The Labrys Reunion

In the latest work from poet and novelist Wolverton, the rape and murder of a female art student in a Manhattan nightclub in 1996 leads to an exploration of the generational divide in feminism. The murder victim, Emma Firestein, is the daughter of a famous feminist, Dana Firestein, who in her 1970s heyday founded a radical feminist think tank called Labrys. Emma's memorial brings the group back together to consider the differences that have grown between them, and the promise of Emma's circle of friends, the next-or lost-generation of feminists. A confusing, crowded cast of characters, each with her own hot-topic issue (anorexia, alcoholism, racism, welfare, affairs), defy character development by their sheer numbers, and often overwhelm the plot. Wolverton's poetic tendencies often result in unnecessary flourishes, especially in numerous, often unexpected sex scenes. Wolverton's rich subject-the conflict between two generations of feminists-is ill-served by endless side stories and a dissonant last-act plot twist.