee, author of Eggshell Skull
'As a self-identifying, all-encompassing, proud, loud and powerfully unapologetic bitch, this book speaks to me on too many levels. It has perfect descriptions for the complex narrative that is the life of a bitch, coupled with images that reflect me - chubby, strong, oft-hairy, always beautiful. I feel seen, acknowledged and understood.'
Lillian Ahenkan, FlexMami
It's taken me a long time to embrace my inner bitch, but Ailie Banks's incredible illustrations have finally made me proud to say I'm a bitch and that's definitely NOT a bad thing! -- Scarlett Curtis, author of FEMINISTS DON'T WEAR PINK (AND OTHER LIES)
I want to be an Ailie Banks kind of bitch. Terrorising bigots, breastfeeding in public, glam while surviving and holding a megaphone - these illustrations are badass and uncompromising. This book just put 'tenacious' back in my vocabulary and on my to-do list. -- Bri Lee, author of Eggshell Skull
Ailie Banks is an Illustrator living in the Blue Mountains of Australia. She is passionate about using her art to challenge social norms and create meaningful dialogue around living with mental illness and the realities of womanhood. If you resonated with this book, Ailie would love for you to join her community on Instagram, @ailiebanks, or check out her website, abanksillustration.com.