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Girls Need Not Apply
- Field Notes from the Forces
- Narrated by: Amy Rutherford
- Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
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Girls Need Not Apply
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Publisher's Summary
This inspiring, compelling debut memoir chronicles the experiences of a female captain serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, and her journey to make space for herself in a traditionally masculine world.
At 18 years old, Kelly Thompson enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. Despite growing up in a military family - she would, in fact, be a fourth-generation soldier - she couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't belong.
From the moment she arrives for basic training at a Quebec military base, a young woman more interested in writing than weaponry, she quickly realizes that her conception of what being a soldier means, forged from a desire to serve her country after the 9/11 attacks, isn't entirely accurate. A career as a female officer will involve navigating a masculinized culture and coming to grips with her burgeoning feminism.
In this compulsively listenable memoir, Thompson writes with wit and honesty about her own development as a woman and a soldier, unsparingly highlighting truths about her time in the military. In sharply crafted prose, she chronicles the frequent sexism and misogyny she encounters both in training and later in the workplace, and explores her own feelings of pride and loyalty to the Forces, and a family legacy of PTSD, all while searching for an artistic identity in a career that demands conformity. When she sustains a career-altering injury, Thompson fearlessly re-examines her identity as a soldier.
Girls Need Not Apply is a refreshingly honest story of conviction, determination, and empowerment, and a bit of a love story, too.
What the critics say
“In Girls Need Not Apply, Kelly S. Thompson presents us with a masterclass in resilience. With equal parts strength and vulnerability, Thompson navigates what it means to find belonging - and success - in a hyper-masculinized culture that was never built for women. A must-read for those of us who make it our daily habit to smash through age-old, sexist barriers.” (Lauren McKeon, author of F-Bomb: Dispatches from the War on Feminism)
“I couldn’t look away from this open-hearted and unflinchingly honest coming-of-age memoir until I’d turned the last page. A fierce, emotional debut by an author to watch!” (Marissa Stapley, Globe and Mail best-selling author of The Last Resort)
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What listeners say about Girls Need Not Apply
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Catherine hachey
- 2019-12-22
very nice testimony
We feel like the author is speaking to us as a intimate friend. A must to listen audio book.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2019-10-22
loved it! I would definitely recommend.
I felt like I got easily swept away and wrapped up in this powerful book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jane Forbes
- 2020-02-20
On my ‘favourites’ list
This is a memoir told with honesty and courage. I couldn’t stop listening to the audible version. It was compelling and entertaining. We need to hear a diversity of experiences to further challenge our military to keep up with society’s progressive, inclusive, and respectful attitudes. Thanks Kelly!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Taya
- 2019-10-04
wow.
I loved this book. It is so unapologetically raw. Amazing! I can't wait to read more from her. As someone that is considering applying, I found this book to be so helpful in my decision. Thank you so much for sharing your life story with us Kelly.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lisa
- 2019-09-10
ideal for military personnel or family
I couldn't have possibly loved this book more than I do. It was everything I had hoped it would be and so much more. I didn't expect it to have a typical story arc since it is autobiographical, but it absolutely did and I loved it. highly recommend.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Samantha
- 2020-04-16
Need Not Read
On completion of the book, I would argue the title is not in line with her story and is a misleading attention grab. I found instances of over sexualized descriptions/precursors that detracted from the impact of events. By overselling, the events were devalued and lessened. While it is her story and she can not change the events, there was little that drove me to feel sympathy or connection with the writer.
I considered not finishing this book after the first couple chapters, but felt I owed to her to read it (and myself since I bought it). I did not appreciate the quality of writing and the disdain that it seems she had from the moment of joining that has coloured her story. I would not put this into my list of great reads, and as female CAF mbr, it offered me nothing other than another story and perspective. There are better female military memories and I would direct readers elsewhere.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Julia
- 2021-06-30
extremely boring
super disappointed with this book, very boring and not what I expected it to be
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