This book was a slow start for me; I didn't care for the audio and the first chapters on whales were heavy and intense. I'm so glad I stuck with it, because it is a gem. It perfectly blends cultural critique with memoir - the highest level of portrayal of one's own story. Steinke places her experience firmly within inescapable societal binds. Her writing is evocative. It has a distant almost coldness that contrasts with her confessions, making for a beautifully woven narrative.
The section on the whales didn't interest me in the beginning, but by the end when she circles back around, I was rapt with attention, and even reread the beginning once more with new eyes. Steinke's use of metaphor is top-notch; and then before your eyes, other mammals' menopausal tales become less metaphor and more aspiration.

Time to seek out more Steinke books - her writing is a master class in communication.

I'm happy to have more thoughtful literature added to the annals of menopause, and for the cultural conversation around it to increase generally. I haven't read much in this area, and this book provided a useful compiling of what's out there, including a lot that is not recommended reading.

The author's musings on the societal perceptions of post-menopausal women were interesting and varied. The direct links to animals were of less interest to me, although I did enjoy reading about her experiences with killer whales. Overall, this isn't really a book I can rate, but I'm glad I read it and I'm glad it's out there.

Although I applaud Steinke for contributing to (if not starting) a compassionate discussion about menopause, her memoir disappoints me with its disjointed and unengaging prose. I appreciated the (infuriating) information on hormone replacement therapy and found the comparison to trans people in transition interesting, but I would have also liked a look into how other cultures of people (not just whales) accommodate this stage of womanhood.

This is a book abt what menopause is and isn’t. A feminist book that includes whales. Smart and necessary.

Sometimes Steinke's style of writing became tedious. She tends to pack a lot of sources, quotes and information into every chapter, overloading this reader. Ultimately I enjoyed the book very much, and my takeaway is to feel empowered, aligned with the natural world and more aware of the patriarchal slant against women past their childbearing years.

Hilarious and helpful.

I’ve entered menopause differently than the author, by way of breast cancer and a necessary oophorectomy and hysterectomy. The symptoms are the same and the experience of being in menopause and get reviled is extremely similar. While this is not a how to book, it gives such a great overview of how women are treated in connection with typical menopause symptoms that it might as well be one!

Four stars for the 70% of the book that I read and two stars for the 30% I skimmed over.

This book will challenge your preconceived notions regarding menopause.

If you only read one book about menopause, Flash Count Diaries shouldn't be it. That isn't to say don't read it, but if you are trying to figure out weird symptoms or what you might be able to do to get through hot flashes, lack of sleep, and many other issues related to perimenopause and menopause, this is not the book for you.

Steinke comes to this conclusion: It is not menopause itself that is the problem but menopause as it’s experienced under patriarchy. Most of her exploration is a push back against hormone therapy as not allowing a full experience of this change. She seems to equate hormone therapy with "wet, pliable pussies" or trying to stay young and cycling forever. I don't know anybody who is trying to do that. Most women I know are trying to understand the changes in their own body and ease some of the challenges for themselves.

The book pushes back hard on the male gaze on menopause, but I think also fails to acknowledge that hormones affect all of our bodies and that there are health issues that come up as a result of our changing hormones. I suppose that is part of "natural life," but we treat other risk factors for health risks.

A beautiful, spiritual exploration of the way aging women are treated.